FEAST OF TABERNACLES – DAY 4 – 2005

Fred Coulter – October 21, 2005

And greetings brethren. Welcome to Day 4 of the Feast of Tabernacles – 2005. And let’s understand what God has called us to is the greatest cause, the greatest work, the most fantastic thing that can be. We are going to be given eternal life at the resurrection, we are going to be with Christ forever, we are going to help straighten out this world, we are going to bring it peace, prosperity, blessings, and everything beginning with Israel and for all nations.

Now you see today men, under the inspiration of Satan the devil, are building their own one world order. That’s going to be Babylon the Great, and God is going to eliminate it because that’s a counterfeit. And it’s going to prove once and for all regardless of what men try to do without God, and whenever they follow the inspiration of Satan the devil, it’s going to fail. And there is no way that all the powers of armies, munitions and the works of men, even fighting against the return of Jesus Christ is going to change it. The only thing that is going to change it is the return of Christ, the resurrection of the saints, and the carrying out of God’s plan as laid out through His holy days.

And so here we are, Day 4 for the Feast of Tabernacles, and let’s again see what God is going to do for the world and that we have the responsibility of carrying this out. We have the responsibility of following the blessings of God as He gives them, and the responsibility of following the instructions of Christ in how to do it, the responsibility of serving and helping the people, rebuilding everything that was destroyed that occurred before the return of Christ or as He was returning. And so this is a tremendous thing.

Now what I want you to do is this: Whenever you sit down and watch the evening news or listen to it on the radio or listen to some talk shows or whatever that you do, just understand men are fighting all of these problems and they can’t solve them because they reject the true God, and because they don’t keep His commandments, and because they refuse to follow God’s way, they refuse to acknowledge Him as God. Oh yes, they’ll have many, many, many different gods, true – but to acknowledge the true God, they can’t do that.

So Christ is going to return and they’re going to be forced to acknowledge Him. They are going to repent, and we are going to help lead them into the greatest most fantastic time in the history of all mankind. And then when we get done with that, as we will see, we have been called to something even greater when we get to the Last Great Day. That’s why that is called the Last Great Day.

Now let’s begin here in Isaiah 35. Now Isaiah is filled, as we will see, with a lot of the prophecies of the Millennium and the Kingdom of God, the government of God, and all of this sort of thing. It is there. And as you read these things you can understand why the Jews during the time of Jesus, when He came to the earth as a human being and didn’t sent up the Kingdom, why in wanting to have the power, you see. That’s what they wanted. They wanted Jesus to come to them as the power brokers and that they would exalt Him as King. That’s why you find it in several occasions that when they came (especially there in John 6) to make Him a king, He escaped. See, they wanted the Messiah to come to them, and for the Messiah to do their bidding. And so, because of that they overlooked all of the Scriptures which talk about Jesus coming in the flesh in the first coming, and His life and His suffering, and His death and the preaching of the gospel and so forth, and so men are left without the true knowledge of God. The Jews who reject the first coming of Christ don’t understand what’s going to happen. Those who accept Christ in the way of the occult Christianity of today, they don’t understand His plan, they don’t know what it is and they don’t know where they’re going and they don’t know what they’re doing. And so you see, the secret of God is with His people.

Now let’s understand something. Can we be trusted with that knowledge – to believe it, to understand it, to anticipate what Christ is going to do? Or are we going to do as many people – just up and walk off and turn our backs on it? Well, let’s continue on here. Let’s come to Isaiah 35. Let’s see here is a fantastic and wonderful prophecy of what’s going to happen. Verse 1: “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them…”

Let’s come back to verse 16 of Isaiah 34: “Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them. And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein” (Isa. 34:16-17, KJV). Now that’s talking about the beginning of the Millennium. Now based on that – the wilderness.

Now if you look at a map or a globe of the world – the cities of the world and the bigger towns and so forth take up very little room. Most of it is fields, wilderness, deserts. Look at the big deserts of the world and see what a fantastic thing that Christ is going to do. Isaiah 35:1: “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.” So God is going to eliminate the deserts. Now, in there, there is probably a lot of very fertile soil that hasn’t been used for a long time. As a matter of fact, in certain areas (I think it is) in Libya that they have deep wells where they are able to irrigate. So they have these big sprinklers that go around in these huge circles. You’ve probably seen them in the United States as well. And they plant alfalfa, and they are able to get a crop every five weeks. So that shows what the power of this is going to do.

