[Donald Ward] Today, the title of the sermon is, "Thy Kingdom Come." In the model prayer, Jesus prayed, "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Note the recognition and reverence that Jesus gave to the Father. He says, "Our Father." The apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," so in the Bible, the Father is called the God of Jesus Christ and the Father of Jesus Christ. "Blessed be the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again into a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

Of course, if Jesus Christ had not died and been resurrected, we cannot have our sins atoned for, the Holy Spirit would not have been sent. Jesus Christ said in John 16, "Unless I go away, the Holy Spirit will not come." So obviously, the Father is the Father and makes sense, the Father is the Father of Jesus Christ. Jesus… The Father is the one who calls us John 6:44. The Father is the one who begets us, James 1:18 The Father is the one who resurrects us from the dead, Romans 8:11. The Father is the one who gives us the Kingdom, Luke 12:32.

So Jesus Christ praises the name of the Father and hallows His name. So whose kingdom and whose will is Christ referring to, "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven?" He is obviously referring to God the Father. The will of God the Father. God is not willing that any should perish as Peter writes in 2 Peter 3:9, "But we know there will be some sadly who will perish." And even in the parable of the ten virgins given in Matthew 25, it says there that "five were wise and five were foolish."

So brethren, this is a wonderful opportunity for you to grow in grace and knowledge as you've already heard in the preceding messages, beginning this past Sabbath and last evening and continuing today. There's never been a period of human history that is like the period of time we're living in. Now, there have been pockets on the face of the earth that might be a sinful as the whole world is today, but with mass communication and the way the world has wireless communication, just think about the services here being sent around the world to those who have the web address. So one of the greatest ways the world is different, obviously, is mass communication, instant communication. Perhaps the nearest time we ever had to the time in which we’re living was pre-flood world. It says there that "The thoughts and intents of the heart of man was continually upon evil."

We're living in critical, crucial times. The current presidential election debacle has lifted the veil off the corruption that spews forth from the leaders of the land. One will not be able to discern which one is the least corrupt. The only thing they can do is to judge based on the policies they propose to implement. It is indeed a time to sigh and cry "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Let's remember now the words of the apostle Paul that he writes in 1 Corinthians 15:50. Says, "I say unto you, brethren, flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God."

Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is a spiritual Kingdom. It is not a kingdom that is given to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes or the pride of life. Spirit beings will be ruling over human beings in the Kingdom of God. But in the Kingdom of God, in the family of God Paul writes, "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God." Obviously, during the millennial period and thereafter, there will be the opportunity for millions, yeah, even billions to eventually be in the family of God in the Kingdom of God.

It seems that we have a tendency to focus more on the physical aspects of the Kingdom than on the spiritual. The spiritual will greatly exceed the physical. Do you remember the words of the apostle Paul? A lot of the scripture, I'll just quote because you are familiar with them. I would encourage you to write down the Scriptures. We could give a sermon on how most any other references. But, you know, Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:8 or 9, “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love Him."

So brethren what lies ahead is even beyond the descriptors that are found in the Bible. The great pivotal event in ushering in the Kingdom of God is what you heard in the special music, Christ coming again, the resurrection of those who are called, who are faithful and who have remained faithful through the ages. Many earthshaking events have to come to pass before God's Kingdom comes, and His will is done on earth as it is in heaven. You might say, "Well that is simple. All the prophetic events that are described in the Holy Scriptures must be fulfilled then the Kingdom will come." But which of these prophecies is most relevant to you and I?

Historically, Bible commentators and to some degree, church leadership they focus on the rise of the beast system, it's defeated the battle of the, great day of God almighty. And very little attention is given to other events that must be fulfilled in order for the Kingdom to come and the will of God to be done on earth as it is in heaven. People want to know who, they want to know when. So many people are caught up in a knowledge trip. At the present time, I call the Bible hucksters and hawkers are selling thousands and thousands of dollars worth of tapes, and articles, and videos on the end times, because especially in the western world, people recognize that these are times in which we have not seen.

