Now let’s see what kind of world government that Isaiah prophesied that this would be. Let’s come to Isaiah 2, and let’s see how that the whole world is going to be brought under the government and the rule of Jesus Christ and the saints. So you think about that. We are going to replace all governments. We are going to replace the United Nations. We are going to replace all the banking systems of the world. We’re going to replace everything. Now that’s something. So you don’t have to sit around and wonder, “Well, I wonder what I’m going to do in the millennium.” You know this for sure, it’s not like the Protestant and Catholic view of going to heaven, where you’re going to be strumming a harp all the time. You’re going to have a great work to do. You’re going to have great authority to carry out. And God is going to give it to you.

Now let’s pick it up here, Isaiah 2:2, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house [that’s the government of God] shall be established in the top of the mountains [that’s over every other nation], and shall be exalted above the hills [now the hills are likened unto small countries]; [now notice] and all nations shall flow unto it.” That’s going to be something. “And many people shall go and say,…”, because they’re going to learn after all the wars and devastation’s, they’re going to say, “Ok, I give up. I’m going to go God’s way.” “…And say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways,…” That’s why there are priests. That’s why there are kings. And we will be teachers, and we will be leaders, and we will be rulers. “…And we will walk in His paths:…” Like we saw earlier, the broad highway is going to be the way of God then. “…For out of Zion shall go forth the law,…” Because He is lawgiver, because He is God, because He is King. “…And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Isa. 2:2-3).

“And He shall judge among the nations,…” Now there isn’t going to be anymore foolishness going on. Now those that don’t do what they should be doing, “…and shall rebuke many people:…” Now they’re going to have their work cut out for them to begin with. “…And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (vs. 4). Now can you imagine what this world is going to be like with this peace, and no war. And it starts right out with teaching the new children born into the millennium. And they’re going to be taught the right way. They’re not going to have their minds messed up with all the things that we have today. Satan isn’t going to be around to deceive them. Truth, and holiness, and love, and mercy. It’s like it says…mercy and righteousness have kissed each other. What a fantastic picture that that is for the whole millennium. And we’re going to be responsible to carry that out. Man, that’s something.

“O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.” Not only is it going to be a broad way, there’s going to be light, which is God’s light in truth. And everyone’s going to walk in the light. “Therefore Thou hast forsaken Thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east,…” (vs. 5-6), and that’s what started it all, and then it shows how that that goes into another prophecy leading up to the problems and difficulties that brought it about.

Now let’s come to Jeremiah 31. But I tell you, it’s really amazing when you get in, and you read and study and put together all of these scriptures, and all of the prophecies and what it’s going to be like. And to stop and think, you see. Stop and think, who are we? Remember as we read when David had everything for the temple ready to be built, and he was going to give it to Solomon. And he had all the gold, and all the silver, and all the brass, and all the iron. And the people brought willingly. And David in his prayer he said, “Oh God, who are we, and what are Your people that we can do this?” Now you think about that for us. Who are we, and what are Your people, that You will bless us to give us this work to do?” Isn’t that something? And He’s done it by calling the weak, and calling the rejected. Isn’t that something, to bring to nothing the things that are. Here Jeremiah 31, let’s turn there. You just think about how fantastic that is going to be, brethren.

Jeremiah 31:1, “At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people. Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.” And that’s why it says of God’s way, that His rest is glorious. “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love:…” Isn’t that something, that in spite of everything that Israel has done, God still loves them. That’s a good lesson for us too, brethren. Not that we go out and sin, not that we take advantage, but remember respond to God because He has an everlasting love for you. “…Therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry. Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things” (Jer. 31:1-5).

Now in the book of Amos, it shows that there’s going to be such an abundance, such an absolute abundance that the reapers are going to have to hurry and get out of the way of the plowmen. And you talk about abundance of food, and great things going to be. Plus, it says there in Micah 4, that everyone is going to sit under his own fig tree, and his own vine. Meaning that God is going to give the inheritance to everyone of the people out there, and they’re going to have their own places, and they are going to have their own land. And they’re going to grow their own food, and grow their own cattle, and grow their own livestock, and whatever other animals that you want. And you talk about a fantastic time for children. We’ll see that a little bit later on, because God has some absolutely marvelous plans that He is going to do in bringing this to the world.

