Fulfillment of the Harvest of God

(Feast of Pentecost)

Picturing the 50th Day fulfillment of those called to enter the Kingdom of God

Fred R. Coulter—June 9, 2019

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Greetings, brethren! Welcome to the Day of Pentecost! As we say, time marches on! Yes, indeed, and all of us who have been in the Church a long time, we're a long way from already having been in the Kingdom of God.

It just shows, and proves the point that Jesus said, 'No man knows the day or the hour!' However, we have the Holy Days that picture all the important things in God's plan:

• the Passover
• the first day of Unleavened Bread
• the last day of Unleavened Bread
• Pentecost
• Trumpets
• Atonement
• Tabernacles
• Last Great Day

We don't know when Christ is going to return. We have a good idea; we can come close, but we really don't know—do we? No, we don't!

As we read with the history of the Church, even the Waldensians in the 1100s, with everything going on, with all the plagues with the Mongols and the Crusades and everything that went on for a couple of hundred years, they thought that the Day of the Lord was not too far away. When was that? That was from 700-800 years ago! Amazing!

Yesterday we already covered concerning how to count, and we also covered a very important part of the keeping of the Day of Pentecost. It is a special day!

Then after the 50 days to bring a new grain offering; fine flour made into two loaves leavened. That ties in with Matt. 13, that there is a good use of leaven. We explained how when you bake that which is leavened, it is permanently fixed!

Leviticus 23:18: "And you shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bull, and two rams…."

We can discern that the seven lambs may depict the seven churches in Rev. 2 & 3. How that fills it out, we don't know.

"…They shall be for a burnt offering to the LORD with their grain offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savor to the LORD. Then you shall sacrifice one male goat for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings. And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits…" (vs 18-20).

The priest was to wave these, and everyone else who was there were to have these loaves leavened, and that pictures the resurrection. We're to get rid of sin during Unleavened Bread—that's when leaven is pictured as sin—but now leaven is pictured as the hidden interaction of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 21: "And you shall proclaim on the same day that it may be a Holy convocation to you. You shall do no servile work therein. It shall be a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations."

We always take up an offering. Look at the offerings that were given here. Many offerings, indeed! We always take up an offering on all of the Holy Days, and that's perfectly appropriate because no one can come before God empty.

God shows and gives us plenty of understanding in His Word that if we sow bountifully, we will reap bountifully. And that if we give willingly and lovingly that God will bless us even all the more.

(pause for offering)

Let's see something about the Day of Pentecost; we need to see how God works. We know that in the travels of the children of Israel coming out of Egypt, it took seven weeks for them to get to Mt. Sinai. Then it was on the Day of Pentecost.

Calendar Map: Exodus 12: Passover Timeline {truthofGod.org} If you take it day-by-day, place-by-place, as they traveled toward Mt. Sinai, that they came shortly before—actually on Thursday of the week—before Pentecost. Moses went up to God on Thursday and they had Friday, Sabbath and the third day they were to meet God, which then was Pentecost.

So, Pentecost is a great and fantastic Feast of God. For the children of Israel it was that they were gathered around the base of Mt. Sinai and God came down on top of the mountain, and it burned with fire, and smoke rose, and there was a windstorm and a tempest because God was there. This the first time that human beings heard the voice of God! He came down and spoke the Ten Commandments (Exo. 20 [transcriber's correction]).

The first thing He said was, 'I am the Lord your God! You shall have no other gods before Me.' Why? Because He was the One Who brought them out of the land of Egypt! He proved with the demonstration and destruction with plagues in Egypt and destroying all the gods of the Egyptians, that all the pagan gods that people create are nothing! The whole rest of the story is love God and keep His commandments!

When Moses was reiterating the Law again to the children of Israel just before they went into the 'promised land' (Deut. 5). Here is how God wanted it to be (Deut. 6). But there's one major thing: free moral agency! And another thing tied in with that: the law of sin and death!

So therefore, even thought God wanted all of these things for them, He said

Deuteronomy 5:29—concerning everything that He spoke: "Oh, that there were such a heart in them that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always so that it might be well with them and with their children forever!"

That's what God desired! But with free moral agency we all have to choose, even today. Here's what God said on that Day of Pentecost, after given the Ten Commandments and Moses writing down all of these things.

Deuteronomy 6:1: "Now, these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God commanded to teach you so that you might do them in the land where you go to possess it, that you might fear the LORD your God…" (vs 1-2).

Yes, because God is awesome and powerful! Remember when they stood before the mountain, they were all trembling and afraid. They said, 'Moses, you talk to us; don't let God talk to us anymore lest we die!' You are to fear God, fear to go against God!

"…to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you, and your son, and your son's son, all the days of your life…" ( v 2).

Not some of the time, not part of the time, not when you want to come to God and sort of placate His anger so that you might find a little grace for a short space of time. "…all the days of your life…" Doesn't that apply to us? Yes, indeed!

Verse 3: "Hear therefore, O Israel, and be diligent to observe it, so that it may be well with you…"

God wants it to be well with us! But on the other hand we can't have it so wonderful and smooth that there's never any trials or troubles or difficulties, otherwise we would be of most people the most arrogant and self-serving, selfish and snobbish that could ever be. 