And where the communication as already noted the way it is, people are grinding out these videos, these tapes, these theories on who is this and what is that and when is this and what is that, and even as we shall see in just a moment, if we knew all of that perfectly. That would not have ensure our entrance into the Kingdom of God. So we need to ask ourselves, "Am I on a knowledge trip or am I on a conversion trip? Am I on a knowledge trip or am I on a conversion trip?" As we shall see God is more interested in what you and I are becoming than He is in what we know, and what we are doing.

Let's look at 1 Corinthians 13. In 1 Corinthians 13, I've tried in recent years and especially every sermon at the Feast, to weave this in some way, especially, in view of the fact that we are living in what I believe are the end times even if it goes on for decades I still believe these are the end times. It'd to be difficult to comprehend how the world based on the way it's going would be able to continue if it continues to go the way it is going. I have never seen the plummet in morals, and just plain common sense that I've seen even I could say in a month, six months in a year. It's just every day is like something else crashes down upon us.

In 1 Corinthians 13:1, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,” talking about… you could have all the spiritual gifts that you want to name, and have no charity, agape is the Greek word here. It says in 1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:16 that God is love. So it would not be doing violence to the scriptures say, "If I am not becoming as God is if I have not charity, if I am not becoming as God is, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, understand all mysteries and all knowledge and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains and have not charity, I am nothing."

If I am not becoming as God is, then it's all in vain. You might remember that Matthew 5:48, "Become you therefore perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect." Going on to perfection is one of the vital doctrines contained in Hebrews 6:1-3, "Leaving the… principles” or doctrine “of Christ, so let us go on to perfection." And verse 3, Well, I haven't finished this I'll start from the beginning here on verse 2. "And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, have all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned and have not charity, it profits me nothing." So obviously God is more interested in what you are becoming be it in what you know, and what you might be doing.

Now, let's explore some of the prophecies that focus on God's great plan of salvation, and the coming Kingdom of God and our part in it. When God called Israel out of Egypt, His intention was for them to be a holy nation and bring other nations into relationship with Him. Let's go to Exodus 19. In Exodus 19 we shall see that… Exodus 19 Israel is now near Mount Sinai where they camp out and they are… this is in the third month. They are about ready to receive the Ten Commandments according to Jewish tradition. They receive the Ten Commandments on the day of Pentecost.

So we look at Exodus 19:1 "In the third month when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came, they under the Wilderness of Sinai. For they were departed from Rephidim, and were to come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camp before the mount. And Moses went up to God, to the Eternal, and called… God called to him out of the mountain, saying, ‘You shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the children of Israel.’" And the interesting thing I just sort of a sidelined there — generally, speaking when you see Jacob, in the Old Testament it is referring to Israel in the flesh, and when you see Israel its referring to generally the spiritual side.

Remember Jacob's name was changed from supplanter to prince with God. "You have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey Me indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be peculiar treasure unto Me above all people for all the earth is Mine: and you shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak unto the children of Israel."

And so Moses called the elders together and spoke those words. And God gave the Ten Commandments. He entered into a covenant with them. Recorded in Exodus 24,but Israel failed to live up to the conditions of the Old Covenant, and God put them away and gave them a bill of divorcement. Even if Israel had lived up to the conditions of the Old Covenant, the Kingdom would have been a physical kingdom. And this would not have fulfilled God's ultimate purpose for creating humankind. We were created for a great transcendental purpose. Through God's love, He wanted to share who He is and what He is with humankind, so ordained this great plan of salvation, which calls for creating humankind, because He wanted to have a family, not just a family that was created.

The angels were created. But under which the angels said, "He at any time, set you on my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool?" He never did, but He did to the Son, and also we are promised eternal life in the Kingdom of God. But Israel was put away as we said, did not fulfill the purpose that God had called him out to do. And now he has transferred that responsibility to bring humankind into relationship with God, through the Church, through you and I. Now, we'll notice here when we turn to 1 Peter 2, very similar to the wording that we read here in verse 6. Let's read it again. "And you shall be under me at kingdom of priests and an holy nation. These are the things which you shall speak to the children of Israel."

Now, let's go to 1 Peter 2. In 1 Peter 2, beginning in verse 5. "You also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house,” the spiritual side of things, flesh and blood cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. The church today is metaphorically referred to as a spiritual house, “…and the holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture,” and here is quoting Isaiah 20:16. “Behold, I lay in Zion," And we'll talk more about Zion. “'A chief cornerstone… precious. And he that believes on Him, shall not be confounded.’ Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be a disobedient, ‘Stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made head of the corner.’"

