Fred Coulter - October 16, 2000

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And greetings brethren.  This is Day 3 of the Feast of Tabernacles, 2000.  And for all you tie watchers, I’ve got a different tie again today.  [Laughter]  So I have made up my mind, I’m going to wear a different tie every day so I won’t be accused of just wearing the same old tie every time I do a video.  So anyway, thanks for reminding me that I shouldn’t just wear the same tie. 

I think it’s very interesting that when we’re going through all of the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the millennium, how many of those scriptures we find in the Old Testament.  As a matter of fact, we find nearly all of them in the Old Testament.  And that tells us what is going to be, but then the New Testament now, it tells us a little bit about it but not very much.  Because the New Testament focuses in on the character qualifications in order to be in the Kingdom of God.  So it’s quite an interesting way that that is lined up.  I know when I was preparing for this sermon for the third day here, I noticed, “Boy look at all of these scriptures out of the Old Testament.”  And so, that’s where we’re going to be.  We’ll be there most of the time.  But let’s first of all understand something that’s very important concerning how we understand prophecy.  And especially when we get to certain things like the millennium and the 100 year period, there are certain things that are not clear.

Now let’s go to 1 Corinthians 13 and let’s understand that the apostle Paul wrote an instructed us that it would be that way.  That we only see things partially, and we’re really looking through a glass darkly.  Now let’s pick it up here in verse 8.  Now “[Love] Charity never faileth…” And of course as I mentioned yesterday, that’s the thing we’re really going to teach all of the people in the millennium, the Kingdom of God, the love of God, how to love God.  And of course, we have to learn that now in order to qualify so that we can teach them.  “…Never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail…” Now let me just clear up one thing here.  This does not mean the prophecies of God.  Because Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My word shall not pass away.”  So therefore this cannot mean the prophecies of God because all the prophecies of God are going to take place and happen at the right time, according to the set time as God has determined for each one. 

“…Whether there be tongues, they shall cease…”, because who knows the language we will have when we’re resurrected.   We don’t know the exact language that God has and I’m convinced it’s not Hebrew.  We don’t know what Adam and Eve spoke.  And besides Hebrews is a polluted language as any other language.  It’s got all of the false gods and false things in there that other religions have that are in their religions, it’s all in Hebrew too.  So you see all those sacred-namer’s who say that Hebrew is a pure language just don’t understand what Hebrew is all about at all.  But anyway, let’s go on.  They’ll all cease because we’ll have a new one.  “…Whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away” (1 Cor. 13:8).  Well let’s understand something concerning knowledge and of the knowledge of the Lord the increase of His government there will be no end.  But what he’s talking about, this knowledge is human knowledge.  This human knowledge is going to vanish away.  And he points this out as we get a little further along here. 

“For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away [or cease]” (vs. 9-10).  It will be replaced really.  The perfect will replace the imperfect.  And this is what we are looking to.  So what God is doing now, He is perfecting His people.  He is perfecting those who are going to be the kings, and the priests, and the teachers right now in this life so we will be prepared to teach all of those people in the millennium in their lives.

Now notice verse 11.  “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child…” And of course this has to do with those of us now.  We are to grow up into Christ.  That’s how we’re going to qualify.  The fullness of the stature and the measure of Jesus Christ.  And that perfection will not come until the resurrection.  But let’s understand something here.  Many of the problems and difficulties that we have had brethren, through all the years that we’ve gone through, and all the trials, and all the difficulties, and all the ups and downs is really because too many people continued to act as children rather than spiritually mature.  They talked as a child, they understood as a child, they thought as a child.  Now then, Paul says, “…but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”  And now is the time for us to grow up in knowledge and understanding to grow in grace and knowledge and the love of God that we can be to the full stature as much as possible, because that’s the whole purpose of what God wants us to be doing.  And especially now in this time when we have peace, when we have convenience, when we can get together.  When we have the word of God, when we can study it and apply it to our lives. 

And yet we’re also experiencing something that I’ll talk about tomorrow, which has to do with how are people going to react to us during the millennium.  And what are going to be the obstacles to overcome then because they will still have to overcome, but the whole physical environment around them will be completely changed and they won’t be taught any of the things of the devil because he will be in the abyss.  So we’ll learn that tomorrow.  So we need to put away all these childish things.  And you stop and think about all these silly little doctrines that happen.  As I mentioned, I think it was yesterday, someone called and said, “Boy, you know, I’m just getting tired of all of these arguments.”  [Laughter]  If you can’t bring up an argument any better than 2000 years old, well then, you know…  If you have something that’s true and right and has some substance to it well that’s ok.  We’ll go into it.  There’s no problem with it.  But you see now we have it, when there are questions that come up we’ll have tapes and we’ll have booklets and it comes up and we’ll have a reservoir to be able to send it out and to send it on it’s way.

Now verse 12, “For now we see through a glass, darkly…” It’s not clear, but we still see.  “…But then [that is at the resurrection] face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known [that is, am known of God].  And now abideth faith, hope, [love] charity, these three; but the greatest of these is [love] charity.”  And that’s the whole thing we need to understand.  And the greatest of the love is the love of God. 

Now let’s come back here to chapter 2, and let’s see how we can elaborate on this a little bit more.  And of course God has promised that we will understand these things, especially in the end times.  That means we will be able while we’re still looking through a glass darkly, to see and understand even more of these things, which we will do today. 

