| (Copyright 2023) by Warren Zehrung (Little Rock, Arkansas) |
|---|
| Introduction: On the Last Great Day of the Feast in 2023 my sermon was titled, “Portal To the Everlasting Temple.” In it I answered the question, “What is the Last Great Day all about?” (Sermon and Sermon Notes attached) Let’s put it all together. As soon as man was created, God instituted the seven-day week with the seventh-day being the Sabbath Day of rest. God’s 7,000-year master Plan began at the creation of Adam and Eve. That first Sabbath day, and the symbolism it pictures of the creation week, is also a spiritual picture of Jesus Christ’s 1,000-year millennial reign on earth (Hebrews 4:9, Revelation 20:4). The world does not yet realize it, but the seven-day week, known by every civilization, is a microcosm of the 7,000-year Divine Plan. God has established a 7,000-year Plan to bring humanity into His everlasting eternal Family. We’ve drawn the parallel of the 7,000-year Plan of God, with the seven-day creation week. We’ve also equated the seven annual festivals with the Plan of God. But what is the Eighth Day Feast of the Lord all about? Leviticus 23:36 “…On the eighth day shall be an Holy Convocation unto you.” That is not much information upon which to establish the meaning of a Feast Day. But God has given us ‘a little here and a little there’ so that we are able to find more of the Biblical meaning of the Last Great Day. What will happen at the beginning of the fulfillment of the prophetic Last Great Day? The meaning of the day is found in the fact that the Eighth Day follows after the completion of the Great White Throne Judgment at the very end of the Millennium. The Last Great Day falls beyond the scope and span of the 7,000-year Plan of God. And, though it follows the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles consecutively, it is a separate and distinct Feast Day. It pictures the occasion when the Saints will be exalted to God’s eternal Glory (1Corinthians 15:43, John 17:5, Hebrews 2:10). What does Paul mean when he says in 1Corinthians 15:24 “Then comes the END, when [Jesus] Christ shall have delivered up the Kingdom TO God, even the Father?” This transference of Christ’s reign and rule to the Father shows us the meaning of the Last Great Day. God’s Plan on Earth has a precise beginning and end. The Last Great Day marks the transition from this present temporary earth to the eternal New Heavens and New Earth. When the Great White Throne Judgment renders its verdicts for all who have ever lived, and the Supreme Court of heaven comes to a close, there will be a changeover of administration from Jesus Christ to God the Father. The work of Jesus on earth will have brought the Plan of God to fruition. It will be completed at that time and ready to be delivered to God the Father. It was a 7,000-year Plan on earth – and after that it will be finished! The 7,000-year Plan on earth will conclude and there will be no further need for this planet. The elements will melt and the earth will be purified by a “Lake of Fire.” After the Great White Throne Judgment of Jesus Christ, there is one more most important final step that will be fulfilled. At that point we will await the utterance by Christ, “It is done,” (Revelation 21:6). Yes, Christ’s work in the Millennium will be done, but what about the New Heavens and New Earth? What does the Bible reveal? The Last Great Day will be about to begin, and there is a spiritual, timeless, everlasting eternity beyond that point! Jesus Christ, the Portal, will have taken this earth and its people from the depths of darkness – into God’s glorious light wherein dwells the New Heavens and the New Earth (Revelation 21:1). Isaiah prophesies of a time that will endure forever: Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of His Kingdom Empire and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His Kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. At the end of the Millennium, and after the Great White Throne Judgment, Jesus will have brought the Plan of God to fruition. It was a 7,000-year Plan of God on earth – and then it will be complete. The Kingdom ruled by Jesus on this earth will be finished, and then the last two chapters of the Bible, Revelation 21 and 22 reveal what happens next. The Saints will be ready to be delivered to God the Father. It will have been a long process, but finally it will be accomplished. Jesus Christ will have taken this earth and its people from the depths of darkness – into God’s glorious light wherein dwells the New Heavens and the New Earth (Revelation 21:1). The Children of God Working together around the world Bringing the message of hope to a world in turmoil Jesus Christ said that the Good News of His Father’s coming Kingdom over all the earth was to be published among all nations. The original apostles did not fully complete that mission. “This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 24:14) ************************ We begin the Holy Day service with the Offertory: The Feast of Tabernacles has ended, and we’ve come to the very best part of the feast—the Eighth Day—the Last Great Day. Let’s take a quick and brief survey of Revelation 21 and 22 to get a small picture of where God the Father’s Everlasting Temple is – because this day – —the Last Great Day – pictures our being there in the Eternal Holy City, New Jerusalem with God the Father and Jesus Christ forever more. These verses will be a cursory survey of the New Heaven and the New Earth. John writes: Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. Brethren, you fully understand that this earth on which we live will no longer exist when we come to the fulfillment of this last Holy Day – the Last Great Day. Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21:5 And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. Revelation 21:6 And He said unto me, It is done (speaking of all the work of redemption that Jesus Christ has achieved). I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. The water of life—is God’s Holy Spirit without measure. (John 7:37-39) That is the promise of Eternal Life (Revelation 22:17). Revelation 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that Great City, the Holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Revelation 21:11 Having the Glory of God: Twelve The number twelve is a symbolic description of the Holy City – with the Everlasting Temple’s perfectness, completion, power authority… So, we see the Great City, the Holy Jerusalem, portrayed as having – in a perfect spiritual sense: Twelve gates; twelve angels; the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel; twelve foundations; the names of the twelve apostles; was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits; measuring twelve thousand furlongs square. It is a picture of perfection and completeness – nothing lacking. One thing I want you to notice is that there is no magnificent structure like the Temple Solomon built in Jerusalem. John says: Revelation 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it. God the Father and Jesus Christ will be the Temple of New Jerusalem. Revelation 21:23 And the City had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. Jesus Christ is the light thereof. Revelation 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God [the Father] and of the Lamb. The water of life is God’s life-giving Spirit emanating forth from God’s eternal throne. This is where God the Father and Jesus Christ will be the source of Light. Revelation 22:3 …The throne of God [the Father] and of the Lamb [Jesus Christ] shall be in it; Revelation 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. This sermon today is about God the Father – up close and personal. Jesus taught us to pray to our Father – and to begin to build our relationship with Him. But Jesus also said of the Father, “You have never heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape.” Before the fulfillment of the Last Great Day, God the Father has remained somewhat distant from us. That is because our sins have separated us from Him – and as long as we are in sinful flesh, God the Father’s Holy Presence is beyond our reach. Until there is a fundamental transformation from human nature to divine nature, mankind’s very presence would defile God’s Holy Kingdom (2Peter 1:4). Our reconciliation with God the Father will not be complete until we are able to enter His presence when the Last Great Day is fully come. That will be a most glorious Day. Today – the Last Great Day – is the story of how and when thatdisconnect – thatdichotomy – that separation between God and man, will finally be remediedand rectified – so that we might have a one-on-one, face-to-face, everlasting personal relationship with our Father. That will happen when the Glorious Last Great Day comes to fruition. All the Feast Days are about How Jesus brings us to this point. Jesus is the Way. Jesus is the Door. Jesus said, “Whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst (John 4:14, Revelation 21:6). These are pictures of the Last Great Day. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst (John 6:35). The word I wish to key in on today is the word Door, or Portal as in my title: Jesus Christ is the Portal to the Everlasting Temple Our Greek word for today is thura: [Greek thura, [pronounced thoo’-rah] and it means a “door”, a portal or an entrance, a large and imposing doorway]. Ancient cities had a great high and impenetrable wall around them for safety and protection. The only entrance to the city was through the City Gate or Portal. The Last Great Day is about the insurmountable – unreachable Everlasting Temple of God, and Jesus tells us that He is the only way into it – He is the Door – the Gate – the Way – the Entrance – the Portal into the Everlasting Temple of God. Jesus said: Am the Door Brethren, an important note for your consideration – Jesus spoke these words on of the Last Great Day. John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. Jesus is the Portal to the Everlasting Temple Speaking of the Holy City – New Jerusalem, Jesus said, John 10:9 I am the door: I am the Portal: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved. Remember when Jesus was explaining the insurmountably vast expanse between the land of the living, and those in the eternal spiritual realm. He explained that it was an uncrossable chasm. Luke 16:26 [Jesus quoted Abraham saying to the unrighteous rich man], between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. That describes the way it is between this present world in which we live today and the New Heavens and a New Earth of the Last Great Day. Jesus is the only Portal by which we will be able to cross over the great chasm which separates this world from the eternal spiritual realm of the Everlasting Temple of God. Isaiah 65:17 