Jesus Christ is the head of the Church. He is the foundation along with the prophets and apostles as it says in Ephesians 2:20 "And ‘A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.’ Even to them which stumble at the word being disobedient or into also they were appointed. But you…” very similar to Exodus 19:6, "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and holy nation, a purchased people, that you should show forth the praises of Him who's called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; which in times past were not a people."

See, God even put Israel away as Hosea talks about it in Hosea 1, they became lo-ammi not my people that they became lo-ruhamah not having obtained mercy. But now, Jew and Gentile regardless of national origin, regardless of ethnicity, regardless of skin color or any other dimension that you want to name, God has ordained this great plan of salvation for all peoples, “Which in times past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy,” they're now ruhamah having obtained mercy, “but now obtain mercy.”

"Dearly Beloved, I beseech you are strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul." And this ties in with what Mr. Aust was speaking of last evening with regard to us keeping the Feast now, us being faithful now, and making it in the Kingdom of God we shall be there to help those who are called in their day of visitation. And know what it says in verse 12, "Having your conduct honest among the nations: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."

And we know this is not the only day of salvation, and God has not called us just for salvation as you often heard. But He has a great purpose and plan an exciting purpose and plan for all of us that it will extend through all ages and all times. We are now… look in Galatians 6:16, notice what it says. We'll read verse 15 as well in Galatians 6:15, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.” It doesn't matter whether you're a Jew or Gentile — are you a new creation? If you be in Christ then are you Abraham seed, and heirs according to the promise?

“And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be unto them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God." Having a little trouble with my glasses. The Israel of God. So God's purpose for creating humans was to have a family of spiritually begotten and then born sons and daughters of God, in the resurrection of the just. You've been called here for that purpose. From the Garden of Eden, after Adam and Eve sinned, and when they were cast out of the garden and cut off from the tree of life. The most essential elements of prophecy focus on how humans can't partake of the tree of life, the tree of life symbolic of the Holy Spirit, and bridge the great gulf between this physiochemical existence and eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

The Holy Spirit is the very life assets of God. John 4:24 says, "God is Spirit: and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth." It is the only thing, the Holy Spirit. Now, we'll bridge the gap between this physiochemical existence and eternal life. The central theme of the Bible is God is bringing sons and daughters to glory in His family, in His kingdom. God's first declaration to man was, "If you disobey and eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you will die." And we know that Romans 6:23 says, "The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

God and the Word, the one who became Jesus Christ, knew that Adam and Eve would sin. And they had already made provision for humankind redemption from sin and death. Look at Revelation 13. In Revelation 13. Revelation 13:8. What we're saying is God and the Word knew that humankind will sin. When you consider the marvel of this plan of salvation, of creating man and giving man freewill, subject to the pulls of the flesh, subject to sin and death, and then at the same time to develop a plan of redemption whereby they can be brought… bought back from sin and death. They can be redeemed. And that the Redeemer would come on the scene, and through that redemption, they would receive forgiveness, and the slate would be wiped clean and then they could receive God's Holy Spirit and be viewed upon that as sinless.

Not that you won't sin after that, you do. We all do and have, or have and do whichever one. You know, Psalm 103 says, "So far as He removed our sins from us as east is from the west." That's like infinity. But here we see that this plan goes way back in time. Revelation 13:8, "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship Him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." So the first instruction was, "Don't eat of this tree of the knowledge of good and evil, don't take that prerogative to yourself. Look to me for that. And, of course, humankind from that time to the present have rejected God's way of life.

But once again, look at Genesis 3:15. We want to talk about prophecy and what's really important. The greatest focus in prophecy is that this Redeemer is going to come on the scene and provide a means whereby humankind can be brought back from sin and death, receive the Holy Spirit, and be members of the family of God and live eternally. Genesis 3:15. In spite of the sin, God promises a Redeemer.

