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Feast
of Tabernacles—Day 7, 2008
Fred
R. Coulter—October 20, 2008
And greetings, brethren, welcome to the Feast of Tabernacles,
day seven, which officially ends the Feast of Tabernacles—though there’s one
more day, the eighth day. And isn’t interesting how God’s Holy Days come
together? When we begin in the spring, we have one day, the Passover—which
begins Then following seven days of Unleavened Bread—we count down to Pentecost
seven weeks of seven Sabbaths; and on the day after the seventh Sabbath, we have
the day of Pentecost. Then we come to the first day of the seventh month, which
is the Feast of Trumpets; the tenth day of the seventh month, which is the Day
of Atonement; the fifteenth day of the seventh month, which then is the Feast of
Tabernacles. And so, here we are now on the last day, the seventh day of the
Feast of Tabernacles—because the command is: you shall keep the Feast of
Tabernacles seven days. And it ends up, as we will see tomorrow, with plus one,
which is eight.
So we start out with one plus seven and we end up with seven
plus one. And of course, Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles and the Last Great Day
are the feasts, which apply to the beginning of the setting up of the government
of God, the return of Jesus Christ and the saints on the earth on the Feast of
Trumpets—though many events take place between Pentecost and the Feast of
Trumpets.
Then we have the Day of Atonement, as we have seen, where then
the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins—for all people, all
nations—then will be given after Satan has been bound for a thousand years. Now,
without the book of Revelation, we would not know any of these things. And in
particularly, without the book of Revelation for the Last Great Day, as we will
see tomorrow, there would be no understanding of Ezekiel 37.
So here we are, last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, day number
seven, and we are coming to the end of the Millennium. Now, human behavior
always runs in cycles. And so here we have a thousand-year cycle. And what
happens before you get to the end of the cycle, you have a drop-off. You also
have something that is very important to understand: All during the millennium,
everyone has free choice; and everyone has to choose God’s way—which the
majority will because of the government of God, under Christ with all the saints
ruling all the nations, teaching all the people everywhere. And so, the majority
of people will accept salvation, they will be converted, and they will enter
into the Kingdom of God.
But we always have another generation that comes along, and that
generation is the last generation. And so today we’re going to talk about this
situation and why then, before the complete fulfillment of the seventh day of
the Feast of Tabernacles, Satan is loosed for a "short season."
So let’s begin. Let’s go back here to Revelation 20, and let’s
just review this again so we understand everything that’s going on; because God
has a purpose, God has a plan on which it all hangs on the framework of the
Sabbath and the Holy Days. And God uses His Holy Days to fulfill His will—just
like He did with the Passover and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ; just like He
did with the wave sheaf offering and Christ ascending to be accepted of the
Father; just like He did with the Feast of Pentecost. And we’ve covered it also
in the Old Testament and the New Testament: the Feast of Trumpets, Old
Testament, New Testament, and it’s undoubtedly true that Jesus Christ was born
on the Feast of Trumpets.
Now, when we come especially to Atonement and Tabernacles, there
is very little evidence in the Old Testament as to what it is going to be,
outside of the fact of Zech. 14. So Zech. 14 shows how the Millennium is going
to begin. And the first thing they’re going to do is keep the Feast of
Tabernacles. And it says of the nations that don’t come up to keep the Feast of
Tabernacles—and of course, all nations can’t come to Jerusalem, physically, to
be there. So they will be represented by the delegations from each nation. The
rest will be keeping the Feast of Tabernacles back in the countries that they
are living in. Just like today, we are keeping the Feast of Tabernacles in
certain locations in different areas of the world. And if they don’t keep the
Feast of Tabernacles then God is going send a plague on them. And if it’s Egypt,
they’ll have the plagues. And if it’s a country, which has lots of rain and
fertility, God is going to cut off the rain.
Now when we think about it, this ought to tell us how important
the Feast of Tabernacles and the Holy Days of God are to God; and how important
it is for us to keep these days; and to keep them in a way that is pleasing to
God; and to let God—with His Spirit and His Word—instruct us on these days so
that we can learn, to grow in grace and knowledge and understanding.
So here we have Revelation 20:4. The fulfillment of the Day of
Atonement is Satan being cast into the bottomless abyss. Then we have here: "And
I saw thrones; and they that sat upon them, and judgment was given to them… [So
we’re going to judge and rule for a thousand years.] …and I saw the souls
of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the Word of
God, and those who did not worship the beast, or his image, and did not receive
the mark in their foreheads or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with
Christ a thousand years." Now how all that is going to be organized, God is
going to tell us that. Christ is going to reveal it to us after we’re
resurrected; and the beginning of understanding it is when we’re on the Sea of
Glass after the resurrection on Pentecost,
and we
receive our new names;
we get our
assignments;
we know what
cities that we’re going to rule over;
we know
where we’re going to fit into the government of God;
and then
when we come down and take over the world Satan is put into the abyss.
Then the whole government of God is going to reach out to the
whole world, fill the whole world. And it’s going to be full of blessings and
truth and righteousness, as we will see. We’ll review here in just a little bit
some of these things.
But let’s continue on, v 5—after a parenthetical statement,
which we will cover tomorrow: "This is the first resurrection. Blessed
and holy is the one who has part in the first resurrection; over these the
second death has no power…. [Which means we have eternal life. And that is the
covenant that we are in right now, brethren, with Jesus Christ and God the
Father—the covenant of eternal life.] …But they shall be priests
of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years" (vs 5-6). So it
says twice we will reign with Christ a thousand years. Now, how is the world
going to be organized? We’ve already seen some of that but let’s review a little
bit of it.
Let’s come back here to Ezekiel 37 and let’s see a prophecy
concerning Israel. Now when we go back and we read these things concerning the
Kingdom of God ruling on earth, and it refers to Israel, let’s also understand
that the other prophecies, such as Zechariah 14, includes ALL the nations, as we
will see in just a little bit also in the book of Malachi.
