Trumpets Will Sound!

Willem Henderson

Feast of Trumpets

September 25, 2014

Welcome to this 4th Holy Day, the Feast of Trumpets.

The title of today's sermon is Trumpets Will Sound!

The trumpet has always been, and will yet be in the future, the ultimate instrument used to announce events. We'll first take a look at what Trumpets were used for and will be used for in the future still. At the Feast of Trumpets of 2012 Ron talked about the different ways trumpets were used. He said the following:

"So nearly every Feast of Trumpets where I have given a sermon on the meaning of this day, God has inspired me to make some mention of the three primary purposes that Israel blew trumpets, and all three uses are contained in the deeper meaning of this Holy Day. That's why we do it year by year by year, because there is so much to learn from the three basic uses of trumpets and how Israel used them during that time, that all that meaning that's wrapped up in and contained in greater depth and purpose and revelation for what the Feast of Trumpets is all about and what it pictures.

So again, when focusing on the meaning of this day it’s important to understand these three uses of trumpets in ancient Israel, and it's important that we review them year by year.

The first use is – to call to assembly. There is a specific sound, and they heard that sound and it gave them guidance, direction, sometimes even literal direction of where to go and what kind of an assembly it was, or what they were to assemble to do and accomplish, and all the different sounds of those things that they could hear and understand by trumpets being blown.

And so again, the meaning here "to call to assembly." There was a specific blowing of trumpets that when Israel heard them they knew the instruction they contained concerning specific direction they were to follow. It was to always be organized and unified in how they did it, and those trumpets gave that, in that sense, direction and instruction so that it would be done in an orderly fashion, in a unified fashion. And that means so much for us in God's Church and what we're learning and what we learn from the very beginning all the way through our lives.

Sometimes this matter of the "call to assembly," sometimes a matter of breaking camp and moving in a specific direction, or certain people being called to an assembly, or the entirety of the people being called to a specific assembly. Again, instruction and direction that was being given, and there is so much spiritual meaning then in that for these days and what they picture for us and our relationship with God and what it leads to.

And then a second use is – to sound an alarm. They knew that piercing sound! They knew if there was an alarm and what it was, especially if it was to war. Again, various sounds, but even in that giving instruction and direction, but an alert and that which would alert them, to very specific things that they could understand and grasp just by what they heard. Again, going back to what they heard in the sound of the trumpet.

And then finally a third primary use – to proclaim a time of rejoicing, a time of thankfulness. Especially when it had to do in their relationship with God, in praising God, as a praise to God, and especially in the announcement and the heralding, or the trumpeting, if you will, of a new king. Tremendous ceremony there, and gratitude and thankfulness they had...and toward God, to whatever knowledge they had at that particular time."

So that's the end of the quote from Ron's Trumpets sermon.

Sometimes questions pop up about "the three seasons" in which we give offerings on the Holy Days that are described in Deuteronomy 16:16. Let's go and have a look in Deuteronomy 16:16—Three times in a year… If we look at these three seasons in a spiritual sense, we can see that these three seasons are subdivided into seven great Sabbath Days, seven great Feasts. If we want to observe these three seasons correctly, then we (Gods Church) must also observe all seven yearly Feasts. These seven Feasts are ordered into three seasons, and for physical Israel this had special physical meaning on an agrarian level because of the different harvests in the different seasons.

Back to verse 16—Three times in a year shall all your males appear before the LORD your God in the place which He shall choose, in the Feast of Unleavened Bread, in the Feast of Weeks, and in the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the LORD empty. Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you. We are spiritual Israel, so we will now look at these three seasons from a spiritual vantage point.

1. The first Feast Season: This contains the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

2. The second Feast Season: This contains the Feast of Weeks – Pentecost. It is called so because seven weeks need to be counted from the day after the Sabbath that falls within the Feast of Unleavened Bread (with the Passover being part of that season), and this, until the day after the seventh-day Sabbath—50 Days—being the season of Pentecost.

3. The third Feast Season: This contains Trumpets – Atonement – the Feast of Tabernacles – and the Last Great Day. All four of these Feasts are in the same month of the Hebrew calendar, in the month of Tishri. On the first of Tishri (the first day of the month) there is the Feast of Trumpets, the Feast we observe today. The fifth Feast, on the tenth of Tishri, is the Feast of Atonement. From the fifteenth to the twenty-first of Tishri we observe the Feast of Tabernacles, the sixth Feast. And last, but not least, there is the Last Great Day, the seventh Feast, on the twenty-second of Tishri.

The first two seasons occur in springtime, and just as in agriculture there is a smaller harvest in springtime than in the fall season. Spiritually, this is exactly the same. Because from the two springtime seasons a smaller harvest is produced—pertaining to Jesus Christ and the 144,000. And in the fall time, during the Feast of Tabernacles, there is larger harvest of all people that have ever lived (except those who have committed the unpardonable sin, those who do not want God in their lives).

The meaning of the Feast of Trumpets is the announcement of the return of Jesus Christ to establish God's Kingdom (God's Family) on earth. On the Church website it states that the Feast of Trumpets is the announcement of His coming, of His return. And as we all know, that return will be on a Pentecost in the near future.

Leviticus 23. God gave the Israelites the Feast of Trumpets after their exodus out of Egypt, and He said that they were to observe this day and always have a holy convocation on it. Leviticus 23:23-24—The LORD told Moses, Say to the people of Israel: In the seventh, on the first day of the month, shall be a complete rest to you, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.

Numbers 10. Silver trumpets are used for the following purposes:

1.  To call the people together

2.  To gather the leaders of the tribes

3.  As a signal to break camp

4.  As an alarm to battle

5.  To announce the time for burnt offerings, sacrifices, Feasts, and new moons

We can read about this in Numbers 10:1-10—The LORD said to Moses, Make two trumpets of hammered silver to use for calling the people together and for breaking camp. When long blasts are sounded on both trumpets, the whole community is to gather around you at the entrance to the Tent of My presence. But when only one trumpet is sounded, then only the leaders of the clans are to gather around you. When short blasts are sounded, the tribes camped on the east will move out. When short blasts are sounded a second time, the tribes on the south will move out. So short blasts are to be sounded to break camp, but in order to call the community together long blasts are to be sounded.