“For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God. For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save Thy people, the remnant of Israel.” And God is going to do that. “Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame,…” As we saw, we are going to help heal them, and cause them to have good health, to see and to walk. “…The woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither. They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them:…” God is going to do it, and we’re going to have that part with it. “…I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way,…” (vs. 6-9). This is meaning that the Holy Spirit is going to be poured out in unheard of manner. Almost beyond comprehension, but yet it says it is there.

Now let’s come over here to verse 31, and God is going to give them the same covenant that He gives us. “Behold the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:…” Now you see, the covenant that we have is not this covenant. We have the New Covenant with Christ as the firstborn. Now when Christ returns and the saints with Him to rule and reign on the earth, then a new covenant is going to be made with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. That will be the millennial covenant.

“Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which My covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people” (vs. 32-33). Now that, brethren, is going to be a great and marvelous thing. I just, you know this Feast of Tabernacles for me has really meant an awful lot in understanding God’s way even more. And the part that God has for us, you know, to rule and reign with Jesus Christ for a thousand years…let’s come here to Isaiah 60 now…and to have this as a work to do, to teach the people, to show them. Now you see, that’s why it’s so important that we learn the love of God, and we love God with all our hearts and mind, and soul, and being, so we can teach them.

Isaiah 60:1, “Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,…” But He is going to take that away, you see. “…And gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee” (Isa. 60:1-5). And then God is just going to bless the world with so many fantastic things. Not like we have it today.

Let’s come over here to verse 16. Here’s what it’s going to lead to. Now this also is talking about us. Now you see, God is not only going to bless us with this work, He’s going to bless us with the inheritance because we’re joint heirs with Christ, and He’s going to bless us with substance, as it says right here, verse 16. “Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings:…” That means, the great wealth that’s going to be. You talk about wealth that is generated. And it’s going to be real wealth. Not wealth that we have today, which is on paper and deceitfully accounted for. But real wealth is going to be gold, and silver, and precious stones. And if there be a paper currency, then it’s going to be backed by real substance. Not IOU’s. “…And thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the might One of Jacob.”

Here’s what’s going to happen. “For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.” And that’s us. “Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise” (vs. 17-18). Now you talk about an absolute wonderful administration. I don’t know what we’re going to call this, you know. We talk about the Bush Administration, the Clinton Administration. This is going to be the administration of Christ, because the government’s going to be on His shoulders, but what shall we call it? The administration of the blessings and abundance of all goodness from God? I guess so. Have to be.

Now verse 21, “Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I may be glorified. A little one shall become a thousand,…” Now you talk about children. You talk about large families. I tell you what, there’s going to have to be a change in childbirth. And I’m sure it’s not going to be the painful thing that women experience today. You know, the curse of Eve is going to be lifted off of all women, see. And so I don’t know how often they’re going to have children, but this kind of sounds like [pitter-patter noise] you know, a little one shall become a thousand. “…And a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time” (vs. 21-22). I tell you, you know, what a thing this is going to be. You see, because for the eternal kingdom of God, as pictured by the Last Great Day, God is going to have literally billions and billions and billions in His family, and in His kingdom. It’s going to be something. Look, there’s the whole universe out there that God is going to do something with as He completes His plan. And we’re going to be a part of it, and these people will be a part of it. You know, it makes you wonder when you hear all of these things, you wonder, “How could Adam and Eve have done it in the first place?” You see.

Now let’s come down here to Isaiah 61:4. Now the people are going to have a lot of work to do, and they’re going to rejoice in their work. “And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations,…” Now, remember what happened with 9-11. Remember how those buildings were destroyed and collapsed? That’s what the cities are going to be like. How long have they been working, cleaning up just those two buildings? Now think what it’s going to be like to clean up all the cities of the world, because remember in Revelation 16 in that last great earthquake, it says the cities of the nations fell. And that means just like those twin towers when they collapsed. Look at the work that they’ve been doing there. And so they’re going to do it. “…And they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.” It’s all going to be new.

“And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD:…”, and that’s us. Here’s the prophecy of us, just like we read back in Revelation 20, “And they shall be priests and kings, and shall reign with Christ a thousand years.” Well, here it is. “…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” (vs. 5-6). Now you see, there will be tithing in the millennium, much to the chagrin of some people who like to hold on to their money today. And to whom shall they give it? To the kings and the priests. And it will be just like it was under the levitical system. The Levites received the tithes, and they tithed to the high priesthood. So likewise it will be the same thing. The people will tithe to us, and we will tithe to Christ. And all of this money is going to be used going back to help the people, to teach them. It’s going to be quite a thing, isn’t it? Yes, indeed.

