Feast of Tabernacles 2001 – DAY 6

Fred Coulter - October 7, 2001

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And greetings, brethren. This is Day 6 of the Feast of Tabernacles, 2001. And it seems as though the theme for this year has been the Feast of Tabernacles and the Kingdom of God in the New Testament. And it’s really quite amazing how that those who read and study the Bible just don’t get the point that the Feast of Tabernacles pictures so many things in the New Testament that they actually study about and talk about but they don’t even realize it, and they claim that we don’t have to keep the holy days at all anyway. So we’ll let them stay in their darkness. And let them stay in their blindness and we’ll go on and we’ll examine some more in the New Testament here. And as we’ve been going through the book of John, yesterday we came to the meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles in John 7, now we’re going to take chapter 8 and chapter 9 and we’re going to see that this will apply in several different ways. 1) to Israel during the Millennium. 2) to Israel during the great white throne judgment, or the 100 year period. And also the same to the Gentiles, as we will see.

So let’s come to John 8 and let’s begin right here in verse 1. “Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning He came again into the temple…” Now this is the day portion of the Last Great Day. Because as the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles was ending at sunset and the Last Great Day of the feast was starting, they had the ceremony of water where they poured water around the altar. So they all went to their houses, as we saw the last verse there in John 7, and now Jesus came back. “…And all the people came unto Him [at the temple]; and He sat down, and taught them” (John 8:1-2).

“And the scribes and Pharisees…” Now here’s a very interesting thing concerning judgment, but also we’re going to see that this woman taken in adultery is very much like Israel who was accused of being an adulteress. Now let’s read it. “And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto Him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, they say unto Him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest Thou? This they said, tempting Him, that they might have to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground, as though He heard them not” (vs. 3-6). And there has been great speculation as to what He wrote on the ground. Some think that is was the sins of those who brought her. Some think that it was something else. I think that what He wrote was a scripture we’ll look at in just a minute, because to be taken in adultery requires something in addition to the woman. Let’s continue.

“So when they continued asking Him, He lifted up Himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again He stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up Himself, and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more” (vs. 7-11). Now let’s examine this whole sequence of events here.

Let’s first of all go back to Leviticus 20 and let’s see the command about adulteresses. And let’s see that this probably is what Jesus was writing because the scribes and Pharisees were such sticklers for the law that of course that would surely be the thing that Jesus would go ahead and write on the ground because they could see it. Let’s begin right here in verse 10. “And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.” So what was missing was the adulterer. Now how can they catch a woman in the very act of adultery without catching the man as well. That’s rather strange. You talk about stacking the deck and impartial judgment.

Now you see, Jesus didn’t give her mercy. Jesus did not judge her. Now why? Because it says in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall a person be condemned. Now in this case, not only the person to be condemned being the woman, but also the man. So then not only were they partial in their judgment, they were also partial in the evidence. And so they were wanting to use and manipulate the law to their own end. And the reason that they wanted to accuse Him would be this. It’s very clever when you think about it. That if He would have said, “Stone the woman”, they would have done it and then would have said, “Aha, you didn’t judge properly because it says here that you’re also to execute the adulterer as well as the adulteress.” So since there were none to condemn her because they couldn’t condemn her without having the man, they went and left. So Jesus said, “I condemn you not. Go and sin no more.”

Now let’s look at this from a prophetic point of view. Let’s come back to Ezekiel 16 and we will see that Israel was likened unto an adulteress. And she did adultery in a little different way than other women, as we will see here, in as much as that she paid her lovers. And of course as a nation that’s what we’re doing. It’s called today, foreign aid. Now let’s pick it up here in Ezekiel 16:1 and let’s see the relationship that God had with Israel, and what happened, and what God did. And then we will see what God will do.

“Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite. And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.” Just kind of an abandoned baby thrown out. You know today they throw them in the dumpsters. Well then they would throw them out in the wilderness. “None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the loathing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born” (Ezek. 16:1-5).

Now God then explains His relationship with Israel and what He did. And why Israel should have been faithful to the Lord instead of going out and committing adultery with other nations and other gods. Verse 6, “And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou was in thy blood, Live. I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and [grown] waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare. Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread My skirt over thee…” Now wherever you have a man in reference to a woman in talking about a skirt, that means that there is a marriage relationship that has taken place. “…And covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest Mine” (vs. 6-8). Now there is the marriage covenant. The covenant of marriage is always a covenant. Then we have the covenant that God made with Israel, and that was likened unto a marriage covenant here. Then we have the New Covenant which then is also likened unto a marriage covenant.