The trumpets are to be blown by Aaron's sons, the priests. The following rule is to be observed for all time to come. When you are at war in your land, defending yourselves against an enemy who has attacked you, sound the signal for battle on these trumpets. I, the LORD your God, will help you and save you from your enemies. Also, on joyful occasions—at your New Moon Festivals and your other religious festivals—you are to blow the trumpets when you present your burnt offerings and your fellowship offerings. Then I will help you. I am the LORD your God. So the Israelites were fully familiar with the usage of trumpets because they were used for different kinds of important occasions.

And the time that is now right ahead of us, is a time when more than ever before Trumpets will be blown. It is the time that Trumpets will be blown to announce the return of Jesus Christ and God's Kingdom.

Old Testament Israel had a very limited physical understanding about the Feast of Trumpets, except for a very few that God worked with. But they who went before us, as we ourselves in this age, in the end-time that we live in now, know the spiritual meaning of this "blowing of Trumpets." God called us and we can hear. We can hear the Trumpets spiritually because our mind has been opened and we have received God's spirit.

Because of Christ's sacrifice God can live in us, God's spirit can live in us. First, we must descend into the watery grave to wash away our sins, and then we must receive the laying on of hands so that God's spirit can begin working in us.

John 18. Jesus Christ said before He died, for what purpose He died and why He came: "To be King!" John 18:33—Pilate, therefore, entered again into the Praetorium, called Jesus, and said to Him, Are you the King of the Jews? And Jesus answered him, Do you say this by yourself, or did others tell you about Me? Pilate answered, I'm not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me. What have you done?

And in verse 36—Jesus answered: My Kingdom is not of this world. "My Kingdom is not here. My Kingdom is not in this world." If My Kingdom were of this world, then My servants would fight that I wouldn't be delivered to the Jews. But now My Kingdom is not from here. We know this now, but they didn't know this. They didn't understand this yet. Christ still had to die before He would become a King of kings.

Verse 37—Pilate, therefore, said to Him: Are you a King then? "So, You are a King after all?" And Jesus answered, "Yes." You say that I am a King. For this reason I have been born, and for this reason I have come into the world. "That is the reason that I came to this earth, to die on a stake first, and then to receive the Kingdom." …that I should testify about the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice. Everyone who has been called can understand it because their mind has been opened to it.

During the past 2,000 years, after Christ's sacrifice, it had been like that. Only when someone is called, only after one is baptized and has received the laying on of hands, only then one can begin this lifelong process of changing, repenting, and starting to think differently. And only because of that calling we can understand that this Feast that we observe today points toward this Kingdom of Jesus Christ that He talked about back then.

And just like it was back then, it is still exactly the same today. The world cannot "see" it. The world claims that this Feast that we celebrate today is a Jewish feast. And they don't know that this Feast looks forward to the Kingdom that Jesus talked about to Pilate. Awesome that we can see this! It should make us more in awe of the Father. It should motivate us to ask Him daily to help us fight against the sin that is still before us, so we can ultimately conquer it and be granted to serve Him in that Kingdom in Elohim.

Please turn to Revelation 11 with me. Revelation 11:15—And the seventh angel sounded, and there followed great voices in heaven, and they said: The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our LORD and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever. Christ accepts His Kingdom and becomes King of kings.

Let's skip a few chapters and go to Revelation 19:11-20. And we will start in verse 11 where we can read that His coming is accompanied by war. Then I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns. Christ is King over all. He (Christ) has a name written which no one knows but He, Himself. He is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood. Through His sacrifice He became King of kings. His name is called: "The Word of God." The revelatory thought of God—God's way of life, having the same character and the same feelings as His Father. He was at-one with His Father.

Verse 14—And the armies of heaven followed Him on white horses, clothed in white and pure linen. His army follows Him from heaven.

Verse 15-16—Out of His mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword, that with it He should strike the nations. He will rule them with a rod of iron. And He treads the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. He has on His garment, and on his thigh, a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

A little further in verse 19 we can read about His war against the beast and the false prophet, against Babylon, the system that Satan set up. Christ is going to take over this system, as the 2nd Adam, worthy to do so, worthy to establish God's Kingdom on earth. Verse 19—I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse, and against His army.

Today, with this Feast of Trumpets, we celebrate the victory over Satan. We celebrate the gospel, the good news that Jesus talked about. And it will happen on a Pentecost that's still ahead of us. But there are more things related to this day than this war only, because on one day this war will be over.

In verse 20 we can read what will happen to the beast and the false prophet. Verse 20—The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.

Revelation 20:1-3—And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years should be finished: after this he must be loosed for a little time. Satan will be bound and will no longer deceive the nations, until the 1,000-years are finished, fulfilled. And when the 1,000-years are finished, Satan will be released again for a short period, after the Hundred-years that followed the 1,000-years. So once the Hundred-years have passed, those Hundred-years that started with the second resurrection and during which those people are being judged in the "White Throne Judgment," then Satan will be released for a short time to deceive the nations and to gather the people together.

Revelation 19:6. At this time, that Satan is bound, the negative part of the Day of Pentecost is over, and God can focus on the positive part of that Day of Pentecost—His ultimate goal—to bring many sons into His Family. And we can read about this in the previous chapter.

Revelation 19:6—And I heard something that sounded like a great multitude, and like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of mighty thunders, saying, Hallelujah! For the LORD our God, the Almighty, reigns! Let us rejoice and be exceedingly glad, and let us give the glory to Him. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. It was given to her that she would array herself in bright, pure, fine linen: for the fine linen is the righteousness acts of the saints.