Now as I mentioned yesterday, we are going to have a lot to do with helping the people. Verse 3: “Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not…” See, we are going to have to go out there and encourage them. “…Behold, your God will come with vengeance [He’s going to take care of all the problems], even God with a recompence [so He’s going to have vengeance and recompence]; He will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.” Now this is also referring to Jesus first coming, but also His second coming because there are going to be a whole lot more blind that have to have their eyes opened, and a whole lot more deaf that have to have their ears unstopped.

“Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing…” And we’re going to do this. Now what I want you to understand is that we are the ones through the power and authority of Jesus Christ, the King of the whole earth, and we as rulers and priests under Him, we are going to be doing this. So if we can grasp that then this will help you understand the great and the fantastic calling that God has given us and the tremendous work that He has for us. “…For in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay…” Instead of the komodo dragons that they have today there will be what? There: “…shall be grass with reeds and rushes. And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness…” Now not only is it a highway, but this is also spiritually, because we’re going to teach them the way of holiness, because as we have seen in the series that we’ve just completed in Hebrews 12 we are to pursue peace and holiness without which no man can see God. So it’s going to be the way of holiness. And that’s what we are going to teach the people because see, we’re going to be preparing them to enter into the Kingdom of God. We’re going to be preparing them for eternal life. And that’s why we are going through what we go through today so we will be qualified. We’ll have the character of God. We’ll have the knowledge of God. And if course God is even going to teach us more things after we’re resurrected. I think this, just like as Paul said we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face. He said when he was a child he spoke as a child, he acted like a child and when he became a man he put away childish things. Well, likewise with us once we are resurrected we then are going to be able to be given knowledge and power and understanding, which we cannot handle today, because you see we are still flesh and blood human beings. So that is really fantastic and exciting you see.

And so for all of you those Laodiceans out there, listen up. God wants to give you fine gold, the very best. And so we have this opportunity. Look at this: “…the unclean shall not pass over it [no, they’re not going to be in the way of God]; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.” In other words we are going to educate people in the right way. Now also notice this: “No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there…” Now you can put another Scripture there where it says (and we’ll see a little later), “This is the way, walk you in it.” And so that’s going to be the basic message that we are going to teach people. This is why we need to learn the Word of God. This is why we need to develop the character through the power of the Holy Spirit, and Christ, and God the Father in us to accomplish what God wants us to be able to do.

Now notice verse 10: “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isa. 35:1, 3-10, KJV). Now you talk about a wonderful fantastic project and opportunity for us that God is giving us. That is something. That is really something because you see as Paul wrote the whole world is waiting for us. The whole world, bound up in corruption today, is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God and for the liberty and freedom that we are going to bring them. So you see, if you’ve ever wanted to do something fantastic and great wait on God. He will give us the character, He will give us the ability, He will give us the eternal life, He will give us the understanding, and it all depends on Christ. That’s a fantastic thing to understand and realize.

Now let’s come to Ezekiel 34. Again we are going to see how God is going to just absolutely satiate this world with the best. And in order to do that there need to be a lot of teachers, there need to be a lot of priests, there need to be those to help and train and so forth, and part of the task will be made much easier because, as we saw yesterday, God is going to give a new heart and a new spirit and a new attitude and we’re not going to be dealing with the stubborn rebelliousness of the children of Israel that they’ve exhibited all through their history.

Now Ezekiel 34:23: “And I will set up one shepherd over them [now this is actually going to be Christ, but David will be under Him as we will see], and he shall feed them, even My servant David…” And whose throne is Christ going to sit in? The throne of David His father. We’ll see that in just a minute. “…He shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the LORD will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it. And I will make with them a covenant of peace…” See, like I said yesterday, there is going to be a new covenant that is given, which is going to be different from the covenant that we are under. This is a new covenant for the physical nations of Israel and Judah and the nations of the world. The New Covenant that we are in today is differentiated from the covenant that God originally had with Israel is this: that we are here for eternal life, and we are preparing for it. Now they are going to also, but it will be a new and a different covenant for them. “…And will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.” (Ezek. 34:23-25, KJV).