But let’s come here to Ezekiel 37:15 and let’s see how God is
going to organize it. "And the Word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘And you,
son of man, take a stick and write on it, ‘‘For Judah and for his companions,
the children of Israel." And take another stick and write on it, "For Joseph,
the stick of Ephraim, and all the house of Israel, his companions."… [Now it’s
interesting that he says Judah and includes them as part of the children
of Israel, because they are, but also notice what it says here for Joseph, the
stick of Ephraim, and ALL the house of Israel and his companions. So this is the
nations of Israel brought back out of captivity, returned into their lands, and
here’s how the government is going to be setup. And this is something that is
going to be a tremendous thing to behold, because we’ll be part of it.] (v 17):
…And join them to one another into one stick. And they shall become one in your
hand. And when the children of your people shall speak to you, saying, "Will you
not declare to us what do you mean by these?" Say to them, "Thus says the Lord
GOD, ‘Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of
Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions, and I will put them with him,
even with the stick of Judah, and will make them one stick, and they
shall be one in My hand’"’" (vs 15-19).
"‘And the sticks on which you write shall be in your hand
before their eyes. And say to them, "Thus says the Lord GOD… [Now here is the
meaning of taking the two sticks]: …‘Behold, I will take the children of Israel
from among the nations where they have gone… [He’s going to bring them back]
…and will gather them on every side, and will bring them into their own land.
And I will make them one nation in the land on the mountains of Israel, and one
king shall be king over them all. And they shall no longer be two nations, nor
shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all’"’" (vs 20-22).
Now, let’s just stop here and say: Remember this part of
Scriptures when someone gives you the argument that all twelve tribes are
Jews and they’re all one nation. No! It clearly says, as we put
together the other Scriptures, until the time comes that Christ returns and
re-gathers Israel—and there are many other prophecies that show that—they are
two nations. They are separate, and have been ever since the revolt against
Rehoboam after the death of Solomon. And then the ten tribes were given to
Jeroboam and they went off into captivity first. So here it is:
"‘…they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they be
divided into two kingdoms any more at all’…" (v 22). Very interesting! Now, this
is in the Jewish Bible, written in Hebrew. So I wonder why they don’t understand
that? Well, it’s because they don’t accept the New Testament; they don’t accept
Jesus Christ—so they’re blinded. And they’re blinded with the superiority
complex that they constitute all the twelve tribes of the children
of Israel—which is not true.
Now, let’s go on—v 23: "‘Nor shall they be defiled with their
idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with all of their transgressions.
But I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned,
and will cleanse them. And they shall be to Me for a people, and I will be their
God…. [Now, that’s quite a tremendous thing, isn’t it? So we can look for that
to happen. We’ll be part of making it happen.] …And David My servant shall be
king over them. And there shall be one shepherd to all of them. And they shall
walk in My ordinances and obey My laws, and do them’" (vs 23-24). See, that’s
what the unity of Scripture is all about between the Old Testament and the New
Testament—the continuity of keeping the commandments of God. In the New
Testament, under the New Covenant, we have to keep them with all our heart and
mind and soul and being, motivated from the Spirit of God. And this is what they
are going to learn. And this is what they are going to come to understand.
Because you see, they will be under a New Covenant, which is different from the
covenant that we are under today. There’s the New Covenant for the Church and
there is the New Covenant for Israel when they are brought back out of
captivity. Now we’ll see that here in just a minute.
"‘And they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My
servant, the land in which your fathers have dwelt. And they shall dwell in it,
even they and their children, and their children’s children forever…. [God
didn’t reveal that it would be for a thousand years, but forever.] …And My
servant David shall be their ruler forever…. [Which, if they attain to
the Kingdom of God it shall be.] …Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with
them…. [A new covenant that has not been yet made with the children of Israel
and the children of Judah. And that won’t take place until the beginning of the
Millennium.] …It shall be an everlasting covenant with them…. [In other words,
for eternal life.] …And I will place them, and multiply them, and will set My
sanctuary in their midst forever. And My tabernacle shall be with them. Yea, I
will be their God, and they shall be My people. And the nations shall know that
I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary shall be in their midst
forever’" (vs 25-28).
Now let’s come here to Jeremiah 31, and let’s see something very
similar to that, which shows that He’s going to make a new covenant with them
when they return. And this will go all the way through the thousand-year reign
of Jesus Christ and the saints.
Jeremiah 31:31 (pg. 584): "‘Behold, the days come,’ says the
LORD, ‘that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the
house of Judah… [There’s another good place to remember.] …Not according to the
covenant that I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to
bring them out of the land of Egypt; which covenant of Mine they broke, although
I was a husband to them,’ says the LORD; ‘But this shall be the covenant
that I will make with the house of Israel: After those days,’ says the LORD, ‘I
will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and I will
be their God, and they shall be My people. And they shall no more teach each man
his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, "Know the LORD;" for they shall
all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,’ says the LORD….
[Because He’s going to be on the earth!] …‘For I will forgive their iniquity,
and I will remember their sins no more.’ Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun
for a light by day and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light
by night, who stirs up the sea when its waves roar; (the LORD of hosts is
His name), ‘If those ordinances depart from Me,’ says the LORD, ‘the seed of
Israel also shall cease from being a nation before Me forever’" (vs 31-36).
So God is swearing on His existence; on His creation, that yes,
He is going to do this. Let’s read it. This is a tremendous promise! This
is really fantastic! "Thus says the LORD, ‘If the heavens above can be
measured, and the foundations of the earth below can be searched out, I will
also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done,’ says the
LORD. ‘Behold, the days come,’ says the LORD, ‘hat the city shall be built to
the LORD from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. And the measuring line
shall yet go before it to the hill Gareb, and shall go around to Goath. And the
whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields to the
brook of Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east, shall be
holy to the LORD. It shall not be plucked up nor thrown down any more forever’"
(vs 37-40).
Now this is a very significant thing because what He’s talking
about here in the Valley of Hinnom in the Brook of Kidron—that’s where they
sacrificed their children to the pagan gods when the children of Israel sinned
against God just before they were kicked out.
Now, let’s come back to Ezekiel 36 and let’s see what also God
is going to do—because there has to be a change. People cannot continue with the
same nature that they have. There must be a change of mind, of heart, of thought
and everything that people do—and that comes with conversion.
So here’s what He’s going to do—come back to Ezekiel 36:22:
"Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, "I do not do
this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake… [Because
He said He would.] …which you have profaned among the nations where you went.