Acts 2. I'd like to have a look at the speech that Peter gave on the Day of Pentecost, the day that God gave His spirit to man. We know that also back then people had to be called first, and then receive baptisms and the laying on of hands. We'll go to Acts 2:14—But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.

In the post from the 13th of May, 2014, Ron writes the following about verses 15-20 of Acts 2. Posting of 13th of May, 2014….

“For these (the disciples) are not drunk as you suppose (have concluded), seeing it is but the third hour of the day (9 am in the morning). But this is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel, that it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh (this was the beginning of that fulfillment). Your sons and your daughters shall prophecy (experience the ability through inspired speech to converse about God’s prophetic plan), and your young men shall see visions (able to see and experience what God has prophesied through visions to others), and your old men shall dream dreams (those who were old and died, resurrected to life again and able to live their original hearts' dreams for life that they could not attain in their first life).

On my servants and handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my spirit (God giving of His spirit to all whom He calls), and they shall prophesy (speak God’s word with inspiration, truth, and understanding). I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath of blood, fire, vapor, and smoke (actual end-time events that will usher in the greater fulfillment of God pouring out His spirit on all flesh). The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and notable Day of the Lord comes” (Acts 2:15-20).

This is a “progressive fulfillment,” as not all of Joel’s prophecy was at that moment being fulfilled, but only a portion – a beginning portion. He referred to what would come to pass in the last days. Joel’s prophecy was not only referring to the very end-time in which we are now living, but also of what was just beginning at that specific time to be fulfilled, starting then in those “last days” that would continue for the next 2,000 years plus. This was indeed the beginning of the latter days of God’s 7,000-year plan (at that time, 4,000 years had now passed).

That concludes the excerpt from the posting dated May 13th.

Let's now take a closer look at verses 19 and 20 from Acts 2. These verses are about His return. Here we can read what Peter says about the 7th Seal. When we enter the last phase of the 7th Seal, at the blowing of the last Trumpet, Christ will return when the 7 angels pour out the 7 vials.

Verses 19-20—I will show wonders in sky above, and signs on the earth beneath; Blood, and fire, and thick smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes. Peter paints a picture for the audience about the end-time, and specifically about the events that will occur right before the return of Christ. Undoubtedly, they must have been very fascinated by this. And all that came after them, just like us today, have always wanted to know these things. We've always wanted more understanding about these things. Now we know that Christ will return on a Pentecost. And we also know that His return is close at hand because now many prophecies that pertain to His return have already been fulfilled.

Amongst those I think of the gospel that has been "preached to all the world" under Mr. Armstrong's leadership during the Philadelphia era, and also of 2 Thessalonians 2, the "man of sin," the "son of perdition," who had to appear. There are certain events that had to happen "in" and "to" the Church before the physical events in the world can begin to take place. Those physical events are now right before us, and have been explained to us in the posting from May the 13th titled, "Christ’s Coming."

Let's go back to Peter's speech. His audience must have been very interested in all that he told and explained to them, and they must have had the urgent feeling that they had to do something. God gave them that sense of urgency, of course. And they asked in verse 37—Men, what shall we do? "Now what must we do?"

Verse 38—Repent, start thinking differently, and be baptized, be immersed in the watery grave in order for your sins to be washed away, everyone of you, in the name (by the authority) of Jesus Christ (the blood of Christ), for the forgiveness of sins. And become a new man through the laying on of hands, so that you will receive the holy spirit. Through that laying upon of hands, God, and our eldest Brother, can live "in" us with their spirit to give us guidance and help. But first, we must receive a calling.

Verse 39—For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself. If we are not called, we cannot be baptized. You need God's spirit to be able to "see" it all.

Verse 40—And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation. People around us living in Satan's world are ignorant of God's plan right now.

So they asked what they should do, and Peter told them what they should do, and many among them did so. Verse 41—And those who gladly received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls. They were baptized, received the laying on of hands, and as of then started actively taking part in the congregation of the Church of God. Those people, just like us today, then started their conversion process. And they, just like us today, had to continue on that path and never, never ever give up. God's plan is beautiful and there can be nothing, nothing at all that keeps us from working on that conversion. There can be nothing that gets in the way.

Ask every day that you may keep on cherishing this awesome plan that Peter explained back then, that you may be able to keep up the fight, with trial and error, always getting back up on your feet, with Christ at our side. Because by and through Him, His great plan, this master plan, has been made possible. His Father (our Father) has accomplished this. God the Father has planned all the intricate details to perfection, just as He has also planned this day that we observe today—the Feast of Trumpets. We celebrate the announcement, the trumpeting, of second coming of His only begotten Son, the Son that is the only one that has physically come forth out of Him. Because as we know, God is also His father. Just like we all have a physical father, but God was His - Christ's - Father.

There are several books in the New Testament that show us that in the time period of Ephesus, and undoubtedly in all era's following, that people were convinced that they lived in the end-time. They all assumed that Jesus Christ would return in their lifetime. You can also read about this in the letters written by Paul to the congregation of Thessalonians. Paul writes the following to them (and we've read these verses many times). II Thessalonians 2:2-4—So that you be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by a letter as from us, saying that the day of the Lord is just at hand; Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be, except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. Here Paul says (paraphrasing it in my own words): "Don't be all excited, as if the day of Christ's return is upon us. Because first, the falling away must happen. That must happen first. And when that falling away has not happened, then the Day of the Lord (which is also the Day of Christ's return) cannot happen. First, that man of sin must arise in God's Church, that son of perdition who will abolish God's laws and statutes. And when that hasn't happened yet, the "Day of the Lord" cannot occur, and Christ cannot return—His return cannot happen yet."