Now let’s pick it up here 1 Corinthians 2:9.  “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.”  Now I want you to really think on that.  I want you to really understand that God has called you and you are where you are because God loves you, and God has a plan, which we already have covered.  And you are part of that.  And God has eternal life to give you, and a reward to give you, and a responsibility to give you.  And so we better be about doing our Father’s business as Jesus told Joseph and Mary when they came to look for Him when He stayed back during the days of Unleavened Bread.

Now notice, “But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit…”  So that’s how we’re able to understand.  By His Spirit.  We have nothing we didn’t receive.  We have no understanding that didn’t come from God.  But we try and grow in grace and knowledge and when we’re thinking about some things and trying to get a clearer picture of it, sometimes we get out own ideas in it and in that way then we need to back off and we need to ask God to help us, give us more understanding so we won’t generate any doctrines out from our own carnal self, because that will lead to nowhere.  “…For the spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (vs. 10).  Now the deep things of God that we’ll understand are just really kind of shallow when you…even the greatest depths we can go to.  When you compare, especially when we get to the Last Great Day, when New Jerusalem comes down to the earth, and what God is going to do at that time, He’s going to unveil His plan for all eternity.  And that is going to be something, brethren.  I mean what God has in store for us is so great and so marvelous, and so fantastic that it is just absolutely mind-boggling.  And the only way we can comprehend even the little bit we do is with the Spirit of God.

“For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?”  Now one person asked the question, “Well, you know the Gnostics talked about the light of spirit within man and so therefore could it be that the doctrine of the spirit in man really is from the Gnostics and we need to understand this a little differently?”  No, let’s understand something concerning that.  The Gnostic understanding of it is “the light of the spirit” has to do with their version of the immortal soul.  Man does have a spirit.  God gave it to him, and it gives us intelligence.  And so this is not a doctrine of the Gnostics.  The Gnostics perverted all of this when they proclaimed themselves to be wise.  Now we’ll see that here in just a minute.  We’ll add that scripture in, but let’s just go on with this.  “…Even so the things of God…” Now we’re going to study some of the things of God for this third day of the Feast of Tabernacles.  “…Even so the things of God knoweth no man…”, that is of himself.  God will reveal a certain point about Himself and about His creation, as we will see.  But man has to respond to God once He’s done that.  Cause it doesn’t come from within.  And most of these teachers today, with the New Age religion: you are god within and all you have to do is be in touch with yourself, which is a Satanic teaching.  So we cannot find God unless God reveals Himself to us.  We cannot understand God separate from His word.  We cannot understand the scriptures, even the scriptures that we are going to study here today, without the Spirit of God to show us and teach us, and we have to do that rightly also so that we can understand the best that we can.  Now it says here “…but the Spirit of God” (vs. 11).  Only God’s Spirit can make that possible.

Then he contrasts that to the spirit of this world, which now in this world Satan the devil is the prince of the power of the air, and that is the spirit of bondage.  That is the spirit of fear.  That is the spirit that runs and controls and dominates this world.  Now it says here, verse 12, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God [or from God]; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy [Spirit] Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (vs. 12-13).  And that’s what we’re going to do.  That’s why the natural man can’t understand it.

Let’s look here in Romans 1 and let’s see what happens when God reveals a certain amount of His being, a certain amount of Himself to those who are the great leaders, who became the Gnostics, who became the philosophers and created the societies that we have.  And we’re just ending up with the same result as they had in those ancient societies, and that’s why the Kingdom of God has to come.  That’s why it is going to be the greatest kingdom that has ever been.  Because Christ is going to be the King.  We will be the kings and priests.  Plus all the saints of God will have some kind of responsibility in carrying out the government of God right on down to the cities and the towns.  And so we’re going to have a great part in that.

But notice… let’s read it right here.  Romans 1:18, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;” Now how do men do that?  By saying, “Well, we have a better idea.”  They’re not like Paul in admitting “Well, we see darkly so let’s put it together right so we can understand.”  No, they bring in their own ideas.  Now I read part of a book which I’m going to read even more of by Alan Dershowitz.  You know the lawyer who is one of Larry King’s favorite lawyers on Larry King Live.  And he was on there constantly when they had the O.J. Simpson trial.  And he wrote a book, The Genesis of Justice, and in approaching that he says, “God is imperfect, God is incomplete, God doesn’t follow through on the promise of His punishment.  God says one thing and does another thing.  God was even upset that He even created man in the first place.  And so here’s a carnal approach to the word of God.  That’s an example of it being held in unrighteousness. 

So when men do that here’s what happens, verse 19.  “Because that which may be known of God is manifest [to] in them [God manifest it to them]; for God hath shewed it to them.”  And here’s what God showed.  “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and God head; so that they are without excuse:” And then they exchange the truth for a lie, etc, and all of those things took place. 

Now let’s come to Isaiah 28 and let’s see how we are to understand the Bible.  And we are entering into a time now, because there is so much going on in the world, so many people having a religious bent, so many different versions of the Bible that it’s awfully hard for people to really grasp what’s going on.  And then to say, “Take your Bible and study it and it will teach you.”  Well, when everyone had the King James Version we could do that, but no longer.  We have to say, “Make sure you have the right Bible.  Make sure it’s from the proper Hebrew text and Greek text.”  Now here in Isaiah 28, God has a very interesting thing that He does and shows how He fulfills what He does there in Romans 1. 