Ok, now hold your place here because we’re going to come back. Let’s come to Isaiah 9 and let’s see the prophecy of Jesus. Let’s see that the government is upon His shoulders. And if you don’t have the booklet “Is God’s Ministry The Government Of God?” You know, you need to understand that. Christ is to rule in our hearts, isn’t He? Yes. We are to be led of the Holy Spirit, are we not? Yes. We are to have the laws and commandments written in our hearts and our minds, aren’t we? Yes. Christ is to rule over us – not a ministry. A ministry is to teach, to help, to inspire, to uplift, to help the brethren maintain their relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ. And when that’s done everything in the church in doing things together all comes together nicely in peace and harmony and understanding.

Now back here in Isaiah 9:6 it talks about the birth of Jesus as a human being, then it blends in to His second return. So we have here in two verses the first coming of Christ and the second coming of Christ: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful…” Now all of these are names of God. Now if you don’t have the series, “The Prophecies Of Jesus In The Old Testament” be sure and write in for it, because that shows that all through the Hebrew Scriptures of the Old Testament the prophecies of Christ are clear and easy to understand. And I based this upon a book written by a Jew, Arnold Fruchtenbaum, who wrote the book Old Testament Christology (I think that’s what he called it) [Messianic Christology]. “…And the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God [God in the flesh you call the mighty God], The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Now let’s understand something: Christ will become a father after He marries the church. And what we do as the Bride of Christ, married to Christ, then all of those who come into the Kingdom of God during the Millennium will be the children of Jesus Christ and the Bride. Whereas all of those who are in the first resurrection are the children of God the Father. So you can say at that time then God the Father becomes a grandfather and Jesus becomes a father.

Now notice verse 7: “Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end…” And if you don’t believe that is true look at some of the fantastic videos or CD’s that they have on the universe and it is truly awe inspiring. “…Upon the throne of David [just like we read back there in Ezekiel], and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Isa. 9:6-7, KJV). Now that’s an absolute guarantee it’s going to be done, right? Yes.

Now think of the difference that there’s going to be in judgment, in justice than what we have in the world today. Now right while we are doing this video they are all lining up in the battle positions for the selection of the next one or two Supreme Court Justices. And they are all trying to get their way. None of them are seeking after truth and peace. They’re seeking the right, they’re seeking the left, they’re seeking the middle, but none are seeking God. So there can’t be any justice in it. There can’t be any truth in it.

Ok, back to Ezekiel 34 and let’s pick it up here again in verse 26. And what we are going to see is that the blessings of God are literally going to be poured out on the earth and the people of the world. And then all mankind is going to fulfill his destiny and purpose, because it’s going to be the restoration of all things for the very purpose that God intended in the beginning is going to be carried out by us.

Now notice verse 26: “And I will make them and the places round about My hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.” So we have physical blessings of rain, we have the physical blessings of the things that everyone would want: blessings of health, blessings of long life, blessings of children, blessings of land, blessings of food, blessings of knowledge, blessing of teaching all the people of the world the way of God. Can you imagine what it’s going to be like?

Now I don’t know if we’ll have the opportunity to do this but I have thought about it, which is this: If we could kind of be on a sea of glass space platform during the Millennium when it gets down to the time when the whole world is under the government of God, and we could start at the beginning where the Sabbath begins on the earth as it turns on it’s axis, and we could be there and somehow see and watch and listen to all people as they begin the Sabbath as it starts at sunset, and then of course they would all go to sleep and go to bed and rest, and then we come around where the sun rises and they get up and they all go to Sabbath services. Now they’re not going to have to drive anywhere to Sabbath services because there will be churches probably every third or fourth corner, which will also serve as the schools. So it’s going to be a marvelous and fantastic thing. And just think what it’s going to be like with the sons of God teaching them, and then the different ones participating as well, and the instruction given to them, the songs given to them, the praise that they will give toward God, the praise that we will even receive as the sons of God in helping and serving them. See, because we’re going to share the glory of Christ. And just think that would be like if you could be on this sea of glass and watch the earth turn and see everywhere that all human beings came together in happiness and joy and peace and worship of God, knowledge of God, thanksgiving to God, glory to God. What a fantastic thing that would be. Well, that’s exactly what’s going to happen.

Now let’s continue on: “And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD [everyone is going to know the Lord], when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them. And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid. And I will raise up for them a plant of renown…” Or as the margin says, small cattle and sheep and so forth. So God is going to raise up not only the plants and the trees but also the animals. “…And they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are My people, saith the Lord GOD. And ye My flock, the flock of My pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD” (Ezek. 34:26-31, KJV).

