BY AL BUCHANAN
I’d like to begin the sermon by asking you to turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 2. We’ll begin there this morning.
Last evening at sunset we entered into a very, very important time. We entered into the third of three Festival Seasons. This third season contains, as we know, four of the seven annual festivals that picture God’s great plan that He’s working out here on this earth, His great plan of salvation for man. These four Fall Festivals, of course, picture the culmination of that plan when He brings it to completion.
In 1 Corinthians chapter 2 and in verse 6, we read
1 Corinthians 2:6. However,
we speak wisdom
Paul writes to the Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 2:6. However,
we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor
of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7) But we speak the wisdom of God in a
mystery, the hidden wisdom which God
ordained before the ages for our glory.
“We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery,” he said. This word “mystery” simply means something that is hidden, a secret or a hidden thing. And then he mentioned “the hidden wisdom of God.”
1 Corinthians 2:7. But we
speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages
This word “hidden” simply means to conceal, to make secret, to make it a secret thing.
This “hidden wisdom” contains information about something that God predetermined or ordained before the ages. It’s interesting this word “ages.” And if you go through and see where it’s used in the Scriptures, you get into the Book of Revelation in particular. It speaks often there of times that are going to go on forever and ever. And this word “ages” is included in that. “Ages” that go on forever and ever. This is before the “ages” that this great God predetermined or ordained this, “the hidden wisdom which God ordained or [predetermined] before the ages for our glory.”
He ordained it for the glory of certain individuals. We pointed out before that word “glory” has to do with the recognition of who and what someone is and the position that that person will fill. Paul included himself in this group that would receive this glory, this very special recognition.
In Matthew 13—hold your place there—and let’s turn to Matthew 13 to a Scripture that we’ve referred to a number of times over the years, a very important Scripture for those of us who feel that we’re included in this special group. In Matthew 13 verse 10, it says
Matthew 13:10. And the
disciples came and said to Him,
This was just immediately following Him giving this Parable of the Sower.
Matthew 13:10b. “Why do You
speak to them in parables?” [They asked.]
11) He answered and [He] said to them [to the disciples], “Because it
has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven [or
the
Jesus said, “It had been given,” or “It had been
determined,” that the disciples were to know.
They were to acquire. They were
to come to be acquainted with and come to know certain things. And those certain things were contained within
what is called here the “mysteries” or the hidden truths about the
Continue to hold your place in 1 Corinthians 2. Go to Matthew chapter 25 to a section of Scripture that we’ve been looking into just recently. Matthew 25 and verse 34, we read this
Matthew 25:34. “Then the
King will say to those on His right hand,
And back in verse 31, we see that’s when the Son of Man comes in His glory. For that time when He’s coming in His glory
Matthew 25:34. “Then the
King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
For “the blessed of the Father,” one of the blessings is to be able to understand these mysteries that we are to inherit the Kingdom. That Kingdom was prepared for us. It was determined before the ages that that would be part of the glory that we would receive that we are to inherit this Kingdom.
As we pointed out when we went through this that when the word “kingdom” is used in the Scriptures, we find at times it refers to the Millennium which is what the Feast of Tabernacles pictures that we’re about to keep very soon now. Sometimes it refers to the Millennium, to that thousand year reign of Jesus Christ. At other times, it refers to the government, the rule of God. And there’s other times it refers to the Family of God.
Here it says these special individuals are going to inherit this Kingdom. For the glory that was ordained for certain ones to receive involves this inheritance into this Kingdom, into the very Family of God that will rule the earth during the thousand years.
Back in 1 Corinthians chapter 2, this “hidden wisdom” here that it speaks of.
1 Corinthians 2:7. But we
speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory.
This “hidden wisdom” contains the truth about God’s great plan of salvation, the fact that certain ones will receive this glory as they enter into the very Family of God.
Just across the page in my Bible over in verse 26 of 1 Corinthians 1, we read
1 Corinthians 1:26. For you
see your calling,
Now if you have the same edition of The New King James Version as I have, next to “you” you see a reference to the margin where it says that that should be rendered—and it should—it should be rendered “consider.” Consider your calling. Give thought to. Give consideration to
1 Corinthians 1:26b. your
calling, brethren,
And we’ve pointed out recently there’s many words that this group is referred to by; the firstfruits, the brethren, the called, the blessed of My Father, the chosen, the elect. There’s many ways that this special group is referred to.