But in all this you can read between the lines, that Paul (just like Mr. Armstrong) did have a sense of urgency and zeal, as if this happening could occur in God's Church at any time in their lifetime. And this reminds me of what Jesus said. He said that we must be ready at all times, because we do not know when He will return. In other words, you can lose the truth if you do not do what God requires of you, if you don't repent on a daily basis and ask for forgiveness; then the Lord will come at a time that you least expect it.

At such a time you are not aware that you have cut yourself off. You are no longer on the alert, and you've come to the point of no longer living by God's way of life, as God expects you to do. You no longer grow, and you no longer repent in order to change with all that God has given to you. At that moment in time, Christ has come for you. You're no longer in unity of spirit with God's Church. You no longer have the truth because God has taken it away from you. He has taken His spirit away from you.

Those of us who have been in Worldwide Church of God have witnessed this. And also recently people have left, here in our small congregation and in other countries where God's Church is. People have left and gone back to the world that they came out of. They are no longer with us.

But as I said, back then Paul also thought that the literal return of Christ wasn't far off. He thought it would happen during his lifetime. You can almost read in his words that he is literally saying: "It won't be long now!" And from both the question asked by the Thessalonians, and Paul's answer, you can conclude that they were excited. Just like we are today amongst each other, we are excited about the return of Jesus Christ!

At this time we know that "the falling away" has taken place, and that the "son of perdition" has occurred. 2 Thessalonians 2:4—He who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits as God in the Temple of God, setting himself up as god. He exalted himself as God, just like when Adam and Eve took the right to themselves, to decide for themselves, what is right and what is wrong. They rejected God's laws. In the infamous sermon on December 17th of 1994 that "the adversary" (Mr. Joseph Tkach Sr.) gave in Atlanta, he declared that the Sabbath and God's Holy Days were no longer required to be observed. As stated in this verse, he exalted himself above God and became the man of sin that still had to come, as written by Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians.

2 Peter 3:1-7. In chapter 3 Peter also writes about the second coming. And it seems like the congregation that Peter is addressing has fallen asleep, just like happened to Laodicea. It's as if they've forgotten all about the return of Jesus Christ and are no longer on guard in their lives, no longer repenting, and Peter is trying to arouse them. 2 Peter 3:1—This is now, beloved, the second letter that I have written to you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by reminding you of these things. The American Standard version says, "by putting you in remembrance." Peter is trying to "put in remembrance" those things that they seemed to have forgotten about. And by doing so, he is trying to awaken them. They were just like us during the Apostasy (during the falling away), slumbering and sleeping. And Peter says, "I'm trying to put you into remembrance of the truth that you received when you were called, of your first love that you no longer have. When you had this, you also heard about the second coming, but perhaps you have started taking this for granted. And yet, it is not something to be taken for granted! It is something awesome, and magnificent, and beautiful to know and to be able to hold on to!"

Verse 2—I want you to remember the words that were spoken long ago by the holy prophets, and the command from the Lord and Savior which was given you by your apostles. Christ had given certain things to the apostles to preach about, and this also entailed talking about His return. Of course the apostles spoke about the fact that they needed to repent and go forward in order not to end up in the situation that we just discussed, of Christ coming at a moment in time that they don't expect Him. And they were also told that they should always be on the alert and must make sure that the truth was not taken away from them, and to always repent and change their way of living. And of course all of that counts for us, too. It remains to this day.

Let's go in verse 3 where we can read… knowing the first, that in the last days mockers will come. Mockers will come into God's Church! That's what's being spoken of here. The baptized members of God's Church are being addressed here. The world, as we know, is not aware of this. So there would be false teachers that would creep into the Church. And that's exactly what happened. But God plucked us out of there. He has awakened a certain amount of people out of the Worldwide Church of God and has placed them in His only true Church, the Church of God—PKG, together with those who were called later on. And those who were called after that and also came into the Church of God—PKG can learn from the stories they are being told and the experience that ex-Worldwide members went through—how it feels to be bombarded by "false teachers."

And the rest of this verse 3 says …walking after their own lusts. The CEV (the Contemporary English Version) states, "Their own selfish desires." They are antiChrist and work against Christ. They determine for themselves what will happen. They are really saying that God has promised something and hasn't kept His promise. Like they are saying, "I guess God kind of forgot that He has to send His Son back to earth."

Peter brought them in remembrance that they needed to continually brush up their spiritual life in order to be able to resist and be on the alert for such mockers, such false teachers that try to keep them from the truth that they heard when they were being called. Paraphrasing, Peter is saying in these verses, "Believe the prophecies that are written about the return of Jesus Christ." And he refers to the Old Testament and things that are written there about not only the return of Jesus Christ, but also about His first coming in the flesh. And since he had been a witness of what he could tell them about his personal experiences and learning process. During 3½ years, Christ, Himself, had taught him. "And don't listen to false teachers," he says.

Do we do what God desires from us? Do we submit to Him? Do we repent and allow God to do His work in us? Do we allow Him to mold and fashion us? Are we prepared to wait, and meanwhile, be there for one another in the Church? Do we learn how to love each other humbly? And do the things for each other that confirm this love? Do we sacrifice ourselves for one another? Because if we do so, then Christ can say to some of us at His return, "Well done, you good and faithful servant! Inherit My Father's Family."

And when I take a good look at myself, I can tell you there's still quite a few things that need refining. I still need ample correction from those who are put over me in the Church, in order to be able to do what God desires of me, in order to be able to do what is pleasing to our Father. That's what I pray for, that I may know what is pleasing to Him.

Don't give up! Go forward! Don't look back! Ask for forgiveness, and ask for the help you need to repent when you've done that same wrong thing again for the umpteenth time. Our God is merciful and full of grace. He forgives us. He is our Rock and our High Tower. He fights for us if we allow Him in our life, if we open up the door to our mind for Him so He can keep on living in us, and so He can keep on doing His works in us. Then Jesus can say to all of us at a certain moment in time, "Well done, you faithful servant! Inherit My Father's Family."

