Feast of Tabernacles 2005: Day 2-Part 2

Now let’s continue on here in Luke 19, and so here’s the other part of the story too: “ ‘But another came, saying, ‘ “Lord, behold your pound, which I kept laid up in a handkerchief. For I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man.” ’ ” Now you see, that accusation is only true if you don’t do what you are supposed to do. What did Christ say to do? Occupy. He didn’t say sit back and rest and relax. Just like anything else, if you do well you will be accepted, right?. Isn’t that true? Isn’t that a Biblical principle? If you give instructions to someone to do something and they don’t do it, don’t they think that you likewise are a harsh person when they don’t do the things they are supposed to do when they do it? Now you see, just like today – more and more it takes two or three instructions to tell someone to do something before they get the point, and they may do it a couple times wrongly, or whatever the case may be. Or may not even do it and you have depended on them to do it. You have given them the instructions to do it, you have given them the trust to do it. You have had faith in them to perform it, and they don’t do it. Well, likewise with Christ, He has given you His Word, He has given you His Truth, He has given you His Spirit, He has given you His laws and His commandments, He has showed you what do, now if you don’t do it whose fault is it? Is it God’s fault? Or, if you’re just laying back, like this man did, and give it back to Christ, and then Christ says, and then you accuse Christ. You blame Him. This is modern day psychology, isn’t it? Yes. God is not to blame for your weaknesses and your lax when you don’t even perform. Now you can repent of that. You can at least make an effort, can’t you? Yes indeed. And then He shows them what he should have done here.

“ ‘Then he said to him, ‘ “Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant! You knew that I am a harsh man [that is - if you go against me, you’re going to get the correction, but if you do well you’ll be accepted], taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow. Then why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank, so that at my coming I might have received it with interest?” ’ ” The bare minimum – at least put to work the Spirit of God to do something, rather than do nothing and blame God. Now today a lot of people say this, “Well, we don’t have to keep those commandments in the Old Testament.” Well you see, the reason that people don’t want to do that is for two reasons: 1) it tells you what to do, and 2) it tells you what not to do. It tells you to keep the Sabbath and not keep Sunday. It tells you to keep the holy days of God and not the holidays of the world, so they say you don’t have to read it.

Notice what Christ is going to do, verse 24: “ ‘And he said to those who were standing by, ‘ “Take the pound from him, and give it to the one who has ten pounds.” ’ (And they said to him, ‘ “Lord, he has ten pounds.” ’)” See, God doesn’t run this by labor unions. God doesn’t run this by work rules. He runs it by His own rules, see. And Jesus answered: “ ‘For I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given; but the one who does not have, even what he has shall be taken from him. Moreover, bring my enemies, those who were not willing for me to reign over them, and slay them here before me.” ’ ” (Luke 19:12-27, FV). Now those are the harsh realities of life. And those are the harsh realities of spiritual growth and overcoming and the lack thereof, and for those who won’t allow Christ to rule over them. So again, who rules over you?

Now let’s see once we understand what we are to do, train to do it, use the time that God has given us to increase, as it were – to trade, to occupy, to build, to grow, to understand, then we are going to help Christ in the restitution of all things. Let’s come here to Acts 3 and let’s see the prophecy of this. Now this is quite a profound thing that occurred with the healing and so forth, but let’s see what Peter told him here after they wanted to know about the healing, and he witnessed to them about their part in the crucifixion of Christ. Verse 19: “ ‘Therefore, repent and be converted in order that your sins may be blotted out, so that the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Him Who was before proclaimed to you, Jesus Christ, Whom the heaven must indeed receive until the times of restoration of all things…’ ” Now we’re going to be a part of that: “ ‘…of which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began’ ” (Acts 3:19-21, FV). Now that’s quite a thing, isn’t it? And we, brethren, are going to help Christ do this – restore the whole world, all of mankind, and the right worship of God to all people everywhere in the world. Now that’s quite an amazing thing. You think about it.

Now let’s come back here to the book of Psalms. And you know, it’s an interesting thing too what people don’t get because they don’t read the Old Testament or understand it or believe it and they’re told that they don’t have to read it, which is this – this tells them the Kingdom of God is coming on the earth, doesn’t it? Yes, all the way through it, yes. In Isaiah, and Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, and the Minor prophets as Peter said, “By the mouth of all the prophets.” So because they don’t believe that, or many of them don’t believe it, they believe they’re going to heaven. Amazing. You talk about a world that is upside down, especially the religious world, it is crazy, and it is insane because they worship their god, Satan the devil.

Now let’s come here to Psalm 46. Let’s see the first thing that Christ is going to do, and we’re going to have a part in it and it’s going to be a wonderful and tremendous thing. Verse 8: “Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations He hath made in the earth.” And boy, when He’s done shaking the earth and the heavens and the seas and everything that is on it, and the battle of Armageddon and everything that takes place. And it says there in Revelation 19 that Christ makes war in righteousness, because it’s going to bring the righteousness and peace of God. “He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth [it’s going to take a little time to do that as we know, but it’s going to be done]; He breaketh the bow [as we saw they’re going to make them into implements of agriculture], and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariot in the fire.” No more tanks, no more planes, no more guns, no more all of those things. And just stop and think how much wealth there is going to be when the money and taxes are not wasted on those things. Amazing. You would think people would run to God today to have those things eliminated, wouldn’t you? But they won’t do it. Now’s not the time. “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” (Psa. 46:8-11, KJV). So that’s setting the tone as to what is going to happen.

Now let’s come here to the book of Zephaniah. Quite an interesting section of Scripture in this little book. You go backwards from the New Testament – Malachi, Zechariah, and then you go Haggai, then Zephaniah. Now we’re going to bring peace and joy. And those people who survive through it are going to be so thrilled and so happy that peace and love, and kindness, and understanding, and rulers who will rule in power, in justice, in mercy, and forgiveness will rule over them. And then when they worship they’re going to be worshipping the true God, not Satan the devil. We’re going to obliterate every idol, every cathedral. Every remnant of the religions of Babylon are going to become dust and ashes just like the golden calf that Aaron made and the people worshipped right at the foot of Mt. Sinai and Moses came down and he made it into small powder and strewn in the stream and made all the children of Israel drink of it. So likewise it’s going to get rid of all war. People are going to be happy for what God is doing.

Zephaniah 3:14: “Sing, O daughter of Zion…” Now that’s us. That’s the church. We’re going to be rejoicing. “…Shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The LORD hath taken away thy judgments…” In other words, His judgments of correction. He’s removed them. “…He hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.” Wonderful! That’s going to be a tremendous time. And we are going to help bring it in under Christ. “In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.” Now “Zion” refers to the work that we’re doing. “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty…” And that’s what God has desired right from the beginning, isn’t it – to dwell with His people. And the whole story of the Bible is God dwelling with His people. That’s why, as we pointed out yesterday, what is so profound and important is Christ dwelling in us now to prepare us for this great and this mighty work that He has called us to do at the beginning of the Millennium and all the way through eternity. “…He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love…” That is, that’s going to be the whole basis of what God is going to do. So that’s why it’s very important that we develop and grow in the love of God: love to God, love to neighbor, love to the brethren. And unfortunately too many of the churches of God are fighting and angry and back and forth to each other, and there is no mercy, there is no forgiveness, see. Well, you’ve got some lessons to learn if that’s the case where you are. There has to be love, there has to be mercy, there has to be forgiveness, there has to be understanding. And if you don’t develop those things now, how are you going to be able to show that to the people that God gives you to rule over in the Kingdom of God?

“…He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.” Now I tell you what – it’s going to be a wonderful thing to hear Christ sing. Have you ever thought about that? We’re going to hear Him sing. I imagine we’re going to hear Him sing during the wedding feast in accepting the Bride. Now think on that.

All right, let’s go on. “…He will joy over thee with singing. I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly [they are going to begin, as we saw yesterday, keeping the holy days and Sabbaths of God], who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee…” He’s talking to Israel. So it blends from the church on down into Israel. “…And I will save her that halteth [that is wounded], and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land…” That is on down through the Millennium because there’s going to be the church, which is spiritual Israel, there’s going to be physical Israel in Judah which is going to be the fame in all the world. It’s going to be a marvelous thing. God is going to set it up the way that He intended and everyone’s going to see how marvelous that this works. “…Where they have been put to shame. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD” (Zeph. 3:14-20, KJV). Quite a marvelous and fantastic prophecy of what we are going to do.

Now since we’re here in the minor prophets, let’s go back to the book of Zechariah 2:10. So just come back Haggai, Zechariah. This is also talking about the Millennium, talking about the events that are going to take place: “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion…” Now that’s the church. We are going to have the greatest most fantastic work and job that could possibly be, in the most satisfying way that could possibly be thought of, and we’re going to sing and rejoice. “…For, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD. And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be My people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee…” Notice again how that He’s going to dwell in the midst of His people. God is not going to be isolated in some great spiritual, as it were, ivory tower just sitting there pompously in Jerusalem. No, He’s going to be on the earth. He’s going to come and visit us. He’s going to see us. We’re going to see Him. He’s going to want to know how things are going. He’s going to be seen of the people. So this is a whole totally different way of viewing how things are going to be in the Millennium. Now let’s also understand this: What did Jesus say about lording it over people with a hierarchy? He said it shall not be so among you. So don’t think that in the Millennium all of a sudden Christ is going to bring a hierarchy. No, He’s going to dwell in the midst of the people. “…And thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee. And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for He is raised up out of His holy habitation” (Zech. 2:10-13, KJV). So it’s going to be an awesome thing. Can you imaging what it would be like? You know, people talk about all the visits of the Pope, going around the world and what a great and holy man he was. No, he was a wretched sinner, an idolater, and led people into sin. Even the Protestants claim him as a great moral man. Well that shows how much they don’t know their Bibles. But anyway, don’t you think that Christ is going to go around and visit parts of the world, visit people on a regular basis? I mean, think about it. It says He’s going to be in the midst of His people, while all the people of the earth are going to belong to Him, aren’t they? And that many nations will come and join themselves, won’t they? Yes. So let’s think about this in real terms. Let’s think about what God is doing and what He has planned. It’s going to be marvelous.

Now let’s come back here to Psalm 47. It’s amazing how much of this is in the Psalms and the prophets, and all about the Kingdom. No wonder those who didn’t want to accept Christ would look at these prophecies. Now they ignored the ones that showed that He was going to come on a donkey, that He was going to be crucified, that He was going to be beaten and scourged. They ignored Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53. And they said, “Well, He didn’t restore the Kingdom to us so He can’t be the Messiah.” Well, there’s more to it than what people think. And so likewise today.

Now here’s what the world is going to be like, Psalm 47:1: “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.” Now that’s what we are going to do at the resurrection, too, and all through the Millennium. “For the LORD most high is terrible [awesome]; He is a great King over all the earth.” And He’s going to dwell in the midst of His people. “He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. He shall choose our inheritance for us…” Now that’s for the church, for those who are resurrected, and also for Israel. “…For us, the excellency of Jacob whom He loved. Selah. God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.” Now what’s it going to be like every Feast of Trumpets all during the Millennium where we are going to look back and see everything that occurred in the return of Christ. Amazing things to look forward to.

Verse 6: “Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth [there it is twice]: sing ye praises with understanding. God reigneth over the heathen [through us]: God sitteth upon the throne of His holiness.” So He’s going to have a throne. “The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham…” Now who are they? What did Paul write? He said, “If you are Christ’s, then are you Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.” So this is talking about us – even the people of the God of Abraham. “…For the shields of the earth belong unto God: He is greatly exalted” (Psa. 47:1-9, KJV). Boy, amazing isn’t it, how much there is of what God is going to do in the Millennium?