Now let’s come here to Isaiah 28:5, “In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory…” Now this is talking about coming into the time of the millennium.  And what we need to understand concerning the Old Testament is: there’s a little bit here and there’s a little bit there, and there’s a little bit in another place, as we understood concerning the prophecies of Jesus first coming, so we have to put them all rightly together.  So we’re going to see verses 5 and 6 have to do with the millennium.  Verse 7 has to do with the events going clear back to that time when Isaiah was prophesying.  And later that is a prophecy coming out to our day today.  So God’s word is really something.  With His word He does two things with it.  It will mean something for those that God has called, and the truth and understanding of His word.  It will mean exactly the opposite to those who don’t love God and hate Him, and have the spirit of this world.

Let’s see it.  “…And for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of His people, and for a spirit of judgment to Him that sitteth in judgment…”, which we will all be sitting in judgment because John wrote there in Revelation 20 that the judgment was set and he saw thrones and they that sat on them, that’s the judgment chair.  “…And for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.”  Now then it completely changes the subject here in verse 7.  “But they also have erred through wine…” You can put in your notes there, Revelation 17:1-5, the wine of the wrath of the fornication of the harlot who rides the beast.  “…And through strong drink are out of the way [they have left the way of God]; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink…” And we can say what is the strongest drink they’re going to take?  The whole ecumenical movement.  That’s the strongest drink they are going to take.  And so this is right up to date here.  “…They are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.  For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so there is no place clean” (Isa. 28:5-8).  So this is describing the religion that is being built up right today.    

Now notice, in this world and in this environment God asks the question, “Whom shall He teach knowledge? and whom shall He make to understand doctrine?”  Good question.  Especially with so many errors out there going in how many different directions?  “…them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts” (vs. 9).  Now that means coming straight from the word of God.  You have to have the milk of the word of God to grow, and then you have to be able to have strong meat, as Paul says in Hebrews 5.  So when you’re drawn from the breast, that means that you have been weaned and now you are eating food, or as Paul says, strong meat.  

Verse 10, here’s how you do it.  “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” So we have to properly put it together.  “For with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this people.”  So the world is not going to understand it.  And if someone comes in to the things that we have been teaching for a long time and they’re brand new, they enter into a pretty heavy load.  So they’ve got to take it step by step.  We’ve go to provide the milk for them so they can grow, so that they can understand the word of God in the same way. 

“To whom He said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear” (vs. 12).  Now what happens when you won’t hear?  And you can just put in your margin there Matthew 13, the parable of the sower.  Some hear the word immediately, receive it with joy and then tribulation comes along and then they give up.  Others, because when they hear the word of God and then the cares and riches of this world, like the weeds, grow up and choke it out.  So what happens in those cases?  Verse 13, “But the word of the LORD was unto them [who were disobedient] precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.”  

Now the reason that I wanted to cover this brethren, is to show you what a fantastic and marvelous thing that God has done that we can understand His word.  That we can understand His plan.  That we realize that God has brought us into the knowledge of His secret plan for all of mankind.  Now let’s go ahead here.  Let’s come to Daniel 2 and let’s talk a little bit more about the Kingdom of God because the Kingdom of God is what this whole Feast of Tabernacles pictures - the Kingdom of God on the earth, really here, fully in place. 

Now Daniel 2:44, “And in the days of these kings…”  Now these are the last before Christ sets on the earth.  “…shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed…”  Now I want you to understand something very important.  What we are doing is forever.  Do you understand that?  Do you grasp that?  That’s why we’ve gone through things like: Why God Hates Religion.  That’s why we’ve gone through:  you need to quit playing church.  That’s why we’ve gone through things: how to love God.  Matter of fact we have a whole series on the love of God.  That’s why we’ve gone through things concerning Scripturalism vs. Judaism.  Why we’ve gone through things: The Holy Sabbath, Refuting Sunday-keeping, keeping the Holy Days, how to grow in grace and knowledge, and all of these things, because what we are doing is for all eternity.  Like I said at the beginning, the prophecies are in the Old Testament but the teaching the character for those who will qualify to rule and reign with Christ, that’s in the New Testament.  So what we cover during the Feast of Tabernacles then, is those things that we will be doing and what the people will be doing.  But notice, He’s going to “…set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people [only those that God has chosen], but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, an it shall stand for ever.” 

Now have you ever thought about the fact that you are in on God’s plan, which is the beginning of eternity for you and me, and all the other brethren that God is dealing with, that God is going to call, all of the saints that have died in the faith going clear on back to Able?  Now that’s something.  This is not just a little pip-squeak thing that we’re dealing with.  This is first of all involving the whole world, and next then the whole universe, as we will see.  It will stand forever. He’s not going to leave it to other people.  “…The great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure” (vs. 45).  And so it’s going to happen, without a doubt.

Now let’s come here to Daniel 7 and let’s see something else here.  Let’s pick it up in verse 26.  And you will be amazed how Revelation and Daniel tie together all the way through.  Now if you don’t have our series on Revelation, write for it.  We probably now, by this time with all the tapes we’ve done down through the years, probably have 25 tapes on things concerning Revelation.  So we’ve virtually gone through it verse by verse.  One of the things that we want to do is eventually get through the whole New Testament verse by verse in a study like we have done with the book of Romans.  So that’s a long term goal that I have.  And as long as there is peace, and as long as we’re able to do so that’s one of the things we need to really focus in on, and to really do, and to concentrate on so that we know the word of God, and there be no doubt what so ever. 

Now, Daniel 7:26.  Now notice how this ties in with Revelation, as I just said.  “But the judgment shall sit…” Now let’s just go back to Revelation 20 and see that.  And as you study the book of Revelation, and if you have a marginal reference, look at how many of the references go back to the book of Daniel.  See the book of Daniel brought prophecies up to a certain point.  And they’re very difficult to understand if you try and bring them all the way to the end-time, though it talks about the end-time.  And that’s why Daniel said, “O LORD, what shall the end of these things be?”  And he was told, “Seal up the book, close it up till the time of the end.”  So Daniel didn’t know. 

Now here’s John, Revelation 20:4.  (We’ll come back here to Daniel 7 in just a minute.)  “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them…”  Now it says here in Daniel 7:26, “And the judgment shall sit…”  That’s what we have here.  And then it talks about all of those who were in the first resurrection.  Now back to Daniel 7:26.  Notice what we’re going to do.  The judgment shall sit, “…and they [that’s referring to the saints who are resurrected] shall take away his dominion [from the beast], to consume and to destroy it unto the end.”  There will not be one potsherd, not one sliver, not one piece of an idol, not one piece of any false god anywhere.  It’s going to be all destroyed.  And everything having to do with false religion, false education, false economics, false agriculture is all going to come to an end.  And God is going to institute all of the right things and reinstitute everything, as it says there in Acts 3, the restoration of all things.

Now notice verse 27.  “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High…” That brethren is our inheritance.  I want you to understand that.  That’s why He’s called us in the conditions that we are.  Now many of us are old.  Many of us are weak.  Many of us have health problems.  But He has called us that way to confound the wise, to confound the powerful.  To show that it’s not by might or by power but it’s by God’s Spirit that these things are going to be accomplished.  And God is going to give you the Kingdom.  What did Jesus say?  He says it’s God’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.  So that’s why we keep the Feast of Tabernacles.  Let’s finish this here.  Now notice, “…Whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.”  Now remember what it said there in Philippians 2, that every knee is going to bow to Jesus Christ.  Every knee.  So it really doesn’t matter what people think.  It really doesn’t matter what their ideas are, or what their traditions are, whether they believe in Jesus Christ or not, every one is going to have to face Jesus Christ.  Period!  That’s just the way the Bible says it’s going to be.

Now, let’s look about the Church here.  Let’s understand a little bit more.  And some of these things I know… Let’s come to Isaiah 54.  Now let’s understand a little bit about of these things from this point of view.  In a couple of them, here in Isaiah 54, we will see that the apostle Paul made reference to this in Galatians 4.  And we’ll look at it there too.  But what we need to understand is this: some of these things, while it looks like they apply to physical Israel, do apply to spiritual Israel.  And as we found out during Pentecost there are some things we need to understand even more about the Bride of Christ and the guests who are going to be resurrected and be there for the marriage supper of the Lamb, and how God is going to put all of that together.  But what really helped me understand was this: we are saved by faith.  And God is going to give us the reward as it pleases Him.  God is going to place us into whatever positions that we have in the Kingdom of God by His choice and His direction.  So that helps relieve all of the things that we have had in the past in trying to figure it out for ourselves.  God will do a better job than what we’ve been able to do. 

Now let’s pick it up here, Isaiah 54:1.  “Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear…” This is a direct prophecy of the Church of God.  “…Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.”  Now then, what does this mean?  This is talking about the difference between God being married to physical Israel, and then spiritual Israel.  And spiritual Israel, at the time that Christ came was desolate.  There are many more offspring which came from the 12 tribes than ever have been concerning those who are called. So that’s why it is the desolate.  “Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes…” (Isa. 54:1-2).  In other words God is setting up a big tabernacles here, that’s what He’s doing.  Oh, also let me just mention here very clearly that when Christ died that ended the marriage covenant with physical Israel, because marriage is until death.  That’s why Christ came and died.  You find that in Romans 7.  Now if you don’t have our series on Romans, well write for it and when you get to Romans 7 then you’ll completely understand that.

Now let’s go on here, verse 3.  “For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.”  Talking about what we’re going to be doing and part of our job.  “Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.  For thy Maker is thine husband…” Now there are some things tied in with physical Israel there that is true.  “…The LORD of hosts is His name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall He be called” (vs. 3-5).

Now let’s go back to Galatians 4 and let’s see how the apostle Paul used this.  And he is talking about the Church.  He is talking about those who are called to salvation at this time as the children of the forsaken one.  Let’s pick it up here Galatians 4:22.  “For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.”  Now this is comparing Ishmael and Isaac.  “Which things are an allegory [it’s just an analogy]; for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is [Hagar] Agar.”  In other words showing that the covenant at Mt. Sinai was not a covenant unto eternal life. 

Now it’s the analogy here and it says, verse 25, “For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia…”  Well, and there’ve been some books out and some things claiming that there is a certain mountain, a Jabal mountain in Saudi Arabia that supposedly is Mt. Sinai.  Well, I’ve looked into it and studied into it.  I’ve read everything that has been put out on it and I’ll tell you two simple things.  Number one, that could be, if the children of Israel could have marched across the Gulf of Aqaba instead of the Red Sea, could have walked 5 miles an hour for seven days, 14 hours a day.  And then where he said they crossed the Red Sea, being the Gulf of Aqaba in stead of being the Red Sea on the other side of Sinai peninsula, that there was a little narrow place which could be where it was not very deep and the ground could be raised up and the children of Israel went across there.  Well do you know how long it takes a single file, or just several people in a column going across a little narrow place like that.  You see it couldn’t have been done.  Now it may be true that the current understanding of Mt. Sinai might not be the correct one, but let’s understand something here very important.  Where it is is not contingent upon your salvation.  Your salvation doesn’t depend on that knowledge.  Your salvation depends on your faith, on your love, on your relationship with God. 

Now let’s continue on here.  “…And answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not…” (vs. 25-27).  Because as long as physical Israel was there and the covenant was still there the Church was not able to function.  There were no children born of the Church until after Christ died.  None were begotten until they received the Holy Spirit and none will be born into the Kingdom of God until the resurrection comes.  So this is what he’s talking about. 

“…Break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.  Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.  But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit [begotten of the Spirit, as we could put there], even so it is now.  Nevertheless what saith the scripture?  Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free” (vs. 27-31).  And all of those who want to go back to Judaism listen please, you are not saved by those physical things.  You have no part in that covenant which is over.  We have part in the eternal covenant with Christ. 

Ok, now let’s understand some things here concerning the resurrection, which we will cover here in just a minute.

Part 2

Now let’s turn to Isaiah 66 and we will see where the mother of us all, Jerusalem above, as it were, is going to give birth through the power of the resurrection.  Isaiah 66, and it talks about it right here.  Let’s begin in verse 7.  “Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.”  Now that’s talking about Jesus Christ.  Now then it goes in and it talks about the resurrection of the dead to the first resurrection.  “Who hath heard such a thing?  who hath seen such things?  Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day?  or shall a nation be born at once?…”  The answer is: Yes.  “…For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.”  That’s us.  “Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth?  saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb?  saith thy God.  Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that morn for her: that ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory” (Isa. 66:7-11).  Now this is talking about what God is going to give us when we are resurrected.

“For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.  As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.  And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward His servants, and His indignation toward His enemies.  For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with His chariots like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire [and the resurrection of the saints]” (vs. 12-15).  So there it is, a whole nation born at once. 

Now let’s come back here to Isaiah 52.  We’ll spend a little bit of time here in the book of Isaiah.  The book of Isaiah actually has more concerning the Kingdom of God than any other of the books in the Bible.  Isaiah 52:1, “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion [Zion is the Church]; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.  Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion” (Isa. 52:1-2).

Let’s come down to verse 7.  Now this is also talking about those who preach the gospel today, because Paul quoted this in Romans 10.  But it’s also talking about those who are the resurrected saints to whom the Kingdom shall be given, because we will inherit it.  Now notice, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!”  That’s what we’re going to do.  “Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing…”:  And of course we’re going to be the watchmen, aren’t we?  Yes.  All those who are the kings and priests, and teachers and rulers, they’re going to be the watchmen.  “…For they shall see eye to eye…”  We’re going to be in 100% agreement with God the Father and Jesus Christ.  No doubt about it.  “…When the LORD shall bring again Zion.  Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem…” And that’s why the Feast of Tabernacles is such a joyful time.  Because this gives us the vision and understanding in the hope that God has laid out before us.  “…For the LORD hath comforted His people, He hath redeemed Jerusalem” (vs. 7-9).  And boy, you talk about a comfort.  God is going to comfort all of those who are resurrected.  God is going to comfort all the physical children of Israel that are brought back out of tribulation, and they will need a lot of comforting, you can be sure of that.

Verse 10, “The LORD hath made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations [we covered that on the first day]; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”  Universal salvation for everyone.  It’s going to be a whole different way, a whole different perspective.  Now, because we have had to overcome self, and Satan, and the world to qualify to be in the first resurrection, God has given a greater blessing and a greater reward to those in the first resurrection.  That’s why we’re called the Church of the Firstborn.  And the firstborn receives the prime of the inheritance.  Now all those that come into the Kingdom of God during the millennium, they won’t receive the same thing.  We need to understand that.  We’re going to teach them.  We’re going to show them.        

Now let’s go to Isaiah 62:1.  “For Zion’s sake will I not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness [and that is all during the millennium], and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth [constantly showing the way].  And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name” (Isa. 62:1-2).  Now this ties in with Revelation 2 and 3, “…and I will give you a new name, which no one knows but he that receives it.” Revelation 3, “…I will give him the name of My Father, and the name of the holy city Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My Father, and I will give him My new name.”  There it is, which the mouth of the Lord shall name.

“Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.  Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken [because we will be resurrected]; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate…”  Now it blends into the physical type of the millennium here.  “…But thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married” (vs. 3-4).  Now what does it mean married?  That means that everyone is going to have a piece of land which is their own. 

Now let’s come down here to verse 10.  “Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.  Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him.”  Now see how all of these things apply to the Church.  A little later we’ll see how the different things apply to Israel, but this is talking about to the Church.  “And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken” (vs. 10-12).

Now let’s continue on and see what else is going to be for those who are going to be the kings and rulers.  And remember as we started out, and the Kingdom shall not be left to other people.  No it’s not.  It’s going to be for all of the saints in the first resurrection.  Now let’s come back to Isaiah 60:11.  “Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.” 

Now, what are we going to inherit?  We’re going to inherit with Christ the Kingdom of God.  We are co-heirs with Christ.  What is it that we’re going to receive, because in the inheritance not only is it an inheritance of the Kingdom, it’s an inheritance of whatever position that God gives us.  And I’m sure that those responsibilities will grow as we go on through the millennium, and on into the whole plan of God for all the rest of eternity.  What did God give to the Levites?  God gave the tithe, didn’t He?  Now to whom do you suppose that the people during the millennium will tithe?  They will tithe to those who are the kings and priests.  And we will tithe a tithe of that to God, cause He’s the High Priest by the very same principle that we find in Numbers 18.