And I will sanctify My great name, which was profaned among the nations, which
you have profaned in their midst. And the nations shall know that I am
the LORD," says the Lord GOD… [Now, we’re going to see about this a little
bit later. What’s important to understand is: What comes to Israel and comes to
Judah also goes to the nations. Now, if it says they nations shall know the
Lord, that means that they’re also being called to conversion. So here’s the
whole world—ALL the world now. A thousand years living under the government of
God and people who are converted, who at the end of their lives instead of dying
and being buried, are then entering into the Kingdom of God.] (v 24): …"For I
will take you from among the nations and gather you out of all countries, and
will gather you into your own land. And I will sprinkle clean waters upon you,
and you shall be clean. I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from
your idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within
you…. [This is conversion] …And I will take away the stony heart out of your
flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh"’" (vs 22-26).
So the nature of ALL people then is going to be changed and that
refers to the time as we find back there in Acts, the third chapter, the
‘restoration of all things.’ People will be given a nature more like the nature
that Adam and Eve had when they were created. So God is going to make it so that
even their physical minds, their spirit, their attitude and everything is going
to be changed and then improved with conversion. This is going to be something!
This is really going to be amazing!
Verse 27—as He continues here: "‘And I will put My Spirit within
you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall keep My ordinances and
do them…. [That’s conversion, brethren. We are going to be the ones who
will be superintending this and making sure that it is done. So we have a great
calling to do; and this is going to go on through all the Millennium.] …And you
shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers…. [Which includes wherever
Israel is today, because that’s what He gave to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—didn’t
He? Yes, indeed! Not just that little area in the Middle East. That’s a
very small area. But wherever modern Israel is today, as well.] …And you shall
be My people, and I will be your God. I will also save you from all your
uncleannesses, and I will call for the grain, and will increase it, and will lay
no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruits of the tree and the increase
of the field, so that you shall never again receive the curse of famine among
the nations’" (vs 27-30).
Something else is going to happen which has never happened in
the whole history of Israel—and it cannot happen until God makes it possible.
We’ll understand a little bit more about that tomorrow.
Verse 31: "‘And you shall remember your own evil ways, and your
doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight
for your iniquities and for your abominations…. [God is going to grant them
repentance, just like it says there in Rom. 2:4: The graciousness of God
leads you to repentance.] (Now, notice what He says: Lest Israel think,
‘Well, I deserve this.’ No! He says): …I do not do this for your sake,’
says the Lord GOD, ‘be it known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways,
O house of Israel.’ Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘In the day that I cleanse you from
all your iniquities, I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and
the waste places shall be rebuilt. And the waste land shall be tilled,
instead of being desolate before all who pass by. And they shall say, "This land
that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden…. [The restoration of all
things. And we’re going to see how that’s going to be carried out here in just a
bit.] …And the wasted, desolate and ruined cities now are fenced and
inhabited." And the nations that are left all around you shall know that I the
LORD build the ruined places and planted that which was desolate. I the
LORD have spoken it, and I will do it’" (vs 31-36).
So, that’s really going to be quite a thing, isn’t it? So, let’s
also see how this is going to be. Quite a fantastic thing that is taking place,
isn’t it?
All right, let’s come here to Isaiah 65—we’ve also always
applied to the Last Great Day on how long people will live. But let’s apply it
also to the Millennium, because there has to be a time to end the life of an
individual who does not accept God’s way and rejects salvation all during the
Millennium. And there has to be a time when those who are righteous are counted
worthy to enter into the Kingdom of God. And perhaps it will be very much like
it is when Jesus Christ returns and the seventh trump is sounded. ‘The dead in
Christ shall rise first. Then we which remain and are alive shall
be caught up in the air together with them and we shall be changed.’ So, there
would be very little reason at all for those who have been righteous, who have
repented, been baptized, received God’s Holy Spirit and—say, maybe they were
baptized at age 20 and they lived to be a hundred years. Here they have 80 years
of righteousness as showing and demonstrating that they love God, that they will
always serve God and now they have, through the operation of God, qualified for
salvation. And as I’ve said before, why not have at Sabbath services a ‘going
out’ party; a ‘going out’ service. This week we’re going to have so many, we
could say, going out service for so-and-so, and so-and-so, and so-and-so. And
then right during that service, while we as spirit beings pray for them and lay
hands on them to finalize the covenant that they were with to receive eternal
life, that they are changed from flesh to spirit and enter into the Kingdom of
God.
Now, this is going to be very spectacular for everyone to see
and to witness. And also, as a witness, it is going to give them the desire to
want to receive eternal life. However, as we’re going to see, toward the end of
the Millennium—the last generation—may have some other thoughts.
Now, let’s pick it up here in Isaiah 65:17: "For behold, I
create new heavens and a new earth…. [Now, that’s not the new heavens and new
earth of Rev. 21 & 22. This is the renewing of the earth and the heavens and
everything like that after all the wars that have gone on leading up to the
return of Jesus Christ. He’s going to have to make the world new. He’s going to
have to make the heavens around the earth new. That’s what it’s talking about.]
…And the former things will not be remembered, nor come to mind. But be glad and
rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem a
rejoicing, and her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and I will joy in
My people; and the voice of weeping will no more be heard in her, nor the voice
of crying" (vs 17-19). Now, this is one of the reasons that we also apply it to
the second resurrection or the Last Great Day. So, we’ll cover that tomorrow.
"There will not be an infant who lives but a few days, nor an
old man that has not filled his days, for the child will die a hundred years
old; but the sinner who is a hundred years old shall be accursed" (vs
20-21) Now, when that transformation takes place, it has to be sort of an
instantaneous death of the physical body, and that then being wholly consumed
into a new spiritual body. Because you see, as in Adam we all die! And so, this
is probably the operation that’s going to take place, and that’s why it says
we’ll die a hundred years. The rest of the Bible has to interpret, what happens
after that? Well, when they become spirit beings, they enter into the Kingdom
of God to live forever.
Now, the sinner, who is a hundred and dies is going to be
accursed. So all during the Millennium the only ones who are buried are the
sinners. Now, why is that? Because the sinners who have committed the
unpardonable sin obviously are not going to enter into the Kingdom of God.