Now let’s just continue on, Psalm 48: “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion…” So God is going to make... You know, all nations are going to flow unto Jerusalem, aren’t they? And they are going to come to the most beautiful, gorgeous, fantastic, marvelous, splendid, fabulous, unbelievable setting for the city of Jerusalem – for the house of God, for the throne of God. And people are going to come to it, “Oh, what a fantastic thing it is.” “…On the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is known in her palaces for a refuge. For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together” (Psa. 48:1-4, KJV). That’s us. We’re going to come there. We’re going to have regular meetings with Christ. We’re going to come and worship Him. We’re going to worship the Father. I mean let’s put this in realistic workable terms of what’s going to happen during the Millennium. You see, we’re going to have an active, a busy, a fantastic, a fulfilling and loving and serving existence not only here, but this is the beginning of all eternity for us, and to bring many people into the Kingdom of God. To bring them salvation, to fulfill the purpose of their lives that God has for them. And we are going to be the instrumentalities to help God to do it. That’s amazing.

Now let’s continue on. Let’s come over here to Psalm 67, a short little Psalm. And one of the things that we are going to do, just think about it, we are going to be able to give mercy, and grace, and forgiveness by the authority of Jesus Christ to all people. Now that’s amazing. That is truly a fantastic blessing. And it’s going to be a joy. Now here, verse 1: “God be merciful unto us, and bless us [and that’s what we’re going to do during the Millennium]; …cause His face to shine upon us…That thy way may be known upon earth, Thy saving health among all nations.” It’s going to take us at least a generation so that the health that God intended every human being to have will be restored. “And your saving health,” that also means spiritually, you see. “Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee. O let the nations be glad and sing for joy…” It is going to be a different world. It is going to be something amazing and fantastic. “…For Thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah. Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him” (Psa. 67:1-7, KJV).

Now not only is God going to bless the people, He’s going to bless us. Do you think that the blessings of God will cease because we enter into the Kingdom of God? No, they’re only going to increase and abound through all eternity. That’s why we have to have the character of God first. That’s why character is important first. And that’s what God is building in us.

Now let’s see the economics, as a couple of verses we didn’t read back here in Micah 4. Let’s come back here and let’s see that God is going to do the same thing that He has always done, that He’s intended to do – to give ownership of the land to people so that they are secure, so that they can build their houses and plant their vineyards and their orchards, and raise their animals and their children and have peace. Not worry about war, not worry about taxation, not worry about confiscation, not worry about bureaucracies taking things from them. Notice Micah 4:4, after it says they will learn war no more: “But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree…” Now this is to show the use of the property, the ownership of the property. See, it says his vine and his fig tree. “…And none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.”

Now here’s a very controversial verse, verse 5: “For all people will walk every one in the name of his god…” Now if we’re going to be like Christ, we’re going to be god, aren’t we? Yes. They will walk under our authority, won’t they? Christ will delegate the authority to us, in the name of Christ they will walk under our authority. Now notice: “…And we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever” (Micah 4:4-5, KJV). So we’re going to be under the authority of Christ, aren’t we? Now because there is that authority that doesn’t mean it’s a hierarchy. That just means that there is order. That just means that there is a right structure to accomplish what God wants.

Now let’s come to Amos 9 and let’s see what’s going to happen. If you think we have food and abundance today in this world, it is not even going to compare with what it’s going to be like in the Millennium. It’s not even going to compare with what they are able to produce then. Amos 9:13: “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt [down with abundance]” (Amos 9:13, KJV), see, because the whole earth is going to be blessed. Every physical thing will be blessed – all the trees, all the animals, all the people, all the land. That’s the restitution of all things, see. So that’s amazing, isn’t it? That’s quite a thing, God is going to bring them back and accomplish and do those things.

Now let’s come here to Jeremiah 31 and let’s see also what God says He’s going to do. God promises in bringing back Israel, and in bringing back all the nations and so forth in Jeremiah 31:1. Let’s go back one verse to Jeremiah 30:24: “The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until He have done it (that is set up and established His Kingdom), and until He have performed the intents of His heart…” Now all of those we cannot know. We can know some of them because He’s revealed it in the Holy Scriptures. But we can’t know all of them. “…In the later days ye shall consider it.” And the “latter days” means today and on in to the Millennium, because you see, the latter days can also apply to the time of the Millennium and the Great White Throne Judgment because the time of man and the last days of man are not over until those are completed.