Now let’s continue, verse 9. “Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil.” Now here comes some of the blessings that God described in adorning Israel to be His bride. “I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head” (vs. 9-12). Now this just as an aside tells us as we’re going here, that number one, jewelry is not wrong. Because if it were why would God give it to His bride?

Ok, let’s continue. “Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst proper into a kingdom. And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through My comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD” (vs. 13-14). Now the fullness of that came during the reign of king Solomon. And from that time unto the captivity of the children of Israel it went downhill big time. And from that time forward, of course beginning with Solomon with 700 wives and 300 concubines, now you talk about adultery. I mean that’s big time. And that set the whole thing for the spiritual adultery with other gods through his wives. And his wives turned his heart away from the Lord into worshipping and serving other gods, and that set the pattern for Judah, that set the pattern for Israel.

Now let’s finish here. “…For it was perfect through My comeliness [in other words because God gave the beauty to her], which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD. But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was” (vs. 14-16). And then God said you took everything that I gave to you and gave to them.

Now let’s come over here to verse 26. “Thou hast also committed fornication with the Egyptians thy neighbours, great of flesh; and hast increased thy whoredoms, to provoke Me to anger. Behold, therefore I have stretched out My hand over thee, and have diminished thine ordinary food, and delivered thee unto the will of them that hate thee, the daughters of the Philistines, which are ashamed of thy lewd way.” Now for the daughters of the Philistines to be ashamed of the lewd ways of Israel, you’ve got to understand how lewd they become. Even worse than the heathen which were cast out before them. Now verse 28. “Thou hast played the whore also with the Assyrians, because thou wast unsatiable; [You just couldn’t stop going after these other nations and these other gods. Oh, you had to keep at it.]; yea, thou hast played the harlot with them, and yet couldest not be satisfied. Thou hast moreover multiplied thy fornication in the land of Canaan unto Chaldea; and yet thou wast not satisfied herewith” (vs. 26-29). So then they build eminent places, as He said. Built themselves up, did all kinds of…it was absolutely amazing what happened.

Now notice, verse 30. “How weak is thine heart…” Israel had no resistance. See, once they left God, and once they gave up on God’s way they became weak. They had no character. Their heart was weak, “…saith the Lord GOD, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman [now those are strong words]; In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire…” In other words, you weren’t as an ordinary harlot. You were a worse harlot because you didn’t take the pay for hire. At least an ordinary harlot would charge. Oh no, you didn’t. You paid. “But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband! They give gifts to all whores: but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers, and hirest them, that they may come unto thee on every side for thy whoredom. And the contrary is in thee from other women in thy whoredoms, whereas none followeth thee to commit whoredoms: and in that thou givest a reward, and no reward is given unto thee, therefore thou art contrary” (vs. 30-34).

Now what you need to do today in looking at Israel, especially Britain and America who are Ephriam and Manasseh, and just see how contrary we are. Look at the politics. It makes absolutely no sense, see because the heart of Israel is weak. And Israel is out there taking all the blessings that God gave, all the blessings that He said He would give to Joseph, and just pouring them out upon the lovers. And what’s going to happen is that God is going to use those lovers to destroy Israel because they’ve taken what God has given and just given it away in their whoredoms.

Let’s come to verse 59. “For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even deal with thee as thou hast done, which has despised the oath in breaking the covenant. Nevertheless I will remember My covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant.” And that is when God brings Israel back. Israel is going to have to repent. And God’s judgment is then going to be lifted from her and they will enter into an everlasting covenant. Now notice here verse 61. “Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger: and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant. And I will establish My covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: that thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord GOD” (vs. 59-63). So yes, there will be a lifting of the judgment upon repentance. And yes there will be forgiveness. But what is it going to be, just like Jesus told the woman taken in adultery there in John 8. Go and sin no more. It’s not going to be any more. No longer. And Israel’s going to have to learn that.

Now let’s come to the book of Hosea because Hosea…you know, if anyone wants to be a prophet…I’ve heard a lot of people say, “Well, we’re the watchmen on the wall.” They want to exalt themselves. “Well, I’m Elijah and he’s Elisha. We’re the two prophets. We have the ministry of Jeremiah. We have the ministry of Isaiah.” I’ve never heard anyone volunteer to be the ministry of Hosea. Isn’t that strange? Was not Hosea a prophet too? But notice what he was required to do.

Now let’s pick it up here Hosea 1:2. “The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.” Yet he was a prophet of God, wasn’t he? God wanted to teach a lesson didn’t He? And the best way to do it was to show to Hosea exactly what God was experiencing in relationship to Israel. It was whoredoms. She left the Lord to whore after other men, and had children of whoredoms. For He says, “…for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD. So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son. And the LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel. And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel” (Hosea 1:2-5). And God did just that.