Today, on this Day of Trumpets, God's Church is speaking about the announcement, the trumpeting of the literal return of Jesus Christ as King of kings. But we must be watchful all year long, and we can do so by living repentance, as God desires from us, so we can hold on to the truth and God's spirit need not be taken away from us. Because if that happens, Christ has already returned for you.

The Bible says that when we die, we sleep. And when we are resurrected we have no idea of how long we've been in the grave. At that moment you have no clue as to how many years have gone by and at that moment in time it is as if you just died moments before. And at that moment it is "Christ's return" for you. He will stand before you. And He must be able to say to you, "Well done, good servant. The promise of eternal life has been granted to you, also."

Let's read the last part of verse 4—For since the fathers fell asleep, everything is still the same, it's all still the same just like in the days of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Same old, same old. ...as it was since the beginning of the creation of the world. Let us not think like that! Let us be on fire, full of zeal, and having the same sense of urgency that Mr. Armstrong had! Let us expect Jesus' return at all times, every day of our life (in the spiritual sense, that is).

At that time, Peter also thought that Christ would return into his time. 2 Peter 2:9—The Lord isn't slow about keeping the promises, as some people think He is. God does not delay. He does not tarry. He does not forget His promise. Everything will happen as He has planned it. His plan will be executed to the very intricate details. Everything will go exactly as He determined it to be long before the angels or anything else was created. This means "from before the foundation of the earth."

Peter also mentions that there are those who feel that it can't happen soon enough. We're guilty of thinking like that at times. I am at times, when I look at the world around me. That's when I think, "How long can it be? Let this evil world pass. Please, let it pass, Father, so we can begin cleaning up the mess that this world has produced, with Your help and your Son's help, so we can begin establishing Your laws, Your statutes, and Your government, which are all based on Your love, agape!"

And Peter continues by saying that God doesn't do so. No, the only reason why this hasn't happened yet is because, instead, He is patient with you, because He doesn't want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all to come to repentance. That's what it’s all about. Repentance is the most important factor to our Father. He wants to help man in this process of conversion, by working in them with His spirit. When someone accepts the sacrifice of Christ, is then baptized and receives the laying on of hands, then God can start living in that person with His spirit. Then he/she can be molded and fashioned by God in order to make him/her into a new creation. He/she can then become a son of God, a spirit being that has come forth from Him, spiritually. Because, as we know, only Jesus has also come forth out of Him physical. God the Father personally begot the physical Jesus Christ, and therefore, Christ could also on a physical plan refer to God as His father.

We know that not all humans will choose to become sons of God, even after they've been shown the truth. There will be people that will reject this beautiful plan. Incredible! You can't imagine it, but there will be those. Verse 10—But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that Day the heavens will disappear with a great noise, the heavenly bodies will burn up and be destroyed, and the earth, with everything in it, will vanish. One day the Day of the Lord will come. And on that day, we know Christ will begin His return at the last Trump - the 7th Trumpet. The sounding of that Trumpet has much to do with this day. We are celebrating the trumpeting of Christ's coming as King of kings. The world around us doesn't know that, but we do. We celebrate this day. Our eyes and ears are opened so we can understand what this day signifies.

I did a little research, and found out that Peter (when he wrote this letter that we've just been reading), was nearing the end of his life, and it's remarkable to see how much on fire and zealous he was. He didn't know that at least another twenty-centuries would pass before the return of Christ would actually occur. His enthusiasm is remarkable! Why? Because he had a sense of urgency. And so must we, as we have just covered.

So the question really is: Are we as enthusiastic and as filled with a sense of urgency? All the more since we know that we are actually living in the end-time and that the second coming will become a reality in our lifetime? That time that is written about throughout the pages of the Bible is now at hand! If we have a true sense of urgency we will be zealous, and we will be working on those traits that God wants to see in us. Then we will fully surrender to Him. Then He can help us to grow in our life and to start living according to His way of life, so we can finally be born into His Family.

Jeremiah 4. So the question is: Can we be equally enthusiastic, as Peter and Mr. Armstrong were? They were both convinced that it would come to pass in their lifetime. And meanwhile, it has been twenty-eight years since Mr. Armstrong died. We know that we live in the end-time, because we have witnessed "the falling away" and because "the man of sin" has been revealed. We know that we are living in that time that the return of Christ will come to pass. So our urgency and desire should be even greater!

Jeremiah 4:19-21—My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart is beating wildly! I can't keep quiet; I hear the trumpets and the shouts of battle! Destruction on destruction is cried, for the whole land is laid waste. Suddenly, our tents are destroyed, their curtains are torn to pieces. How long must I see the battle raging and hear the sound of the trumpets? The second coming is at hand! The Trumpets will sound!

And then in verse 22—For My people are foolish. In others words, "They have no knowledge. My people do not want to be My people. My people want to go their own way. My people doesn't want Me." Don't let that happen to us! Don't let it come to this, that God has to say this about us! Don't allow it to happen! Strive to stir up this sense of urgency in you, and always keep at the fight against Satan and his army. We can do this with the help of our Father through the sacrifice of His Son, who died and was resurrected in order to make all this possible. Incredible! Incredible!

On in this verse… they don't know Me. But we know Him, because He has opened our eyes and has given us knowledge! They are foolish children, and they have no understanding; they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. Don't let this happen to us! We must have understanding and not be foolish. That's what is being said here.

As we have just read, Peter was talking about sleepiness in the first verse of 2 Peter 3, and Jeremiah talking about "no understanding." And what is the opposite of "sleepiness, and no understanding?" That is alertness and understanding! Alertness and understanding. And if you have these two in you and you use them to change, then Christ's return will not be sudden and unexpected for us. We know that Satan will be removed from his throne that he still has on earth for now. And at that time, all power will be taken away from him as well.