And we know from Rev. 20—as we’ll cover tomorrow—all those who’ve committed the
unpardonable sin are going to be cast into the lake of fire, which is their
second death! So when the sinner dies "accursed" that’s his first death. So when
that takes place everyone is going to know this person rejected salvation; this
one did not listen to God. So there will be part of that all interspersed
through all during the Millennium.
Now, let’s continue on here and see, v 21: "And they will build
houses and live in them; and they will plant vineyards and eat their
fruit. They will not build, and another live in them; they will not
plant, and another eat; for like the days of a tree are so will be
the days of My people, and My elect will long enjoy the work of their hands…. [A
hundred years is long, isn’t it? Yes!] …They will not labor in vain, nor
bring forth children for calamity. For they are the seed of the beloved
of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, before
they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear. The
wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox;
and dust will be the food of the serpent. They will not hurt nor destroy
in all My holy mountain,’ says the LORD" (vs 21-25). And of course, that means
everything referring to the way of God, the plan of God during the
Millennium and so forth.
Now, let’s come to the book of Micah 4, because this tells us
also how it’s going to be during the Millennium and how the people are going to
live. And it also tells us something else that’s important to understand, which
is this: That right at first, all nations are not going to submit themselves to
the authority and rule of the Kingdom of God. There’s going to be a little
persuasion that has to take place.
Micah 4:1: "But it shall be in the last days that the
mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the
mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto
it. And many nations shall come and say, ‘Come and let us go up to the mountain
of the LORD… [go up to Jerusalem] …and to the house of the God of Jacob…. [And
we saw how that the temple is going to be during the Millennium, with a great
canopy over Jerusalem. Now, they won’t go into the city, but they will come
up to Jerusalem. And they won’t go into the place that is reserved
only for spirit beings. But they will come up to Jerusalem.] …And He will teach
us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths"—for the law shall go forth out of
Zion, and the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem’" (vs 1-2)—and we’re going to be
the ones carrying that out.
So this is going to solve all the problems of mankind. Remember,
as I’ve stated over and over and over again, man thinks he can do it his way,
with his religions, with his politics. But remember this: You cannot solve the
spiritual problems on your own, man’s way—it must be God’s way!
And it must be through Jesus Christ! Any other way, it’s just not
going to work.
Now look what’s going to happen here, v 3: "And He shall judge
among many people, and will rebuke strong nations afar off… [So even though
Christ is on the earth, even though many nations have repented, and they’re
sending their representatives up to find out how to live, what are the laws of
God, what do we need to teach the people, and we go back with them and we say
‘Here is the way it is, thus says the Lord.’ And that’s the way it’s going to
be. Now, there’s some strong nations that won’t want to submit, so here’s a
little ‘friendly persuasion’ that’s going to take place.] …and will rebuke
strong nations afar off and they shall… [They’re going to learn because
there’s going to be a war against them, as we’ll see here in just a minute.]
…beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation
shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war
anymore." And that’s the whole history of man: war, war, war, war!
I know it always just stuns me when I go through the synopsis of
the world history in Langer’s Encyclopedia of World History. There’s
nothing but war, war! Power controls! Struggle control! False religions!—and all
of these things. It is just absolutely mind-blowing! And it all goes back to
Satan, who’s the author of war, because he’s the one who started the first war
against God and was cast back to the earth.
Verse 4: "But they shall sit each one under his own vine
and under his own fig tree; and no one shall make them afraid; for the
mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken." So that’s how it’s going to be done. And
I think we’re going to find that all this modern age and everything that we have
today and all the fantastic prognostications, as we have seen, that those like
Ray Kurzweil want to do to make man immortal are just absolutely worthless and
wretched and will come to nothing—and only God’s way will work. And that’s why
we’re going to teach them God’s way.
Now, let’s also see how God is going to take care of those
nations that rebel. He has to persuade them. Let’s come here to Ezekiel 38 &
39—we’ll just review it so we will know what’s going to happen. And we will know
and understand that this is interpreting Micah 4 and Isa. 2 on how He’s going to
rebuke those nations till they know that God is God!
Ezekiel 38:1—and in this particular case, parts of these
prophecies apply to cyclical things within history. Part of it applies to the
whole invasion of the Mongols—and they came and were stopped at the doors of
Europe. Part of it applies to the things that occurred in WWII. Part of it is
going to apply again after the Millennium starts—because these nations will not
submit to God and He has got to show them that He is God. And so here in
Ezekiel 38 & 39, we find a very important thing for us to realize and understand
that’s going to happen.
Ezekiel 38:1: "And the Word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘Son
of man, set your face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief ruler of Meshech,
and Tubal, and prophesy against him…. [And the wave of that before the return of
Christ, we find in Rev. 8 & 9—when the wave of the kings of the East take place.
Then we have another wave of them when we come to Rev. 16. Now here’s the final
wave of them. So it’s going to be very difficult to persuade all these nations
of the East and the North, to submit to the Kingdom of God. So here’s the
‘friendly persuaders’—not too friendly persuaders—that are going to take place.]
…And say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the
chief ruler of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. And I will turn you back, and put hooks
into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and
horsemen, all of them clothed most gorgeously, a great assembly with
buckler and shield, all of them swordsmen… [and then it lists Persia and
Ethiopia and this Ethiopia has to do with India, not Ethiopia in Africa.] …and
Libya with them… [And the Libya that is in the Middle East, not the nation that
is in northern Africa.] …all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and
all his bands; the house of Togarmah from the uttermost parts of the
north, and all his bands; and many people with you. Be prepared; yea,
prepare for yourself, you and all your assembly that are assembled about you,
and be a guard for them" (vs 1-7).
So this is what’s going to happen. "After many days you will be
summoned. In the latter years you shall come into the land restored from war…
[Now, that is Israel brought back to the area that God originally gave to David
called the Holy Land.] …gathered out of many people, on the mountains of Israel,
which have always been waste. (But she has been brought out of the nations, and
they shall dwell securely, all of them.) And you shall go up, coming like a
storm. You shall be like a cloud to cover the land, you and all your bands, and
many people with you. Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘And it shall be in that day that
things shall come into your heart, and you shall devise an evil plan. And you
shall say, "I will go up to the land of unwalled villages…. [There won’t be any
defenses there. There won’t be any need for defensive walls or things like that,
because God will be the one Who will defend them.] …I will go to those
that are at rest [the Millennium], who dwell securely, all of them dwelling
without walls, and there are no bars nor gates to them’" (vs 8-11).