“And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away. But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen” (vs. 6-7). And that’s exactly what He did. He saved them through the very power which He executed during the days of Hezekiah. Now let’s continue on here because this is a great lesson. I mean you think about it. You know, isn’t it amazing. It always amazes me how many people want to be prophets, but you know no one says I want to be a prophet like Hosea.

“Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son. Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not My people [that is, be gone, no longer mine], and I will not be your God.” Now you see, when it comes to the point that God has to reject people because they reject Him, it’s bad news. And so you see what these whoredoms do. “Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not My people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God” (vs. 9-10). Again showing that God is going to redeem them out of that. But what He’s doing, He’s exposing and showing them what they have been doing with their whoredoms. And let’s come to chapter 4 because this shows how it affects the whole land, the whole people. Even the nature around us. And you know brethren, they’re talking about global warming. They’re talking about other natural things which are occurring, and some of them are right here in Hosea 4. And we need to look for the spiritual causes for it, not the physical causes. Because the spiritual causes are the things which are creating these things to be done.

Hosea 4:1, “Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth…” Now you think about it today. Is there any real truth? No. Hardly anything you hear or see or read is true, because the real cause is way back behind the scenes, and it’s moving and moving and moving and moving coming to the day of the utter destruction of this nation. “…Nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away” (Hos. 4:1-3). Now it’s very interesting. Have you ever wondered, where are the birds? Where are the fish? They are being taken away. Now why are they being taken away? Because of sin. Because of the sin of the people.        

“Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest. Therefore shalt thou fall in the [one] day…” And brethren, it’s going to happen in one day. That’s why I keep saying over and over again, brethren we must really be about doing the things we need to do, because it’s going to come. And the end is going to come suddenly, just like it says here, in one day. “…And the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” And we are seeing it right now of this generation as never, never, never before. They don’t have the knowledge of God. They don’t have the understanding. We ought to be congratulated for dumbing down everything so much that we are graduating dunces who don’t even get D’s. They get 55% on a test and they’re graduated and given certificates of accomplishing high school. So we’re filling the land with dumb and stupid people who know nothing but being driven by their music, by their pleasures, by their entertainment, and by their whoredoms because they have rejected knowledge. Now God also says, “I will reject you”, so when we come and see things brethren, we have to realize that when God reaches back and redeems Israel and brings her into covenant again, and brings her into the Millennium, that she’s going to learn the causes as to why these things took place. “…Seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children” (vs. 4-6).

Has God forgotten our children? What’s happening to them? Well, I had an article given to me sometime back which is, “Heather needs a childhood”, because children do not know what it is to be a child anymore, because they are introduced into adult things and sexual things at such an early age, and the greatest offender is Walt Disney. Now you need to think about that. He has been the one with all of his…to program all the children to get them ready for this evil age in which we are living in, and therefore in this generation God is rejecting them, and God is forsaking them. So that’s exactly what’s going to happen.

Now let’s come back here to chapter 2 and we’ll see that God is going to undo all of this. He’s going to bring Israel into the Millennium. And just like the woman that Jesus let go with no condemnation, they are going to be forgiven and they are going to be let go with no condemnation and enter again into covenant again with God.

Now let’s pick it up here in Hosea 2:13. “And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat Me, saith the LORD. Therefore, behold, I will allure her…” Through all the punishments going to take place, when God then stops the events, as we find there in Revelation 7, and the heavens roll back and the 144,000 are sealed, that’s when God begins to allure Israel back to Him. “…And bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call Me Ishi [that is, my husband]; and shalt call Me no more Baali [which is, my LORD]. For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name. And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely. And I will betroth thee unto Me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto Me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD” (Hos. 2:13-20). So that’s what’s going to happen to Israel.

So you see the parallel there in John 8, how that the woman taken in adultery and brought for judgment on the Last Great Day to Jesus, is a type of Israel being brought back. Now this can apply to the Millennium and also, as we will see on the Last Great Day, to the Last Great Day and the 100 year judgment period.

Now let’s come back to John 8 and let’s see some important things. Some other important things here in John 8 as related to what will have to take place during the Millennium and also the 100 year period. Because see, we’re talking about Israel coming out of captivity and going into the new promised land. We’re talking about the Kingdom of God filling the whole earth, being ruled by Jesus Christ and the saints, who will be kings and priests under Christ, and the whole world coming to the fullness of the knowledge of God as the seas cover the earth. And so those people that begin it, they’re going to have some things they’re going to have to learn. And also those who come up in the great white throne judgment, as pictured by the Last Great day, they’re going to have to learn some things, and they’re going to have to have some changes of heart and repentance, and to understand why they did the things that they did. And to realize that God is going to have mercy upon them so they can have an opportunity for salvation.

Now let’s continue on right here, John 8:12. “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world…” And that sure is going to be true during the Millennium and the great white throne judgment, isn’t it? “…He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. The Pharisees therefore said unto Him, Thou bearest record of Thyself; Thy record is not true. Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of Myself, yet My record is true; for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man” (John 8:12-15). Now again, you go ahead and get the study paper and the tapes that we did on “Judge Righteous Judgment” if you don’t have them. And it might be an interesting study for you to do along with the feast to go back and review that again. Because here they were judging only after the physical things. Christ is judging the heart after the spiritual things.

Now verse 16, “And yet if I judge, My judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent Me. It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of Myself, and the Father that sent Me beareth witness of Me. Then said they unto Him, Where is Thy Father?” (vs. 16-19). Now can you imagine what’s going to happen when these Jews are resurrected in the great white throne judgment and really find out that Christ was The Christ? And can you imagine what is going to happen to the Jews today, for those who repent and really understand that Jesus Christ was and is the Messiah? It’s going to be a revelation, see. But here they are. Now they’re going to have to unlearn this, aren’t they? See. So this is the thing we need to understand. What we’re going to see here is the rejection of Christ, and then He is going to have to be accepted by them. So that’s going to be quite a thing that’s going to take place, isn’t it?

“Then said they unto Him, Where is Thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know Me, nor My Father: if ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also. These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as He taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on Him; for His hour was not yet come. Then said Jesus again unto them, I go My way, and ye shall seek Me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. Then said the Jews, Will He kill Himself? because He saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. And He said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am…” (vs. 19-24).

Now then we need to also understand this in relationship to the beginning of the Millennium. Those who do not believe in Christ are going to die, aren’t they? Yes. Those in the great white throne judgement, as pictured by the Last Great Day, when they’re resurrected back to a second physical life, or a first opportunity for salvation, if they don’t believe that Jesus is the I AM, then they shall suffer the second death, and that will be dying in their sins for their sins.

Now let’s continue on. “Then said they unto Him, Who art Thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge of you: but He that sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of Him. They understood not that He spake to them of the Father. Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am…” (vs. 25-28) Now in the Greek, “I am” is in two “I am” verbs. The first “I am” verb is ego, meaning “I am”. The second one is eme, meaning “I am”. When you put the two together it is an emphatic “I am”, and almost literally “I AM that I AM”. So when He said “I am”, that really got to them. We’ll see, because the argument begins here. And we’re going to see that it’s going to be a thing of coming out from underneath Satan the devils influence, and that what they’re going to have to do is not only repent of their behavior, but repent of all the lies they have believed, repent of rejecting Jesus Christ, and so many different things are going to have to be done. And so that’s why this is recorded on the Last Great Day. The great confrontation that they had in rejecting Christ.

Now you see, when we get to the Last Great Day fulfillment there’s going to be one thing which will be different. And that will be that Satan the devil will have been removed. But still they’re going to have to overcome. Still they’re going to have to repent of this, because they had the Messiah right in front of them, talking to them, teaching them. Now as we have seen in the book of Hebrews, the greatest thing that God has done was to come in the flesh. And here they are, right there arguing with Him.

Now let’s continue here verse 28. “…And that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things. And He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him” (vs. 28-29). Now there is the key for the whole proposition of conversion, brethren. Do we do the things that please God? Now remember, Jesus came and He didn’t do the things to please Himself. He did the things that please the Father. He did the things that the Father has commanded Him to do. So here is a good thing for us to understand. Do we always do the things that please the Father? Well, of course, in the fulfillment of the Millennium and the Last Great Day, they’ll have to do that, won’t they? Yes, they will.

“As He spake these words, many believed on Him.” So it’s not just a matter of belief, as we will see. That belief has to be deep. It can’t be just a superficial accepting of a man because he says what he is, but you have to not only believe but you have to believe from the very depths of your heart and your being. So it says here, “…many believed on Him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed…” Now you see, during the Millennium that’s what they’re going to have to do, continue in the words that He taught from being the disciples of Christ in the great white throne judgment at the Last Great Day. That’s what they’re going to have to do. And they’re going to have to have a whole lot to overcome, as we will see. “…And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (vs. 30-32).

“They answered Him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” (vs. 33-34). So in order for those people in the Millennium and the great white throne judgment to be free of sin, they have got to believe Christ, they have to obey the truth, and then they will be free of sin. Now remember in the case of the great white throne judgement, these people that were involved in the actual literal doing of what is recorded here in John 8, now there are going to be some that are going to have a whale of a lot of repentance to be doing because of what they said and what they did. And that’s why God has to give them the repentance.

Now let’s come down here, verse 35. “And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (vs. 35-36). And so this then will be as what will happen when they are granted salvation. Because He will free them from sin. He will give them His Spirit. He will give them eternal life. They will be free of the sinful nature.

And Jesus went on saying, “I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill Me, because My word hath no place in you” (vs. 37). I wonder what’s going to happen when those who are actively involved in doing that are resurrected in the great white throne judgment? I wonder how many had committed the unpardonable sin, and how many had not committed the unpardonable sin? It makes you wonder. “…But ye seek to kill Me, because My word hath no place in you.” Boy, a vast repentance is going to have to take place. So this shows what a great and fantastic thing it’s going to be for this change to occur.

“I speak that which I have seen with My Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father.” Well, now if they’re going to be in the Millennium and in the great white throne judgment, Abraham is going to stand right there and say, “Yeah, I’m right here. I am your father. Now let me tell you what you need to do.” And “Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children…” Now notice, they say up here “Abraham’s seed”, and now down here they say “Abraham’s children”. There’s a difference. There were a lot of offspring of Abraham that were not the children in the sense that they followed God, see. So if you’re Abraham’s seed then you are heirs according to the promise, you see. Christ’s - you’re Abraham’s seed and heir according to the promise, and you are the children of Abraham. So He says, “If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham” (vs. 38-39). And what did he do? He obeyed God. Obeyed His voice. Kept His laws, His statutes, His commandments, His judgments. And loved God and followed Him wherever He said to go. And that’s what they’re going to learn. And can you imagine the repentance that’s going to take place so that these very people who did this can receive eternal life?

Part 2

There are going to be a whole lot of things that people are going to have to learn when they’re resurrected and really find out the truth. Now you see Jesus was right here telling them the truth. But they were so deceived, so locked into their lies and their personal beliefs that they couldn’t believe Jesus Christ. So what’s going to have to happen during the Millennium and during the great white throne judgment, they’re going to have to give up their personal beliefs. They’re going to have to give up their personal ways of doing things. They’re going to have to give up their lies and give up their deceits. And they are going to have to recognize that they were deceived by Satan the devil. Now remember Revelation 12:9 says that Satan the devil has deceived the whole world and is deceiving it. And brethren, that deceit is so pervasive today that it is just mind-boggling. You know, to really tell the truth, as it says there in Isaiah 59, you’re counted crazy. And likewise here when Christ was talking to these Scribes and Pharisees and Jews. They didn’t believe Him, because they were so deceived. And remember, the best deception is this: that when you are told that you are deceived you don’t believe you’re deceived. And that’s what we’re dealing with here. So when these people are resurrected on the Last Great Day for a second physical life, for an opportunity for salvation, they are going to have to understand they were deceived, and they rejected Christ.

Now let’s continue on here in John 8. After Jesus said, “If ye were [you are] Abraham’s children ye [you] would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill Me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father” (vs. 39-41). Now we’re going to stop and we’re going to analyze this a little bit. Because you see, what a thing it’s going to be to teach these people the truth who have been so deceived that they believe the deception is the truth, and the truth is a deception.

Now just to give you an example. The Churches of God are called cults because we keep the Sabbath, and we keep the holy days, and we don’t believe in the trinity. So therefore we are a cult, which the truth is the opposite is so. All the religions of the world are cults because they worship Satan the devil, they believe in a trinity, they reject the truth of God. Even those Christian professing churches reject the truth of God and call us a cult when they are the cults. So you can almost be guaranteed today that what is said may be the truth, is just the opposite. At least we can be guaranteed that it is, and what is called religion.

Now He says, “Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to Him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father; even God.” See, going back and relying on God in their own deceived way. They actually believed that they were serving God the Father when they were serving Satan the devil. There is the perfect deception, right? Let’s say complete. “Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love Me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do ye not understand My speech? Even because ye cannot hear My word” (vs. 41-43). Or that is, you cannot hear My message. You won’t let the words into your mind to comprehend them. That’s what He’s saying. And that’s what happens to people who are deceived and have so closed their minds that they reject the truth. And so Christ is exposing it here. And it is profound that this is being exposed on the Last Great Day because that’s what the fulfillment of the Last Great Day is going to be all about, to expose all of the lies that these poor people have lived under. To expose the fact that they were following Satan the devil rather than God. To expose that fact that they reject the truth, they rejected God, and they died in that deception, and in God’s mercy He’s raised them to a second physical life for an opportunity for salvation. And if they don’t repent it is the lake of fire. Now that’s also part of the Last Great Day.

Now let’s continue on. “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.” And when Satan speaks words of truth, such as he did to tempt Jesus to cast Himself down, he quoted Psalm 91 perfectly. And when he quotes words of truth it is only to deceive you to get you to misinterpret it and do the wrong thing. That is how diabolical that Satan is. And that is how diabolical the deception has been on these people. “…There is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (vs. 44).