1 Corinthians 1:26. [Consider]
your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not
many mighty, not many noble, are called.
There’s a very special category at this time of individuals that are being called to receive this glory, a very special category. But not because of any status we hold now. Not because of any accomplishment we’ve made. It says that there’s not many wise. I mean we can look around the room. If we look down within ourselves, we’ll see where we relate. If we really consider ourselves relative to so many people on this earth, the ones that we’ll read in a moment here that are referred to as the mighty of the earth.
You can say what you want to about the politicians, those particular that are running for the presidency right now. But if we were to compare ourselves to them in intellect and capacity to think, the capacity to store information, and things like this—most of us watched the debates. There was a situation where these two men were thrust into the spotlight where literally millions and millions and millions and millions of people were watching. The cameras were rolling. The lights were on them. And they performed in a very cool, collected intelligent way. How many of us could even begin to function under those extreme conditions that way? Very few of us. These men are extremely intelligent, very capable. You may not agree with what they espouse, but they’re very capable men relative to us. Most of us—and I won’t speak for all of you, but I’ll speak for myself—I’m not in that category. No where near that category! God didn’t choose very many like that.
1 Corinthians 1:26b. not
many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27) But God has chosen the foolish things of
the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the
world to put to shame the things which are mighty;
We really need to think about who we are. Who we are! The incredible blessing that it is that God has chosen to call you and me despite the fact that we don’t qualify in many areas on our own.
Verse 28.
1 Corinthians 1:28. And the
base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and
the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are.
The very last part of that in The New English Bible is rendered
1 Corinthians 1:28b. to
overthrow the existing order.
To overthrow the existing order! God has chosen that you and I are going to be used in roles that will replace those who are called mighty today, those who are in rulership positions today, those who are in leadership positions today. You and I are going to have to fill roles to replace those. Incredible to think that that could even be possible!
Have you ever thought about—we’ve talked about this in years past—have you ever thought about trying to solve the real problems extant on this earth today? Could you do it? Would you even know where to begin? Would you even know the first step to take to solve the huge problems that are extant on this earth? Yet, we have been called to overthrow the existing order of things.
And it goes on to say, after stating that not very many mighty ones, not many intelligent ones, and that sort of thing are called, but rather the weak and the base things, and it says that this is done
1 Corinthians 1:29. That no
flesh should glory in His presence.
This word “glory” is a different word than doxa which is the word “glory” over in verse 7 of chapter 2. This word has to do with boasting. Let no one boast.
1 Corinthians 1:29. That no
flesh should [boast] in His presence.
And certainly we shouldn’t.
Down in verse 31, it goes on to say
1 Corinthians 1:31. That as
it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
This is actually a direct translation from Jeremiah chapter 9. Hold your place here. And I want to go back to Jeremiah and read that entire quote there and what is being said. Jeremiah 9 verses 23 and 24. I feel that every one of us need to pay special heed to what is said here.
Jeremiah 9:23. Thus says the
[Eternal]: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the
mighty man glory in his might, nor
let the rich man glory in his
riches; 24) But let him who glories
glory in this, that he understands and knows Me,
That we understand and we know that this great God is working out this plan and that He has revealed that plan to us, that He has revealed Himself to us.
Jeremiah 9:24b. that he
understands and knows Me, that I am
the [Eternal], exercising lovingkindness,
And it’s as a result of that lovingkindness that we can even be here, that we can understand to the level that we do of who He is and what He’s doing.
Jeremiah
Or as it should be, “justice.”
Jeremiah
It says here in verse 23,
Jeremiah 9:23b. “Let not the
wise man glory in his wisdom, let not
the mighty man glory in his might,
I don’t think any of us would say that we’re wise. I don’t think any of us would say that we’re mighty. I don’t think that any of us would say that we’re rich and we would be glorying in our riches. None of us would include ourselves in that.