Now verse 1 of Chapter 31: “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.” To bring him back to his own land. To give him rest and peace from war, rest and peace from sin, rest and peace from emotional trauma and turmoil and all the problems that he went through.

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love…”, physical Israel and spiritual Israel. And you know, think about it: why is it that people hate God when all God wants to give them is His love. And it is an everlasting love. Amazing, isn’t it? “…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.” It is going to be a time that we can’t even comprehend. I mean look at today, what are we? Busy, busy, busy. Go here, go there, go do the other thing. No time for this, no time for that. Got to hurry and do this, everything’s on the run – work, work, work, work, work, work, work, work, work, work. Yes, today in this world it has to be, but then it’s going to be entirely different. And we’re going to enjoy help bringing that to the people.

Verse 5: “Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things. 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.” Now that means going up to keep the feasts. That’s what it’s all about. Listen brethren, if there’s any one thing that we need to grasp and understand is this: religions of the world are trying to make people good little people for the world. God is trying to make us as rulers and kings for the world tomorrow, for the Kingdom of God. Now you see, everything that God does is from the framework of His commandments and His Sabbath and His holy days. And those are part of the expression of His everlasting love. So we need to realize that everything that God is doing is laid out on the framework of the Sabbath and the holy days. And they are so vitally important. Now that’s why Satan the devil wants to get people diverted from them. He doesn’t want them to know these things. He doesn’t want them to understand what God is going to do. He wants to put them in bondage. He wants to put them in religion, see, and we’re going to release people from that. Amazing, isn’t it.

Verse 7: “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. Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth…” This is going to be the greatest relocation of people that has ever been in the history of the world, and bring them back. We have to remake the land, rebuild the cities, plant the vineyards, plant the orchards, plant the fields, and all the people will be doing that. We’ll be directing them in that and showing them where to do it and how to do it. And Christ is going to tell us, you see. God is going to heal the earth. God is going to save the nations. And God has given us a part in that. Now we need to understand that. We need to grasp that. We need to make it a part of our lives, our heart, our mind, our soul, our being, and never listen to the false arguments of Satan, “Well, those are just things of the Old Testament and the law.” No, no, no, no, no.

“…And with them the blind and the lame, 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 says]…” And we are going to be part of that. Just think of this mass repentance of Israel. True repentance this time. Not 9-11 phonyism, but true and deep repentance. And God lifts the veil from their eyes so that they can see, and takes away the hardness of their minds so they can understand. “…I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way [and the rivers of waters are for healing], wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn.” Well, this is the way that God is going to order the world, isn’t it? Beginning with Israel, then all the nations of the world.

“Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he. Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.” Now this is hard to imagine what kind of life this is going to be. But this is what every one of us yearn for down deep inside, isn’t it? Well as long as we’re in the flesh, and as long as we’re in the world the way that it is today we will never achieve it. We can have some glimpses of it, some down-payment of it, some of those things in our lives, but at this time we’ve been called to work for Christ, to suffer for Christ, and to be a witness to the world and to the church.

Then here’s what’s going to happen: “Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow [and that’s going to be part of our job]. And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness…” That’s us. We are going to be well rewarded in plenty-ness, in abundance. “…And My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, saith the LORD” (Jer. 31:1-14, KJV).

So that’s what we’re going to do, brethren. Now we’re going to see some more because the understanding of the Millennium and the Kingdom of God on earth and what we are going to do is a fantastic and marvelous blessing that literally fills many parts of the Bible.

Feast of Tabernacles – Day 2 – 2005

Scriptural References

Hebrews 1:1-9
Deuteronomy 17:14-20
Proverbs 20:28
Proverbs 25:5
Proverbs 28:15-16
Proverbs 29:12
Proverbs 16:12-13
Proverbs 15:28-29, 32-33
Luke 13:23-30
Luke 19:12-27
Acts 3:19-21
Psalm 46:8-11
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Zechariah 2:10-13
Psalm 47:1-9
Psalm 48:1-4
Psalm 67:1-7
Micah 4:4-5
Amos 9:13
Jeremiah 30:24
Jeremiah 31:1-14