They’re living out here in their countries all destitute,
because they haven’t submitted to God, not keeping the Feast of Tabernacles, so
they’re getting not rain, they’re getting plagues. And still they don’t repent
to God. So they say, ‘All right, let’s go up, let’s gather the armies, let’s go
take it’ and God is going to absolutely destroy them.
Now, let’s come over here—I’ll let you read all of it—to v 22:
"‘And I will judge him with pestilence and with blood. And I will rain upon him,
and upon his bands, and upon the many people with him, an overflowing shower,
and great hailstones, fire and brimstone…. [They didn’t learn the lesson of Rev.
16] …Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself. And I will have Myself
known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the
LORD’" (vs 22-23).
So this is going to take place right at the beginning of the
Millennium. It’s important for us to understand the flow of everything to where
we come to the end so we know what’s going to happen and why these events are
going to take place.
(go to the next track)
Now let’s continue on with the seventh day of the Feast of
Tabernacles, 2008. Let’s continue now in Ezekiel 39, and let’s see why God does
this, and why it happens at the beginning of the Millennium; and then we will
take a review of what’s going to happen all during the Millennium.
Ezekiel 39:1: "Therefore, son of man, prophesy against Gog and
say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the chief
ruler of Meshech and Tubal. And I will turn you about, and lead you on. And I
will bring you up from the uttermost parts of the north, and I will bring you
against the mountains of Israel. And I will strike your bow out of your left
hand, and will cause your arrows to fall out of your right hand. You shall fall
on the mountains of Israel, you and all your bands, and the people with you. I
will give you for food to the birds of prey of every kind, and to the
beasts of the field. You shall fall upon the face of the open field, for I have
spoken it,’ says the Lord GOD. ‘And I will send a fire on Magog, and on those
who dwell in the isles. And they shall know that I am the LORD"’"
(vs 1-6).
So God does all of this so that men—through their own devices
and their own connivings and wanting to take and destroy and not submitting to
the government of God under Jesus Christ—which is coming out of Jerusalem to the
whole world. So God is going to make them an example; and God is going to do it
so the nations will KNOW that God is God! Now, you have to also
say, some people are very, very stubborn and hard to get the point.
Let’s read on: "‘And I will make My holy name known in the midst
of My people Israel. And I will not let them profane My holy name any
more. Then the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in
Israel…. [Now, you read all the way through here—chapters 38 & 39—God does
this so they will KNOW that He is the Lord.] (now notice): …Behold, it is
coming, and it shall be done,’ says the Lord GOD. ‘This is the day of
which I have spoken’" (vs 7-8). So it’s going to be really something!
Let’s come down here to v 11: "‘And it will be in that day that
I will give to Gog a burial place there in Israel—the valley of those who
pass by, east of the sea. And it shall block off those who pass by. And there
they shall bury Gog and all his multitude. And they shall call it,
The Valley of the Multitude of Gog. And the house of Israel shall bury them, to
cleanse the land, seven months. And all the people of the land shall bury them,
and it shall be to them a day of renown, the day that I shall be
glorified,’ says the Lord GOD" (vs 11-13).
So we come down here to v 21: "‘And I will set My glory among
the nations, and all the nations shall see My judgments which I have executed,
and My hand that I have laid on them.’" So this is going to be a dramatic thing.
When that is done, then we usher in more of the Kingdom of God; more of the
things that God wants us to know and to do.
So let’s come here to Isaiah 10 and let’s read about what the
Millennium is going to be like. This is the last war, at the beginning of the
Millennium. And we’re going to see that Gog and Magog were so infamous that God
is going to take part of Gog and Magog and use that for a special place that we
will see, when we get to Rev. 20, is a special place for sinners to go. Here’s
what it’s going to be like all during the Millennium, very similar to what we
read in Isa. 65. Isaiah 11, instead of ten. That’s what happens using the new
Bible that isn’t marked yet. Sometimes you can’t find your place and here we
have it.
Isaiah 11:1 (pg. 512): "And there shall come forth a shoot out
from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots…. [Now that’s
talking about Jesus’ first coming, then it blends into His second coming.] …And
the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and
understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of
the fear of the LORD. And His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. And He
shall not judge according to the sight of His eyes, nor after the hearing of His
ears. But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and shall reprove with
equity for the meek of the earth. And He shall strike the earth with the rod of
His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked…. [So there
we have a combination of the first and second coming all together.] (v 5): …And
righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins, and faithfulness the girdle of
His reins. Also the wolf shall dwell with the lamb… [That ties in with what we
read in Isa. 65] …and the leopard shall lie down with the kid… [instead of
killing it and taking it up in a tree and eating it.] …and the calf and the cub
lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow
and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion
shall eat straw like the ox. And the suckling child shall play on the hole of
the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the viper’s den. They shall
not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain… [and the Holy Mountain is the
government of God, meaning all the earth.] …for the earth shall be full of the
knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea" (vs 1-9). So, that’s really
something! That’s the way it’s going to be. How outstanding, brethren!
Now, let’s look and see how they’re going to be taught. [I] had
a question the other day, a man wrote in and said, ‘Will we be visible to the
people that we are teaching, or will we be invisible’? The answer is: we will
be visible, and we will show them God’s way.
We have here in Isaiah 30:19: "For, O people who dwell in Zion
at Jerusalem, you shall weep no more; He will be very gracious to you at the
voice of your cry. When He hears it, He will answer you. And though the LORD
gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your
teachers shall not be removed into a corner any more, but your eyes shall see
your teachers…. [Now, this is going to lead to a few problems, as we will
see, at the end of the Millennium; because here’s what’s going to happen]: …And
your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in
it,’ when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left’" (vs 19-21).
Isn’t that something? They are going to taught. They are going to know!
But now, let’s think about how absolutely wealthy and filled
with all kinds of things that this world is going to be during the Millennium.
And it’s going to be in such way that it is also going to effect human nature.
And the further that the people are removed from the setting up of the Kingdom
of God, and the last war with Gog and Magog, the more they’re going to get
settled into a routine in the Millennium.