Zechariah 14:1 is where we can read about His return. Because no matter what happens, let's read… Behold, the Day of the Lord will come, when your spoils will be divided up before your eyes. The Day of the Lord is coming. And as an aside, the Day of the Lord is not "Sunday," as it is being "celebrated" by the Catholic and Protestant churches. The Day of the Lord is the day that the 7th Trumpet is blown. And that 7th Trumpet is divided up into 7 Plagues that will all be poured out on that day. Those 7 Plagues will be executed by the 7 angels, that each pour out a vial over the earth and its waters (divided up into the sea and rivers).  Those 7 Vials are the announcement of the coming of our King and High Priest, Jesus Christ.

For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses looted, and the women ravished; and half of the city will go out into captivity, and the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. When this 7th Trumpet is blown there will be war. It is the last of the Trumpets, and it will be paralleled by the last war that humanity will have to suffer. It will not be a pleasant day, that last day. And we will be there to see it all. We will all be witness of it, if we are still alive at that time, of course. And later on we will be able to tell the story of it to our relatives that are currently dead and in the grave. At that moment in time, when God the Father intervenes in world affairs, Christ will overthrow the governments of this world that are still around today.

Verse 3—Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as He has fought in times past. The whole world will be in disarray. Peace will not come about through negotiations as world leaders try to accomplish it now. Peace will also not come about by political games, as they are played out today. No, the world will be taken by force by the Lion of Judah! This time Christ will not come as the world pictures Him today, as a young, somewhat feeble man, with long effeminate, or as "baby-Jesus." No! He will come as a warrior, as King of kings! And all I can say to this is: "Wow! Wow! Wow!"

Verse 4—In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem to the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in two, from east to west, making a very great valley. And half of the mountain will move toward the north, and half of it toward the south. Imagine that…the Mount of Olives splitting in two creating a great valley. On a Day of Pentecost, Christ will stand there, together with the 144,000. How awesome is that? To be a witness of that?!

Fight for that, to be allowed to see that, to still be alive at that time. Repent and think differently. I'm talking to myself first! Living according to God's laws and statutes. Ask Him, "Father, please help me not to give up. Help me to serve You and Jesus Christ the way You desire. Give me Your love, Your agape, so I can also live it towards others. Because when You are working in me, then it can also come out of me towards others and to their benefit. Please protect us in the time that is now ahead of us, so we can see everything transpire, and so we can be witnesses of Your Son standing on the Mount of Olives on that Day of Pentecost that You have determined in Your master plan."

Verse 5—You will escape through this valley that divides the mountain in two, for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azel. You will flee as your ancestors did when the earthquake struck in the time of King Uzziah of Judah. It will all come to pass. It is inevitable. It must happen. For man has to be humbled, and then, and only then, man will be inclined to listen. Only then man will want to get to know God. And our God will gather them, after they have fled into the valley area that is being described here. And the Lord my God will come, bringing all His holy ones with Him. Christ will come with His saints, the 144,000. It will all happen on a Pentecost in the near future. And we must go forward and not give up. It doesn't matter what happens, just never give up. Make yourselves ready. Make sure that your lamps are burning. And make sure that God's spirit is actively working in you so you can be strengthened to meet the Bridegroom in full confidence. With God's spirit we can accomplish anything.

1 Thessalonians 4. The most fulfilling event on the Day, will be the resurrection of the dead that died in Christ. On that day, the Day of Pentecost, the time of the 144,000 will have come. They will be resurrected out of their graves. And, as we know, there will be some that will be alive at that time too, who are part of the 144,000. And at that precise time, they will be changed "in the twinkling of an eye."

I Thessalonians 4:13—But we don't want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep (died), so that you don't grieve like the rest, who have no hope. We don't have to be grieved because there is hope. The world has no hope because they don't know Gods plan. They don't know that there is a resurrection. They are ignorant of this! Instead, they think that people go to heaven or someplace else. And then there is also people that believe in nothing at all, who think there is no God, that God doesn't exist, but instead that there was this "big bang." Those people currently have no hope. But later on, when God will open their minds and give them of His spirit, then they will have a hope.

For there is hope! Verse 14—For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those who have fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. They who belong to Christ will be resurrected, just as Christ Himself was resurrected. He spent three days and three nights in the grave, and then He was resurrected. And after having been accepted of His Father as the Wave Sheaf, He was granted to sit at the right hand of His Father. And there He is now, in the throne that was beforehand prepared for Him.

Verse 15—For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive on the day that the Lord comes, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep (died). This "we who are alive" indicates a few (and we don't know how many they are) that will be added to those that have then just been resurrected from the grave. These are the people that have been sealed during the time period from Trumpets 2008 (September 30th) till Pentecost of 2012 (and that's 1335 days), who will join those who are then resurrected from the grave. They "will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep" (died). They will not be changed before "the dead in Christ" are resurrected from the grave.

Verse 16—For with a loud command and [with the shout of the chief] with the shout of the chief angel, and a blast of God’s Trumpet, the Lord Himself will descend from heaven. And the dead in Christ will rise first, that group will first rise from the grave, (verse 17), then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. Those in God's Church who have been sealed during the 1335 days between Trumpets of 2008 and Pentecost of 2012, will meet Christ in mid-air. We can't imagine that, but it will come to pass. We know it will happen, because God has given it to us to understand this, because God's spirit is actively working and living in us.

The 144,000 will stand on the Mount of Olives together with Christ, as we just read in Zechariah. You can also find this account mentioned in Revelation. Christ will return on a Pentecost (in the near future) as King of kings, together with the firstfruits of God's plan.

Verse 18—So then encourage one another with these words. And some translations say, "…comfort each other with these words." To encourage, to comfort, to lift each other up. You could say that today is a day of comforting. A day of hope and joyfulness because of the beautiful plan that God has for humanity.