Now notice, not only that, “For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.”  Yeah, they’ll just utterly come to an end.  “The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine three, and the box together, to beautify the place of My sanctuary; and I will make the place of My feet glorious.  The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet…” Revelation 3:9, “I will make those of the synagogue of Satan to come before your feet and worship you.”  Now here’s the prophecy of it here.  “…And they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel” (Isa. 60:11-14).

Now let’s see some more.  There’s some tremendous things here.  Boy, I imagine that Isaiah was wondering about these things, and yet he died not even understanding them, though he wrote them down. 

Now let’s pick it up here next chapter, Isaiah 61:6.  “But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.  For your shame…”  There are going to be a lot of people who will suffer shame because of being Christian, won’t they?  There will be a lot of them who, as it was in time past, martyred, killed for believing in Christ.  Shameful thing in the world.  Notice, Christ was crucified, wasn’t He?  He was martyred, wasn’t He?  And what does it say?  It says He despised the shame.  Yes He did.  So it’s the same way with us.  “For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land…”, which we will have.  We will have land as well as the people.  “…They shall possess the double [and the firstborn receives the double]: everlasting joy shall be unto them.  For I the LORD love judgment, I hat robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth…” So we’re constantly going to be directed by Jesus Christ.  “…And I will make an everlasting covenant with them” (Isa. 60:6-8).  Now that’s an everlasting…when we enter into the Kingdom of God as spirit beings at the first resurrection we are going to enter into a new and everlasting covenant with God the Father and Jesus Christ.  Do you understand that?  God has great things in store for us.  Marvelous things in store for us.

“And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles…”  Now this is talking about those who are converted as a result of the work that we do.  “…And their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed” (vs. 9).  Now that can apply to us as we’re resurrected.  That can also apply to the work that we will be doing.

Verse 10, “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God…”  Now this is our reaction to God.  “…For He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”  So God is going to give us a life and existence, position, authority, and all of these things to make sure that the Kingdom of God will be a success because He’s not going to leave it to other people.  It’s going to be in the hands of the saints.  Now think of that brethren.  That ought to make everything that we have been going through, all the ups, all the downs, all the difficulties, all of the problems, all of the nagging pains and things like that that come along.  You know, it’s like one man said, he doesn’t mind getting old but it’s the rusting out that bothers him.  And sometimes we go through a lot of things that way.  But never get discouraged in anything.  Never get discouraged in any trial that you have because this is what God is going to give you.  This is the promise that God is holding out in His word for you.

Verse 11, “For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.”  And we are the ones who will bring that forth to all the nations.  I mean this is something.  God’s way is something.

Now let’s go to Psalm 145.  Now we could go through the whole Psalm.  I don’t think we’ll have time to go through the whole Psalm, but what I want you do is to take the time and go through it.  We’ll go through as much as we can here, but notice this talks about our attitude that we’re going to have toward God the Father and Jesus Christ all during the millennium while we are the spirit beings serving and working with Christ. 

Verse 1, “I will extol Thee, my God, O king; and I will bless Thy name for ever and ever.”  So our relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ will just really begin starting in a profound way at that time.  That’s why it’s important that we have a deep and abiding relationship with God now through the love of God, and the love Him with all our heart, and mind, and soul, and being so that these scriptures can be fulfilled in our life. 

Notice verse 2, “Every day will I bless Thee; and I will praise Thy name for ever and ever.  Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable” (vs. 2-3).  God is going to reveal things to show us His great power, His great love, His great skill.  And it’s going to be an ever-learning process through out all eternity.  Think of that. 

Verse 4, “One generation shall praise Thy works to another, and shall declare Thy mighty acts.”  All during the millennium we’re going to building up a history.  We’re going to be building up of the things that we have been doing.  “I will speak of the glorious honour of Thy majesty, and of Thy wondrous works.  And men shall speak of the might of Thy terrible acts: and I will declare Thy greatness. They shall abundantly utter the memory of Thy great goodness…”  Tell you what, isn’t it going to be something when the earth is filled with the knowledge of God as the seas cover the earth.  And this is all a part of how this is going to be given here.  “…And shall sing of Thy righteousness” (vs. 4-7).

And here’s what we’re going to see over and over, and over again during the millennium.  “The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.  The LORD is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works” (vs. 8-9).  And for a thousand years we’ll do that with all the people.  Then for the 100 years into the 100 year period.  And then when New Jerusalem comes down to the earth, through all eternity.  Brethren, I want you to really grasp this now. 

“All thy works shall praise Thee, O LORD; and Thy saints shall bless Thee.  They shall speak of the glory of Thy kingdom, and talk of Thy power; to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom.”  Everyone is going to know.  “Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Thy dominion endureth throughout all generations” (vs. 10-13).  So that really shows you how we’re going to be doing this in the millennium.  Quite a thing.  This is marvelous brethren, that we can even understand this.  And just remember as I started out, we are looking through a glass darkly.  And I’m sure that of the fullness of the understanding of these scriptures we still have a lot more to learn. 

Now let’s come back to Isaiah 51.  And this is also part of our encouragement, you see.  God wants us to be encouraged.  God wants us to have understanding.  He wants us to have the hope and the glory in Him now.  You see that way then we have the incentive.  We have the spiritual energy to go forward and do the things that God wants.  And this is how then we all come out of whatever Laodiceanism we have been in, to see how great God is.  To see how fantastic He is.  To see the marvelous plan.  And see that we have a part with working with all the men and women and children and for one generation after another generation all down through the millennium, and to see them born into the Kingdom of God. 

Now let’s pick it up here in Isaiah 51:1, “Hearken to Me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.”  Remember we talked about the wells of salvation yesterday?  “Look unto Abraham your father [and we’re going to see Abraham], and unto Sarah [your mother] that bare you…” And this ties in with what we already talked about in Galatians 4, and Isaiah 66, and Isaiah 54.  “…For I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him” (Isa. 51:1-2).  And brethren, as we know through the covenant in Genesis 15, we are here because of the promises given to Abraham.  And that was given over 3500 years ago, so we are part of something that has a history that goes way back.  We are doing something of God’s plan that is so fantastic it is marvelous brethren.

Now verse 3, “For the LORD shall comfort Zion: He will comfort all her waste places; and He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.”  So this is also talking about us.  Now only are we going to teach the people but can you imagine what it’s going to be like when we get together and have Sabbath services with Christ?  We won’t always have a Sabbath services with the people.  There will be times we’ll go to Jerusalem.  We’ll be able to be there with Christ.  And we’ll sit down and he’ll preach to us and He’ll teach us.  Imagine what a wonderful thing that will be?   And then we’ll go back to wherever God has placed us to do His work in the Kingdom of God, and then we’ll teach the people and tell the people.  It’s going to be a marvelous thing.  Can you imagine what it’s going to be like with all the saints gathered together there, just say for example, all the sons of God who come up on a particular Sabbath to Jerusalem, and there are songs and hymns that are sung.  Wow - that’s going to be something. 

Listen, verse 4, “Hearken unto Me, My people…” Now will you listen to God.  Will you listen to His voice?  Now notice, “…and give ear unto Me, O My nation [and we are that holy nation]: for a law shall proceed from Me, and I will make My judgment to rest for a light of the people.  My righteousness is near [no longer will it be afar off]; My salvation is gone forth [and it will go forth every day], and Mine arms shall judge the people; the Isles shall wait upon Me, and on Mine arm shall they trust.  Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment…”  And we know that when we come to the end of the 100-year period that the whole earth is going to be consumed in fire and there will be a new heaven and a new earth.  A spiritual heaven and a spiritual earth wherein righteousness dwells.  “…But My salvation shall be for ever, and My righteousness shall not be abolished” (vs. 4-6).  Everyone who believes that God did away with His laws, abolished them, just read this verse right here, “shall not be abolished.” 

“Hearken unto Me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is My law…” And brethren, that’s what we need in our hearts.  We need the laws of God, the commandments of God, the word of God.  We need the Spirit of God.  We need the love of God.  We need the hope of God.  All of those things, to sustain us spiritually, to lift us up so we can come out of the morass of this world, so we can really be enthused with what God is doing and look forward to the Kingdom of God as never before.  Because I’ll tell you one thing for sure.  It’s a whole lot closer than when you first believed, as Paul said in Romans 13.  So we need to lift up our head.  We need to wake up from the dead.  And we need to look to Christ.  “…Fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.”  Well we won’t have to worry about what men do to us today.  “For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but My righteousness shall be for ever, and My salvation from generation to generation” (vs. 7-8).  All down through the millennium.

Now let’s look and see how some of these things apply to the nation of Israel.  And not only Israel but all the Gentiles at that time.  Now let’s again, since we’re in Isaiah, let’s come to Isaiah 61:4-5.  Let’s see what we’ll be directing the people to do.  “And they shall build the old wastes…” Now isn’t it interesting that when Christ was on the earth, what was He?  He was a carpenter.  He was a builder.  Ok, we’ll follow in His steps.  “…They shall raise up the former desolations…” In other words, all the people in the world are going to have to undo all the desolation that’s caused by their sins.  “…And they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.”  Yes, they’re going to clean up the whole world, too.  “And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.”

Here, turn back here to Isaiah 58, and let’s read verse 12.  Here’s a repeat of that.  “And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations…” Because there will be many generations down during the millennium.  “…And your shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.”  And that’s what we’ll be doing. 

Now let’s leave Isaiah for just a minute and let’s go to Ezekiel 36.  Ezekiel has a little bit concerning the millennium in it, and I might mention here concerning Ezekiel that the temple that is in Ezekiel 40 to the end starts with the second temple that was build during the days of Ezra and Nehemiah, then goes on out into universal salvation at the end.  That is not a description of the temple that will be on the earth during the millennium.  That is the second temple.  Now someone’s going to say, “Uh-oh.  Never heard that before.”  All right we’ll get to that on another day. 

Let’s come here, Ezekiel 36:8.  This is going to happen to all the people.  “But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to My people of Israel…” And it’s going to be something.  We saw yesterday that there’s going to be land reform.  Everyone’s going to sit under his own fig tree and his own vine.  Now also Amos 9:14 shows that the plowman’s going to be telling the reaper, “Get out of the way, here I come.  I’m plowing.”  Because they will have so much food and be so productive.  Here’s another description of it.  “…For they are at hand to come.  For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn unto you, and ye shall be tilled and sown: and I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it: and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be builded” (Ez. 36:8-10).