Yet, Brethren, pride is something that has permeated the
We don’t deserve. We don’t deserve what He’s given us. We don’t deserve to be able to understand. We don’t deserve to be able to sit here today and feel that we’re included in these words. We don’t deserve it. Not in and of and by ourselves! We don’t. It’s out of His mercy, out of His kindness, out of His gentleness, and the way that He works with us that He’s included us in these things. And we need to deeply appreciate what it is He’s doing.
Back in 1 Corinthians 2 again. 1 Corinthians 2, I’ll read verse 7 again.
1 Corinthians 2:7. But we
speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8) Which none of the rulers of this age knew;
The information is not available to those currently participating in the order of things that’s on this earth today. They don’t understand at all.
1 Corinthians 2:8. Which
none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have
crucified the Lord of glory.
It would never have happened.
1 Corinthians 2:9. But as it
is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear
heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared
for those who love Him.”
Do we love Him in the truest sense of the word? We mentioned last time that I spoke that the subject of love many people think is a syrupy subject. It’s anything but that. It’s anything but that. Do we love this Being?
Verse 10.
1 Corinthians 2:10. But God
has revealed [these things] to us
This word “revealed” means to make manifest or to reveal a thing previously secret or unknown. These secret and hidden truths God had to reveal to us. You would not know that. You would not have even gotten to that point of being here today without God revealing it to you and to me.
1 Corinthians 2:10. But God
has revealed them to us through His
Spirit. For the Spirit searches all
things, yes, the deep things of God.
Last evening at sunset we entered into this Fall Holy Day Season as I’ve already mentioned. We’re here today keeping this Feast of Trumpets. The Jewish world, as you know, the legislature’s trying to get some very special legislation through Congress right now. They took off today. They took off tomorrow because of this Holy Day. There are many Jewish people in Congress actually. I don’t how many. There are some. In honor of this special time, they took off. They left aside doing what appears to be incredibly important job to solve a very serious problem in this country, but they set it aside. They don’t understand the depth of what this Day pictures as we do, but they set this time aside for that reason.
We are here. We have set this time aside as God commanded us to. Hopefully we’re here with understanding of how important this Day is in His great plan that God is working out.
God’s plan allowed for Satan the devil to rule on this earth for six thousand years or six one thousand year days. We understand that. He was allowed to sway all human beings on this earth. Every one, including us! He has swayed humanity and brought about the current order of things on this earth.
He will not be allowed to rule in that one thousand year day that’s coming. The Feast of Tabernacles that we’re about to keep, that one thousand year rule of God’s government here on this earth, he won’t be allowed to rule then. There’s coming a transition of control. We understand that and that transition of control will begin with the fulfillment of this Day, the Day that we’re keeping here today. God’s government is going to rule during that one thousand year day. The earth will rest from Satan’s rule during that one thousand year Sabbath Day. Jesus the Christ is going to return to this earth. This Day, among other things, pictures that return to this earth. This time He’s going to return with power and authority to rule.
In 2 Thessalonians 1, I want to go there. This is a section of Scripture that probably isn’t often read connected with this Day, but I want to read it today. It’s—I think—very applicable the times in which we live right now to read this. 2 Thessalonians 1 and verse 3.
2 Thessalonians 1:3. We are
bound
Paul writes to these folks in that time.
2 Thessalonians 1:3. We are
bound to thank God always for you, brethren,
And once again, he’s writing to this special group of individuals.
2 Thessalonians 1:3b. as it
is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly,
How applicable is that to us today? We read in the Scriptures where it says, “When Christ returns, will He find faith on the earth?” Will there remain people with faith when He returns?
Here Paul is writing to these folks and he says that
2 Thessalonians 1:3 cont. your
faith grows exceedingly, and [Notice this!] the love of every one of you all
abounds toward each other,
How much does that apply to us today? As we view the Church of God today, how well does that apply to us? Could Paul write this letter to us today in this way?
Notice the conditions under which he writes.
2 Thessalonians 1:4. So that
we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience
and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure,
Perhaps their faith was at the level that it was and perhaps their love for one another was at the level that it was because of the persecutions and tribulations that they were enduring. I don’t know.