Behold, I create New Heavens and a New Earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor even come into mind. We’ve had some wonderful sermons during the Fall Holy Days, but we have not covered the entire biblical story by any means. Only Jesus is our Redeemer – our Savior – our Deliverer – and our Only Portal to the Everlasting Temple. As we take up the Holy Day Offering we will have the Offertory music: Four minutes of a beautiful outpouring of redemption: O, Divine Redeemer by Anthony León Lyrics: O, Divine Redeemer! O, Divine Redeemer! I pray Thee grant me pardon, and remember not, remember not my sins! Forgive me, O, Divine Redeemer! I pray Thee, grant me pardon, and remember not, remember not, O Lord, my sins! Night gathers round my soul, fearful, I cry to Thee, Come to mine aid, O Lord! Haste Thee, Lord, haste to help me! Hear my cry! hear my cry! Save me, Lord, in Thy mercy, hear my cry, hear my cry! Come and save me, O Lord! O, Divine Redeemer! O, Divine Redeemer! I pray Thee, grant me pardon, and remember not, remember not, O Lord, my sins! Save, in the day of retribution, from Death shield Thou me, O my God! O, Divine Redeemer, have mercy! Help me, my Savior! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=979qQbtPaiU Beginning at 2:10 Min. Portal to the Everlasting Temple The Coming Glory With all its gold, tapestry, stone and polished bronze columns, Solomon’s Temple was magnificent to behold. But it had been destroyed in the captivity – its gold carried away. As the Feast of Tabernacles was concluding, some 2,500 years ago, God’s word came to the Prophet Haggai to encourage the people to “Be strong and work, because God is with us to build Him a Temple in which to reside.” But the people were being complacent to rebuild the destroyed temple. Keep in mind that the Temple they were building was a type – it only pointed to God’s Everlasting Temple. God inspired the Prophet Haggai to look forward to God’s Everlasting Temple filled with Glory— a picture of the Last great Day. Haggai 2:1 In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, [that was yesterday – ending at sunset – going into the Last Great Day], came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying…, Haggai 2:3 Who is left among you [old-timers] that saw this house in her first glory – her former glory? Haggai was harkening back to Solomon’s Temple – which was magnificent to behold. Haggai 2:7, And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts. The glory of this latter house [the Everlasting Temple] shall be greater than of the former. What is the “desire of all nations?” They do not know it yet, but their desire is to be reconciled to God the Father in His Everlasting Temple. Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21:22 And I saw no temple in [the Holy City, New Jerusalem]: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it. That is why the latter Everlasting Temple will ever more be more Glorious – because it is the Glory of God Himself! John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. Glory is an adjective of God meaning – brightness, brilliance, greatness, honor, splendor, power, praise, worship… Haggai 2:9 The glory of this latter house [the Temple of Revelation 21] shall be greater than of the former [Solomon’s Temple], said the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, says the LORD of hosts. “In this place will I give peace.” Our imaginations cannot comprehend how gloriously peaceful, safe and abundant life will be in the Everlasting Temple. In the New Heavens and the New Earth, both God the Father and Jesus Christ will shine forth at the greatest level of intensity and brilliant spiritual light that defines their eternal glory – their countenance shinning brighter than the sun in full strength. (Revelation 1:16) Jesus spoke of that brilliant spiritual light in His last prayer to His Father the night before He died on earth: John 17:5 O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed. Paul describes the Holy City, New Jerusalem this way: Hebrew 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the City of the Living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, Hebrew 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, Let’s take a look at the entire biblical panorama of the Plan of God. Let’s go back to the very beginning. God the Father and Jesus Christ loved one another before the foundation of the world (John 17:24). They were brilliant Glorious God Beings – but they were all alone. They did not see it as an intrusion into their perfect relationship to invite us – you and I – and eventually, all mankind to be a part of their God Family. Their Plan, shown by the Feasts of the LORD, is an expansion of their perfect love toward us. For them, opening the God-Family to us is an act of sharing and giving of their Spiritual substance and very essence. Their wish is to share their Glorious Eternal God Life with an extensive Family. God the Father and Jesus Christ began their Plan with the idea of reproducing more Elohim in their own image and character (Genesis 1:26-27). Ultimately, God the Father and Jesus Christ would develop man to the point wherein man would share in their God-Glory, and Eternal Life. With this loving concept, the Plan of God was formed. God created Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Man sinned! That act alone could have disqualified mankind forever—because