Now notice, “For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion:…” Going to turn everything to goodness and righteousness. “…Therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them. For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth,…” Everything that is going to be done, is going to be done according to the truth of God, whether it is how you live, or how you work, or how you build, or what you build. No more weapons, no more learning war. And I think the toy industry is going to be just about sayonara, because the children are going to have animals to play with, far better than toys. “…And I will make an everlasting covenant with them” (vs. 7-8).

“And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed. I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,…” Not only Isaiah saying this, but this is for all of those of us, we are going to be rejoicing in the Lord, the people will rejoice in the Lord. Can you imagine what Sabbath services are going to be like? We won’t have to worry about driving. “Where are you going to drive for Sabbath service?” Won’t have to worry, there’s going to be a local church right on the corner, which will also be the school. And it’s going to be quite a thing, isn’t it? Yes. They’re going to rejoice. “…For He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation,…” Now that’s talking about us. “…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.” It’s going to be beauty, and splendor, and riches, and glory, and honor, that the world has never known. It’s going to make Solomon’s kingdom look like sandbox. Now that’s going to be amazing, isn’t it? “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” (vs. 9-11). That’s the peace that Christ is going to bring. That’s the solution to the problems of the world today.

Now let’s look at Isaiah 11. Let’s see how this is going to be. I love this part here. And I have often wondered how this is going to be. Well, there’s going to have to be some changes in the nature of animals, see. Now let’s pick it up here beginning in verse 1. This shows how Christ is going to rule the world. And this is how we’re going to do it. With love, and wisdom, and understanding, but with strength, and power. Let’s read it, Isaiah 11:1, “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: and the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,…” Now here’s what it’s going to be. Now you could probably say, if you look at every government, it’s the government of corruption, the government of graft, the government of regulation, the government of stupidity and nonsense, and whatever else you want to say. Christ’s government is not going to be that. “…The spirit of wisdom and understanding,...” So if there’s a problem that needs to be solved, it’ll be solved properly. If there’s a project that needs to be done, it will be done correctly. “…The spirit of counsel and might,…” So that people are going to know why they are here, why they are born, what are they doing, what is God’s plan, how is it going to be carried out, how do I receive salvation? “…The spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;…” (Isa. 11:1-2). You talk about knowledge. You talk about understanding. Isn’t it going to be something when Christ gives the format for the textbooks for the schools in the millennium. I can guarantee you one thing, there isn’t going to be that little old nasty word: “evolution”, as they say in Britain. It’s going to be: “the Lord has made”.

“And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:…” He’s going to get all the facts. “…But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth [that is, if anybody rebels and goes against him], and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.” The wicked are not going to be around. It’s going to be a time when he will either repent or it’s over with. “And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins” (vs. 3-5).

Now notice how the whole ecology and animal kingdom is going to be changed. “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,…” Can you imagine that? The eater is lying with the one that he used to eat. “…And the leopard shall lie down with the kid;…” Well, today the leopard gets it and takes it up in the tree and eats it. “…And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them” (vs. 6). Isn’t that wonderful? Every child is going to have it’s own pet. Along with that comes responsibility too. They are going to learn to take care of the animals. They are going to learn that if they don’t do it right the animal’s going to react back to them. They’re going to have to clean up the do-do. They’re going to have to keep everything organized. But they’re going to have a lot of fun doing it too, aren’t they?

“And the cow and the bear shall feed [together];…” Now bears eat a little more grass than I figured I’ve seen in the past. I’ve seen here just recently some documentaries where it shows that bears are out there eating grass. They eat quite a bit of it. I was really quite surprised. But here at this time they’re going to probably be exclusively grass eaters. “…Their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.” In other words, that’s what it’s going to eat. No more killing and eating as it is now. And this is the one, the next verse, that always just amazes me. “And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp [one of the most venomous snakes in the world], and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den” (vs. 8). And just to read it makes me shiver, because I don’t like snakes. It sure is for me, where it says there were…Christ said in Genesis 3 to Eve, that “I’ll put enmity between the seed of the serpent and your seed.” And boy that’s sure true.