I think every one of us remembers the 9-11 incident. Probably every one was glued to a source of news on that day when the reporting of the planes flying into those twin towers occurred. We remember the shock. We remember the fear. And, no doubt, we remember the days following how that for a short time this nation rallied together. Even politicians set aside their partisan views for a time, just for a short time. And they rallied together for a common cause. They forgot their differences for just a short time.
I wonder if it’s going to take severe persecution, tribulation for us to have the kind of faith we need to have and to have the kind of love for one another that we need to have. I wonder.
Right now we’re hearing from the politicians and a lot of the spin merchants and the news services about how bad things are in this country. How really bad things are. They want to convince us that things are so terrible here.
Peggy and I went shopping.
She needed to go do some shopping this past Sunday. And we went to
We went to the mall and did some shopping. The place was filled with people shopping and spending their monies.
Peggy and I were watching the evening news one day toward
the end of last week and they had a little clip in the national news about the
conditions in
The people that think that we have bad times in this country
need to spend a day or two in
We’re so spoiled as members of the
Let’s back up and read this on through up to verse 5.
2 Thessalonians 1:3. We are
bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your
faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward
each other, 4) So that we ourselves boast
of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your
persecutions and tribulations that you endure,
5) Which is manifest evidence
of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom
of God, for which you also suffer;
Very few of us really suffer. All of us do to some degree. If we’re truly obeying God and attempting to do His will, we’ll all suffer to some level. Few of us suffer to the level of the Haitians. Few of us suffer even to the level no doubt that these folks were suffering that Paul is referring to here.
Going on it says
2 Thessalonians 1:6. Since it is a righteous thing with God to
repay with tribulation those who trouble you,
So God is going to repay. We’re told not to take vengeance that God will take care of the situation.
Verse 7.
2 Thessalonians 1:7. And to give you who are troubled rest with us
when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,
So see this is all about this Day. This is talking about this Day and when He returns with His mighty angels to this earth.
Verse 8.
2 Thessalonians 1:8. In
flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do
not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This will be a time of extreme contrasts as we heard in the sermonette.
The firstfruits will inherit the
While the majority, at the very same time, the majority of deceived humanity will experience God’s wrath. We may think that even as we heard in the sermonette, that this is unfair that God unleashing His wrath on this earth, but He has no choice as we heard also. He has to do that.
Leviticus 23, let’s go back. As we’ve already heard, I want to read this one more time. Leviticus 23 and verse 23, beginning in verse 23.
Leviticus 23:23. Then the
[Eternal] spoke to Moses saying, 24)
“Speak to the children of
If we were living in ancient
Hold your place there and in Number chapter 10, let’s just read one verse there. Numbers chapter 10 and in verse 10.
Numbers
This particular chapter deals with the fact that God instructed that silver trumpets be fashioned as a means of communication to the people. God gave instructions that they would do that. They needed a means to communicate with the people and they did it through the silver trumpets. They could make different tones with these particular trumpets and they could communicate information to the people with them.
They were to be blown, these silver trumpets, were to be
blown at the beginning of months and on the Holy Days among other times. So for both reasons, these trumpets would
have been blown as the Feast of Trumpets began last evening, again, if we were
in ancient
According to Jewish tradition, even though we don’t read it here in Leviticus 23 and we don’t read it in most places connected with this, according to Jewish tradition, the shofar or the ram’s horn was blown on the Day of Trumpets. And again, we don’t read that here and we’ll talk about that in a moment. The shofar was considered to be the alarm of war. The shofar couldn’t make different tones. It could just make the one piercing, very dreaded sound, because it was the sound that warned them of war.
Continue to hold your place in Leviticus 23. Turn to Jeremiah 4. Jeremiah chapter 4 and in verse 19.
Jeremiah 4:19. O my soul, my
soul! I am pained in my very heart! My
heart makes a noise in me;
If we become very alarmed, become very scared—I think this is what this is talking about when it says “My heart makes a noise in me.” When a heart begins to beat very hard, it almost feels like our chest is shaking from our heart beating so hard.
Jeremiah 4:19b. My heart
makes a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because you have heard, O my soul,
the sound of the trumpet,
This is the shofar.
Jeremiah
This was, no doubt, the most dreaded communication from the trumpet, this piercing sound of the shofar. The silver trumpets, again, were capable of different tones, but not the shofar. And so it was a dreaded sound that they would hear.
Back in Leviticus 23 and verse 24, we read this again.
Leviticus 23:24. “Speak to
the children of
As already mentioned in the sermonette, this word “trumpets” here is not the shofar. It is not the silver trumpets. But rather this “blowing of trumpets,” these three words are rendered from the single Hebrew word Teruwah as Steve mentioned, which does not literally mean a trumpet at all of any type. But rather it means clamor, or the acclamation of joy or a battle cry, a tumult, a loud noise especially a joyful noise of rejoicing or a warlike cry, a cry for battle. So that’s what this is talking about that on this Day there is to be a memorial of this “blowing of trumpets.” This Teruwah is taken from the root word ruwa which means to split the ears with sound, a shout for joy or alarm, to make a loud noise, to cry out with a loud voice of a warlike clamor, to shout for joy.
Hold your place there again and turn to Psalm, the eighty-first Psalm. I’d like to read a couple of verses there. The eighty-first Psalm, Psalm 81 verse 1.
Psalm 81:1. Sing aloud to
God our strength; make a joyful shout
This is ruwa in the Hebrew.
Psalm 81:1b. make a joyful
shout to the God of Jacob. 2) Raise a
song and strike the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the lute. 3) Blow the trumpet
This is shofar.
Psalm 81:3. Blow the trumpet
at the time of the new moon, at the full moon, on our solemn feast day.
This is the only place I can find in the Scriptures where it connects shofar with one of the Holy Days. And here it’s not specifically saying which Holy Day. At least I’m not aware of it if we can tie this to a particular one. Maybe on all of the Holy Days. So maybe, in fact, the shofar was blown on the Holy Days. So “Blow the trumpet in the new moon,” in this appointed time.
So, perhaps in actual fact that both the silver trumpets and
the shofar were blown on the Day of
Trumpets as it began. Maybe we would
have heard that had we been living in ancient
The Feast of Trumpets is a time of great joy for that special group that is going to, who have been ordained to receive that glory. It’ll be a time of great joy. But at the same time, it’s a time of alarm for the rest of humanity. This Day of Trumpets, as Steve already mentioned and emphasized here in verse 24 of Leviticus 23, is to be a memorial. It is to be a memorial. A memorial is a memento or a memorable thing, a remembrance, a reminder by which something is brought to mind. So this blowing of the trumpets, this Teruwah, is to bring something to mind, to cause us to remember something. This Day is to be a memorial of these blowing of trumpets, a reminder of Teruwah, this shouting for joy and this outcry of war.
This Day pictures the next major step in God’s great plan for man. Certain ones alive on this earth are to be reminded about this next step. Remember only a handful can be reminded because in order to be reminded, you have to have previously known. It can only be a memorial for those who have already known and are being reminded. So only those who have been exposed to God’s plan and have had God’s plan revealed to them can be reminded. So it’s only a reminder. This memorial is only for those who have had this incredible truth revealed to them. This memorial or reminder is for you and it’s for me.
God’s plan is orderly. It’ll occur in a sequence predetermined by God. He won’t deviate at all from a pre-described plan. The fulfillment of what is pictured by the Feast of Tabernacles will not occur until the Feast of Trumpets is fulfilled and the Day of Atonement is fulfilled. The fulfillment of these Fall Holy Days is likened to a birthing process. And we’ve been talking about that recently.
I want to go back to Matthew 24 and read again what we’ve read recently. I think it was Mr. Schmidt mentioned that as we were going through these particular sermons in Matthew 24, Luke 21, and Mark 13 that it was sort of preliminary to these Fall Holy Days. I really didn’t even plan it that way, but it certainly turned out to be it seems. Matthew 24 verses 1 through 8, let’s read this.
Matthew 24:1. Then Jesus
went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him
the buildings of the temple. 2) And
Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon
another, that shall not be thrown down.”
3) Now as He sat on the
As we pointed out when we went through this material, this word “sorrows” means pains of labor, distress, and woe, compared to the pain which a woman experiences in childbirth. The wars and rumors of wars are just the beginning of the birthing pains.
Thankfully, my dad or myself didn’t have to go into war and
experience war. None of our children
have had to. Some in this room have
experienced war. When I was a child,
some of my uncles were engaged in World War II, one in the Air Force, two in
the Army I guess it was. There was two
in the infantry, one in the Air Force.
And the stories that I heard about the war and the horrors of the war
were just incredible. Two uncles that
were in the infantry, one was in
This, it says, is the beginning of sorrows. It’s the beginning of the birthing process. There’s much more to come.
In Jeremiah 30, let’s go back there. In Jeremiah 30 and in verse 1.
Jeremiah 30:1. The word that
came to Jeremiah from the [Eternal], saying,
2) “Thus speaks the [Eternal] God of Israel, saying: ‘Write in a book for yourself all the words
that I have spoken to you. 3) ‘For
behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord,
‘that I will bring back from captivity My people
The physical descendents of
Verse 4.
Jeremiah 30:4. Now these are the words that the [Eternal] spoke
concerning
Prior to the peace will come a time of trouble. An alarm of war will be sounded.
Verse 6.
Jeremiah 30:6. Ask now, and
see, whether a man is ever in labor with child?
So why do I see every man with
his hands on his loins like a woman in labor, and all faces turned pale?
Once again, this time that brings fear is likened to the pains of giving birth.
Verse 7.
Jeremiah 30:7. Alas! For that day is great, so that none is
like it; and it is the time of
Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.
The fulfillment of the Feast of Trumpets will bring a time of trouble on this earth like nothing that has occurred before. There’s never been a time like it. There won’t be a time afterward.
In Daniel, let me just quickly turn over to Daniel. Hold your place there. I’m just going to read one verse. Daniel 12 and in verse 1.
Daniel 12:1. “At that time
Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of
trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time, and that time your people shall be delivered,
every one who is found written in the book.
So this time is going to be a time of unprecedent. There’s never been a time like it before. There won’t be a time like it afterwards.
And then in verse 9.
Jeremiah 30:9. But they
shall serve the [Eternal] their God, and David their king, 8) ‘For it shall come to pass in that day,
Verse 8.
Jeremiah 30:8b. says the
[Eternal] of hosts, ‘That I will
break his yoke from your neck, and will burst your bonds; foreigners shall no
more enslave them. 9) But they shall
serve the [Eternal] their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up
[after] them.
So this wonderful world tomorrow is going to follow. It’s just as certain as the trouble that will precede. God has an orderly process. What He has ordained will take place. What He has prescribed will take place at its time and in its severity. To the level that He has prescribed, it will occur.
Back in Romans chapter 8 then. Romans chapter 8 and verse 18.
Romans 8:18. For I consider
that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
So once again, he speaks of that glory that’s going to be revealed in this very special, select group of individuals.
Verse 19.
Romans 8:19. For the earnest
expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of
God. 20) For the creation was subjected
to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21) Because the creation itself also will be
delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the
children of God. 22) For we know that
the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
Jesus the Christ said in Matthew 24 verse 8 that these things would happen. That all these wars and rumors of wars was the “beginning of these sorrows,” these birth pangs. It’s only begun. It has to be completed. The final contractions have to take place before the end will occur.
Verse 23.
Romans 8:23. Not only
[they], but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves
groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our
body.
I hope that that’s the case. I hope that we’re eagerly waiting this. That this is something that is our goal. That we are looking forward with great anticipation to that glory that was predetermined that was ordained before the ages for us. I hope we can see clearly enough through that clouded glass, that imperfect mirror that we’re looking into. Hopefully we can see clearly enough that this is truly a realistic goal that we’re shooting for.
In Matthew 24, let’s go back there again. Matthew 24 and in verse 21.
Matthew 24:21. “For then
there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of
the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
So Jesus the Christ here when He was on this earth used similar language as Jeremiah and Daniel used. That this is an unprecedented time that this Day pictures.
Verse 22.
Matthew 24:22. “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
“For the elect’s sake,” for the sake of the firstfruits who are alive at that time, these days will be shortened. Also for the sake, I believe, of the firstfruits, who have already died, these days will be shortened. Why? So that certain individuals will live over into the Millennium which God has ordained. He’s prescribed. It’s going to happen. Certain individuals who are not called now will live over into the Millennium to be exposed to the government of God. They’ll be there for those entering the Family of God to begin to practice, you might say. I don’t know. That’s probably a wrong selection of words.