Now back to this about cattle. I remember when I was pastoring up in Boise and I went out to visit this man who has a dairy farm. And when he came into the church he decided he was going to stop artificial insemination of his cows. So what he did, he got a bull. And I tell you it was a big bull. He took me out there one time and said, “Here, I want to show you my bull.” So he opened up where the bull was in a special stall. He opened it up and here is this bulls head – I kid you not it was like that – you just look at that and think Whooh – big Holstein, because he had Holstein cows. Well, what happened was this: when he went to natural insemination with the bull, guess what? His cows had eight sets of twins. Now you think about an increase in money and wealth is double. So this is what God is talking about here concerning the animals. God is going to pour out just a multitude of blessings. If you think your situation is blessed today, and if you think that you live in a wonderful place today, and if you think that you live in a wonderful house today, or whatever it may be, especially here in America, or Britain, or Australia, you live in a piker’s house. You have nothing compared to what God is going to give you and compared to what the people in the Millennium will have available to them. So this is quite a thing. We need to keep this in mind and understand what God has called us to.

Now hold your place in Ezekiel because we’ll come back to Ezekiel 36, but I want to go over here to Isaiah 30 and let’s see how this is going to be done. There aren’t going to be any more mysteries like we’ve had this summer with Natalie Holloway down in Aruba. And of course if you want to know the insanity of the news that you get just remember how bad that was.

All right, here to Isaiah 30:18: “And therefore will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto you…” God is going to lead them in grace and knowledge and understanding and everything. “…And therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment [so here – judgment and mercy together]: blessed are all they that wait for Him.” Now that’s continuously beginning with Adam all the way down to the end of human beings. All those who wait on God – that applies to anyone who’s doing so.

“For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: He will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when He shall hear it, He will answer thee.” There are going to be instant answered prayers. It’s going to be greater than what we have today. They’re going to think about it, they’re going to pray about it and bam – there it is. And we’re going to have part in that.

Now verse 20: “And though the Lord give you [it probably should read “had given you”] the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction [that is in the past before now coming into the Millennium and the Kingdom of God], yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers…” That’s what most of us are going to be doing – teaching. They will see us. It’s not going to be like now. We believe in faith, and worship God in spirit and in truth. When they believe it will be because they see it; and it will be because they see us; and it will be because we will be able to teach them the right way.

Now notice: “…and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way…” Like we talked about the way of the redeemed a little earlier – that’s what it is. “…Walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left [you’re going to hear the voice].” (Isa. 30:18-21, KJV). Now it’s going to be done in love and understanding, in graciousness and so forth. So it’s going to be quite a thing.

Now back to Ezekiel 36. Now I don’t know about you, brethren, but I just [get] really excited about what God has for us, and what we need to do is ask God to open our minds and our minds eye to see it. You know, like David said there in Psalm 119:18, “Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” (paraphrased). So likewise with all of God’s Word, for us to be inspired, for us to be uplifted, for us to understand the Word of God, that God would open the minds of our understanding to realize some of these things, to give us faith, to give us hope, to give us conviction, to give us endurance so that we can be faithful to God and survive any of the things that come upon us whether it be unto torture or martyrdom, or we die before that time comes we die in the faith with truth and hope and conviction. That’s what God wants for us, see, because what He is going to do is so great and marvelous and fantastic.

Ok, back here to Ezekiel 36:8, again showing what God is going to do: “But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to My people of Israel; for they are at hand to come.” Now I just want to interject here something very important. The climate in the so-called Holy Land today (which is really unholy) is not comparable to the climate during the days of Jesus. The whole environment has been scraped to the ground by the Romans and it’s laid destitute. Now the reason I bring it up is this: because there are some people out there troubling brethren by saying that we have to have someone go to the Holy Land and look at the green ears of barley to see if they are ripe enough so we can settle the issue on the calendar. The climate is different. You cannot base what you see today on what was realistically done back then. It’s an impossibility. And another thing that’s important: grain ripens according to when you plant it. So you need to understand that. So here it’s going to be turned back to what it is today.