Now notice verse 9. Now think about this. “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain:…” Think of it. No more police force as we know it. No more crimes. No more robbery. No more beat-em-up abuse. And I tell you, whenever you watch some of these documentaries on solving crimes, it’s just heart breaking how many women and girls are killed, and abused. No more. No more. Here’s why. “…For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” That is something, brethren, that is even difficult for us to understand. You see, because the knowledge of the Lord that we have is contained in this one book. And I’m sure that the knowledge of the Lord at that time is going to far exceed this, because then it’s going to be all over the earth. “And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious” (vs. 9-10). And that’s what we’ve been called to do. That’s what God is holding out for us.

Let’s look at a few Psalms, and see what it’s going to be like. Let’s come to Psalm 97 because this is the way it’s going to be. And it’s going to be in happiness, it’s going to be in joy, it’s going to be with glory, with honor, with righteousness, with truth, with mercy, with righteousness as it says, “mercy and righteousness kiss each other”. I tell you that is one sweet saying, if we could put it that way.

Here, let’s come to Psalm 97 now. And I love these Psalms. “The LORD reigneth;…” Now if you’ve ever seen the coronation of a king, they announce: “Long live the king”, or “Long live the queen”. “Queen so and so reigns, or King so and so reigns.” Now here it is, the LORD the King reigns. “…Let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.” (Psa. 97:1). Boy, I tell you, it’s going to be something.

Let’s come down here to Psalm 99:1. “The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: He sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved. The LORD is great in Zion; and He is [high] above all the people. Let them praise Thy great and terrible name; for it is holy. The king’s strength also loveth judgment; Thou dost establish equity, Thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at His footstool; for He is holy” (Psa. 99:1-5).

Then it also talks about a time, we know this is the resurrection. “Moses and Aaron among his priests,…” I wonder what Moses is going to do. I wonder what Aaron is going to do. You know, that’s an amazing thing. Well, if you want to know what it is, you have to be in the kingdom to find out, because God doesn’t tell us. And there is no more minister going around declaring what it’s going to be, for those of you who remember them. “…Them that call upon His name; they called upon the LORD, and He answered them” (vs. 6). There’s another place that says that, “Before you ask, I will answer.” Isn’t that something? Prayer is going to be so immediate that when the people think of it, it’s going to be. Now that has to mean that they have right thoughts, doesn’t it? Absolutely. But that’s something.

Now, let’s come here to Psalm 145. And here is a summary of what it’s going to be like all through the millennium. Let’s begin right here in verse 1. “I will extol Thee, my God, O king; and I will bless Thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless Thee, and I will praise Thy name for ever and ever.” There isn’t going to be any worry about, you know, “Do I pray today? Where is God?” All those things are gone. “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Thy works to another, and shall declare Thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honour of Thy majesty, and of Thy wondrous works.” And the whole earth is going to know. And every human being is going to know. “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, and shall sing of Thy righteousness” (Psa. 145:1-7).

Now I want you to think about a society built upon this, verse 8. “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.” Now can you not imagine that during the millennium, that is going to be the greatest work of God? It surely is going to be. “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. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.” And yes, even into all eternity, so it’s going to be. “The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. The eyes of all wait upon Thee; and Thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest Thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.” That is going to be wonderful, brethren. “The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works” (vs. 8-17).

Now here is how God is going to be known. “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him:..” The desire. See there’s going to be right desire. That’s going to replace lust. Love is going to replace selfishness. Righteousness is going to replace lawlessness. Mercy is going to replace cruelty. Compassion is going to replace hardness of heart. All of that for all people. And that is our job to do. “…He also will hear their cry, and will save them. The LORD preserveth all them that love Him: but all the wicked will He destroy. My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless His holy name for ever and ever” (vs. 18-21).

And then we know the last part of Isaiah, it says from Sabbath to Sabbath, new moon to new moon, obviously from feast day to feast day, all people will come and worship the Lord. Can you imagine the wonderful thing that God has given us to do with that? So brethren, that’s why we keep the Feast of Tabernacles, and that’s why we are here. To know what God has for us, and for the world. That we can love God, and stand by faith, and keep His word, and keep His feasts, and do the things that are pleasing in His eyes.

Well, brethren, continue to have a marvelous feast, and we’ll see you tomorrow.