But think about this. We’ve mentioned this before. We’ve never functioned in the Family of God. We’re going to be thrust into a role. Remember? We’re going to overthrow. We’re going to be among those who will overthrow the order of things. We’re going to be thrust into a role of ruling, a role of government, a role of being able to have answers to man’s problems. We don’t have those answers now. We’ve never functioned in the Family of God. We’ve never even know what it’s like being in the Family of God. There’s got to be a time that we’re going to learn how to function. There’ll be those who will live over into the Millennium that we will have an opportunity to begin the work with.
Imagine if we were thrust into that role at the beginning of the Great White Throne Judgment when all of the vast human beings, those numbers of human beings that have lived on this earth all throughout history were up all at once and we were thrust into this role at that time!
It’ll begin small, as God always does. He begins everything like a grain of a mustard seed and it grows. His Family is going to be that way. It’s going to grow. It’s going to start very, very small. And the role that the Family has at that time will begin small and it’ll increase. And it’ll get bigger, and it’ll get bigger, and it’ll get bigger. And when it comes time for all of the vast humanity to be resurrected from the dead, the Family of God will be prepared and ready for that role, for that function, at that time.
Here in—let’s read this again in Matthew 24 verse 21.
Matthew 24:21. “For then
there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of
the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22) “And unless those days were shortened, no
flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
And those will be saved.
Verse 23.
Matthew 24:23. “Then if
anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is
the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it.
So certain individuals whom Jesus Christ is writing specifically to here and giving instruction to here will be exposed to this. And He’s instructing us as to how we’re to deal with this when it comes.
Matthew 24:23. “Then if
anyone says to you,
At this time, during this time of unprecedented tribulation on this earth. He said,
Matthew 24:23. “Then if
anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is
the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24) “For false christs and false prophets
will rise and show great signs and wonders [so as] to deceive, if possible,
even the elect. 25) “See, I have told
you beforehand.
He said. “I’m telling you now. You’re hearing this now before it occurs.”
Matthew 24:26. “Therefore if
they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’
Do not go [there];
Don’t go looking for Him in the desert!
Matthew 24:26b. Do not go
out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner
rooms!
He’s in some private place.
Matthew 24:26 cont. Do not
believe it.
These are words, again, from our Head, from Jesus the Christ, instruction to those who will be alive when this occurs.
It goes on. It says in verse 27
Matthew 24:27. “For as the
lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming
of the Son of Man be.
Verse 29.
Matthew 24:29. “Immediately
after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will
not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the
heavens will be shaken.
Verse 30.
Matthew 24:30. “Then the
sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the
earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of
heaven with power and great glory.
“All the tribes of the earth” at this time it says, “will mourn.” All of those alive at this time will mourn which means to strike or beat one’s body, particularly one’s breast with the hands in lamentation, to lament, and to wail.
In Revelation 6, let’s turn there. Revelation 6 and in verse 12. In symbolic language we see a description of this very same time when the sixth seal is being opened.
Revelation 6:12. I looked
when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and
the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13) And the stars of heaven fell to the
earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty
wind. 14) Then the sky receded as a
scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its
place. 15) And the kings of the earth,
the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and
every free man,
So no one’s going to escape.
Revelation 6:15b. hid
themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,
So even those who view themselves as mighty now and are standing tall now won’t be standing very tall at that time. Fear is going to permeate the earth and permeate every human being and it’s going to affect every human being on the earth.
Verse 16.
Revelation 6:16. And said to
the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who
sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17) “For the great day of His wrath has come,
and who is able to stand?”
We know that this sixth seal which immediately follows the opening of the sixth seal contains the seven trumpet blasts, which marks various events that lead right up to the return of Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 13, let’s go back there and read a few verses. Actually Steve read from Isaiah 13. I think I’m going to be reading different verses than him. Isaiah 13, begin reading in verse 6.
Isaiah 13:6. Wail,
It says.
Isaiah 13:6. for the day of
the Lord is at hand! It will come as
destruction from the Almighty. 7)
Therefore all hands will be limp, every man’s heart will melt. 8) And they will be afraid. Pangs and sorrows will take hold of them; they will be in pain as a woman in
childbirth;
So we keep hearing this.
Isaiah 13:8b. they will be
amazed at one another; their faces will
be like flames. 9) Behold, the day
of the Lord comes, cruel, with
both wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and He will destroy its
sinners from it.
I don’t think any of us fully understand how God views the order of things on this earth. And I think we view like our government relative to other governments and we think this government is pretty good. And, as governments go on this earth, it’s not that bad relative to others. But even this government is so corrupt. It is so miserably corrupt from the bottom to the top! And God views this from His throne. He looks down on from His throne. I don’t think any of us can fully appreciate His view as He looks down on this earth and the effects that Satan has had on humanity here on this earth.
In Isaiah 24 and in verse 1.
Isaiah 24:1. Behold, the
[Eternal] makes the earth empty and makes it waste,
“Makes the earth empty” is rendered from one Hebrew word. It means to pour out, to make empty, to depopulate. To “make it waste” means to devastate, to make waste.
Isaiah 24:1. Behold, the
[Eternal] makes the earth empty and makes it waste, distorts its surface and
scatters abroad its inhabitants.
God is not just going to remove Satan, but He’s going to remove the effects from his influence. That which is evil will be removed from this earth. This must happen before the peace, true peace, can be restored. Again, we’re going to talk about peace this year, at least to some degree, at the Feast and what kind of peace that God speaks about. We’ve never experienced His peace. We don’t know that it’s like. We’ve never experienced it.
Matthew 24 and verse 30.
Matthew 24:30. “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Verse 31.
Matthew 24:31. “And He will
send His angels with a great sound of [the] trumpet,
We realize that this is the last of seven trumpets.
Matthew 24:31b. and they
will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to
the other.
Jesus the Christ will return with power and authority of the Word of God. I don’t think we fully grasp the magnitude of that name, The Word of God. He’s returning with the power and the authority of that name to rule. And at that time the gathering or harvesting of the firstfruits will take place.
1 Thessalonians chapter 4 verse 13.
1 Thessalonians 4:13. But I
do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen
asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose
again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15) For this we say to you by the word of the
Lord, that we who are alive and
remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are
asleep. 16) For the Lord Himself will
descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the
trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ
will rise first. 17) Then we who are
alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the
Lord. 18) Therefore [Paul writes]
comfort one another with these words.
We ought to be comforted with the fact that, yes, there’s problems coming, but there’s something glorious beyond that we will be able to experience. This incredible time that will occur at the sounding of this seventh and last trumpet of God!
1 Corinthians 15. 1 Corinthians 15 and verse 50.
1 Corinthians 15:50. Now
this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the
Remember Jesus Christ is going to say to those on His right hand—“Those blessed of My Father,” He said—“inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
1 Corinthians 15:50. Now
this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the
A hidden truth!
1 Corinthians 15:51b. We
shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trumpet. For the trumpet
will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed. 53) For this corruptible must
put on incorruption, and this mortal must
put on immortality. 54) So when this
corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality,
then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory,”
The fulfillment of the blowing of the seventh and last trumpet involves the harvesting of the firstfruits into the Family of God. Incredible, incredible time that I don’t think any of us fully appreciate at this time. We can read the words. We can try to grasp it. I don’t think we can even begin to grasp that glory that’s going to be revealed in us! That glory that’s been ordained since before the ages for us! I don’t think we can fully appreciate what it’s going to be like.
The fulfillment of this very special Day of Trumpets will involve on the part of—as Steve said—a very few, a great shouting of joy. On the part of the vast majority there’s going to be a shouting of alarm. There’s going to be a time of trouble, a time of sorrow, a time of anguish for the vast majority, but for those of us, Brethren, who have been called to this glory, there’s going to be a great shouting for joy. I hope we’re looking forward to that. I hope we’re eagerly looking forward to that.
I want to read the very last verse here and we’ll close with that. Verse 58.
1 Corinthians 15:58. Therefore,
my beloved brethren [my beloved brethren], be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that you labor is not in vain
in the Lord.
Transcribed by kb