One God One Mediator II

Good morning, good afternoon, or good evening. Whenever you are reading this second part of this sermon. I welcome you to the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries located in Spring Hill, Florida, just about 30-miles north of Tampa on the West Coast. I am Leonard V. Johnson.

In this sermon, I would like to begin where I left off – speaking of the SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST.

Will it actually occur!? You know, our Lord Jesus Christ said, “’ But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only’” – Matthew 24:36 NKJV. And, of course, we have to assume that by now Jesus Christ does indeed know. And I do not even presume to know when His second coming will occur – except to say that an astrological age, at least by a great consensus, requires 2,160 years to complete. If indeed this has anything to do with an “age.”

Where will it be!?

What will He do when He comes? Or, is He going to come to this earth at all!? What is His goal, His plan, His mission, and His overall purpose!? And, why is it that He needs to come back to the earth – anyway!? If everyone who dies is up in heaven – and He’s already up in heaven – why does Jesus need to come back to earth!? These – and many more questions surround this great event termed THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST.

Now, as would be expected in a world of so much confusion when it comes to the subject of religion – and I have spent much time in conversations with people concerning the subject of religion. There are so many forms, shapes, sizes, and varieties of Christianity in this world. I was asked just yesterday, “What do you consider yourself?” And I boldly and confidently answered, “Christian.” Yet, within the vast majority of this world’s so-called Christianity and even the vast majority outside the Christian religion, there is grave mass confusion of just what is a true Christian. How can one begin to understand the truth surrounding the coming of Christ!? In this vast sea of controversial doctrines, I can see and understand why so many people have difficulty trying to understand the truth about this one event – of which we desperately need! But it’s not a great surprise that this event along with almost every other major truth or doctrine within God’s living word of Christianity is somehow in a shroud of lies, darkness, and deception. Where do you begin to look for the solid foundation and undeniable truth about this subject!? Friends, one can find the truth of God, one can find this truth if you wish to search it out. Also, if you are adamant in searching for this truth of God, many of these false doctrines floating about will begin to fall by the wayside as the light of Christ begins to shine brightly through the foggy dark clouds of false doctrines.

The source which we have is the glorious inspired word of the Eternal God – this Holy Book which we have before us. And in it the men and women who each had a specific contribution to the overall revelation of the Plan of God for all humanity. And within it is also revealed the glorious SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST. However, not only do we have the testimony of these men and women, but we also have in the conclusion of this great testimony an awesome revelation – which comes not through men – but by the Son of God Himself!

Hebrews, the 1st chapter – “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2) has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, …” – so, the very living words of Jesus Christ.

Now, in the first part of this sermon I had listed a few of the Scriptures I had first read at an early age, many of which helped lead me to my conversion – which truly picked up steam in late 2011. Along with a very deep understanding of my purpose on this earth – why I am here and what my life is all about. And also my future – and maybe not even my destiny but more so where I’m destined to go and do in the immediate future.

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ

Friends, one of the first mentions of the second coming of Jesus Christ is in an ancient document – the Book of Enoch. It was mentioned by a brother of Jesus – the apostle Jude (the book I have mentioned on various occasions, 1 Enoch, is not the Book of Enoch which the apostle Jude was quoting from – at least not wholly. It is, however, in my opinion, a useful resource). In Jude, the 14th verse he briefly quotes this book. “Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam [a pre-Flood patriarch], … ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, 15) to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” Now, this indeed goes way back before the Flood – which occurred in approximately 2345 BC. – here is this statement that ‘the Lord comes’! So, obviously, He’s coming somewhere – isn’t He!? Where!?

In Genesis, the 49th chapter, Jacob said, “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; …” – v. 10. From the references in my library concerning the enigmatic meaning of this word “Shiloh” we can glean some truth. The Jamieson Fausset and Brown Commentary of the Whole Bible writes, “this obscure word is variously interpreted to mean ‘the sent’ (John 17:3), ‘the seed’ (Isa. 11:1), the ‘peaceable or prosperous one’ (Eph. 2:14) – i.e., the Messiah (Isa. 11:10; Rom. 15:12).” 1 And, the Wycliffe Bible Dictionary writes, “In Gen 49:10 it seems to refer to a person whom many identify as the coming Messiah. As a proper name, it could be translated ‘rest giver.’ As Jacob looked to the future, he might well have wondered from which of his sons the Messiah would come.” 2 And even the online Easton’s Bible Dictionary writes, “generally understood as denoting the Messiah, "the peaceful one," as the word signifies ( Genesis 49:10 ). The Vulgate Version translates the word, "he who is to be sent," in allusion to the Messiah; …”

And also, Mr. Michael C. Garrett writes:

“Turn to Jeremiah chapter 7 – … Verse 1 – “The Word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2) ‘Stand in the gate of the LORD’s house, and proclaim there this Word, and say, ‘Hear the Word of the LORD, all you of Judah who enters in at these gates to worship the LORD!’ 3) Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.’” – and down in Verse 8 – “’ Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. 9) Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to BAAL,’” – remember, one of the names of Nimrod! “…’ and walk after other gods whom you do not know, 10) and then come and stand before Me in this house …’” – ‘you call it your church, your tabernacle, your temple!’ “…’ which is called by My name, …’” Verse 12 – “…’ and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel.’” – and He mentions Shiloh, and what happened there.”

(Garrett, M.C., The Prophecy Series – End-Time Babylon, 2019, pp. 5).

SHILOH is one of Jesus’ prophetic names having to do with the ‘Prince of Peace’ that will eventually come and bring obedience to the people.

And also we have the words of Jesus Christ, “’ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again …’” – John 14:3 NKJV.

Now, I believe that even most so-called Christians believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ, but it’s the events surrounding His second coming, the timing of His coming, and more importantly His destination – that has created grave confusion.

Several years ago I was approached by a very good Jewish friend who asked me, “Why do you believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah!?” It’s an important question. I immediately brought out the Old Testament, opened up the books and went over many of these amazing prophecies of Jesus Christ as well as His second coming. Let’s look today at some of these amazing prophecies of His second coming and of when we should expect Him to come to this earth and what He will be doing.

A Coming Kingdom

Friends, it’s been pointed out throughout the last several decades in the Book of Acts, the 1st chapter – where when the disciples saw the resurrected Christ they made a statement to Him which speaks huge volumes about their insight into their expectation of the Eternal One. They asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” So, you have to ask the question – why would they ask that question!? If it wasn’t for the fact that the documents which they held in their hands which is sacred Scripture – the Old Testament; which is all they truly had at that time before some of the disciples begin to write letters. But, right at the resurrection of Jesus Christ, they’re asking this question about a coming kingdom – “will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” Now, they had read many of these ancient documents – the Tanakh, the Holy Scriptures – that over and over again pointed to a coming kingdom. And I believe that they saw in those writings, and believed for sure, that it was going to be right then – at that very time. Recall in the Book of John it is mentioned that a great multitude “when they had seen the sign [the miracle] that Jesus did, said, ‘This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.’ And Jesus perceiving “that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.” – cf. John 6:14-15 NKJV. And Jesus even answered Pontius Pilate, “’ My kingdom is not of this world. … You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world’” – John 18:36, 37 NKJV. And over in Matthew, it is recorded Jesus saying, “’ do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?’” – Matthew 26:52 NKJV. But it is not for this age. And that’s why the disciples were terribly disappointed and humiliated when they saw Him hanging there on that cross. And they began to believe that their hopes had been lost.

Turn with me over to the Book of Psalm, the 72nd chapter. This is one of the very first psalms which King Solomon, the son of David, wrote.

Verse 2 – “He will judge Your people with righteousness, And Your poor with justice. 3) The mountains [the nations] will bring peace to the people, And the little hills [small countries], by righteousness. 4) He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, And will break in pieces the oppressor.”

Now, this was a psalm which was written about Solomon himself – and maybe even David. But when you truly begin to read these descriptions – these cannot apply to a sinful human being. This psalm has within it a messianic meaning.

Verse 5 – “They shall fear You As long as the sun and moon endure, Throughout all generations.” – this is not talking about a human being – is it!?

Verse 8 – “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth [see Ex. 23:31; Deut. 11:24]. 9) Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before Him, And His enemies will lick the dust. … 11) Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; All nations shall serve Him. … 15) And He shall live; And the gold of Sheba will be given to Him; Prayer also will be made for Him continually, And daily He shall be praised. … 17) His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the sun. And men shall be blessed in Him; All nations shall call Him blessed.”

Now, obviously, when you read this psalm here it’s a reference – a look into the future – about a coming Messiah.

Over in the Book of Isaiah, the 2nd chapter. I will spend some time here because Isaiah has been called the messianic prophet. How he could have had so much insight it could have only been under the divine inspiration of God for him to have recorded so much material here that had such an impact on the nation of Israel but also which looked into the future – several hundreds of years before the Messiah was even born. But he knew – through God’s inspiration – that there was coming a Messiah.

Now, we often read this chapter during the Feast of Tabernacles, because it’s a chapter of the Day of the LORD (Be sure to read “Jacob’s Trouble” which teaches of this soon-coming ‘day of the Lord’).

Verse 2 – “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD’s house [the kingdom of God] Shall be established on the top of the mountains [the human governments], And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.”

Now, you have to ask the question – where is ‘the mountain of the LORD’s house’!? Well, we’ll see that a little later – here.

Verse 3 – “Many people shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; …” – interesting language here – isn’t it!? ‘The house of God.’ “ … He will teach us His ways, And we will walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion [New Jerusalem] shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”

Again, we see this prophecy which speaks of a time when someone can actually go up to God’s house and will actually hear the laws of God being taught.

Verse 4 – “He shall judge between the nations, …”

Now, that is not in heaven - what the Bible calls the third heaven.

“ … And rebuke many people; …” – speaking of nations. “ … They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.” – the preaching of peace. 

Nations shall no longer war between each other. And I can’t help but think of the Airborne & Special Operations Museum my wife and I visited up in Fayetteville, North Carolina back in 2017. They have in the lobby two paratroopers, the first being in a static line parachute and the second in a HALO or freefall parachute. And inside a full-size C-47 Skytrain with a paratrooper standing at the door ready to jump – a plane like what was used during the invasion of Sicily of 1943, which dropped 4,381 Allied paratroops. This museum really makes you feel the reality of war and war implements and weapons we have in this world today to destroy human beings. And we’re not even talking about thermonuclear bombs, or even a nuclear magnetic pulse weapon (EMP], or covert nuclear-powered submarines which can come to a nation's coast and literally destroy half of their country into pieces! Friends, we haven’t even fought the last war – which will make World War II look like nothing.

An enormous amount of information is found within these first verses here in Isaiah, chapter 2 – about where Jesus is going to come and what He is going to do. The Book of Micah reiterates this in the 4th chapter. But he also says, “everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, And no one shall make them afraid; …” – v. 4. Speaking about peace – someone sitting under a fig tree calm and unafraid of anyone.

Now, let’s turn to the 9th chapter of Isaiah. Mike has touched on this at great length before in many sermons and articles (cf. see Notes Concerning the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day PDF), but I would like to just touch on a few of these.

Verse 6 – this actually foretold the birth of Christ, the ‘Prince of Peace.’ “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. …” – some interesting language here. “ … And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7) Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, …” – just like what we read earlier. “ … Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

And you ask the question here – did Jesus inherit the throne of his father David!? As spoken of in “'He Who Follows Me Shall Not Walk In Darkness'” when the angel came to Mary and said to her, “you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.” – Luke 1:31-32 NKJV. And, of course, the Church of God has spoken some eight decades of – how do you know where that throne is today!? It’s apparent that this throne is extant at His coming because we just read in Isaiah – He will inherit the throne of David. Well, did He inherit it when He was here the first time!? Well, look at what the angel tells Mary – “And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever …” Did He reign forever!? Did He inherit that throne and is now reigning!? And, do we see all the characteristics of that kingdom, i.e. world peace, have they ‘beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks,’ is every man under a fig tree and truly doesn’t fear anyone else – enjoying the fullest of peace!?

These too are most powerful Scriptures, and quite revealing – speaking of a kingdom lasting forever.

Now, is this kingdom a spiritual kingdom!?

A lot of people claim that Isaiah was speaking metaphorically. They say, “That kingdom is actually up in heaven.” Really!? Well, we just read ‘He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people, and fig trees.’ Now, obviously, I don’t think anyone believes that that kingdom is not going to be presided over by a King – who is Jesus Christ – unless it might be Don Lemon who claims “"Jesus Christ, if that's who you believe in, Jesus Christ, admittedly was not perfect when he was here on this earth” 3

Source: Bible-Science Guy on WordPress.com

In Isaiah, the 11th chapter – here’s another. And again, I’m only reading many of these prophecies – I didn’t make them up. Yet, they may very well fly in traditions and doctrines that are being floated about. But as I said – as we seek and find the living truth of God, many of these false doctrines that people may hold onto surely will fall by the wayside. Friends, when you look at absolute T R U T H directly from the living word of the Eternal One.

“There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, …” – of course, we know that Jesus was born of the lineage of David on both sides of His family through Joseph and Mary – and you can trace their lineage back to King David. And, the Book of Revelation says that He is called “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David” referring to His lineage as a Jewish descendant.

Verse 4 – “But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, …” – exactly what King Solomon wrote in the 72nd Psalm. “ … And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.” – now, a lot of people don’t like this passage. They don’t believe that Jesus Christ is actually going to destroy sinful people at His coming. But look at what it says –

Verse 5 – “Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist. 6) ‘The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them.’”

And, again, I ask – when is this going to happen and where!? Now, we’re talking about animals and their characteristics, and how a small child is no longer going to get mauled by a vicious Rottweiler or Pit Bull! But the child could go up to a cobra or asp, or lion, bear, or even a scorpion and not be harmed.

Verse 7 – “The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.” – we’re talking about a complete change in the nature of animals – where you wouldn’t fear going out and petting the mane of a huge male lion.

Interesting story – there was a time when my wife and I were driving over-the-road together, and we were traveling through Texas and had stopped at the Texas 87, Tiger Truck Stop off I-10 east in Esperanza, Texas. Inside we were introduced to a baby male Bengal tiger as he was roaring and chuffing. Truly these majestic beasts can reach an average weight of 600 lbs. and can reach a length of over 9 ft. in length! And even though this was a baby, just looking at it and getting to hold it almost makes your heart skip a beat – his big huge claws, already the size of your hand. And you think – I certainly wouldn’t want to meet him fully grown deep in a tropical forest of India somewhere! It’s hard to imagine being amongst a whole streak of tigers. It certainly would be terrifying. But the above passage is speaking of the absolute changing of their nature.

Verse 9 – “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea.”

As I have written before - when it comes to meat-eating for animals, the Bible has some clear statements – and I won’t go into depth on this subject here, but to say briefly:

The original diet for both animals and humans were plants (cf. Genesis 1:29-30). And, Isaiah the 65th chapter says, “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain [His holy kingdom],’ says the LORD” reflects an Edenic state which the world will become. Also, it is clear that God permitted man to eat animals only after the Flood (cf. Genesis 9:3). So clearly, only the righteous in the eyes of the Lord God would not eat meat before the Flood. Old-earth theologians/evolutionists will surely dispute this.

And, since there is no direct reference in God’s living word of Him giving permission for animals to begin eating meat – of which they of course do – it means that at some point after Adam sinned plant-eating animals began to eat meat.

In Genesis 1:31 we read, “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.” This statement is of utmost significance!

It may be that the prophet Isaiah is using images of which we can relate to, in order to describe the indescribable. To describe a state of existence which is – on many levels of human reasoning – beyond our capacity to fully understand - yet. Because as I myself quander – how can a lion not eat meat!?

What I can say with surety is that there was no meat-eating before Adam sinned.

Now, there are other Scriptures that talk about – the earth being covered with this dark veil that covers the hearts and minds of people. But this is actually going to be removed, because he says, “the knowledge of the LORD is going to cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.”

Verse 10 – “’ And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, [JESUS CHRIST; also a reference to King David], who shall stand as [an ensign] to the people; …’” - A signal to them, a BEACON, a BANNER. Will this be some object that stands for the ensign of the people!? And if it is, do you think they’ll tear this one down!? It’s translated in the New King James Version – ‘a banner.’ “ … For the Gentiles shall seek Him, …” – and we’re talking about the vast majority of the earth – the Gentile nations. Now, we’re talking about all of China, all of India, all of Indonesia, and all the Muslim nations, and people who believe in all kinds of false gods are going to have the opportunity to hear the gospel message – possibly for the first time. How do you think the ancient Chinese people – such as those of the Xia dynasty – are going to react with their Buddhist belief!? When they truly find out that their nation had been in complete darkness for thousands of years, they find out that the birth of Jesus of Nazareth (which of course the Chinese people of those early dynasties had never heard of), the miracles He performed, and the prophecies concerning Him and how from the Tang dynasty to the current People’s Republic of China was in utter complete darkness!?

Verse 11 – “It shall come to pass in that day That the Lord shall set His hand again the second time To recover the remnant of His people who are left, …” – and it talks about all of these nations where the nation of Israel will be scattered and dispersed at His second coming – and He is going to regather them.

Verse 12 – “He will set up a banner [an ensign] for the nations, And will assemble the outcasts of Israel, …” – which were the Northern tribes. “ … And gather together the dispersed of Judah …” – the Southern tribes. “ … From the four corners of the earth.” – and it goes on to say how God is going to reassemble those people and place them in the land which He has promised them. Now, of course, we know that the Assyrians captured and took away those Northern tribes and they disappeared into history – they never were regathered. This is not a prophecy about Jesus Christ coming His first time and regather His kingdom – that NEVER happened. It’s important that you know that and understands it.

One more in the Book of Isaiah – chapter 35. And these are very profound Scriptures!

“The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; …” – who wouldn’t want to live in a desert completely terraformed!?

Verse 2 – “It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, Even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, The excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, The excellency of our God. 3) Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees. 4) Say to those who are fearful-hearted, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; he will come and save you.’”

Now, there are several other Scriptures that talk about Jesus Christ coming back to save His people – even in many of these prophecies.

Verse 5 – “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened [both physically and spiritually], And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6) Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert.”

Jesus certainly did – when He came the first time – gave us a small sample of that. He did heal blind, deaf, and dumb people. And He even raised people from the dead! Remember the lady that was walking along behind the bier, she was a widow and he was her only son that had died? And Jesus walked up, placed His hand on the bier, they stopped the procession. “And He said, ‘Young man, I say to you, arise.’” And all of a sudden there was a commotion, and these guys carrying this coffin had to let it down because this young man sat up and began to speak! – cf. Luke 7:11-17. That is the power of Jesus Christ! Now, did He save the whole world at that time!? No. He allowed us to look at a glimpse of what His kingdom is going to be like. Friends, He has great sympathy and emotion for a lady who needed her son. And I believe Jesus displayed but a glimpse of what His plans are in the World Tomorrow. Surely He moans and is in great sorrow of the fact that there are people living in abject poverty and squalor worshiping Damballah and Bondyé – or any other number of false gods, or where there is starvation by the hundreds of millions.

But, He certainly has a Great Plan for this. He is asking you – ‘How would you like to travel to a village in Africa, or China, or India, and be an ambassador for Me for a kingdom which is coming!?’ That is certainly our invitation! As the apostle Paul says, “We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things.” – cf. 1 Corinthians 4:13 NKJV. We are the weirdos – but God says He uses the humble, the meek, and the lowly, and the obedient. He’s going to take those people and He’s going to transform this world!

A Future Captivity

Let’s go to the Book of Jeremiah, the 23rd chapter, and verse 3 – we read something very similar to what we just read. This is God speaking through His prophet. “’ But I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. 4) I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; …’” – ‘shepherds that will feed them,’ I wonder who that might be!? Maybe the resurrected saints of God!? Maybe people like you and me!? I look forward to that! I’ve heard people talk about – “Well, I can’t wait until the blowing of the seventh trump, because I’m gonna be resurrected!” And truly it is! And if that doesn’t happen, you’re sunk – so yeah celebrate it! But in larger respect, your concern, your empathy, your excitement, should not be on your own personal excitement, but should rather be on the fact that someday you are going to be given – in the status of being a member of the family of God – you’re going to turn around and help your fellow countrymen reestablish their lives! You’re going to be their leaders, their teachers. As it were – their city mayor, their local king. What a wonderful future we have in giving back to the people of God - The people of Israel!

Verse 5 – “’ Behold the days are coming,’ says the LORD, ‘That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; …’” – and indeed in the original King James Version “Branch” is capitalized. This is a prophecy about Jesus Christ. “ … A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness IN THE E A R T H.’” – not up in heaven.

Verse 6 – “In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” – and that’s YHWH Tsidkenu, a descriptive title of Jesus Christ!

Verse 7 – “Therefore, behold, the days are coming,’ says the LORD, ‘that they shall no longer say, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ …’” - even though that was a monumental event, that was recorded in the nation of Israel that they told their children, their grandchildren for generations – even up unto the time of Jesus Christ. They were still preaching about the Exodus. Even today we have big-budget movies that portray that great Exodus. They’re not even going to remember that Exodus anymore, but this is what they are going to say and remember –

Verse 8 – “’ but, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the north country and from all the countries where I had driven them.’ And they shall dwell in their own land.’”

So many people are going to have a problem with this Scripture. Sadly, according to Pew Research Center data, 41 percent of Americans believe that Jesus Christ definitely (23%) or probably (18%) will have returned to earth by 2050. 4 And a 2011 GOOD article indicates (also from the Pew Research Center data) that 40 percent of Americans believe that “the rapture” is coming. 5 And, I advise all Americans (as well as all people) to look for that word in God’s living word, and look at the passages surrounding the second coming of Jesus Christ and find out – what does the Book of Revelation say concerning the saints, where are they going to be!?

The Seven Seals – they are roughly equivalent to the EARLY part of what some people call the GREAT TRIBULATION, the end-time ‘troubles,’ Ezekiel 30 refers to it as ‘Jacob’s trouble.’ Then, the TRUMPS - where the angels sound their trumpets and some disturbing things happen! And then we’re told that the SEVENTH TRUMP in Revelation 10 and Revelation 11, that the Seventh Trump IS that time where the RESURRECTION OF THE SAINTS OCCURS!!! The last trump in which Paul spoke about. Jesus Christ talked about upon His return and hearing a great trump, that the people ( the saints of God) would be gathered together.

So, here the resurrected saints have already ascended into the clouds to be with Jesus Christ and what would be considered ‘low earth orbit’ with the future New Jerusalem waiting to come down to the EARTH.

We contend, friends, a revealed truth from God - THE SEVENTH TRUMP IS THE MOMENT OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE SAINTS! The FIRST resurrection!

AFTER the resurrection of the saints there are no more godly human beings on the E A R T H. The time of potential salvation is momentarily closed.

The apostle John wrote – under divine inspiration – “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and [languages], standing before the throne [standing before Almighty God the Father] and before the Lamb [standing before Jesus Christ], clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.” – Revelation 7:9 NKJV. “Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, ‘Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?’” – v. 13. And from the fourth-century Codex Sinaiticus, “And I said to him: My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me: These are they that come out of great affliction [great tribulation], and they washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” – Revelation 7:14 Codex Sinaiticus.

Well, what do we have here!? Over the span of nearly two-thousand years, there have been 12,000 people from each of the tribes of Israel that have been given access to become a part of the Body of Christ. And they’re called ‘the 144,000.’ But we also just read that there would be ‘a great multitude’ of people. ‘All nations, tribes, peoples, and languages’ that for nearly two thousand years now – and even people before Jesus Christ - that were servants of God – they’re going to be in the Kingdom of God. However, they don’t have the same identity or the same responsibility that the 144,000 have (to learn more about just who are the 144,000, be sure to read our 10-page article “Who Are The 144,000? PDF” ). Now, it doesn’t say ‘the great tribulation’ – not even in the original King James Version – it just says, ‘they are going to come through a lot of troubles.’ It’s looking into the future, and so the verb tense actually should have been ‘these are they which WILL COME OUT OF.’ These people will come AFTER tribulation – they will go through an awful lot of horrible things in the end-times, and maybe not even the end-times, if you were in the Middle Ages and the plague was all around you – you were in tribulation. Surely there was many people who were attacked because of God’s religion – maybe some of those people were killed because of God’s religion (see James 1:27) – they came after hard times to be entered into the Kingdom of God.

Now, getting back to the physical descendants of the house of Israel and the house of Judah, turn with me over to the Book of Jeremiah, the 30th chapter – concerning this end-time called Jacob’s trouble’ –

Verse 3 – “’ For behold, the days are coming,’ says the LORD, ‘that I will bring back from captivity [and surely a type of captivity can be a nation without its sovereignty] My people Israel and Judah,’ says the LORD.”

So, certainly, you have to ask the question – when is this going to happen!? Was the prophet Jeremiah out of his mind!? No, God had inspired him with a dream or a vision – or whatever it was – to write this about future captivity of the house of Israel and the house of Judah. Now, at the time of this writing – the Northern Kingdom of Israel, over 91 years ago had gone into captivity by the Assyrians (721 BC)! How are they going to go back into captivity? He’s talking about the future remnants of the house of Israel and the remnants of the house of Judah – which was still extant in his day.

“ … ‘And I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.’”

Verse 4 – “Now these are the words that the LORD spoke concerning Israel and Judah. 5) ‘For thus says the LORD: ‘We have heard a voice of trembling, Of fear, and not of peace. 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?’”

Verse 7 – “’ Alas! For that day is great, …’” - The Day of the Lord. That end-part of man’s existence. And, it’s also about the time that Jesus Christ sets forth to directly engage with humankind. So we have that 3½ year period when Jesus Christ must remold and reshape the world. And one of the initial things in which He does is He ELIMINATES the people who are incorrigible. The people who would NOT listen, would NOT pay attention, will NOT follow Jesus Christ. People, who in their heart, hate Jesus Christ. Now, He’ll bring them back to life much, much later – on a celebration which we call the Last Great Day.

“ … ‘ So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, …’” – and you have to go back and see who Jacob was – he was the progenitor, the one whose name was changed to Israel – all of his descendants became the physical family of Israel.

“ … ‘But he shall be saved out of it.’” – Jesus told us to “‘watch, therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man’” – Luke 21:36 NKJV. And, of course, if you are in Judea – not the U.S. or even Europe – “‘pray that your flight may not be in the winter or on the Sabbath’” In the end-time when you see the ‘abomination of desolation’ get out of Judea, flee, and when a lot of the Jewish people see their torment coming, are going to attempt to leave what we call ‘Israel’ today. Many are going to head north and try and cross Turkey over into Europe. And the Turks will NOT allow them. The Turks will round them up and sell them or kill them. Horrible end-time trauma comes upon the nation of Judah; modern-day Israel. (Again, be sure to read our two-part article “The Day of the LORD” in which more can be found concerning this ‘abomination of desolation’ spoken of by Jesus Christ).

Jesus says that there is coming a time that if God did not step in – a time unprecedented in all the history of the world – the nations of the world would utterly be annihilated – cf. Matthew 24:21-22. Our Lord God is talking about the annihilation of the roughly 7.8 BILLION people from the earth! It is terrifying beyond my ability to comprehend!

Verse 11 – “ … ‘Though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, …’” – here He’s talking about His attack on these nations that have placed the descendants of the house of Israel and the house of Judah into captivity. “ … ‘ Yet I will not make a complete end of you.’” – a promise by Almighty God and our Lord Jesus Christ that They will not allow the utter annihilation of Their ‘elect’ – see Matthew 24:22.

So go ahead and read the rest of this chapter and see just why – why is God going to allow the descendants of the house of Israel and the house of Judah to go into captivity. He says, ‘your affliction is incurable, your wound is severe.’

Going over into Daniel, the 2nd chapter – and I know I covered this in the first part, but I just want to read one verse here and then get to the end of this –

Verse 32 – “This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly clay. 34) You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35) Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.”

And, I had asked earlier - where is ‘the mountain of the LORD’s house’!? This great mountain will fill the whole earth! It’s just like what we read earlier in Isaiah about ‘the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.’

But, notice –

Verse 43 – “As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.” – and we understand this to be a conglomeration of ten nations (as God sees nations), which will be called the ‘beast power’ that will be controlled by a spiritual leader – this false prophet – cf. Revelation 13.

Verse 43 – “And in the days of these kings [referring to those ten toes, those ten nations, those ten kings which will rule over the world] the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” – the very establishment of the kingdom of God here on earth!

In the Book of Daniel, the 7th chapter, verse 9 – Daniel says, “’ I watched till thrones were put in place, …” – he saw this vision of these world-ruling empires and they were destroyed! “ … And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, …” – speaking here of Almighty God the Father. “ … And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire.”

Verse 10 – “A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened.”

Now, Jesus made it clear that we as Christians are being judged today – as we live. When the books are opened it’s like the old television program This Is Your Life – what you had done during your lifetime. Did you obey God’s laws, take care of the poor, care for the fatherless and the widow – ‘did you feed Me when I was hungry, did you visit Me in prison?’ – cf. Matthew 25:40-46.

Conclusion

In closing, I want to turn to the Book of Matthew, the 24th chapter, and read what our Lord God Jesus Christ said about His second coming. His disciples, right before His crucifixion, asked Him – “’ Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming [‘of Your Return, Your advent!?’], and of the end of the age?’”

Verse 4 – “And Jesus answered and said to them: ‘Take heed that no one deceive you. 5) For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.’”

And sure enough, there are! How many hundreds and hundreds of different versions of “Christianity” do we have in the world today!? And how many times they are so very far apart! Almost irreconcilable. And then you think about all the other religions that have popped up, that hold people in their grips.

And then Jesus says – verse 6 – “’ And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.’”

Now, since my life began in ‘69 – the Vietnam War was still raging, the Yom Kippur War occurred – also known as the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, the Iran-Iraq War occurred, and the Iraq War occurred! And, according to Wikipedia, from 1970 to 2020 there has been over 275 wars, skirmishes, or conflicts around the world – some of which are still ongoing!

And you know there are people in this nation and around the world who would love to see a “ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT.” Whatever that monstrosity would be! And yet, Bible prophecy doesn’t indicate that it will actually get here – although people will be trying to make it happen. But you more see the idea of blocs of nations, group of nations – the European combine and the Islamic confederation, or, caliphate, however, you wanna call it – yet to fully develop! You know you have the kings of the east mentioned in the Bible – so you have sort-of big groupings of nations. And here we see, verse 7 Jesus continuing – ‘nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.’ And, I’m willing to accept the possibility that this is Jesus Christ suggesting about the prophecy of Daniel 11. The king of the North vs the king of the South. The European combine and the Islamic confederation – whatever they will call themselves in the future. I think this is an indication of the growing tension between these two groups of people.

“ … ‘And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8) All these are the beginning of sorrows.’”

So in all of this, it’s a step by step progress – over here something happens, over there something happens. And as you read and study God’s living word you sort of get the feeling that it grows in intensity!

And, of course, Jesus spoke of the ‘abomination of desolation’ spoken of by the prophet Daniel – which truly means it’s a two-fold prophecy. Verse 15 – “’ Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place’ (whoever reads, let him understand), 16) ‘then let those who are in JUDEA flee to the mountains.’” – as I spoke of earlier. This soon-rising ‘man of sin’ sitting in Jerusalem in a temple ‘showing himself that he is God’ – cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4. This is a sign of which we are to watch for.

Now, let’s quickly go back and look at the Book of Luke, chapter 21, verse 20 –

“’ But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.’”

And we all just sort-of presume, “Well, that’s the European army surrounding Jerusalem” – because we know Daniel 11 says they’re gonna be there. But, not necessarily so! Notice that all of Daniel 11 is a constant flow of conflict between the king of the North and the king of the South! And I think that we understand those Scriptures to mean the king of the North (a future European combine; Catholic Europe) – which is taking shape right now! And yet, receiving very little notice on the world stage. And, the king of the South (a yet future Islamic confederation). One of the keys is to look at Verse 9 – “’ Also the king of the North shall come to the kingdom of the king of the South, but shall return to his own land. 10) However his sons shall stir up strife, …’” – talking about multiple nations that make up this Islamic confederation. Not just Arabic people, but now we know that Islam stretches far to the east of the traditionally Arabic people.

Turning with me if you will back to the Book of Matthew, chapter 24, and down to verse 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, …’”

Many people think that this here means meteorites and comets. I think it means Satan and his demons will be expunged from the atmosphere of the earth. Remember one time Jesus said, “’ I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.’”? There will be a great spiritual war we’re told in the Book of Revelation – Michael the great archangel, and all of his subordinate angels will directly engage in spiritual warfare with Satan and his demons. And Michael and all the holy angels will be victorious! And Satan will be vanquished to the earth. And I think that’s what this passage here is talking about. “ … ‘and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’”

Verse 30 – “’ Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven [in outer space], and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, …’”

Friends, I think this verse means – that when the throne of God, when New Jerusalem, begins to return to this earth, at some point it will be a little small light in the night sky. And the next night it will be a little brighter – like the star Sirius. And then, it becomes more and more obvious – and people will look up and go, “What is that!?” Now, most of the people of the world will think it’s – and they really will – an invading alien force. Because the United States of America – especially since mid-1947 – has been fascinated with space aliens and extra-terrestrials. And friends, the military forces will actually stop fighting amongst themselves – and this is what causes World War 3 to end - and train their weapons on this returning light which is becoming brighter in the night sky. Indeed, aliens are coming from outer space, but the aliens will be Jesus Christ and God the Father and all of the holy angels of God!

Verse 31 – “’ And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other [in other words, from all around the world].’”

The Apostle Paul taught similarly:

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven [the sky] with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet [the SEVENTH 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.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NKJV.

This ‘last trumpet’ in 1st Corinthians is the SEVENTH TRUMPET of Revelation 11:15:

“Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven [the sky], saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’” – Revelation 11:15 NKJV.

Almighty God and our Lord Jesus Christ forever be praised! “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” □

Bibliography:

1 Jamieson, R., Fausset, A.R., Brown, D., Jamieson Fausset and Brown Commentary of the Whole Bible, Zondervan Publishing House, 1982, pp. 52.
2 Pfeiffer, C.F., Vos, H.F., Rea, J., Wycliffe Bible Dictionary, Hendrickson Publishers, Nov. 1999, pp. 1575.
3 Parke, C., “Pastor Slams CNN, Don Lemon for claiming Jesus wasn’t perfect: ‘Uncontested champions of Fake News’”, Fox News, 9 July 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
4 Fact Tank – News In the Numbers, Pew Research Center, “Jesus Christ’s Return to Earth”, 14 July 2010, Retrieved 5 August 2020.
5 Jefferson, C., “More Than 40 percent of Americans Believe the Rapture Is Coming”, GOOD, 22 May 2011, Retrieved 5 August 2020.