Let me just finish that with looking for the green ears of barley. Christ fulfilled the wave sheaf offering. And what business do people in the church of God have going to Karite Jews, who reject Jesus Christ, and be led of them in this nonsense of watching for the green ears of barley. And I’ve done enough calendar research through the years to know that the Karite’s never had it right in the first place. So why should we join to them. And yet some people in the church of God do. All right, back to here. I just had to interject that because the climate is going to be changed and everything is going to come back the way that it should be and we’ll have the right seasons. That’s why we have the calculated Hebrew Calendar so we know when it should be as God tells us that it should be and not base it on something that we see today, which is not in conformity with the seasons as the way that they should be. We need to understand that.

All right, verse 9: “For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn unto you, and ye shall be tilled and sown [that is the land]: and I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it: and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be builded…” No economic problems, see. The greatest problems of economics that we have today is war, preparation for war, and defense of war, or against terrorism and crime and sin and wretchedness. Remove all of those things and think about what sort of economic progress and building and everything that there will be.

Now God says here, verse 11: “…And I will multiply upon you [that is the land of Israel, which includes not only the Holy Land but everywhere that God gave the land to Israel] man and beast; and they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates [so wherever Israel went that’s where they’re going to be resettled], and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the LORD” (Ezek. 36:8-11, KJV). Now that’s something. Just like the prophecy says, they are all going to know the Lord from the greatest to the least of them and you won’t have to have evangelism like you have today – “Do you know the Lord? Oh, here’s a booklet.” It’s going to be entirely different, isn’t it.

Ok, let’s go on. Let’s come back to Isaiah 32. It’s amazing how much is in here concerning the Kingdom of God and the Millennium and the things that God is going to do. I tell you, this is really a fantastic thing. Let’s pick it up here in verse 15. This is what God is going to do: “Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high…” God is going to pour out His Spirit on all people. Coupled with the change in nature I do not believe that we can comprehend the great and fantastic potential of human beings when this happens. It’s going to be awesome. It’s going to be something. “…And the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest. Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. And the work of righteousness shall be peace…” That’s our work that we will have – the work of righteousness. And we’re going to continually bring peace. Quite different from what we have today. Remember the prophecy there in Isaiah 9 that of His government and peace there shall be no end. “…And the effect of righteousness quietness…” Everybody’s going to be able to sleep at night. No nervousness. We’re not going to have to have any burglar alarms. We’re not going to have to have police patrolling. We’re not going to have to worry about gangs. We’re not going to have to worry about thieves. We’re not going to have to worry about adulterers and adulteresses. We’re not going to have to worry about drug dealers and drug addicts and drunkenness and all of those things. No, it’s going to be totally different.

“…And assurance for ever. And My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings…” The bank’s not going to come and repossess it. And if you buy it you’re not going to pay outrageous interest. For example: You take a credit card today with the interest rates they have, if you make the minimum payment only they say it will take you 30 years to pay off the credit card. Now you know why I’ve said in the past, get out of debt. Yes, get out of debt all you can because the time’s coming when you’re going to be thankful you’re going to be out of debt. But here they won’t have to worry about it in a sure dwelling place: “…and in quiet resting places; when it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place [it’s not going to bother it]. Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass” (Isa. 32:15-20, KJV). So it’s going to be a great and a multitudinous thing for us to do and the prosperity is going to be awesome, breath-taking. It’s going to make our plastic society look like Flintstones caveman era. I mean, think about it. How many things do we have plastic. We’re going to see a little later on here too, the kids are not going to have plastic toys. They’re going to have the real thing – animals. That will be so much better.

Ok, let’s continue on. Let’s come to Isaiah 41, just a few pages over. Since we’re here in Isaiah we’ll sort of dwell in Isaiah most of the rest of the time. Let’s pick it up in verse 10. Here’s what we’re going to tell the people when we first bring them back. This also is for us today. If you get down and discouraged, trust in God. Turn to this Scripture (Isaiah 41:10), open it up, read it, and claim the promise.

Verse 10: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee…” And that means wherever you are, whatever you are doing, whatever your circumstances are. And as well that applies to Israel in the Millennium – God is with them, we are with them. “…For I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.” That’s what we’re going to do all through the Millennium. It’s going to be a fantastic time. This is going to be absolutely amazing.

Now here, verse 13: “For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” They’re not going to be saying, “Where is God? I wonder if God exists.” No. God is right there. And guess who’s hand it’s going to be? Ours, in the name of God. Yes.

Verse 14: “Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and Thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” That’s what God is going to do. It’s going to be amazing. This is going to be a fantastic thing for us, brethren.