This is Genesis 3:15, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head…” Jesus Christ is going to put Satan away forever, eventually, “…and you shall bruise his heel.” And from the time of whenever Satan knew about the plan of God of bringing human beings into a relationship with him as sons and daughters in the Kingdom of God, Satan has tried to destroy that plan. He's tried to subvert it. He's tried to destroy humankind, tried to destroy Jesus Christ even before He was born to the time He was born.

So once again we can conclude that the essential thread of the Bible is all about God's great plan of salvation. That God and Christ are bringing sons and daughters to glory in the Kingdom of God. So no wonder, no wonder the model prayer addresses the Father in such a way of “Hallowed be Your name and Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Yes, the kingdom and the leaders of the world, the kingdoms of this world the leaders of this world have gone mad and bad and they all like sheep, have gone astray. They have not made up the hedge. They've not prepared the peoples of the world for the day of the Lord.

Let's look at Ezekiel 13. If there ever was a relevant scripture… we're going to read two or three here in Ezekiel relevant to the times in which we lived. This is Ezekiel 13:4. Ezekiel 13:4, "O Israel your prophets are like the foxes in the deserts. You've not gone up into the gap, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle of the day of the Lord." Who's preparing the people to stand during the day of the battle of the Lord? If it's not done in the Church of God, it won't be done anywhere else. Now, there are secular voices and religious voices that are crying out. Should we do anything less?

In Ezekiel 23, I've just written an article that will appear in the United News, after the Feast this next Feast edition, titled "Standing In The Gap," and God is looking for men and women to stand in the gap today. He's looking for young and old, he's looking for people from every facet and every walk of life. In Ezekiel 23, I don't want Ezekiel 23 I want Ezekiel 22. So back up a page, please. In Ezekiel 22:23, "And the word of the Lord came to me saying," This is Ezekiel 22:24, "Son of man, say unto her, ‘You are the land that is not cleansed, or rained upon in the day of indignation. There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof…’”

This is what the Bible says. I don't know what you want to believe. And I'm going to believe what the Bible says, "There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they've taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. Her priests have violated My law, and have profaned Mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and the profane…”

The holy, the law of the land today is, thou shall not be intolerant, otherwise, anything goes. But just don't condemn anybody for whatever they might do, “…no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean and have hid their eyes for my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them." And then it goes on speaking of what's going on. And then God issues this call. Look at verse 30. "And I sought for a man…” We could put man and woman, men and women everybody. "I sought for one among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy, but I found none."

In this article that I wrote, I speak of a lot of men and women who stood in the gap at critical crucial times in human history, and they made a difference. One of the verses in Esther, where Esther was very hesitant about going before the King and her uncle Mordecai says to Esther, "Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this? God has called you to the kingdom for such a time as this. It is not the time to slumber and sleep." You know, it even says in Matthew 25 with regard to the ten virgins that while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept and at midnight the knock came on the door. The virgins arose five wise five foolish. The five foolish who were not able to do what they needed to do before the door was shut. So I hope that God never says that about us.

The psalmist in the second Psalm, let's turn to Psalm 2. The psalmist in the second Psalm summarizes perfectly describing the current state of the world. You want to know the state of the world? Here it is. Fighting against God, fighting against the coming Kingdom. In Psalm 2, "Why do the nations rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the title, and against His Anointed…” Against God and against Christ, the eternal God the Father His Anointed, Jesus Christ. “Let us break their bands asunder, cast away their cords from us. He that sits in the heavens shall laugh."

I mean what is God thinking at the present time as He looks down at this intellectual vanity and every other vanity that you can possibly name on the face of the earth, of the people's. He must be very sad on the one hand, and at the same time, is laughable to think Satan thought he could unseek God. You think any band or confederacy of human beings can unseek God? Of course not. "He that sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall He speak unto them His wrath and vex them in His sore displeasure: ‘Yet have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: that the Lord has said unto Me, “You are My Son. This day have I yalad you.”’”

Now, yalad is a Hebrew word Y-A-L-A-D corresponds to gennaó in the Greek. And it can be used in the sense of begetting to engender life, and it can also be used in the sense of bringing to birth. In this case, it is bringing to birth. “'This day have I brought You to birth… this day have I brought You to birth. Ask of Me, and I shall give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.’ Be wise, therefore, O you king; be instructed, you judges of the earth."