“And I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates…” So wherever Israel went according to the prophecies that we find and the fulfillment of it in the end day today, that’s where they will be.  “…And will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the LORD” (vs. 11).  And of course that’s the whole theme concerning the whole millennium.  That all people will know God.  They will know that God is God.  No doubt He’ll present.  You want to know where God is?  He’s in Jerusalem.  Aha.  You want to know where the rest of the family of God is?  Part of us are right here.  We’ll be able to say, as Christ did to the man who said, “Well, where is He Lord?”  And He says, “He that is speaking to you, I am He.”  So we’ll be able to say, “Yes, we’re the sons of God.  You’re looking at them, right here.”  And then whatever else we may have to do to prove that we are, you know [chuckle].  Who knows what that may be.  We may have to turn up the rheostat on the glory a little bit to get their attention, but we can do that.

Now let’s come back here to Isaiah 54, and let’s pick it up in verse 11.  Here’s what God is going to do.  Notice how great this is going to be.  Notice the wealth that they are going to have.  Let’s understand that.  “O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.”  He’s going reestablish them in a tremendous way.  “And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.  And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children” (Isa. 54:11-13).  Imagine that.  A thousand years of peace.  Now we’ll talk about what happens at the end of the millennium on day seven, which will be the day picturing the end of the millennium.

“In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.  Behold, they shall surely gathered together, but not by Me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.  Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth…”, and then it goes on.  Verse 17, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper [of course then there won’t be any weapons there]; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.  This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of Me, saith the LORD” (vs. 14-17).  So again we can apply that to physical Israel.  We can apply that to spiritual Israel. 

Now let’s come to Isaiah 59:20.  “And the redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.  As for Me, this is My covenant with them, saith the LORD…” So this is the covenant that God is going to establish with Israel and hence all people in the millennium.  “…My spirit that is upon thee, and My words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed [continuously going on], saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever” (Isa. 59:20-21).  And so what a magnificent thing that is going to be.  No rebellious children.  How about that.  No more spoiled little brats like we see today.  I see it all the time.  We go in the store and all the kids are there [whining sound], just spoiled to death because they have so much of everything and they’re greedy and want more.  No that won’t be then.  No sir. 

Now let’s continue on here.  Let’s come to Isaiah 65.  Now I want to bring up something here in principle.  Now I know that this applies to the 100-year period, I realize that.  But, so we’ll just have to ask the question…now don’t anyone take this as absolute dogma because it is a question, and we can ask the question.  Could it be that the length of time that the individual is going to live in the millennium will be 100 years?  So that there are constantly people being brought into the Kingdom of God at the end of their lives.

Now let’s pick it up here and let’s begin in verse 15.  “And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto My chosen [that is all the wicked ones who are destroyed when Christ returns]: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call His servants by another name: that he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth [going to happen all during the millennium]; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth [no more lies]; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes” (Isa. 65:15-16).  God is going to blot them totally out. 

Now then, “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth…” Is the earth going to have to be recreated?  Yes. Going to have to be rebuilt?  Yes, during the millennium.  “…And the former shall not be remembered. Nor come in to mind.”  Now we can see there are many parallels that apply here to the millennium as well as the 100-year period.  “But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.  And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.  There shall be no more thence an infant of days…” That is an infant who will not be dying.  Let’s put it this way.  All the infants born will live.  “…Nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed” (vs. 17-20).  Now this presents just a little bit of problem.  It says it will die at 100 years old.  Well, what happens if you don’t have to die?  Let’s just put it this way.  Let’s go back and look what happens to those who are still alive when Christ returns.  Do they die, or are they changed?  Or is it that they instantly die - bang - like that and are changed immediately.  Because it does say as in Adam we all die.  So it would have to be that if we put all the scriptures together.  So when it comes time for them to come into the Kingdom of God there will be perhaps instant death and instant resurrection.  Now that’s the best I can figure out of this.  Perhaps maybe we’ll know more in the years to come.  But a sinner being 100 years old shall be accursed, because when there is a funeral and there is no change from flesh to spirit, that person is accursed. 

So what I get out of this here, is that when it comes time for a person to enter into the Kingdom of God that it will have to be something like that, that it will be just an instantaneous death and instantaneous resurrection, and there will be, as I mentioned yesterday, a going out party, and an entering in party.  Entering into the Kingdom of God, because it says that of the increase of His government there shall be no end.  So more and more will be brought into the Kingdom of God.  And then it progresses that way all down through the millennium.  Now with all of this we know that there are going to be some difficulties.  Now we’ll talk about the difficulties tomorrow. 

But let’s turn to Isaiah 66:22.  “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before Me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.  And it shall come to pass…” Now this is when there’s the restitution of all things.  Today the new moon is not a holy day.  The only holy day that’s a new moon is the Feast of Trumpets.  That’s why in Colossians 2 it says “new moon” in the Greek.  It doesn’t say “new moons” plural, it doesn’t say “a new moon”, it’s just “new moon” showing that that has to refer to calendar calculation.  But anyway, at that time since everything will be restored, “…from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the LORD” (Isa. 66:22-23). 

That’s going to be a tremendous thing.  And brethren, we will have a part in that.  Can you imagine what it’s going to be being kings and priests of God and teachers and ministers to help and serve the people who are then come on into the millennium and then enter into the Kingdom of God.  And we have been promised to have that part.  So keep that in mind brethren.  It’s a wonderful thing that God is holding out for us and you continue to have a great Feast.

 

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