Now let’s see the works of Satan the devil concerning this because it is profound. Here, we already quoted Revelation 12:9. Let’s go back and let’s just read that again because it does us good to understand and know, and to reaffirm the fact that Satan is deceiving this world and he’s got all the tools to do it. This is his world and God has given it to him because mankind has desired it. See, the truth is, Satan can only have power as you give it to him. And as you give it to him then he has power over you. But if you resist him in the faith and you flee the devil, and you come close to God, and you resist him in the faith and with the love and power of God, then you can overcome him.

Now Revelation 12:9. “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Now notice how much we are to hold on to the truth brethren. So let’s just interject this here. “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Rev. 12:9-11). So that’s what we need to do brethren. That describes how our lives have to be in relationship to the truth of God. Listen, let’s understand something profound. You are never, never, ever going to understand God’s word or receive salvation by coming along and attaching men’s lies to the truth of God and say that this is how the Bible should be interpreted. Never happen. We’ll see that in just a minute.

Now let’s come to Revelation 18:23. Let’s see the instrumentality that Satan has used to do this. And it is Babylon the Great and everything that is in Babylon the Great. All the religions, all the economics, all the governments, all the businesses, all of these things. Because the judgment came on Babylon the Great in Revelation 18. Let’s see it here. Let’s pick it up in verse 20. “Rejoice over her [that is the demise of Babylon the Great], thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets…” Why? Because they’re resurrected and on the sea of glass and seeing this take place. “…For God hath avenged you on her. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all” (Rev. 18:20-21). Now this is typical of the Great Babylon which is going to be the one world government.

“And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; and the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth [the multi-national corporations]; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.” Now if that doesn’t tie it into the religion of Simon Magus, who used sorceries to deceive the people, all nations were deceived. “And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth” (vs. 22-24). And I’m here to tell you, if you get the book Vatican Assassins, you will understand this verse. You won’t till you get it and read it and I’ll guarantee you one thing, your view of the world will never, ever be the same again. So I encourage you to get that book.

Ok, let’s continue on with the deception here. Let’s come back here to 2 Corinthians and we will see how Satan deceived them at that time. And it’s going to take a lot for these people to unlearn. It’s going to be difficult for them to know, to realize, to understand. Let’s pick it up in 2 Corinthians 4:1, because this tells us something about how the preaching of the gospel and the truth needs to be.

“Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty…” Now that’s what they’re going to have to do when they are resurrected. “…Not walking in craftiness…” Not having an agenda. Not having a secret goal to have something accomplished. “…Nor handling the word of God deceitfully…” Boy, I tell you what, when the kings and priests rule under Christ, that is those of us who are resurrected and in the first resurrection doing that, the word of God is going to be handled absolutely perfectly. And I think that we need to understand that the word of God is going to have much more than this. This is what we have in this age. Think of what it’s going to be in the Millennium. “…But by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not…” (2 Cor. 4:1-4). Now we will see that as we get into chapter 9 with the man who was born blind. Because Satan is the one who has caused the blindness in this world. He is the one who has created the things the way that they are. And that’s why Christ has to return.

Now let’s look at the other thing that they’re going to have to repent of. Well, we’ll just mention Hebrews 3:9. They’re going to have to repent of the deceitfulness of sin, because they’ll have to admit that they followed Satan the devil. He is the father of lies. And that there are, as John says in 1 John 3, there are the children of God and the children of the devil. And the children of God are the ones who keep His commandments and the children of the devil are the ones who promote lawlessness through deceit.

Now let’s come back here. We’ll finish chapter 8. We won’t go through the rest of it because this is the main portion that we need to cover. He’s a liar and the father of it. Verse 45, “And because I tell you the truth, ye believe Me not. Which of you [convicts] convinceth Me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe Me? He that is of God heareth God’s words [very profound]: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God” (John 8:45-47). Now, if they don’t hear the words of God during the great white throne judgment, then they are going to the lake of fire where Satan the devil and the demons were cast. No question about it.

Now let’s come over here and we’ll begin to start chapter 9. But let’s understand that when Jesus got done, when He told them that if you believe on Me you shall not taste of death forever. But when He said that before Abraham was I AM, now they knew exactly what that meant. They knew exactly that meant that He was saying that He was God in the flesh. And they didn’t believe Him. So they took up stones to stone Him and He passed by, got out of the way.

Now let’s come to chapter 9 because this becomes an important thing too. And I really like this chapter and the things that go on here because this really has quite a bit of prophetic understanding given in it by the things that happened. And also it reveals the spiritual blindness. This is not just physical blindness, but spiritual blindness that we’re talking about here, as illustrated in the blindness of a man who was born blind.

Now let’s pick it up here in John 9:1. “And as Jesus passed by, He saw a man which was blind from his birth. And His disciples asked Him…” Now I want you to listen to this question, because this is really kind of a…has some real faults in it. “…Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:1-2). Now how can a babe in the womb sin to be born blind? That’s really a nonsensical question. Of course he couldn’t have done anything. Now it also talks about his parents. Notice what Jesus said. And this ties in…this is a type then of the spiritual blindness to Israel, and the spiritual blindness to the world. As we saw, Satan is the one who has blinded their minds.

Now verse 3, “Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” I want you to think about this for just a minute. This man was born blind, caused to be born blind by God, for this very act which Jesus was to perform. To open his eyes. Now we also need to understand that God has blinded people. He’s used the instrumentality of Satan to do it, but He has blinded them. Born into a society that is spiritually blind. Blinded by Satan the devil.

Now let’s come to Romans 11, and we will see what the apostle Paul says concerning this. Let’s come here to verse 7. “What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for [no, Israel didn’t]; but the election hath obtained it [that is those that God has called], and the rest were blinded.” We will see when we come to the Last Great Day that God is going to remove that blindness. But it’s something. “…The rest were blinded (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompense unto them: let their eyes be darkened that they may not see, and bow down their back alway” (Rom. 11:7-10). So God says, “Alright, you reject truth. I turn you over to blindness.” And the society becomes blind, people are born into the society, and it is so bad that Jesus said of the man who wanted to go bury his father, He said, “Let the dead bury their dead.” And He said, “If the blind lead the blind, they’re both going to fall in the ditch.” So people are born into a spiritually blinded world and God has given them over to that. No question about it.

Let’s come here to Isaiah 43 and let’s see that. Let’s see it. Now we’ll get back to John 9. We’ll go through John 9 after we go through this and then you will see the spiritual parallels as they come along. Let’s begin in Isaiah 43:8. “Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? Let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth” (Isa. 43:8-9). Now this is when God is going to lift the blindness and lift the deafness. Now remember, in chapter 8 Jesus said, “You cannot hear My words”, see. So we have a combination of John 8 and John 9 here.

Now then verse 10. “Ye are My witnesses, saith the LORD, and My servant whom I have chosen…” Now who are going to be the witnesses of God during the Millennium and the great white throne judgment? We are, and all of those who have been born again into the Kingdom of God all through the Millennium. And we are going to be witnesses to them. And when they are resurrected on that Last Great Day and they have the blindness taken away and they have the deafness removed, boy what a thing that is going to be. Now if under those circumstances they still reject Christ, they still hold on to their deception, then there’s no recourse but the lake of fire.

“Ye are My witnesses…and My servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe Me…” It’s going to be an opportunity to know and believe and understand “…that I AM He…” Almost the same wordage that we have there in John 8, right? Yes. “…Before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside Me there is no saviour” (vs. 10-11). So God is going to show that and bring that salvation to the whole world.

Now let’s come back here to Isaiah 29 and let’s see how this was accomplished in their first lifetime. Why is it that they rejected God? Why is it that they didn’t receive Jesus Christ? Why is it that they are going to have to be resurrected in the second resurrection for a second physical life so they’ll have an opportunity to understand salvation? Because Satan deceived the world. Now let’s come here to verse 18. Now it talks about opening their ears to hear and so forth.

“And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.” That is going to be lifted for them. Now when we get to the Last Great Day and we start going through the scriptures then, what we’re covering here today is going to help give you a little more background and understanding to realize how important that the Last Great Day really is. “The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. For the terrible one is brought to nought [Satan is removed], and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off” (Isa. 29:18-20). So God is going to open their understanding. God is going to open their eyes.

Ok, now let’s come back to John 9, and as we go through this chapter I think then you’ll be able to see the spiritual parallels as it refers to the things that are going to be accomplished on the Last Great Day as pictured by giving sight to this blind man. It was done so “…that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (John 9:3-4). And let me tell you something that is true. The night is coming again when no one can work. So we better work the work that we need to do right now so that we can get accomplished as much as God wants us to do. Jesus said, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (vs. 5) Isn’t it interesting that in both cases here, in chapter 8:12 He says “I am the light of the world.” These people were spiritually blinded following Satan the devil. Again here in chapter 9:5 He says, “I am the light of the world.” And what is it that a blind man cannot see? He cannot see light.

“When He had thus spoken, He spat on the ground…” Now, for those of you who, you know…God can do anything to heal, can’t He? So Christ spat on the ground, “…made clay of the spittle, and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, and said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam…” Now the blind man had a very difficult trail to go, and very steep coming down to the pool of Siloam. So he had to have the desire. Now Siloam means “…by interpretation, Sent. He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing” (vs. 6-7).