Back in 2005, our tiny group from the Netherlands and Belgium attended the Feast of Tabernacles in Nashville, Tennessee. On the Last Great Day a sermon was given titled, Melchizedek. You can find that sermon on the Church website. I remember that during the course of that Feast of Tabernacles Ron told us that he had no clue what he was to talk about on the Last Great Day. And then, the sermon about Melchizedek was given to us.

In Mr. Armstrong's days we were taught that Melchizedek was Jesus Christ. Because at that time we still thought that there has always been two Gods. But at the Feast of Tabernacles of 2005, we learned that Christ hadn't always existed, and that He was born (came into existence through physical birth) just like every other human being is born. Only He wasn't born from a physical father, but some 2,000 years ago He was born of the virgin Mary, with God as His Father.

As I mentioned before in this sermon, He, the Christ, is our High Priest. And during that particular Last Great Day sermon Ron explained that He is our High Priest "after the order of Melchizedek." I looked up my notes from that sermon, and I'll try to give you a short version of what God gave to us that day. I remember how everyone in that hall was all ears, and I also remember that after that sermon was finished we all sat there thinking, "Wow! Wow! This will need some sinking in. We'll need to listen to this again!"

This subject is covered in Hebrews 7. And I will try to give you a short version of what we heard on that Last Great Day. "After the order of" or "in the image of," he was like His Father, who was Melchizedek, "after the order of," made as the Son of God. He, Christ, is the image of Melchizedek. He is like Melchizedek. He was not the original Melchizedek because that was God the Father. But He was like His Father in everything. "He who has seen Me, has seen the Father," Jesus says in John 14:9.

And in Hebrews 7:17 you can read (we won't turn there now), You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek. And verse 15 mentions …if after the likeness, the spitting image, of Melchizedek there arises another priest. He is our King and our High Priest. He is Priest for all eternity after the order (in the image and likeness) of Melchizedek. To me that is still awesome when I study that again with my notes at hand. It would be expedient for all of us to listen to that sermon again. And you can find more sermons on this subject when you go to the website under the heading “Topics” and then click on “Melchizedek.”

1 Corinthians 15:3. Gods plan for mankind began in Christ. The whole creation is based upon Christ. Without Him, there would be nothing, and it would not be possible to offer, or giving us eternal life. Everything was created "through Him," meaning "through His sacrifice," and all was made "for Him." His victory over Satan has taken away the sins of all who wants to be saved, and who accept the sacrifice through a process of conversion and repentance. That is everyone who chooses to follow God's way, all who endure and persevere to the end.

In 1 Corinthians 15:3 we read, For I delivered to you first of all, "In the first place, I gave you this," Paul says, that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and He (Christ) was buried, and He was raised on the third day according to the scriptures. Christ was resurrected after having been in the grave for three days and three nights.

Please keep your spot here while we turn quickly to Romans 8:29, where we'll read the latter part of this verse…of Romans 8:29, where we read …that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those "brothers" have still not come. They will be with Him on that Day of Pentecost, to establish God's Government.

1 Corinthians 15:12—Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? There was disagreement amongst them because there were those who claimed that there is no resurrection of the dead. And basically, that is what the Protestant churches, and their "mother-church," the Catholic church, say today. They proclaim that when you die you go to heaven, to remain there for all eternity in idleness.

Verse 13-14—But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is also in vain. Other translations use words as "worthless" and "nothing to believe."

Verse 15—Yes, we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified about God that He raised up Christ, who He didn't raise up, if it is true that the dead are not raised.

Verse 16—For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised. If there is no resurrection of the dead that would mean that Christ either has not been resurrected.

Verse 17—And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is in vain, then our faith would be useless, idle, of no value, a delusion, and you are still lost in your sins. Then we would still be in sin. It is Christ's sacrifice that removes our sins, that delivers us from our sins. And then through His resurrection from the dead, and His life in us, we can live!

Paul continues in verse 18—Then also, all that have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. All that already "died in Christ," all those that God has been working with during their lifetime, they would all be lost for eternity, even though they did live a life based upon God's way of life. "They have repented and accepted the sacrifice of His Son, God's Son, and persevered their whole life and submitted consequently to God, but they would then all be lost," Paul says.

Verse 19—If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, then we are of all men most pitiable. If our hope on Christ is only for this physical life in the flesh, then we are truly miserable and most lamentable of all people.

But in verse 20—But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the firstfruits of those who are asleep. He is the first. He will be followed by all those that have been called by God, by all those whom God has worked with over the past 6,000 years. And His group of people exists, of all who have died before the second coming and those who will still be alive at His coming, totaling 144,000.

Verse 23—But each one in their proper order. There is a certain order to it. God has determined this order. We know that there is a first and a second resurrection. And that last resurrection (the second) is divided into two parts. The first group is resurrected to everlasting-life at the end of the Millennium, and they are, at that time, added to Gods Family, Elohim. The second group will be added to God's Family at the end of the Hundred-years. Of course, for both groups the same principle stands. God must be able to say of them, "Now I know you, inherit My Family!"

Continuing in verse 23—Christ, first of all, (Christ is first in all) and then those who are Christ's at His coming, when He returns. Those are they who have been prepared during the 6,000 years (that will have been completed by then) to rule under Christ, the King of kings. They have God's spirit in them. They have allowed God to work in their lives. They have repented and lived according to God's Commandments and God's way of life. They are the ones of whom God can truly say, "Now I know you! Inherit My Family, Elohim." "Those are the ones that follow the Lamb wherever He goes," signifying that they do all that is asked of them, in full unity with Him. They agree fully in their thinking and do all that is required of them. That is, they are following the Lamb. They are the 144,000, the first-fruits to enter into Elohim.

Then verse 24—Then the end will come, when He will deliver up the Kingdom to God the Father; when He will have abolished all rule and all authority and power. After the second resurrection, when all is made spiritual, when the wicked will have been destroyed in the lake of fire, and Satan and the demons are destroyed as well, then Christ will give it all back to His Father.

Verse 25—For He must reign until He has put all enemies under His feet. First, He must fight until the end and crush all the enemies. But He is not only coming to fight, He comes to reign as a King. And He won't rule all by Himself, the 144,000 will reign with Him.

Let's get to verse 29. Here Paul comes back to the same question that was asked in verse 12. And again, he explained that there is a resurrection. In verse 12 we read that there were those who claimed that there is no resurrection. But the explanation is that there definitely is a resurrection, and Paul says in verse 29—Or else, what will they do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead aren't raised at all, why then are they baptized for the dead? "What's the use of being baptized when we just end up in the same place with all those who have gone before us that are already in the grave, and to be stuck there for all eternity?" Paul is saying that, "You might as well not be baptized then." No, we are not baptized so we can join the dead and stay forever in our graves. Yes, when we die we go down the grave just like all the dead that went before us, but that is not the end! That is not the end!

I'd like to pause here to quote what Wayne said about this verse in his sermon titled, Everyone Must Work – Part 1 on May 10th of this year. And he says, "Even today there are still people that twist this scripture totally out of its context. They do as follows, ‘Why are they baptized for the dead?’ And some people are baptized on behalf of someone else. The other person is dead and not baptized, so you then sacrifice yourself and have yourself baptized on their behalf in order for them to be saved."

That's the quote from the sermon from Wayne.

And now we'll skip now to verse 39. We go to verse 39 where we read… and in verse 39 there is a difference between man's skin, and the fur of animals. Even the hair on humans is different in composition than the hair on animals. But we can read about this in verse 39—All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is flesh of men, another flesh of animals, and another of fish, and another of birds. So man does not have the same skin as animals, for they have fur that was created differently, that is different in makeup. And birds are different from fish, since birds have feathers and fish have scales.

Verse 40—And there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies; the beauty that belongs to heavenly bodies is different from the beauty that belongs to earthly bodies. And the same is true about heavenly bodies that are different in composition and radiation than man.

Verse 41—There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. The light, the radiation, and the shine of the sun is different from the moon. And the light and radiation of the moon is different than it is of the stars. And one star is different from another star, and one emanates a different light than the other.

Verse 42—So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption. God helps us with His spirit. God sows in a body that is perishable, mortal. Then God molds and fashion us and helps us to overcome sin, and to grow, and… it is raised in incorruption. Ultimately, God raises us up in an imperishable, immortal body.

Verse 43—It is sown in dishonor; and it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; and it is raised in power. The sowing is done in a body that has human nature and where sin dwells. But with God's spirit and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ we can overcome, and then we can be resurrected into a glorified Godlike body.

A little further in this chapter, in verse 49—As we have born the image of the earthly, so we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. If we persevere and submit to our Father, if we overcome, and if we go on, go forward and repent, and if we implement God's way of life and God's commandments in our life, then this earthly body made from the dust can be changed into a heavenly spirit body.

Verse 50—Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption. First, we must die, and then when God can say to us, "Now I know you," we can be resurrected to life, to live in a spirit body.

Verse 51—Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed. Those spoken of here are the few sealed ones that will still be alive at Christ's return. They have been sealed in that period of 1335 days, as we discussed earlier. And the same applies for them. Just like they who are raised from their graves, these must also be changed and be transferred to the spirit body.

Verses 52-54—In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last Trumpet. For the Trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." When will this happen? At the sounding of the last Trumpet, the 7th Trumpet. When the 7th Trumpet sounds. Then the dead will arise and be resurrected into immortal spirit bodies. Because during their lifetime, God has worked in them with His spirit in order for them to be born again into that first resurrection. And this will happen on that Day of Pentecost that is still in the future for us.

And we, we can understand this! We can hear the Trumpets. Our ears have been opened! How blessed are we that we are able to understand this? How awesome is our calling! Fight to hold on to that calling to the end, so that whenever your time comes you may enter into Elohim. We don't often have it easy in this age when Satan is not bound yet. But we must go forward, because a better time is coming. And at that time all that has been lost will be restored.

Paul also talks about this in the last verse of this chapter, in verse 58 where we read—Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Paul says, "Hold on!"

Isaiah 11. Better times will also be coming for those in the world that have experienced tribulation and wars, and are still alive at that time. Isaiah 11. And they will return and repent and trust in God. In the verses 11-12 we read, It will happen in that day that the Lord will set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant that is left of the people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, and from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And He will set up a banner for the nations and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. And they shall return and stay upon God and repent.

One chapter back in Isaiah 10:20-21—we read that—And it shall come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the Lord, the Holy one of Israel, in truth. And the remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the Mighty God. The remnant will return (the remnant of Jacob), to the Mighty God.

A few chapters ahead we can read in Isaiah 27:12. The children of Israel are gathered together. And in verse 12—And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord will thresh from the channel of the River to the Brook of Egypt; And you will be gathered one by one, O you children of Israel. With the sound of the Trumpet they are gathered together, and they will worship God in Jerusalem.

Verse 13 (In Jerusalem, in the Church)…verse 13—So it shall be in that day: The great Trumpet will be blown; They will come, who are about to perish in the land of Assyria, and they who are outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem.

In closing we will turn to Isaiah 2. Go back to Isaiah 2, couple of chapters back. God's Government will be over all worldly governments in that day. And those people and nations will come into God's Church, in Zion—and just like the lost tribes of Israel, they will learn about God's ways. They will start living according to God's ways, and to God's laws, and they will repent and be baptized and receive the laying on of hands, and then God and Jesus Christ will start living in them also. There will be no more war. They will become the spiritual Israel, the "House of Jacob."

Isaiah 2:2-5 we read—Now, it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people. And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war anymore. O house of Jacob, come and let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Finally, today we celebrate the Feast of Trumpets! This day is the announcement, the "signal" that Christ will return with His holy ones, His 144,000.□

Table of Contents

Chapter 1