"…and that you may greatly multiply, as the LORD God of our fathers has promised you, in the land that flows with milk and honey" (v 3). Doesn't that describe us today?

Verse 4: "Hear, O Israel…." The Church is spiritual Israel! Even though God gave this, this was also in mind for the spiritual application when the time came for the Church.

"…Our one God is the LORD, the LORD. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart… [see what a full time occupation this is] …and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words, which I command you this day, shall be in your heart. And you shall diligently teach them to your children…" (vs 4-7).

We saw what happened, and the rest of the history of the Old Testament has all the ups and downs of Israel through al the stages that God brought them through.

Now let's see another time that is important for us to understand, another Day of Atonement. In the first part of Luke 4 Jesus had to be tempted by Satan the devil and to overcome him, which Jesus did! He was there 40 days and 40 nights. Also, He began His temptation on the 4th day of the week in a Jubilee Year.

Now then, when we come over a little further, after He had recovered and began preaching again… This is very profound and what happened here? The people in the synagogue didn't understand!

Luke 4:16: "And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and according to His custom, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath Day…"—Greek: the day of the Sabbaths, which then is Pentecost!

So, just like God gave the Ten Commandments to the children of Israel on Pentecost, Jesus announced that He was the Messiah on the Day of Pentecost in the synagogue in Nazareth.

"…and stood up to read. And there was given Him the book of the prophet Isaiah; and when He had unrolled the scroll, He found the place where it was written, 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me…'" (vs 16-18).

Think about that because that's right out of the Scriptures. He's applying it directly to Himself.

"…for this reason, He has anointed Me… [no one else] …to preach the Gospel to the poor; He has sent Meto heal those who are brokenhearted, to proclaim pardon to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth in deliverance those who have been crushed" (v 18)—by Satan the devil!

Not only the physical healing and bringing sight to those who are blind, but the spiritually blind! Remember what Jesus said to the Pharisees? If the blind lead the blind they both fall into the ditch! He's talking about spiritually blind! Isn't it an amazing thing that God has opened our mind, our eyes, our heart to understanding? It started on Pentecost, the first Pentecost in His ministry to announce Who He was.

Verse 19: "To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.'"

If you read Isa. 61, there is the other part of it, the vengeance of the Lord! That's also connected with Pentecost.

Verse 20: "And after rolling up the scroll and delivering it to the attendant, He sat down; and the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him. Then He began to say to them, 'Today…'" (vs 20-21)—Pentecost, the day of the weeks!

"…this Scripture is being… [present tense passive] …fulfilled in your ears" (v 21). They never grasped the importance!

Verse 22: "…'Is not this the son of Joseph?'" Then they sought to kill Him! Wonderful reception for the Messiah! That's the way human nature is.

This is quite astounding, because what we are seeing is that God uses Pentecost for major, large fulfillments!

• we have Pentecost at Mt. Sinai
• we have Pentecost at Nazareth announcing that Jesus was the Messiah
• we have Pentecost after His death and resurrection, ascension to the heavens and coming back to the disciples for 40 days and 40 nights

And Jesus told them to go wait in Jerusalem until they would be 'endued with power from on high.' Just like everything else, they didn't get it! But let's see what happened ten days after Jesus ascended the final time into the heavens on the Day of Pentecost. A fantastic and important thing!

Remember that on Pentecost at Mt. Sinai God gave everything to the nation of Israel, all 12 tribes; actually 13 when you count Ephraim and Manasseh. Levi and Aaron were to be scattered throughout the other tribes of Israel.
God is beginning a major work involving a great number of people. This is just the start to go out from there. Remember that 'this Gospel is going to be preached unto the ends of the earth! That is being fulfilled now!

Acts 2:1: "And when the Day of Pentecost, the fiftieth day, was being fulfilled… [present tense passive articular infinitive] …they were all with one accord in the same place."

What happened at Mt. Sinai? God came down on top of the mountain! It burned and smoked, and the wind was blowing and everything was shaking.

Notice what happened, and the reason that it had to happen at the temple was to verify the fact that this same God Who gave the Ten Commandments and established Israel as a nation was the One Who gave the Holy Spirit of God at the temple where He placed His presence and His name. If this would have happened in Nazareth no one would have believed it. If it would have happened in another country, it would never have been accepted. But notice what a fantastic thing that this was on this Day of Pentecost.

Pentecost at Mt. Sinai began the complete nation of Israel under God. Here the Church under Christ began! Not with the power of fire and smoke, but power in the sense of the power of the Holy Spirit of God, to make sure that everyone knows that what is going to happen from now on is only going to be accomplished with the Spirit of God.

"…they were all with one accord in the same place. And suddenly there came from heaven… [not from earth] …a sound like the rushing of a powerful wind, and filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them divided tongues as of fire, and sat upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit; and they began to speak with other languages…" (vs 1-4). God is not the author of confusion!

The fake thing which is called Pentecostalism today is not of God, well, the god of this world Satan, but he's not God!

"…as the Spirit…" (v 4). What is the Spirit? The Spirit of the Truth!

"…gave them the words to proclaim" (v 4). In their mind they were speaking in their language! What came out of their tongue were multiple languages to all different people gathered at the temple. So, this established that it is the same God Who dealt with the children of Israel.

Verse 5: "Now, there were many Jews who were sojourning in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven."

I want you to think about this a little bit. Jesus had His ministry for three and a half years. There were always people coming to the temple on the Holy Days whenever it was from the Diaspora, wherever there Jews were scattered. They would come from their synagogues to the temple and bring their special offerings and everything.

Imagine what those who traveled there during Jesus' ministry—because Jesus taught in the temple all the time—they would go back to their homes and tell the marvelous and fantastic things that Jesus did and spoke. Of course, when they came every year they would hear this again. Then those who were there at the crucifixion week brought back the news that Jesus was crucified and died!

The disciples said that He rose from the dead and no one could find the body. All the authorities—Jewish and Roman—were looking for His body and they never found it.

So, imagine what all these Jews were doing there. And of course, God inspired them to come. To do what? To take back this message to their synagogue of what happened at the temple on the Day of Pentecost!

Verse 6: "And when word of this went out, the multitude came together and were confounded, because each one heard them speaking in his own language…. [this was a marvelous and fantastic thing] …And they were all amazed, and marveled, saying to one another, 'Behold, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?'" (vs 6-7).

• it's not the priest
• it's not the Pharisees
• it's not the Sadducees

Verse 8: "Then how is it that we hear each one in our own language in which we were born?…. [then it lists all of them] …Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those who inhabit Mesopotamia, and Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, both Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya which are near Cyrene, and the Romans who are sojourning here, both Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians; we hear them speaking in our own languages the great things of God" (vs 8-11).

Verse 12: "And they were all amazed and greatly perplexed, saying to one another, 'What does this mean?'"

Remember what Jesus said, 'The Jews require a sign.' So, God gave them how many signs through:

• the ministry
• the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ

and now

• on the Day of Pentecost with the beginning of His Church

An amazing thing was taking place!

Verse 13: "But others were mocking and saying, 'They are full of new wine.'" Peter stood up and said that they were not drunk and then gave a powerful message talking about Jesus Christ and His life, and that they were responsible for killing Him, as well as the leaders and everything at the temple.

Peter quoted a Scripture showing that Christ would be resurrected, and that this was not David who was resurrected but his grave was still there with them.

Verse 34: "For David has not ascended into the heavens, but he himself said, 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand"'" That is describing the most powerful thing next to God that can be, and that's Christ!

Verse 35: "Until I have made Your enemies a footstool for Your feet."

How many of those out there in that great audience that were there, probably 50,000, maybe even more than that.

Verse 36: "Therefore, let all the house of Israel know with full assurance… [no doubt at all] …that God has made this same Jesus, Whom you crucified…" They were out there, and some of them were probably those who were asking for Him to be crucified!

The wages of sin is death! And Jesus' life pays for the sin of the world, and every one of our sins. We all have our parting killing Christ!

Verse 36: "Therefore, let all the house of Israel know with full assurance that God has made this same Jesus, Whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

Those had ringing powerful meanings to them, because they were looking for the Messiah, even from the time of the birth of Jesus.

Verse 37: "Now, after hearing this, they were cut to the heart; and they said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' Then Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized each one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you yourselves shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all those who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God may call'" (vs 37-39). That includes us! All down through time!

Verse 40: "And with many other words he earnestly testified and exhorted, saying, 'Be saved from this perverse generation.'"

• That's the same message today—isn't it?
• Isn't this generation one of the most perverse that has ever been?
• How bad is it?

Jesus said that it was just like in the days of Noah before the Flood! How bad were they? So evil continuously in their hearts, minds and actions that God destroyed them with the Flood! Think about how magnificent this is.

Peter said that we are responsible to make our calling sure, or permanent!

Let's skip ahead to the Epistle of Jesus Christ! Did you know that there's in the Bible an Epistle of Jesus Christ? It's not named that, but that's what it is.

We're not going to go through the other places where the New Testament Church kept the Day of Pentecost. Of course, if you're going to diligently keep all the commandments, statutes and judgments of God, you're going to keep the Sabbath and the Holy Days the way and at the time that God provided for us.

The book of Revelation is not the revelation of John, but the revelation of God the Father to Jesus Christ to give to John to write. So, this is direct from God the Father and Jesus Christ. That becomes important, and let's really think about these words, and let them sink deep into our heart and mind.

Revelation 1:1: "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him…"—so this came from the Father!

Sidebar: Remember what we covered during Passover and Unleavened Bread, especially the Passover night, which is the renewal of the spiritual covenant with God the Father and Jesus Christ.

God the Father gives His Spirit to us as a begettal to become a son or daughter of God spiritually. And the Spirit of Christ—two parts to the Holy Spirit—so that we may develop the mind and character of Christ.

This is fantastic when you understand it; awesome indeed! A letter to all the Churches and parts of it to the world.

"…to show to His servants the things that are ordained tocome to pass shortly…" (v 1). Shortly to God can be 'a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day.' So, shortly can be a couple thousand years, which it is.

"…and He made it known, having sent it by His angel to His servant John who gave witness to the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, and all the things he saw" (vs 1-2).

This doesn't come with any other epistle or book of the New Testament; v 3: "Blessed is the one who reads… [we're reading] …and those who hear… [we're hearing] …the words of this prophecy and who keep the things that are written therein; for the time is at hand." Think about that for a minute! You're going to find:

• the love of God
• the grace of God
• the commandments of God
• the statutes of God
• the prophecies of God
• the timetable of God

All in the book of Revelation! Then you reach back and you pull the basis of it out of Daniel and the other Prophets altogether. This is fitting that it comes from Jesus Christ!

Verse 4: "John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace and peace be to you from Him Who is… [living now] …and Who was… [Christ in the flesh] …and Who is to come; and from the seven spirits that are before His throne."

The seven spirits are important! We will see that these are the spirits of God going into the world seeking those who are seeking God. Our calling comes when we desperately cry out to God because we need His help because our lives are a terrible mess!

Verse 5: "And from Jesus Christ, the faithful Witness, the Firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth…."

Those who are there now, and those who will be kings and priests under Christ during the Millennium.

"…To Him Who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood" (v 5).

I want to emphasize something that lots of times we just overlook, or we don't emphasize it, or we don't think about it as we should. Let's look back and think about where we were before God called us.

Ephesians 2:1: "Now, you were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you walked in times past according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air…" (vs 1-2).
The whole world is being deceived by Satan the devil! Has been, is being and will continue right up until he's removed.

"…the spirit that is now working within the children of disobedience" (v 2).

Whenever people are sinning and doing the will of Satan the devil, they are dead in their sins and trespasses, and are "…the children of disobedience."

Verse 3: "Among whom also we all once had our conduct in the lusts of our flesh, doing the things willed by the flesh and by the mind, and were by nature… [with the law of sin and death] …the children of wrath, even as the rest of the world.

Notice v 4 because I want you to answer the question, which this does: How did you get here?

Verse 4: "But God, Who is rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us." God knows all the things for all of our lives! He called us out of it, has forgiven our sins and helps us every year renew the covenant with Him, the Covenant of Eternal Life. That's why we are here! Not because of what we're doing, but what God is doing! That's why we need to always yield to God.

Verse 5: "Even when we were dead in our trespasses, has made us alive together with Christ. (For you have been saved by grace.)" Then it talks about being raised up together at the resurrection and so forth.

Verse 7: "So that in the ages that are coming… [we'll see that more on Trumpets, Atonement and Tabernacles] …He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this especially is not of your own selves; it is the gift of God, not of works… [human works] …so that no one may boast" (vs 7-9).

This is the key that we're going see as we go into the book of Revelation even more. This is what God is doing:

Verse 10: "For we are His workmanship, being created…"—by giving us His Spirit, by writing the laws and commandments in our heart and mind, preparing us for eternal life!

"…in Christ Jesus unto the good works… [God's good works] …that God ordained beforehand in order that we might walk in them" (v 10).

Let's see how powerful that this is. Notice what the goal is after washing us from our sins and so forth.

Revelation 1:6: "And has made us kings and priests… [not yet, but coming] …to God and His Father; to Him be the glory and the sovereignty into the ages of eternity. Amen."

Then He says that He's coming with the clouds, and that's going to be a fantastic thing! The world is not going to know what on earth is happening, but we will!

Verse 8: "'I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the Ending,' says the Lord, 'Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come—the Almighty.'"

Notice what John writes, because we all have to go through these things. Preparing for eternal life is work, and it's not easy. We need:

• the Spirit of God
• the Word of God
• repentance
• yieldedness
• conversion

to do it!

Verse 9: "I, John, who am also your brother and joint partaker in the tribulation and in the kingdom and endurance of Jesus Christ…"

Look at all John went through! They wanted to kill him by through him in a big vat of boiling oil, but it didn't touch him. So, they exiled him to the Isle of Patmos.

"…was on the island that is called Patmos because of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Day of the Lord…" (vs 9-10).

This tells you what all the rest of the book of Revelation is all about.

"…and I heard a loud voice like a trumpet behind me, saying, 'I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, and what you see, write… [the epistle of Jesus Christ written by His secretary John] …in a book, and send it to the churches that are in Asia: to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamos, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.'" (vs 10-11).

(go to the next track)

We know that in Eph. 1 it says clearly that Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church. No man! No council! No group! Christ! We all need to yield to God the Father and Jesus Christ so that we can attain to fulfill our calling!

Revelation 1:12: "And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me; and when I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands."

These are not like the lampstand in front of the Holy of Holies where it was an abra with a candle in the middle and three on each side. These have to be in a circle. Why? Because we see that Jesus stands in the middle of them connected to all seven churches! Completely different from the tabernacle or the temple.

Verse 13: "And in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of man, clothed in a garment reaching to the feet, and girded about the chest with a golden breastplate. And His head and hair were like white wool, white as snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire" (vs 13-14).

That's Christ in His powerful glory as a spirit being. We don't know what that is like. We will be similar to Him.

Verse 15: "And His feet were like fine brass, as if they glowed in a furnace; and His voice was like the sound of many waters. And in His right hand He had seven stars, and a sharp two-edged sword went out of His mouth…" (vs 15-16).

That is the Word of God and it cuts like a sharp two-edged sword (Heb. 4) because it is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart! No other book in the world can do that! We will see that it's because the words are backed with sprit and life.

"…and His countenance was as the sun shining in its full power. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if dead; but He laid His right hand upon me, saying to me, 'Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last'" (vs 16-17).

God's plan from the first to the last is going to be fulfilled and carried out by Jesus Christ as God the Father wants it.

Verse 18: "Even the One Who is living; for I was dead, and behold, I am alive into the ages of eternity. Amen…." Think about that, because we're going to be brought into the ages of eternity at the resurrection!

"…And I have the keys of the grave and of death…. [no one else has that] …Write…" (vs 18-19). This is a letter from Jesus; His epistle to the Churches and some parts to the world.

"…the things that you saw, and the things that are, and the things that shall take place hereafter" (v 19). Little did John know that that would take us clear to the new heavens and new earth!

Verse 20: "The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, is this: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches; and the seven lampstands that you saw are the seven churches."
We have seven of them; isn't that interesting? We don't have five or six, nine or ten, we have seven. What did we see on Day 49 with the harvest? How many weeks are there to the harvest with the wheat and barley? Seven!

This pictures the fulfillment of those who are called and can enter into the Kingdom of God. God gives quite a bit of correction to almost all of them so that it's possible to enter into the Kingdom of God.

Ephesus—notice that Christ always starts out with:

Revelation 2:2: "I know your works…"

• What are our works?
• What are they?
• What are we doing?
• How are we doing?
• How are we performing?

They had some good. They couldn't stand the Nicolaitans. They had some things not so good. Even though they endured a lot, they lost their first love.

Let's clarify that: the first love is to be the important love all the time toward God the Father and Jesus Christ. It is not the zeal of when you first come to the knowledge of the Truth and are baptized, that that is the first love. No! The first love is to God! Isn't that what Jesus said? To love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength (Matt. 22). And the second one is like it, love your neighbor has yourself! Then we're to love each other as Christ loved us. We're also to love our enemies.

Guess what? Jesus said, 'On these two—loving God and neighbor—hang all the Law and the Prophets.' Then Christ is the Chief Corner Stone for the Church.

They hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which God hates, and that's the oppressive hierarchy over the brethren.

Then Jesus says this concerning the blessing that they would receive, v 7: "The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches…. [that Spirit is Christ] …To the one who overcomes I will give the right to eat of the Tree of Life that is in the midst of the paradise of God."

That shows that they'll be in the Kingdom of God! But five of the seven churches have things to repent of.

Smyrna

Verse 9: "I know your works…"

They were up against the synagogue of Satan, and they would suffer persecution and be killed for ten days (years).

Verse 10: "…Be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life."

Notice the blessing that comes with each one.

Verse 11: "The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death."

Sidebar on death: When Jesus talks about those who have been 'delivered from death' because they believe in Him, it's the second death where there is no resurrection. When you die and you haven't committed the unpardonable sin, you're sleeping. Your death is temporary.

Those who have committed the unpardonable sin, their first death is temporary but they are destined for permanent death, not to exist—period!—as if they never were! That's the second death!

Pergamos

Right in the middle where Satan's throne is there was a temple to Zeus right there. They had quite a few things that were good.

Verse 14: "But I have a few things against you because you have there those who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication."

It's spiritualfornication today. Then you have those who hold to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. He says,

Verse 16: "Repent! For if you do not repent, I will come to you quickly…" that means that God—Christ—is going to bring about circumstances that He causes to be carried out that will punish them and test them!

"…I will come to you quickly, and will make war against them with the sword of My mouth" (v 16). Haven't we gone through some of that? Yes, indeed!

Verse 17: "…To the one who overcomes I will give the right to eat of the hidden manna; and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows except the one who receives it."

Thyatira'

We have been learning a lot about that through what John Guenther had done with the history of the Waldensians. That was far greater and far more vast than we ever, ever supposed. Remember when HWA said, 'The Gospel hasn't been preached in 1800 years.' Not true! The Gospel has never ceased to be preached from the time of Christ until He returns.

Verse 19: "I know your works…"

Verse 20: "But I have a few things against you, because you allow the woman Jezebel…" That's the whole Baal-worship; the whole thing of the Catholic Church, and all the other daughters! All different forms of Baal-worship.

They made inroads "…committing fornication and eating things sacrificed to idols" (v 20).

• Isn't the Eucharist called the Sacrifice of the Mass?
• What is surrounding everything about that ceremony? Idols!

If those who take the Eucharist in a Catholic Church, there it is! Christ gave her time to repent, but she didn't.

Verse 22: "Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation… [that's coming] …unless they repent of their works."

Even with the most wicked, God give time to repent!

Verse 23: "And I will kill her children with death… [the second death] …and all the churches shall know… [Christ doing? We'll read it!] …that I am He Who searches the reins and hearts…"

How does God do that? We're created in such a way that God has the ability to understand what we're thinking and what our heart really is! That's why He says that all the secrets of men and women are going to be uncovered unless there is repentance! We can learn from this.

"…and I will give to each of you according to your works" (v 23).

Verse 26: "And to the one who overcomes and keeps My works unto the end, I will give authority over the nations, and he shall shepherd them with an iron rod…" (vs 26-27).