You better wake up leaders of the world. Not only the leaders of the world, all of us. "Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him." The leaders of the world led by Satan the Devil will eventually marshal all forces at their disposal to resist God, Christ, and the saints. To resist God, Christ, and the saints as they take over the kingdoms of this world. Yes, the Kingdom is coming.

Let's look now Revelation 11:14, Revelation 11:14. Revelation 11:14, remember I said earlier the great pivotal point like you heard in the special music, the sound of trumpets, at the seventh trumpet, the last trumpet the mystery of God begins when He begins to sound the mystery of God should be finished. That great mystery of how flesh and blood can be transformed into a glorious radiant spirit being in the family of God, and the Kingdom of God. In verse 15, Revelation 11:15, "And the seventh angel sounded: And there were great voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world are become…’” and it's progressive, it doesn't happen in an instant and I know that there is a sermon later in the Feast that's going to talk more about how this takes place.

“'The kingdoms of this world are becoming the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’ And the seventh angel sounded." You know, it's interesting to note there in verse 14 that the time of the two witnesses and their death and them being taken up, is a part of the second woe. “The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe comes quickly.” And that third woe was divided into seven bowls of wrath. But at the seventh trumpet, when he sounds… great voices… the kingdoms of this world.

Let's continue verse 16, "And the twenty-four elders, which are before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, saying, ‘We give You thanks, the Lord God Almighty, which are, which was, which is to come; because You have taken to You great power and have reigned." You might want to read the verse more than once. "And the nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, that you should give reward and Your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear Your name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth." There are vast areas in the earth today especially in the oceans that are totally dead and it's getting worse.

"And the temple of God was opened and heaven, and there was seen in the temple the ark of the testimony of the covenant. There were lightnings, and voices, thunderings, and earthquake and great hail.” Now, you read in Revelation 16, let's turn there the seven bowls of wrath are poured out, bowls or vials of wrath are poured out. Just want to look quickly here at the fact that the nations of the world, like we read from Psalm 2 you will gather together trying to resist God in Christ and the saints at that critical time.

Revelation 16:12, "And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings at the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon,” and that's Satan the devil, “…out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.” So these three are still in league even at this time. "For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth into the kings of the earth and the whole world, to gather them to the battle of the great day of God Almighty." That's the name of the battle is not the battle of Armageddon. Armageddon is a place where they are gathered. Then there's an end set and a warning to all of us.

Verse 15. “Behold, I come as a thief." You might say, "Well, how would that be possible?" Well, they all slumbered and slept. And the knock came on the door. "Behold I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice” in the trumpet… “in the temple of heaven” sorry, “in the temple of heaven was open,” and they see God on His throne.

Well, it doesn't say see God. I'm sorry I misread it, “…and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven from the throne, saying, ’It is done.’ And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since man were upon the earth, so mighty the earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came into remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath." And so God directly intervenes. The kingdoms of this world began to become the kingdoms of God and His Christ. God is going to bring His government to this earth. He is going to restore all things. And there's going to be peace and harmony on earth.

Now, let's look at the Bible definition of the Kingdom of God. If someone were asked to go to a scripture that says, "That defines the Kingdom of God," where would you go? Let's go to Romans 14. In Romans 14, it plainly says that the Kingdom of God is such and such. In Romans 14 we'll begin in verse 16. Romans 14:16, "Let not then your good be evil spoken of…” Or what is the Kingdom of God? We want the Kingdom come. “For the Kingdom… the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit."

The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. When Jesus was born the message that the angels proclaimed, was that the prince of peace had come. Peace on earth and goodwill toward men of good will. He was to inherit the throne of His father, David. Yes, God and Christ are going to bring peace to this earth, and we're going to be there as a part of this great restoration if we remain faithful. Indeed, a new age will be ushered in, and the government of God will be established on the earth. The will of God will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We will find at that time that church and state will be united. There will be a theocracy.