So, let’s come here to Isaiah 51, and let’s see some of the
instructions that are given to us, as well as some of the instructions that are
going to be given to the people. Isaiah 51:1: "‘Hearken to Me, you who follow
after righteousness, you who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which
you were cut, and to the hole of the pit from which you were dug. Look to
Abraham [because he’ll be there] your father, and to Sarah who bore you;
for I called him alone, and blessed him, and made him many.’ For the LORD shall
comfort Zion; He will comfort all her waste places; and He will make her
wilderness like Eden…’" (vs 1-3). So again, many references that during the
Millennium the whole earth is going to be like Eden.
Now, many of you have flown in planes and I do quite frequently
in my traveling all the time. I look down on the earth and ninety-nine percent
of all the land—let’s give them ten percent, is populated. Ninety percent of the
land is given to forests and mountains and to deserts and things like this. Now
just picture the whole world as a Garden of Eden. How many billions can this
world support? And with God’s grace, His blessing—for a thousand years it’s
going to be absolutely tremendous! So it’s going to be something!
Now, continuing: "‘…and her desert like the garden of the LORD….
[It’s going to be all transformed it says in other places the desert is going to
bloom.] …Joy and gladness shall be found in it, thanksgiving and the voice of
melody. "Hearken to Me, My people; and give ear to Me, O My nation; for
instruction shall proceed from Me, and I will make My justice as a light to the
people. My righteousness is near… [So there’s always going to be access
to the righteousness of God.] …My salvation has gone out, and My arms shall
judge the people; the isles shall wait upon Me, and on My arm they shall trust.
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath… [because this
is going to be part of it] …for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and
the earth shall become old like a garment; and its inhabitants shall die in the
same way…. [That’s the wicked in the lake of fire.] …But My salvation shall
be forever, and My righteousness shall not be abolished"’" (vs 4-6).
Tremendous what God has said here. All of these things have to do with our
serving and loving God and doing the things that He wants us to do.
Now let’s come here to Isaiah 60—and there’s going to be such
economic power; there’s going to be such economic things going on that it’s
going to be almost unbelievable. It’s going to be the greatest time in the
history of all mankind. And God is going to give them every blessing—every
physical thing in addition to opportunity for salvation.
They are not
going to be hungry.
They’re not
going to suffer famine.
There will
not be any crime.
There aren’t
going to be any policemen around in the sense that we know today.
No prisons.
No jails.
No
hospitals.
It’s going
to be perfect the way God wants it to be.
But you see, as we look at it here, and all of these things will
be here.
Isaiah 60:15: "Instead of being forsaken and hated, so that no
one passes through, I will make you and eternal excellency, a joy of many
generations. You will also suck the milk of nations, and suck the breast of
kings; and you shall know that I the LORD am your Savior and your
Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob" (vs 15-16). Now this applies to those of us
who are spirit beings. We’re going to benefit from everything that is done on
the earth. And we will be priests under Christ, which means that we are going to
share in the tithes and offerings that the people bring to God. Just exactly
like the Levites shared in the tithes and offerings, and then they sent up an
offering to the priests. So likewise, in the Millennium that will be. So we’ll
have wealth beyond imagination.
Now notice what the economy is going be like, v 17: "For bronze
I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver… [So this shows that there’s
going to be mining; there’s going to be refining; there are going to be all
those things undertaken.] …and for wood I will bring bronze, and for stones,
iron. I will also make your overseers to be peace, and your rulers to be
righteousness. Violence will no more be heard in your land…" (vs 17-18).
You stop and think about that as a fantastic blessing. No
violence! No killing! No murder! No gangs! And if they start going out of the
way, we say, ‘Utt, utt, utt, uha, here is the way, walk in it!’ And I’m sure,
that every Sabbath when we’re instructing the people—because we will be—that’s
when they’re going to get the instructions on the ‘way to go’—as well as hearing
the voice behind them: don’t do that! Now for those who are converted,
they’ll be very happy to hear it. But think about those who are marginal and are
not converted, and they hear this voice telling them, do this, do that, do
the other thing. You know what it’s going to do? It’s going to cause them to
resent it—especially in the last generation. Now, there are always going to be
some people who will not choose God’s way. And those are going to be the ones
who will die accursed and wait the second resurrection to the lake of fire. So
the government will appear to those people who don’t repent to be oppressive.
Just think about that for a minute as we read on here.
"…Violence will no more be heard in your land neither
wasting nor ruin within your borders; but you will call your walls Salvation,
and your gates Praise" (vs 18)—then it blends on into the New Jerusalem.
Now, let’s come here to see the mission of Jesus Christ along
with the blessing that is given to those in the first resurrection, who then are
the teachers during the Millennium. Isaiah 61:1: "The Spirit of the Lord GOD
is upon Me because the LORD has anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the
poor; He has sent Me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the
captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To preach the
acceptable year of the LORD and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all
who mourn… [Now, part of this was fulfilled during the first coming of Christ.]
…To appoint to those who mourn in Zion, giving to them beauty for ashes, the oil
of joy for mourning, the mantle of praise for the spirit of heaviness; so that
they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He
might be glorified. And they will build the old wastes, they will raise up the
desolations of former times. And they shall repair the waste cities, the
desolations of many generations" (vs 1-4). It’s going to really be something
when they do that.
"And strangers will stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of
the stranger will be your plowmen and your vinedressers…. [So it’s going
to be a time really of fantastic things that are going to be taking place.]
(Now, notice what it said of us, v 6): …But you shall be called the priests of
the LORD; it will be said of you, ‘The ministers of our God’; you will eat the
riches of the Gentiles… [Just like I said, we are going to have wealth given to
us.] …and you will boast in their glory. For your shame you will have
double; instead of dishonor they will rejoice in their portion; therefore in
their own land they will possess double; everlasting joy will be theirs. For I
the LORD love justice, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct
their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. And
their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the
people; all who see them will acknowledge them, that they are the seed
the LORD has blessed" (vs 5-9).
Now again, here in v 10 it blends into those of us who will be
serving as kings and priests during the Millennium: "I will greatly rejoice in
the LORD, my soul will be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with
the robes of salvation, He covered me with the robe of righteousness like a
bridegroom adorns himself with ornaments, and like a bride adorns
herself with her jewels; For as the earth brings forth its bud, and as the
garden causes that which is sown to grow; so the Lord GOD will cause
righteousness and praise to grow before all the nations" (vs 10-11). So this is
quite a magnificent way of explaining what is it going to be like all during the
Millennium.