Now here it gets very interesting and somewhat a little bit funny and in some cases a little ludicrous too. But it also exposes the attitudes of people towards something that God has done that is good. “The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened [after all we know you were born blind, we’re your neighbors]? He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight. Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not” (vs. 8-12). So this is so astonishing they had to bring him to the religious authorities.

“They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.” Now making a little clay with spittle, is that work? Of course not. To do good on the Sabbath, is that work? To heal on the Sabbath, is that work? No. A tremendous miracle was done. “Then again the Pharisees…” Here comes the grilling. Now he’s going to be asked these questions. “Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them [notice how many times he has to repeat this in order for them to get it and they still don’t get it], He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because He keepeth not the sabbath day [no, He made clay with spittle]. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.” {laughter} “They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of Him, that He hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet. But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind [and they knew he was blind, because he was brought before the Pharisees who knew beforehand that he was blind], and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? How then doth he now see? His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: but by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself” (vs. 13-21).

Now can you imagine these Pharisees just sitting there in their hatred and anger and just seething and wanting to find fault rather than rejoicing and going out and finding that Jesus did it. That He had to be the Messiah. That He had to the Son of God because one of the very signs that was said of the Messiah which the Jews understood, and they even say today that He would heal those that have been born blind. So this is really a rejection. Now we need to understand something here that’s very important. If during the great white throne judgment they reject Christ, then the end is at hand for those people.

Now verse 22. “These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already…” How’s this for righteous judgment? You go back and you understand what Jesus said. He said, “Judge righteous judgment. Don’t judge after appearance, and don’t judge after the flesh. Judge righteous judgment.” They didn’t. How can you have righteous judgment when you already agree what your decision is beforehand. “…For the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.” So they are stuck. “Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him [now here’s the intimidation of the interrogation], Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner” (vs. 22-24). Now here is a lesson for us today. Never be intimidated by religious people and their tactics to trap you into their traps to go against the truth.

Verse 25, “He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. Then said they to him again, What did He to thee? How opened He thine eyes? He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? Will ye also be His disciples?” So he was giving it right back to them, see. “Then they reviled him, and said, thou art His disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples” (vs. 25-28). Remember what Jesus said? He said, “Had you believed Moses, you would have believed Me.” See, being Moses disciple is an ideological mask. An ideological mask is a guise of truth to cover over, but the real ideology is that they were worshipping Satan the devil and were of their father, the devil. So we can learn that as we’re going along here.

They continued saying, verse 29, “We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence He is [we don’t even know where He’s from]. The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence He is, and yet He hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth His will, him He heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, He could do nothing” (vs. 29-33).

Notice their answer. Now you see it’s going to be hard for these people to be converted. Very difficult. Even though they are raised and given an opportunity for salvation, it is going to be difficult because they have so given themselves wholly to Satan the devil that it’s going to be so hard. Now let’s understand that’s why during the great white throne judgment Satan has already been cast into the lake of fire before it begins. Because that is the only way that this kind of hard-hearted deception is going to be removed from their eyes.

Now let’s continue on. Verse 34, “They answered and said unto him, thou was altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us?” Well, Jesus said, “Out of the mouths of babes.” “And they cast him out [that is out of the synagogue].” So you see the dishonesty and deception into the very heart and core of what should be those who would lead the people to God is to reject people who are standing up for God. I’ve experienced that, you’ve experienced that, so it’s nothing new.

Verse 35, “Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said unto him, dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him? And Jesus said unto him, thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee.” And that’s why the eyes of the blind will be opened, so they can see God. And their ears will be opened so they can hear. “And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped Him” (vs. 35-38). Now this was a proof that Jesus was God in the flesh.

Now let’s understand something, all of those who come up in the great white throne judgment in the second resurrection are going to have to have the deception removed, they’re going to have to have their eyes opened, and they are going to have to accept Jesus Christ, and they are going to have to worship Him. Now if they don’t it will be the lake of fire.

Now let’s read on. “And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with Him heard these words, and said unto Him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, we see; therefore your sin remaineth” (vs. 39-41). So it’s going to be likewise in the great white throne judgment. If they do not believe Christ, if they do not accept Christ, if they do not throw off the deception that they had in their first physical life in the flesh, then they have their sins retained and they go into the lake of fire.

So we’ve seen in chapter 7, chapter 8, and chapter 9 some very profound and important things that took place during the Feast of Tabernacles and on the Last Great Day, which also show the working and functioning of the purpose of those days, so God does indeed use these days to fulfill His work.