Look at Zechariah 6. Zechariah 6. In Zechariah 6, a lot of people have talked about, "Well, who builds the Church?" Well, Jesus Christ says very clearly in Matthew 16:18 that He will build the Church some get involved in prophecy and try to write their name in prophecy. And people are wondering, "Well, what is Zechariah talking about when he talks about building the Church and that kind of thing?" In Zechariah 6:12. "And speak unto them, saying, ‘Thus speaks the Eternal of hosts, saying, “Behold the man whose name is The Branch,”’” He's identified as the Son of David, Jesus Christ. In Isaiah The Branch, “…and He shall grow up out of His place, and He shall build a temple of the Lord.”

We all know Matthew 16:18, "I will build My Church, the gates of the grave shall not prevail against it." “Even He shall build the temple of the Lord; and He should bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne,” as king, “and He shall be a priest upon His throne." So church and state united, remember Revelation 5:10, "And He has made us kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth."

So He shall be a King upon His throne, “He shall be a priest upon His throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” So that theocracy is going to be established. Now, let's turn to Isaiah back a few pages. Of all the millennial scriptures in the Bible, this is my favorite one and if we read it a dozen times it will not be enough. I mean a lot of the ministers say, "Well, we've already read this." Pardon me, no I don't. I mean because they say re-enforcement is very good in repetition.

In Isaiah 2:1, "The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above… the nations; all nations shall flow into it.” Of course, you remember that passage there in Zechariah the last few verses. "If the nation of Egypt comes not out to the Feast of Tabernacles, they'll get no rain." Everybody may not be really converted, but everybody is at least going to play church during the Millennium. Obviously, we know that when Satan is released at the end of Millennium that a lot of people will be deceived again. It's a mind boggling thing some say.

“…So all nations shall flow into it." Verse 3, "And many people shall go and say, ‘Come, and let us go into the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Eternal from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nations shall not lift up swords against nations, neither shall there be war any more.’" Jerusalem, the holy city, will be the universal capital of this new system.

Jerusalem and Zion are oftentimes used interchangeably. Zion is symbolic of the Church. I think the last two Feast of Tabernacles on the first Holy Day I’ve challenged people to… during the Feast, get your concordance or your Bible aid whatever it is. Read every scripture in the Bible on Zion. I think you'll find quite a revelation very interesting. Let's go to Hebrews 12. Hebrews, what about the book of Hebrews? What does it do? The book of Hebrews compares and contrasts the elements of the Old Covenant with elements of the New Covenant. It compares and contrasts the priesthood, the sacrifices, the temple, the promises, all of that is compared in contrast.

So we look at Hebrews 12:20, "For they cannot endure that which he has commanded." Speaking of those at Sinai when the Ten Commandments are thundered. “And if so much as a beast touch the the mountain, it should be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: and so terrible was a sight, and Moses said, ‘I exceedingly fear and quake.’ But you are come unto Mount Zion,” yes, Zion is a physical geographical location in the environs of Jerusalem. David pitched his temple or his tabernacle on Mount Zion. And God loves the tents of Mount Zion. "You have come into the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect…”

God places a great deal of emphasis on Jerusalem and on Zion. So I encourage you to read all those scriptures on Zion. Now, let's go to Psalm 87. Psalm 87, We sing this hymn, “Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken” and then it's taken from here Psalm 87. Psalm 87 is about you and me being born into the Kingdom of God. Birth into the Kingdom of God is equated with resurrection, or resurrection is equated with birth. Jesus Christ became the firstborn of those that slept when He was resurrected from the dead. In other words, the firstborn to spirit life was a glorious radiant life giving spirit.

In Psalm 87, "His foundation is in the holy mountains. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things of thee are spoken, O city of God. I will make mention of Rahab, Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, Tyre, with Ethiopia: this man was born there.” Where? See through the ages, people have died, their graves are scattered all over the face of the earth. Their ashes may be scattered wherever some may have burned in a fire, some are cremated. "And of Zion it shall be said, this and that man was born in her: and the highest Himself shall establish her. The Lord shall count, when He writes up the people, that this man was born there.” Where? In Zion.

To be in the first resurrection you have to be a member of the Church of God, you have to be a spirit begotten one who is faithful and true to the end. "As well as the singers, as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs…” And springs often times, symbolic of the Holy Spirit. "All my springs are in you." So indeed, it is a time to pray, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” And again, I say rejoice, for the Kingdom is coming.