the penalty for sin is death. But God had determined to redeem man from the time of creation—that was His Plan. That Plan would entail sending Jesus to the earth to die for the sins of mankind. God in His love and understanding had already developed a process wherein mankind could be redeemed, bought back, saved, or delivered from the consequences of sin: And that redemption was for God’s name’s sake – so that the Plan of God was not nullified—but proceeded on schedule. The long planned redemption of man, and the initiation of the New Covenant, commenced when Jesus paid the purchase price of redemption/salvation with His life. Buying back mankind from sin and ultimate death became necessary when Adam and Eve sinned and took upon themselves and their children, human nature. Redemption comes to the Church of God brethren first. The Scriptures show us that redemption is something that began with Christ’s sacrifice. For the Church brethren, redemption begins when we accept Christ’s sacrifice (Romans 3:23-25; Ephesians 1:7, 14; Colossians 1:14; Luke 21:28; Romans 8:23; Corinthians 1:30). 1Corinthians 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. It is when Jesus Christ comes again that He will complete the redemption of His Saints. The Church brethren are still awaiting the total fulfillment of something that the Exodus Passover unambiguously teaches—redemption. Our final redemption occurs when we have totally taken on the incorruptible divine nature of our Creator. At that point, the Passover will finally be completely fulfilled for the Church. Luke 22:16 [Jesus said] For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God. Redemption of the Church brethren began to take place after the death of Jesus. Only the life of Jesus Christ could possibly pay the great redemptive price necessitated by sin. Paul wrote, speaking of Jesus: Titus 2:14 Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a special people, zealous of good works. God’s Plan of Salvation is to redeem mankind not just from the death penalty, but from his sinful nature. God must redeem us from this flesh—this body of death, as Paul calls it in Romans 7:24—so we can fully manifest the image and likeness of our Creator and inherit His Kingdom. Redemption in its fullest sense is applied to, and first takes place for the Saints of the first and better resurrection when their human nature is changed to divine nature (2Peter 1:4) at the first resurrection. This process is generally expressed in the Sabbath Day, and Holy Days—the Feasts of the LORD. God established His Plan long before He began to implement it for mankind. God created the seven-day week culminating with the Sabbath Day – a spiritual day that pointed to the millennial rest—and ultimately to the entire Plan of God (Genesis 2:2, Hebrews 4:9). The apostle Paul concluded that there remains therefore a keeping of the Sabbath rest for the people of God (Hebrews 4:9). Paul was of course alluding to the 7,000-year Plan of God — culminating with the 1,000 year millennium — that will begin soon on this earth. What happens at the very end of the Millennium and the Last Great Day is the subject of today’s Feast – the Last Great Day. But let’s not get too far ahead of the story. In addition to His 7,000-year schedule, God has a blueprint upon which He has portrayed His entire Plan of Salvation for mankind. This blueprint was presented to ancient Israel in a form based around the annual harvest festivals that Israel was obligated to observe. Each of the Holy Days in Leviticus 23 has a specific time when it will satisfy its prophetic meaning. Jesus, Himself observed those Feasts of the Lord, demonstrating their deep significance in pointing to the spiritual harvest of men (Matthew 25:34). God showed His Plan to the Prophets of old – even this Last Great Day. Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy Holy City [New Jerusalem], to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. “Finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins” is a reference to this present evil world being blotted out. Put in our vernacular, the Feasts of the LORD, are the Feasts about the LORD, or the convocations that point to Jesus, His words, His works, and His actions in bringing many sons to Glory. Passover, Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles – and this Last Great Day – all point to Jesus and His work in bringing all mankind to Eternal Salvation. When the Millennium has come to its finale, mankind will come to the concluding phase of what God has in store for mortal man. The Last Great Day will be the culmination of the seven-thousand years allocated for the living to learn that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men (Daniel 4:17; Ezekiel 16:60-62). The lesson of mankind’s six-thousand years of rejectingGod’s direction and rule is one of hopelessness. This is the terrible lesson that all dead men will have learned, “Life is a hopeless mess.” Mankind will conclude, “There is no hope of happiness, fulfillment or a bright future.” And that is because all men will have died of war, accident, cancer, murder, or a painful old age – it’s absolutely hopeless. Ezekiel 37:11-13 Then He said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole House of Israel: behold, they say, “Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost:” [it’s absolutely hopeless.] we are cut off for our parts. It will seem that “Hope” is entirely lost. But God will pour out His Spirit on them, and all mankind will learn there is hope! Soon to come, seven thousand years after the creation of Adam and Eve — Jesus will open the Book of Life to all — giving the opportunity to each one to be written in it – if they will! (Revelation 22:17). Jesus will then turn over — deliver up — His Kingdom rule to God the Father. This transference of His reign and rule to the Father shows us the meaning of the Last Great Day. Last Great Day. The Last Great Day pictures the glorious period when the Plan of God will finally come to fruition. Everything that has transpired in the biblical perspective, from the foundation of the world, up to the very point at which Jesus will deliver up the Kingdom to God the Father, represents the work of Jesus Christ in bringing mankind’s epic journey on earth to its concluding fulfillment and ultimate purpose. The very last act of Jesus on this physical earth will be His judgment, seated on the Great White Throne, and the disposition and settlement of all involved. Daniel 12:2 Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt (John 5:29). Some will be thrown into the Lake of Fire, and some will proceed through the Portal of the Everlasting Temple. Here is how it will work. God will give everyone ample time for conversion (Isaiah 65:20-25): God will pour out His Spirit on all who have ever lived. He says: Ezekiel 37:14 When I have opened your graves, and shall put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall you know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, says the LORD. Joel 2:28-29 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit. Revelation 20:11 I saw a Great White Throne, and He [Jesus Christ] that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Revelation 20:13 … the dead were judged every man according to their works. After this point, there will be no more resurrections from the dead. Revelation 20:14 Death and the grave were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. The answer for the incorrigibly wicked and ungodly men who were not found written in the Book of Life, is that they shall go away into everlasting punishment and be cast into the lake of fire (Matthew 25:41, 46, Revelation 20:14-15, 21:8). The judgment of Jesus Christ will also include the condemnation and ultimate consequence for Satan and the demons, the unbelieving, the abominable, the murderers, the whoremongers, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and all liars (Jude 1:6, Revelation 20:10). This will be the closing of a major chapter in the Plan of God – such that the earth as we know it will cease to exist! The heavens shall pass away (2Peter 3:10). The universe will collapse – roll up like a scroll is the way Isaiah and John describe it (Isaiah 34:4, Revelation 6:14). When the Judgment of the Great White Throne is completed—then the heaven and earth will flee away forever and ever, and Jesus’ reign on earth will be finished (Revelation 20:11). Then, everything will become brand new (Revelation 21:5). Paul Describes the Kingdom Delivered Up to God the Father 1Corinthians 15:24 Then comes the end, when Christ shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 1Corinthians 15:25 For [Jesus Christ] must reign, until He has put all enemies under His feet. 1Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. Isaiah described – the Last Great Day – Today – this way! Isaiah 65:17 Behold, I create New Heavens and a New Earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor even come into mind. Peter picked up on Isaiah’s Last Great Day theme before John wrote about it in the Book of Revelation. 2Peter 3:13 We, according to His promise, look for New Heavens and a New Earth, wherein dwells righteousness! [true goodness] At that point in time, the earth, the oceans and the stars as we know them shall no longer exist! What will happen to the billions of people who once lived here when the earth and heaven blaze away? The old heavens being on fire shall be dissolved—giving way to New Heavens and an all New Earth (2Peter 3:12-13). In His explanation of the Great White Throne Judgment, Jesus answered the question of what then takes place for those who were righteous, led by God’s Holy Spirit, and worshiped God: The glorious, resurrected Saints shall go into life eternal, redeemed from the power of sin and the curse of death. (Matthew 25:46). Mission Accomplished by Jesus Christ At this point, the Great White Throne judgment will be finished and complete. The Supreme Court of heaven will be adjourned. Jesus will bring the Plan of God on earth to fruition. It will be accomplished and delivered to God the Father. It will have been a 7,000-year Plan on earth, now fulfilled – yielding to the endless peaceful future eternity (Isaiah 9:7). Jesus Christ will have taken this earth and its people from the depths of darkness – into His glorious light wherein dwells the New Heavens and the New Earth (Revelation 21:1). It was a long process, but finally, it will be accomplished in all its Glory! The Last Great Day will usher in the grand transition between the old physical world and the spiritual New Heavens and New Earth. Matthew 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Matthew 25:32 And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats: Matthew 25:33 And [Jesus] shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. We come to a