Now, let’s go to Revelation 20, and let’s pick up the rest of
the story. Let’s find out that there are some people, in spite of all of this,
toward the end of the Millennium, and even during the Millennium—because there
will be those who will die accursed and will wait the second resurrection to the
lake of fire; which will be the few. But at the end of the Millennium we are
going to see a great case of (how shall we say) complacency and the pull of
human nature of those who are not converted, who are not accepting the salvation
that God gives. And they will not want to be part of what’s going on.
Now, what did God do with Adam and Eve when they sinned? He
exiled them from the Garden of Eden because it wasn’t time for them to
die. If He would have executed them—‘the wages of sin is death’ and in the
eating of the fruit: ‘in the day that you eat thereof in dying you shall surely
die’—if He would have carried out that penalty right at that moment, there
wouldn’t be anymore mankind. So God has let mankind go his way. And Adam and
Eve, when they went their way, He exiled them out of the Garden of Eden and
placed Cherubim at the east entrance to ‘keep the way of the tree of life’ so
they couldn’t get in there. However, they probably met God out there at the east
entrance and conversed with Him and so forth.
Then we find another exile when Cain killed Abel; and God did
not execute the death penalty against him. What He did, He cursed him and sent
him away to the ‘land of wandering.’ Now after the Flood—of course, the Flood
destroyed all the wicked at that time—God made it known that the nations, when
they became evil, that God would send armed forces against them and carry them
off into captivity—just like He did with the ten tribes of Israel and the house
of Judah. And the house of Judah went into captivity twice! The final time in 70
AD and there’re just a few that have come back to the area they like to call
Israel today.
So whenever people sin and God does not want to execute the
death penalty against them at that particular time, He exiles them. Now if we
can put this together and understand what we’re talking about here in Revelation
20:1—we have to go back to the fulfillment of the Day of Atonement when Satan is
cast into the abyss: "Then I saw an angel descending from heaven, having the key
of the abyss, and a great chain in his hand. And he took hold of the dragon, the
ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a
thousand years. Then he cast him into the abyss, and locked him up, and
sealed the abyss over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any
longer until the thousand years were fulfilled… [And many have wondered
why did God do it this way? And what was the purpose of not eliminating
Satan altogether? Why just eliminate him for a thousand years? But notice what
it says when the thousand years was fulfilled]: …and after that it is ordained
that he be loosed for a short time" (vs 1-3) Now we’re not told exactly
how long a short time is.
Now let’s come down here to v 7, and see if we can help answer
the question: Why is this going to happen, and how many people are going to be
involved? We’re not told how many will be involved. But you see, the truth of
the matter is this: Even though the Kingdom of God is on earth and there are
going to be great blessings and tremendous things for all human beings,
God is not taking away choice.
People have
to choose to repent!
They have to
choose to love God.
They have to
choose to obey God.
They have to
choose to desire eternal life.
There will still be that part of human nature in some people,
that they will resent the kind of teaching and instruction and direction that
they are given—and they will not want to submit to God’s way. So there will be
some sinners. Now, when the population increases all during the Millennium—we
don’t know how many billions of people are going to be on the earth in the last
generation of the Millennium, but it’s not inconceivable that it’s going to be
billions and billions and billions of people. Because men and women are going to
be fruitful and multiply because God wants many, many, many sons and daughters
in His Kingdom. And He is determined that they all have to be fleshly human
beings first! And those who repent and accept God’s way will
receive eternal life. Those who don’t will be rejected and face the lake of
fire.
So during the Millennium the sinners will die—that’s their first
death. Toward the end of the Millennium we have some rebellion, plus complacency
and the carnality of wanting to go their own way. What you might say, we have a
huge case of Laodiceanism; because they look back and they see all the things
that have been the same for years and years and years and years, and human
nature desires something different. And they will choose and God will open the
door for them to choose it so that He can bring upon them what we find here in:
Revelation 20:7: "Now when the thousand years have been
completed, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison…" Now here’s what’s
important: all during the Millennium Satan is not there. All those who reject
salvation will do so knowingly!—because Satan is not there to
deceive them. So at the end of the Millennium we have these people who
knowingly reject salvation, and yet, God has not come to the point that
they should die. So God follows what He’s always done: He exiles them! Where
does He exile them?
Verse 8: "And he shall go out to deceive the nations that are
in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog…" Now remember how we covered at
the beginning of the Millennium the epitome of sin and rebellion was Gog and
Magog and the armies that they brought against Israel after Christ was here,
returned to Israel their own land, and the Millennium had begun. So God has
reserved in the geographical area of Gog and Magog a place of exile. Now how do
we know that it’s not the people of Gog and Magog? Well, very simply, because if
God, Who says He’s no respecter of persons, destined all of Gog and Magog never
to receive salvation, then He surely would have been a respecter of
persons—correct? So this cannot refer to the people alone, but to the area of
Gog and Magog.
"…to deceive the nations…" Now, the nations—that means there are
people from every nation who are there. "…Gog and Magog, of whom the number
is as the sand of the sea, to gather them together for war" (v 8). So this
doesn’t tell us how many there are. And the reason it doesn’t is because God yet
does not know, because they haven’t made their choice to go God’s way or reject
God’s way. So it’s going to be from all nations. So there will be those who will
not serve God, those who will reject salvation and now, in order to prepare for
the fulfillment of the Last Great Day, God has to do something with all of these
who have been exiled because of their rebellion and their sin. So He sends them
to Gog and Magog.
Now Satan comes! Satan comes! And he’s going to appear, as he
always does, as an angel of light. And he’s going to say to them, "I am the real
God. Down here in Jerusalem is the false god.’ Just like it was when Jesus
returns. The false Christ and the false Prophet are going to say, ‘That which is
coming in the heavens is the antichrist.’ And as a matter of fact, even the
Catholic prophecies say that the antichrist will reign for a thousand years and
abolish all idols. Now that tells you they know something, doesn’t it? Yes,
indeed!
So Satan comes out and says, "I am the real God. Now you deserve
what is down there. You deserve [it], it is your right. Now, what we need to do
is arm ourselves because these people don’t have any weapons. These people down
here, they don’t even have any bars. As you know, you came from there. They
don’t have any bars. They don’t have any bars of iron to protect themselves.
They don’t have any implements of war. So what we’re going to do is make
implements of war and we’re going to go forward with this." I imagine he’s even
going to set up the false religious system again where they’re worshipping Satan
the devil, and he’s going to stir them up in a ravenous state to come down and
to take what ‘rightfully belongs to them.’ Because he does this: "…to gather
them together for war" (v 8). That’s the purpose.
And what’s going to happen to them? This is why God does it.
Let’s read it: Verse 9: "Then I saw them go up upon the breadth of the
earth and encircle the camp of the saints, and the beloved city; and fire came
down from God out of heaven and consumed them…" Now, what is that?
They’re all destroyed! That’s their first death! Because all of
those who reject salvation and are incorrigibly wicked must die two
deaths! So there has to be a first death for all of those who rebel and were
sent off into exile into the area of Gog and Magog—they all die!
Then the last thing that is going to happen, and here’s what’s
going to take place at the end of the Millennium, the very
fulfillment of God’s Word. Satan will have no longer any purpose at all. Because
as we will see tomorrow, those who are resurrected in the second resurrection
for salvation, Satan the devil will not be around. So let’s read it here:
"And the Devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of
fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet had been cast…
[Because they were cast in there at the beginning of the Millennium. And we know
that flesh cannot be tormented by fire day and night. It burns up. It’s like
being thrown into the rolling volcanic lava flow or a volcanic lava lake that is
just seething with lava. Anyone’s thrown in there—poooom!—you’re ashes in
nothing flat.] …and they… [Now, this is a difficult thing in the Greek, because
‘they’ does not refer to the Beast and the False Prophet, but it refers to Satan
and his demons. So that’s why that has been clarified in the italic print in the
new Bible.] …Satan and the demons, shall be tormented day and night into
the ages of eternity" (v 10).
Now, what is the final thing that is going to happen to them?
Well, they are going to be put into outer darkness. They’re cast into the
lake of fire first, and then they are removed to outer darkness—never again to
deceive; never again to make war.
Let’s come here to the book of Jude—the last of the General
Epistles—and we will see their fate; and we will see what God says it’s going to
be. And this is the fitting punishment for Satan and the demons, and this will
be more torment than being in a lake of fire.
Jude, 6: "And the angels who did not keep their own original
domain, but deserted their habitation… [That was in Satan’s rebellion before man
was created and a third of the angels followed him.] …He is holding in eternal
bonds under darkness unto the judgment of the great day…. [And this is
the judgment right here—just before the great day occurs.] …Just as Sodom and
Gomorrah—and the cities surrounding them, in the same manner as them—having
given themselves over to sexual debaucheries, and having gone after different
flesh, are themselves exhibited as a perpetual example of undergoing
the punishment of eternal fire…" (vs 6-7)—which came down out of God and
destroyed them. And what happened with Sodom and Gomorrah should be a lesson for
everyone—should have been a lesson for those in the last generation. If you
rebel against God, though God let’s you live and though God let’s you sin,
know that judgment is coming! And just like fire came down on Sodom
and Gomorrah and consumed them and the cities all around; so likewise, those who
rebelled against God and were exiled and allowed to live in their sins in exiled
area of Gog and Magog, when they came down to battle against Jerusalem fire came
down from God and destroyed them all—just like He did with Sodom and Gomorrah.
"In the same way also, these dreamers of filthy dreams
are defiling the flesh, and are declaring as invalid the lordship
of God, and are blaspheming the divine powers" (v 8). And that’s
exactly what Satan is going to inspire them to do, to gather them together for
battle.
Verse 10: "As for these, whatever things they do not understand,
they blaspheme; but whatever things they understand by instinct, as irrational
brute beasts, they are corrupting themselves in these things…. [And that’s just
showing the degenerateness of human nature.] …Woe to them! For they have
walked in the way of Cain…" (vs 10-11). And that is the religion that is in
the world in it’s various divisions called the great religions of this world.
They are all the ‘way of Cain.’ So when Satan is allowed to go to Gog and Magog
to deceive them into battle, guess what they’re going to be following? The
‘way of Cain.’
"…and for gain… [Satan says, ‘Come on, let’s go down and take
it.’] …they have wholly given themselves up to Balaam’s delusion, and have
perished in the rebellion of Korah" (v 11). So this is bringing everything
together. What Jude is doing here, he is bringing all the worst punishments that
God has executed upon sinning man, and he’s saying, ‘This is going to come upon
the angels who left their first estate.’
Verse 12: "These are subversive stains in your love feasts,
feasting in person together with you; fearlessly they are feeding
themselves…. [And that’s what’s happened down through history and in the Church
of God, as well.] …They are clouds without water… [never converted, just
phewww!] …being driven by the winds; trees of late autumn, without any
fruit, uprooted, twice dead… [All of those who follow Satan the devil and the
demons are going to die twice!] …Raging waves of the sea…
[Now, it blends into Satan the devil here] …casting up like foam their own
ignominious shame; wandering stars… [That’s referring to Satan the
devil and the demons.] …for whom has been reserved the blackest darkness
forever!" (vs 12-13).
And that’s why they will be tormented forever. And thus ends the
thousand-year Millennium! The Kingdom of God on earth is not yet finished,
because there’s one more day and there is one more time of salvation that God is
going to give—and we will find out to whom He will give it and how He will give
it and the meaning of the Last Great Day. So come back tomorrow and we will
finish the plan of God as outlined in the Scriptures.
Scriptural References:
Revelation
20:4-6
Ezekiel
37:15-28
Jeremiah
31:31-40
Ezekiel
36:22-36
Isaiah
65:17-25
Micah 4:1-4
Ezekiel
38:1-11, 22-23
Ezekiel
39:1-8, 11-13, 21
Isaiah
11:1-9
Isaiah
30:19-21
Isaiah
51:1-6
Isaiah
60:15-18
Isaiah
61:1-11
Revelation
20:1-3, 7-10
Jude 6-8,
10-13
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
Zechariah 14
Roman 2:4
Isaiah 2
Revelation
8, 9, 16
Also referenced: Langer’s Encyclopedia of World History
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