Sardis

Revelation 3:1: "…I know your works, and that you have a name as if you are alive, but are dead." I've likened this many times as a corpse with a pulse!

Verse 2: "…strengthen the things that remain, which are about to die. For I have not found your works complete before God."

Verse 4: "You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with Me in white because they are worthy. The one who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments; and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels" (vs 4-5).

Philadelphia

We covered this in the sermon What is the Difference Between Temptation and Tribulation? But the key here is faithfully keeping the Word of God and always looking to Christ!

Laodicea

We've covered them enough. They've been beaten up enough, but everyone never needs to be content with the physical things and overlook the spiritual things. Otherwise, you'll be spewed out o His mouth and you're going to have to really, really repent, far greater than you have ever supposed.

So, the seven churches represent the seven weeks of harvest leading to Pentecost; then Pentecost is the resurrection day. Now then, there are those who say that Trumpets is the resurrection day. It is not, because Trumpets is a war feast, not a harvest feast!

There are those who say that you can't know the day or the hour. Absolutely true! But if you read all of the prophecies of the end-time in the books of Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel and so forth, you will see that this earth is going to be literally turned upside down and inside out so that the correct day of Pentecost only God the Father will know. The earth and the moon and the space in our solar system is going to be so out of whack that only God will know.

But for those who say it's Trumpets, they say it's that day, and when we tell them it's Pentecost, they say how do you know it's that day? The question goes back to them: How do they know that it's Trumpets?

Rev. 4 begins a whole new thing. In vision, John was the only man to really see the Throne of God. Isaiah and Ezekiel saw some close-ups, but not like John. Also, Ezekiel was a priest. Isaiah was priest. John was of the descendants of Aaron. So, he's the only one who received this vision. No one else!

Now, let's go back to the tabernacle and the temple. The priests could only go in there one day a year, the Day of Atonement. That's it! Here God only let one man, one time, see the right into the Throne Room of God!

For everyone who believes that everyone goes to the Throne of God with an immortal soul, John didn't see any! These are pretty spectacular!

Rev. 5 is when the seven sealed book is given to Christ, and only He can open it. That's given to Him directly from God the Father sitting on the throne. So spectacular is this, to start the unfolding of the all the end-time events, that let's see how they praised God the Father and Jesus Christ.

Revelation 5:9: "And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy are You to take the book, and to open its seals because You were slain, and did redeem us to God by Your own blood, out of every tribe and language and people and nation, and did make us unto our God kings and priests; and we shall reign on the earth'" (vs 9-10).

That's the hymn we are going to sing when we are raised on the Day of Pentecost. Notice how spectacular this was:

Verse 11: "And I saw and I heard the voices of many angels around the throne, and the voices of the living creatures and the elders, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory and blessing.' And every creature that is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and those that are on the sea, and all the things in them, I heard saying…" (vs 11-13).

Now, I don't know how this is going to be, but this is going to be a fantastic event, just before the things at the end begin.

"…'To Him Who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing, and honor, and glory, and sovereignty into the ages of eternity.' And the four living creatures said, 'Amen.' And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him Who lives into the ages of eternity" (vs 13-14).

Then Christ opens the seals. The first four horses leading up to the sixth seal, which in prophecy comes just before Pentecost. Read Hosea 5-thru 6:3 and the children of Israel are in captivity for two full years, and in the third year God begins to raise them up. That happens right after the sixth seal. So, the sixth seal must be some time before the next to the last Pentecost in the flow of things in the book of Revelation.

Let's see what happens when He opens the sixth seal; look what happens to everything.

Revelation 6:12: "And when He opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as the hair of sackcloth, and the moon became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its untimely figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the heaven departed like a scroll that is being rolled up… [WHAM!] …and every mountain and island was moved out of its place" (vs 12-14).

So, you see why no one knows the day or the hour. Everything is out of whack!

Verse 15: "And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the powerful men, and every bondman, and every free man hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to 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'" (vs 15-16).

So, right at first they say it's God; later they will attack and fight, because Satan will say that these are aliens from outer space.

Verse 17: "Because the great day of His wrath has come, and who has the power to stand?"

Rev. 7 is God's 50th day harvest. At the eleventh hour—refer to the parable of the men who go to work in the vineyard, the 1st hour, 3rd hour, 6th hour and 11th hour—they all get a silver coin; a type of eternal life.

These 144,000 are from the children of Israel, and a great innumerable multitude out of every language and people and tribe of the earth. They're all going to be in the resurrection. This has to be God's last harvest, the 50th day!

Let's look at the flow of things right now, which they're getting close to, and they will build it in the right place once they discover it, because it's not going to be built until God wants it built. Just before the Great Tribulation begins, God is going to call the high priest of the temple, and the governor of Judea (Zech. 3 & 4). They will be the two witnesses! It won't be anybody from the Church. Anybody who thinks that just doesn't understand the Truth of prophecy.

The temple is built and the two witnesses come on the scene and they prophesy and bring plagues for 1,260 days.

Revelation 11:3: "And I will give power to My two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two lampstands that stand before the God of the earth…. [Zech. 3 & 4] …And if anyone attempts to harm them, fire will go out of their mouths and devour their enemies…." (vs 3-5).

This is going to be a spectacular thing to see, and the whole world is going to see it.

"…For if anyone attempts to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. These have authority to shut heaven so that no rain may fall in the days of their prophecy; and they have authority over the waters, to turn them into blood, and to smite the earth with every plague, as often as they will" (vs 5-6).

The world is going to hate them! Now, it looks like they're going to be defeated.

Verse 7: "And when they have completed their testimony, the beast who ascends out of the abyss will make war against them, and will overcome them, and will kill them. And their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified…. [Jerusalem] …Then those of the peoples and tribes and languages and nations shall see their bodies three and a half days, for they will not allow their bodies to be put into tombs. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, and will make merry, and will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets had tormented those who dwell on the earth" (vs 7-10).

How are they going to see it? On their smart phone! Everyone will know! They are going to think, and Satan will convince the world, that 'we have finally got it done. We have defeated those who have plagued us!' But God has a surprise!

Verse 11: "Then after the three and a half days, the spirit of life from God entered into them and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. And they heard a great voice from heaven, say, 'Come up here!' And they ascended into heaven in a cloud; and their enemies saw them rise. And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; and seven thousand men were killed in the earthquake. And the rest were filled with fear, and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming immediately. Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ, and He shall reign into the ages of eternity'" (vs 11-15).

Right before their eyes, the two witnesses are raised from the death, literally the last shall be first! 

Now let's see the resurrection; Revelation 14:16: "And He Who was sitting on the cloud thrust forth His sickle upon the earth, and the earth was reaped." A harvest! You can't have a harvest if all souls go to heaven!

Verse 17: "Then another angel, who also had a sharp sickle, came out of the temple that is in heaven. And out from the altar came another angel, who had authority over fire; and he called with a loud cry to the one who had the sharp sickle, saying, 'Thrust in your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the earth, because her grapes are fully ripe'" (vs 17-18).

Two harvests: one of the righteous, and then those for the Battle of Armageddon and they are the grapes.

We're going to see what it's going to be like to be a spirit being, but first:

Revelation 15:1: "Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and awesome: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is filled up. And I saw a sea of glass mingled with fire…" (vs 1-2).

"…and those who had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, standing on the Sea of Glass, having the lyres of God. And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, 'Great and awesome are Your works, Lord God Almighty; righteous and true are Your ways, King of the saints. Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You only are Holy; and all the nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been revealed'" (vs 2-4). There's the Sea of Glass!

All of those down through time. It's a mighty work that God is doing, because He's preparing for the greatest takeover of the world. He's not just conquering a nation, He is conquering the world! He's going to bring His government and they have to be raised from the dead; they have to be spirit beings. What does it say about being raised from the dead? The last part of Philippians says that our bodies will be changed to be like His glorious body!

What is it going to be like to be a son or daughter of God? Let's see what it says about God:

• He lives in heaven
• He has a place
• He has fantastic glory

Isaiah 57:15: "For thus says the high and lofty One Who inhabits eternity…" What's it going to be like?
We have shed everything of this physical body, and we saw where we are His workmanship. Everything of this physical body is going to be left behind. We will have a new spiritual body. We won't just be inhabiting the earth; we will be inhabiting eternity with God!

This is exactly as it says, 'here a little, there a little' and we put it all together.

Psalm 93:1: "The LORD reigns; He is clothed with majesty…" What is it going to be like that we have majesty? That we are spirit beings?

"…the LORD is clothed with strength. He clothed Himself and the world also is established; it shall not be moved…. [the Millennium] …Your throne is established of old; You are from everlasting" (vs 1-2). We are going to enter into the stream of everlasting, the stream of inhabiting eternity!

Psalm 90:2: "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting You are God."

Look at us! Look around! Most of us are old, and getting older. But that's okay. When we're old and running down and we're hobbling around, we need a new body, and you're going to be given one!

• one that won't breakdown
• one that won't get old

Inhabiting eternity from everlasting to everlasting!

Psalm 145:12: "To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom…. [What is that going to be like?] …Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations" (vs 12-13).

We won't have many generations once we're there, because it will be forever and everlasting!

Jeremiah 31:3: "The LORD has appeared to me from afar, saying, 'Yea, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, with loving kindness I have drawn you.'"

Sidebar: It never says that His love is unconditional. It's very conditional!

If you don't love God and keep His commandments, you 'ain't a gonna' be there!

Psalm 112:1: "Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who delights greatly in His commandments." That's what we need to do now!

• His commandments
• His love
• His mercy
• His grace
• His Truth
• His righteousness

Verse 2: "His seed shall be mighty upon earth; the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house, and his righteousness endures forever" (vs 2-3).

Just think, we are going to share the wealth of the Kingdom of God as joint heirs with Christ! When we're resurrected to be on that Sea of Glass… Let's understand that we're going to be there from Pentecost until Trumpets.

There's a lot that we're going to have to learn and do while we're on the Sea of Glass. I will cover some of that next week. It's not going to be a maze of confusion and no one knows what they're doing. God is going to have us all organized. We're going to be there with one language. That's going to be something!

Verse 4: "To the upright there arises light in the darkness… [the resurrection] …he is gracious and full of compassion and righteousness." Quite a tremendous thing!

All of these things, because there is choice, depend upon our choice, depend upon how we yield to God so we can grow in grace and knowledge, and really be deeply converted with God's Spirit.

John 3:15: "So that everyone who believes in Him may not perish, but may have everlasting life. For God so loved the world… [with His great love as He loved us] …that He gave His only begotten Son… [that's the story of the whole Bible from Gen. to Rev.] …so that everyone who believes… [this believe is so deep that you obey] …in Him may not perish, but may have everlasting life" (vs 15-16).

John 17 is the actual Lord's prayer that Jesus had to give to John in a very special way. John was not there in the Garden of Gethsemane taking notes when Jesus was praying before He was arrested. So, Jesus had to reveal this to him.

This is a summary of the whole plan of God, so let's go through it and understand it.

John 17:1: "Jesus spoke these words, and lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, 'Father, the hour has come; glorify Your own Son, so that Your Son may also glorify You; since You have given Him authority over all flesh… [pay attention to that; He's committed all judgment to Christ] …in order that He may give eternal life to all whom You have given Him" (vs 1-2). God is the One Who draws us and gives us to Christ!

Verse 3: "For this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom You did send. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work that You gave Me to do" (vs 3-4). That is in preaching the Gospel!

Then He finished it on the crucifixion day of His sacrifice. Then all the rest of it is finishing it after His resurrection and the beginning of the Church (Acts 2).

Verse 5: "And now, Father, glorify Me with Your own self, with the glory that I had with You before the world existed. I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, and You have given them to Me, and they have kept Your Word" (vs 5-6).

This tells us that if we keep the Word of God, which comes from the Father, that we will be there with Christ.

Verse 7: "Now, they have known that all things that You have given Me are from You. For I have given them the words that You gave to Me…" (vs 7-8).

That's interesting because Jesus said, 'Of My own self do nothing. As the Father has taught Me, as I have seen the Father, as He commanded Me, these things I do.'

"…and they have received them and truly have known that I came from You; and they have believed that You did send Me" (v 8).

Here's a prayer for all of us, and we will see that He reiterates it again a little later:

Verse 9: "I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world… [Why? Because now is not the time to save the world!] …but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. All Mine are Yours, and all Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name… [which is the Father] …those whom You have given Me, so that they may be one, even as We are one" (vs 9-11). The whole plan of God!

Verse 12: "When I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. I protected those whom You have given Me, and not one of them has perished except the son of perdition, in order that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to You; and these things I am speaking while yet in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in them. I have given them Your words, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You would take them out of the world, but that You would keep them from the evil one" (vs 12-15).

Verse 16: They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in Your Truth… [make Holy in the Truth of God, the words of God; Jesus said that they are spirit and life] …Your Word is the Truth. Even as You did send Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, so that they also may be sanctified in Your Truth. I do not pray for these only, but also for those who shall believe in Me through their word" (vs 16-20)—that's us!

Christ prays for us! We pray to Him and He answers our prayers! What a marvelous thing indeed!

Verse 21: "That they all may be one, even as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, in order that the world may believe that You did send Me."

Isn't that something? Think about the importance of the Feast of Pentecost as it pictures the resurrection.

Verse 22: "And I have given them the glory that You gave to Me, in order that they may be one, in the same way that We are one."

I can't imagine how absolutely beyond description that is! That's the whole plan of God!

Verse 23: "I in them, and You in Me, that they may be perfected into one… [the workmanship of the Father] …and that the world may know that You did send Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that those whom You have given Me may also be with Me where I am…" (vs 23-24)—in the Kingdom of God, and that begins on the Sea of Glass on the day of the resurrection!

"…so that they may behold My glory, which You have given Me; because You did love Me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world has not known You, but I have known You, and these have known that You did send Me. And I have made known Your name to them, and will make it known; so that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them, and I in them" (vs 24-26).

That's the fullness of the meaning of Feast of Pentecost!

Scriptural References:

• Leviticus 23:18-21
• Deuteronomy 5:29
• Deuteronomy 6:1-7
• Luke 4:16-22
• Acts 2:1-13, 34-40
• Revelation 1:1-5
• Ephesians 2:1-5, 7-10
• Revelation 1:6, 8-20
• Revelation 2:2, 7, 9-11, 14, 16-17, 19-20, 22-23, 26-27
• Revelation 3:1-2, 4-5
• Revelation 5:9-14
• Revelation 6:12-17
• Revelation 11:3-15
• Revelation 14:16-18
• Revelation 15:1-4
• Isaiah 57:15
• Psalm 93:1-2
• Psalm 90:2
• Psalm 145:12-13
• Jeremiah 31:3
• Psalm 112:1-4
• John 3:15-16
• John 17:1-26

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Matthew 13
• Exodus 20
• Isaiah 61
• Ephesians 1
• Hebrews 4
• Matthew 22
• Revelation 4
• Hosea 5 thru 6:1-3
• Revelation 7
• Zechariah 3; 4

Also referenced: Sermon:
Calendar May: Exodus 12: Passover Timeline {truthofGod.org}

What is the Difference Between Temptation and Tribulation?

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 4/22/19

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