wonderful Last Great Day Scripture that all mankind (unknowingly) desires to hear: Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (John 5:25-29) Jesus Himself will bring those on His right hand to spiritual completion, and perfection – ready for their next step – the most intimate eternal fellowship with God the Father as the Last Great Day begins. It will be what God Himself, has always desired: God desires to dwell with His people. “I Will Be Their God, and They Shall Be My People” It is a common refrain found throughout the Scriptures. (John 14:23, Jeremiah 32:38, Exodus 6:7). Speaking of His salvational and redemptive work on earth, Jesus will say, “It is done.” (Revelation 21:6) The embryonic phase of the Plan of God for mankind will be complete when man’s creation into the very character and image of God comes to the full at his glorious birth into the very Family of God on the Last Great Day (Genesis 1:26-27, John 3:6-7, Hebrews 2:10). The New Heaven and the New Earth will see New Jerusalem descending from heaven. God the Father and Jesus Christ will be the Temple therein (Revelation 21:2). Old Jerusalem will be no more. New Jerusalem will consist of the glorious, resurrected Saints – the city on the hill. Abraham looked for a City filled with spirit led brethren. Hebrews 11:10 For [Abraham] was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Brethren, ask yourself, “Who will be in that Holy City?” It is none other than all the resurrected Saints. There are no brick buildings, concrete streets, lamp posts, and sewer systems coming down out of heaven – only the resurrected Saints. The river of Living Water will flow out of the throne of God the Father and of the Lamb, Jesus Christ (Revelation 22:1). [representing Eternal Life] The throne of God will reside in the New Heaven and the New Earth (Revelation 22:3). There lies an eternity beyond, in which God the Father shall reign over His Children in Mount Zion from henceforth, even forever (Micah 4:7; Isaiah 9:7). 2Corinthians 6:16 …God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. No sun, no moon, no night, means a spiritual timeless everlasting eternity. We only enter the eternal Kingdom by way of, “Jesus the door.” Jesus spoke something remarkable on the Last Great Day! John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. [Greek thura, [thoo’-rah] a “door”, a portal or entrance]. John 10:9-10 I am the Portal: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. When the Last Great Day arrives, Jesus will have completed His redemptive task of bringing many sons and daughters unto glory to dwell endlessly with God the Father (Hebrews 2:10). At that point, God the Father will have completed His Plan by and through Jesus Christ – in the “Fullness of Times.” Paul was writing about the Last Great Day when he wrote: Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one [All the resurrected Saints], all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him: Jesus will then relinquish His mandated authority from God the Father because His work on earth will have come to fruition and completion. When all things have been achieved in man, in heaven and on earth, Jesus will return everything to His Father, so that God may be ‘all in all’ – meaning fulfilled and completed in preparation for presentation of the Saints to the Father (1Corinthians 15:28). Jesus’ administration and rule over the earth and all that is therein is a necessary requisite for the door/portal to be opened for God the Father to become the ultimate ‘all in all’ with all righteousness fulfilled and complete. 1Corinthians 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. Then shall all the perfected and redeemed Saints appear in glory in God the Father’s Holy Presence. Hebrews 2:10 For it became Him [Jesus Christ], for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory. The Everlasting Kingdom In the New Heavens and the New Earth, when the magnificent glory of the Saints is finally made manifest, their splendid brilliance will shine forth as the brightness of the stars forever and ever (Daniel 12:3). Can you imagine that! What will be next for the Saints in the Everlasting Temple? “Sit around the clouds of heaven all day – strumming their harps,” as the world believes? What will be next for the Saints after the New Heavens and the New Earth is established and populated with God the Father, Jesus Christ, and all the resurrected Saints? We will be busier than ever performing the Work of God. God will reveal to His Saints a much greater – New Plan of God – because the love of God will never cease to increase and spread in unimaginable ways. Under God’s direction the Saints will eternally create, beautify and spread God’s Kingdom and rule over an entire New Universe! Perhaps we are given a small clue to next phase of what God has in store for His Family: Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of His Kingdom Empire and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His Kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. What an incredible future we have! ———————————————————————————————————- See Warren Zehrung’s other articles at: Zehrung, Warren – Church of God, Bismarck (church-of-god-bismarck.org) Reprinted with permission from: Sabbath Church of God http://childrenofgod.net/ ———————————————————————————————————- |
Views: 3
Sign up to Receive [The "New" Church of God Messenger] weekly newsletter: