The Beginning of Peace Being Restored

Johnny Harrell

September 21, 2021

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon

With the Kingdom of God here upon this earth with Joshua Christ now ruling this earth, mankind, through the government of God that will be set up, will now begin to learn the peace process. God’s government will now have laws that will be taught to mankind, and they will be just laws that will begin to restore peace to mankind. The Millennium is the beginning of peace, the beginning of peace being restored. That will be the subject today.

Let’s begin by first turning over to 1 Peter 4:7. That’s where we will begin today. Let’s look and see what Peter wrote a long, long time ago. 1 Peter 4:7. We understand that we are not in the millennial reign of Joshua Christ yet. We do understand that we are at the end of man’s self-rule upon this earth. We understand that we are in the end time. We know that we live just before Joshua Christ is about to return to this earth. We know that that’s where we are in time.

Peter makes a statement that is truer today than it was in his time. 1 Peter 4:7. Peter wrote, The end of all things is at hand. So, in Peter’s time some of the disciples had already been killed. We understand that they were trying to kill Peter also, but Peter was inspired to write this down in God’s book. He wrote, “The end of all things is at hand.” The reality for you and me, that is a very true statement because of where we are in time. We do live at the end time.

So, this takes on a lot of meaning for you and me, those of us in God’s Church. The words that Peter wrote, those of us that are alive during this end-time, these words ring true to you and me, the Church of God that is preparing for God’s Kingdom to come to this earth.

Peter wrote, Therefore, be sober and have sound judgment. That’s what Peter is saying. It’s true for you and me. We are to be sober minded because of what we are about to face. We should keep a right mind spiritually and keep our focus and not let down because of where we are in time at this end-time.

1 Peter 5:8, just over a little bit. Chapter 5:8 it says again to, Be sober, be vigilant; because our adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion, seeking who he may devour. So, God is telling you and me to be watchful and to be sober minded. The previous verse tells us that we are to humble ourselves. Those of us in the Church of God understand how to do that, and we do that through prayer, through much prayer to our God to show us our self and show us what we need to do to be right with Him.

So, let’s go back to 1 Peter 1:1 and pick it up there. Let’s notice the rest of what Peter is addressing. It says, Peter, an apostle of Joshua Christ, To those scattered throughout. Its speaking about those that were scattered throughout the land in his day. It’s speaking to the elect—let’s notice—according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the spirit, by setting aside of the spirit. So, we understand that it is God that gives us His holy spirit and we understand that that is how you and I are set apart. Then it is through the truth that we are continuing to be set apart. It’s, let’s notice, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Joshua Christ. Grace unto you—and let’s notice—and peace be multiplied. When mankind becomes obedient to His God and to His Son, it begins to bring about peace. Those of us in the Church of God experience this. It says, “and it will be multiplied.”

The Millennium is the beginning of peace being restored, and it will multiply throughout the Millennium, throughout the thousand-year reign of God’s Son upon this earth, and because of God’s government now being upon this earth and God’s laws are somewhat being observed, it will begin to bring about order for mankind even though some will not like God’s laws being established upon this earth.

It will be a government of God for the whole earth at this time, and mankind has never had this kind of order before. This type of order has never been established upon this earth. But this order is the beginning of God’s restoring peace to mankind, peace that He gave up a long, long time ago, and the Millennium is the beginning of God’s peace being restored.

God wants you and me to grasp and understand the things that we’ve been given, how we are set apart through His holy spirit, and that it is the truth that continues to set you and me apart. It’s the holy spirit. It’s through that holy spirit that God has given to you and me. That gives us the ability to understand God’s plan.

Once we have that spirit the truth will come alive for those that God impregnates with His spirit. Then we receive the truth from God into the mind. We understand that because it has been given to each and every one of us in God’s Church. That truth, once we receive that truth and come into obedience, we begin to see a beautiful, beautiful plan that God has for mankind.

God said that He has given to each one of us a measure of faith so that we can understand and receive those truths that He reveals to His Church, so that we can believe those truths, and when we believe and obey what God says it begins to make a way for peace. That’s what it actually does. That is what God is doing through those that He calls; He’s making a way for peace to come to mankind. That’s what it’s about, peace, the city of peace that is coming to this earth to bring peace to mankind forever, brethren.

We just celebrated the Day of Atonement and we saw how Joshua Christ was pictured through what Aaron did as the high priest. It painted you and me a picture of how Joshua Christ is at the right hand of His Father. It paints us a picture of how He is getting ready to return to this earth with 144,000 that will have received the inheritance that God has promised in this book.

God says that He gives to each one of us a measure of faith so that we can believe and understand these truths that He has revealed to us. Then we have to choose. That’s what we have to do, we have to make a choice of how we will live our lives while we are upon the face of this earth.

I hope all of us are rejoicing about what God has given to us at this time and recognize how blessed we are above all people upon this earth. They don’t have what we have, and they are in darkness as to what is about to happen for mankind. They have no idea, and they have no knowledge of God’s plan.

We look forward to the time when some will receive what God will offer them. That’s what we are here celebrating this Feast of Tabernacles, the Millennium, a time when God will pour out His spirit upon mankind so that man can then understand the truths of God and now they can accept those truths. Then the beginning of peace can come to mankind, the beginning, once God’s spirit is poured out upon mankind.

I hope all of us understand what we have been offered. It’s not been offered to everyone at this time. Only a few in the scheme of things, and only a few will see these end-time events. Only a few will see these end-time events take place. That’s what you’ve been offered, to see these events take place upon this earth, to see them unfold before your very eyes, to see prophecies that we read about in God’s book come to fruition.

You’ve been offered, some, to be a part of the 144,000, and some to live on into the Millennium, to see Joshua Christ come as King of kings and set up God’s government upon this earth. That’s what some have been offered, and it’s only in the mind that we can see these things, and it’s through the truths that God has revealed to you and me about the time that is about to take place.

We do believe, having not seen these things with these physical eyes. But we see it; we see it in our mind. We see it through the mind’s eye, so to speak, just like Abraham saw it in his mind, the City of Peace. That’s how he saw it, it was through his mind, and he understood what God was building, that God would build His City of Peace. All of those of old, that’s how they saw it. They saw it in the mind’s eye. It’s the same way that you and I see it today. God has painted us a beautiful, beautiful picture in our minds.

We know that (because of what is written), that there were so many things that those of old wanted to know about the time that you and I live in. They didn’t understand how it would come about but God did give them a glimpse in their time. Daniel wanted to know, and Daniel asked God for that understanding, understanding that you have. Daniel wanted to know what you know. But God told Daniel to shut up the book, that it was not for his time. He told him that it was for the end time, the time that you and I live in.

We understand that the time that you and I are here celebrating, this Feast of Tabernacles, that the prophets of old wanted to know more about God’s plan, and that’s what Daniel wanted to know, and He asked God about it. There are things at this Feast of Tabernacles that you and I look forward to, and we want to know more about our God, just like they did. We want to know more about His plan, just as they did. We always want to know more. But what we have at this time is so much more than any of those in the past, brethren. You have that understanding.

I hope you realize what God has blessed you with. You have so much more understanding than they did. They wanted to know more about God’s plan, but it was not for them. It’s like God told Daniel, “Shut up the book.” It was not for his time.

They wanted to know more about the knowledge that God has given you and me about His plan for mankind. They had no idea how it would come about. They knew the scriptures that were written about this time. They knew about Joshua Christ coming to this earth. But they had no idea how it would come about; they didn’t know that Joshua Christ would have to come and die as the Passover lamb that was pictured back in Ancient Israel when they sacrificed that lamb. But it paints you and me, now, a beautiful picture of where we are in time and what has actually taken place through time.

We know that Christ came the first time to die for all of mankind, to die for all of mankind’s sins. We know that this time he will come back as a lion to this earth to stop mankind from destroying himself from the face of this earth. We know that Joshua Christ will begin the peace process for mankind, peace that has so eluded mankind through time.

But God says that peace will be restored. The Feast of Tabernacles that we are picturing, that’s the beginning of peace being restored and the beginning of peace that was destroyed by those that rebelled a long time ago. We understand that God allowed peace to be destroyed. But now is the time for the beginning of peace to begin. So, we understand why they wanted to know more in the time that they lived in.

Verse 11, it says, searching of what manner of time the spirit of Christ, which was in them did signify, that spirit, speaking of God’s spirit, the same that was in Christ, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that would follow. Unto whom it was revealed that, not unto themselves, it was not for them. So, let’s notice who it was for: but unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them who have preached the gospel unto you with/through the holy spirit sent down from heaven.

So, we can see that it comes from God through the holy spirit. God is the one that teaches you and me, and He is the one that leads, guides, and directs His Church, and we know the order. It’s God the Father, Joshua Christ, and then God’s apostle upon this earth. God brings His truth alive to you and me, His Church, the Church that is preparing for His Son to return back to this earth. It’s God that paints us a beautiful picture of His plan in our minds.

Let’s notice the rest of what is said—which things the angels desired to look into. Because they have watched God’s plan down through time, and they’re waiting, just like you and me, they’re waiting for God’s plan to come to fruition.

Can you imagine how they’re waiting to see the ones that rebelled, the beings that rebelled such a long time ago, the ones that destroyed peace? The human mind cannot comprehend that there was a time when peace was here. We cannot comprehend such a time. But they experienced peace. So, they have to be excited about seeing those beings that rebelled and peace restored once again. The Millennium is the beginning of that peace being restored.

We know about two archangels, Michael and Gabriel, and we know that they have fought some of those beings that rebelled, because of what is written in God’s book, the ones that became demons, the ones that destroyed the peace that they once had. So, those that did not rebel have to be excited about where we are in time. They’re looking forward to the time when those that rebelled would be put in their prison for a thousand years. Then at the end their fate will be no more, to never influence and harass the people of God again, including the angelic beings that did not rebel. We know that they have been fighting a fight for a long time because of what took place in Daniel’s time when the angel that was fighting called for help from the angelic realm.

Here it says, which things the angels desired to look into. It had to be an exciting time for those that did not rebel to watch Joshua Christ being born upon this earth. We understand that they watched as he grew up. We understand that they watched as he was nailed to that pole. We understand that they watched as they were beating Joshua Christ with a cat-o-nine tails. They watched as he was so disfigured that you could not recognize him for who he was. We know that they watched while he died that horrible, horrible death.

We know that he is at God’s throne now. He is the right hand of His Father, the Great God of this universe, preparing for his return back to this earth. That’s what he’s doing. He’s there with his Father among those angels that did not rebel. He’s preparing to come back this time not as a lamb, but he’s coming back this time, brethren, as a lion to begin the peace process for mankind. Those that want peace, and those that will accept God’s offer will join the peace process, to live in peace forever.

Verse 13, God says for you and me to, Gird up the loins of our mind and be sober. Because of where we are in time this is especially true today because we’re at the end. We’re almost there. God said through his servant for you and me to “Gird up the loins of our mind and be sober minded.” We are about to enter a time of trouble that has never been upon the face of this earth. We have so much knowledge about what is about to happen to this earth. We have so much knowledge about what is about to happen to mankind.

We have been given so many truths of God’s plan. We should be sobered by those truths that have been revealed to you and me because of where we are in time because we are at the end of man’s rule upon this earth. Man’s self-rule is about to end.

Let’s notice the rest of this verse, because of what has been revealed to you and me. It’s about the grace that is brought to us and the revealing, the revelation of Joshua Christ, talking about the revealing of the truths of God’s plan.

We’re at the time of a physical coming. It’s not just about the revealing of God’s word to you and me anymore. It’s not just about to see those truths and understand those truths, to see and understand God’s way of life for you and me. We are on the doorsteps of the return of God’s Son to this earth.

Let’s go over to Revelation 20. We know it by heart, but let’s go through some of this because it’s much about the Feast of Tabernacles. Revelation 20 tells us about what will happen to the being that rebelled a long time ago. Revelation 20 tells us about how it comes about for this being, the one that rebelled against God, the one that destroyed peace, the one that tried to take over God’s throne. We understand that he will never repent of his action, and he will fight against God until the end.

We saw this through the Day of Atonement that teaches us much about this being. He will never admit his part in his sins against the Great God of this universe.

Revelation 20:1—I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the keys to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold upon the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him a thousand years; and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him that he should deceive the nations no more until the thousand years be fulfilled. And after that he must be loosed a little season.

So, this tells us about Satan and how he will be dealt with just before the Millennium begins so that peace for mankind can now begin. At the beginning of the Millennium Joshua Christ is here. Let’s notice what takes place. God’s government is being set up so that man can begin to have peace. Now there will be a just government set up so that that peace process can begin because it will be done through God’s government.

Verse 4—I saw thrones, and they sat upon them—and let’s notice—judgment was given to them, to bring about the peace process. And I saw the souls of them that were cut off. We understand what this means. We’ve been through it many times, and we understand it’s not about cutting off their heads. It’s speaking about being cut off from the witness of Joshua Christ and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, and neither had received the mark on their foreheads or in their hands. So, here it tells us much a about God’s plan and how His government will be set up during the Millennium. And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Verse 5 tells us about the rest of mankind and where they fit in God’s plan. It says, The rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years were fulfilled. So, we can see where the rest of mankind fits in God’s plan, and after a thousand years of rule of Joshua Christ upon this earth. The beginning of peace for them has been upon this earth for a thousand years. We know that peace cannot be fully established until the end of God’s plan has been completed.

But at the end of the thousand years, can you imagine the world that they will see when they are brought back to life? There have been no wars for a thousand years. There’s been no destruction for a thousand years. This earth has continuously been kept, kept up, not destroyed for that thousand years.

I can only imagine the beauty that that will bring upon this earth. But that is what they will see when they are resurrected back to life at the end of the thousand years. They will see a beautiful, beautiful place upon this earth.

Verse 6 tells us, Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection. On such the second death has no power. We understand that this is because they are now spirit beings and they now have spirit life. Next, we can see their job description. It tells us what they will be doing during the thousand years. Let’s notice, they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years. This is what they have been a part of for a thousand years, brethren. Can you see what this in itself will accomplish, God’s government ruling this earth for a thousand years?

We know that much destruction is coming for mankind before we get to what we are celebrating at this Feast of Tabernacles, a time that Joshua Christ will be here upon this earth with the government of God helping man and showing man the correct way to live life, the way that was meant for mankind to live life, the way of life that would lead to peace.

Man has never had peace upon this earth. Peace has eluded mankind for 6,000 years. Peace was destroyed, and we understand how, because of the rebellion of those beings a long time ago. God allowed it but God also says that peace will be restored once again. The Feast of Tabernacles is about that peace, the beginning of peace that will be restored eventually forever, for an eternity when God’s plan is complete. The Millennium is the beginning of this peace being established.

So, what this time represents that we are here observing, the Millennium, the thousand-year reign of Joshua Christ, is the time when Satan and the demons will be restrained. We understand that they will be put in their prison during the Millennium. Now peace can begin to be restored and they will not, they cannot interfere in the peace process. The Feast of Tabernacles is much about restoring peace to mankind, the beginning.

Let’s go back to 1 Peter 1:3. Peter tells us about an inheritance, and that inheritance is reserved for those in the first resurrection, the ones that will help bring peace to mankind. But we understand it’s also for all of those that will become in the God Family, become Elohim.

Verse 3 tells us that we are blessed with mercy from God and Joshua Christ and that He has begotten us again to this living hope through the resurrection of Joshua Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, that will not fade away, and it’s reserved in heaven for us. That’s where it is. We understand it is in God’s time when He gives that inheritance to each and every one of us wherever we may fit in God’s plan, who are kept by the power of God through faith.

Let’s notice how it’s done. God says it is through faith, faith that God gave to you and me, those that He has called. God says that He gave to each one of us a measure of faith so that we can believe and then we can choose. We can choose to accept God’s way of life or not accept it, because we do have to choose. We have to choose whether we will strive to live by the way that God says, by those truths that He has revealed to you and me.

We have to choose whether we will choose to live by His laws that He gives to us to have peace, peace in the Church of God, to bring peace, and it’s through faith. Let’s notice what is said: unto salvation ready to be revealed—let’s notice when—in the last time. This is where you and me live. That’s where we are. We are in this last time, the time of the end.

Verse 6—Wherein you greatly rejoice. I hope we are rejoicing about what God has given to us, those truths. I hope we’re excited about our part in what He has given to each and every one of us at this time.

This is the Feast, the Feast time, the Feast of Tabernacles, and we are told to rejoice. This is the time that we do rejoice in God’s Church. So, we are rejoicing because we know we will learn more about our God and His plan. We are just like those prophets of old. We want to know more.

We know that when we leave here we will have more understanding of the Great God of this universe and His plan. I hope we recognize how really blessed we are, that we are more blessed than anyone else in this world, in Satan’s world. We look so forward when mankind can receive the truths that have been revealed to you and me.

It is this time that it will be done, the Feast of Tabernacles. This is the time when mankind can begin to receive what God will offer them. This is the time when God says He will pour out His holy spirit upon mankind and now they can have the ability to believe their God and to understand the truths of God, and to learn the way to peace. Because that is what will be taught during this thousand years, the way to peace. It will be taught about the correct way to live life so that we can have that peace for an eternity.

Let’s continue… where in you greatly rejoice, and we do, now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through many trials, many temptations. We understand this scripture because we live it, all of us live it. We live these trials that has been spoken about. We live these temptations. We all have “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” that gets us in trouble. We understand that we will face many, many trials before we get to the end, before Joshua Christ returns. Those that have been around for a while really experience this.

But we are on a countdown now, brethren, to when he will return to this earth. We are at the end. All you have to do is look at the news, look at China, look at Russia. Russia has just completed two doomsday planes. That’s so that the leaders of Russia can survive a nuclear war. China is building silos massively for this war that is coming, WWIII.

Let’s notice what else God had written. He tells us what He has offered us. He also tells us what it’s worth. He tells us the value of what He has offered to each one of us, “That the trial of your faith,” and this is what God said it’s worth, being more precious than of gold that perishes. Regardless of what we go through, brethren, no matter how difficult that it might become, no matter whatever we’re asked to do, we will do it if we believe God’s way of life, even though it is tried with fire, as God says. And believe me, we will face fiery trials. Many have lost much. Many have lost their lives.

Remember, we spoke about Daniel earlier. Remember Daniel in the lion’s den. Remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were teenagers, brethren, when they went into captivity. Remember what they went through? Most all of us know those stories. I cannot imagine going through what they went through. We know about the furnace of fire. I cannot imagine being in a lion’s den with a roaring lion.

So, when we look at the trials and we look at our trials today, ours are so much smaller in comparison to what some have went through. That’s just a few, just Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. That’s just four people, but there are so many in God’s book.

So, it’s important, the way you and I handle our trials, that are so much smaller than what so many have went through. So that we might be found—let’s notice—unto praise, honor, and glory—let’s notice—at the appearing of Joshua Christ. Daniel and those young men faced those fiery trials, and we know that they will be here. We know how they handled their trials because it’s written down in God’s book. How will ours be viewed when Christ returns to this earth? We believe just as they did, even though we have not seen certain things.

Verse 8—Whom having not seen you love. Though now you see him not, yet believing, you believe, and we do. Even though we have not been in that lion’s den and not walked in that furnace of fire we still have fiery trials that affect our belief system. We do love though we have not seen because of God’s calling, and we do believe because of that calling.

We are told to rejoice at this Feast of Tabernacles. That’s what God tells you and me to do, to rejoice, because we believe these things that we are looking at today.

Verse 9. We believe that peace will be brought to mankind. Let’s notice what was written, receiving—let’s notice—the end…receiving the end, the purpose of our faith (better said), let’s notice, the salvation of our souls. Of which the prophets have inquired and searched diligently. They didn’t have anything close to what you understand, brethren, and there were things that they wanted to know. They wanted to know about the things that they were inspired to write down in God’s book. But it was not given to them. But they inquired diligently, as we’ll see.

Verse 10—of which salvation the prophets have inquired, and searched diligently, who prophesied that the grace that would come to you, speaking about Joshua Christ, and it’s also about the Church, when we understand, and it’s about the one that became the Messiah. They had no idea how it would come about even though they wrote it down in God’s book.

We know about Joshua Christ that came as the Passover lamb. We know that he came that first time to die for mankind, and we know that there were prophecies written, and they desired to know about what they had written. They wanted to know more. They wanted to have more understanding of their meaning. Let’s notice, searching what, or what manner of time, the spirit of Christ, which was in them did signify, speaking about God’s spirit. The same spirit that was in Joshua Christ, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ.

Can you imagine writing these things down in God’s book and knowing that they were for a future time? So, that’s what this is speaking about. Let’s notice, and the glory that would follow.

Unto whom it was revealed—let’s notice—that, not to themselves… But some had to write it down, brethren, not understanding fully what it meant. …but unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them who have preached the gospel unto you with the spirit sent down from heaven. I don’t think we understand just how blessed we are to have the understanding that we now have in God’s Church. We understand that that understanding comes from the Great God of this universe. That’s where it comes from. God is the one that teaches you and me. We know how He does it. We know He does it through His Son, Joshua Christ, and then through God’s apostle. It’s God that leads, guides, and directs His Church.

We understand that Joshua Christ is the head of the Church, and it comes from him, through him, and then through God’s apostle. All this understanding that you and I have today, that’s how God has brought all these truths alive.

So, it says, which things the angels desire to look into. So, can you see that desire that the angels have to see God’s plan come to fruition for mankind? So, can you imagine why they would be excited of where we are in time? Can you imagine why they were excited when they saw Joshua Christ born upon this earth? They saw him die. They saw him born, and then they saw him die.

They also saw something else when he died. They saw a veil that was torn in two from top to bottom and that veil pictures something for you and me. We understand it’s a picture of making a way for you and me to come to have access to the Great God of this universe. It’s a picture of how now we can go directly to God our Father, and now we can ask Him by praying to Him and asking Him to forgive us of all of our sins. We understand that His Son paid that price so that we could do such a thing. Then that veil was torn in two so that you and I could have access to our Father.

Verse 13, God says through His servant, Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober. I hope this does sober every one of us. I hope everyone is sobered by where we find our self in time as they are building those missile silos and as they are building those doomsday planes. I hope you’re sobered to see yourself, to look at self. God tells you and me to gird up the loins of our mind. God knows whether we are sincere or not. We cannot fool God. You can fool me, you can fool others, but you cannot fool God.

No one is going to deceive God with where we’re headed, and no one will be able to mock God where we are headed. We have been given so much knowledge, brethren. So, think about what you understand. Think about all that understanding that God has revealed to you. It’s not just the revelation now, the revealing that has been given to you and me, it’s about what is upon our doorsteps at this time. It’s knocking on the door. We’re living it. We see it on the news.

Joshua Christ is getting ready to come to this earth and begin what we are here celebrating at this Feast of Tabernacles. This Feast of Tabernacles that we are celebrating paints you and me a picture of the beginning of the peace process for mankind. There will be one government upon this earth. There will now be one religion upon this earth. Now with God’s laws being established and enforced upon this earth something will happen to this earth. By the end of that thousand years it will become a beautiful, beautiful place. But during this time, man is still man.

Jeremiah told us that the carnal mind is naturally hostile to God. So, human nature will be here during this millennial reign of God’s Son upon this earth. Those of us in the Church of God have seen what man can do even with God’s spirit. We have seen some in the Church of God—PKG that have succumbed to those lusts of man.

So, even though God’s spirit will be poured out upon mankind, “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” will be here during this millennial reign and mankind will succumb to those lusts during the Millennium. Mankind does not need the influence of the demonic world to sin. Man has these lusts that will still be here during the Millennium even though God’s spirit will be poured out upon man. But it is now a much, much better world compared to what we have had in the past.

The Millennium is much about preparing help for the 144,000 at the great resurrection where many will come up as spirit beings to help bring about God’s plan during that 100-year period of time. But human nature will still be here.

God says [Revelation 21:7]—He who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God and he will be My Son. God says, The fearful, the unbelieving, the abominable, the murders, the whoremongers, the sorcerers, the idolators, and all the liars will have their part in the lake of fire which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. So, God tells us about a time of judgment upon those, upon this earth, upon all of mankind that will not accept what God will offer them.

Now everyone that has ever lived will now have a choice; everyone that has died that will come up in that resurrection. There is going to be a great resurrection and now they will come up in a much different world than they left this world in. Now they will be able to change. They will now be able to choose. Now they will be able to make the choices of whether they want to live God’s way of life or not, and if they do God says that He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there would be no more death.

Why would anyone not accept such an offer? To live in peace for an eternity with no more tears, no more pain, no more death. But we know that so many will not, because of what is written. It’s a hard thing to comprehend. We know what it says that there will be so many at the end that they will encompass the breadth of the earth. So massive for so many to be in that lake of fire that God tells us about in this book.

Let’s turn over to Revelation 5 and let’s look at what was written in verse 9. Revelation 5:9—And they, speaking about the twenty-four elders, sang a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book and open the Seals thereof. So, we understand what is being said and we know and understand now the time frame. And we know who it’s talking about. We know that it’s Joshua Christ.

It says, For you were slain and have redeemed them/us/them. So, it’s talking about a group of people here that are going to be redeemed. It’s talking about Joshua Christ that is worthy to open the Seals and it’s talking about those Seven Seals being opened by Joshua Christ. It says, You were slain and redeemed them (as it should be written), speaking of the saints mentioned in a previous verse where it talks about the incense. We understand that that incense represents the prayers of the saints that was offered to God, that came up before God.

It says, You have redeemed them to God by your blood out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation. So, it goes on to say in verse 10—And have made them unto our God kings and priests. So, this is speaking about 6,000 years and all those that God had been working with down through time. And they will reign upon the earth. These are the ones that are going to reign with Joshua Christ, so it’s Joshua Christ along with the 144,000. It’s those that will serve with him during the thousand years, during the Millennium.

It says, You have made unto them unto our God, kings and priests, and they will reign upon the earth. And most of these are in the grave. There’s not many left alive. We understand that there will be some left, a few left at the return of God’s Son to this earth. We know that because of what is written in God’s book.

Paul addresses certain ones that will be there. God has been molding and fashioning those that will be in His government, those that will be in His Kingdom, to prepare for what is getting ready to take place for a reign of Joshua Christ upon this earth. During the one thousand years, the Millennium, the 144,000 will be here upon this earth as kings and priests. We know what kings and priests do. We know that the laws of God will be enforced for a thousand years, and also during the hundred-year period at the end.

Joshua Christ and God the Father have been working with more to prepare them for a great resurrection that is in our future, and the Millennium, the thousand years, is much about the hundred-year period of time. It’s a time of preparation for some. There are those that are going to be molded and fashioned during this millennial reign, during this thousand-year period of time of God’s Son upon this earth.

We understand that there are going to be billions, billions resurrected in the Great White Throne. Our mind cannot comprehend such a massive resurrection – billions! I can’t imagine a thousand, but millions, billions? It’s hard for the human mind to comprehend what will take place in the future.

God is going to do through that one thousand years. He will prepare some during that thousand-year reign of God’s Son upon this earth, for some to come up as spirit beings to help during that great resurrection that will take place. So, during the one thousand years there is much preparation for that great harvest that will take place at the end of the thousand years. There are billions that will come up in that resurrection. We cannot imagine such a thing.

The God Family will be there. Many will be resurrected at that time. And we will look at some of the scriptures as we go through this sermon. Mankind will live and die during the thousand years, then there will be this great resurrection that we have been discussing, where such a massive resurrection will take place. Some have been prepared for this great resurrection, some will come back to eternal life and others will come back to physical life once again.

It’s about the preparation for that hundred-year period of time, the Millennium is, and the ability for God to deal with such a great resurrection where so many will come up, so many will come back to life.

Let’s go to John 5. John was inspired to write about the great resurrection that we have been speaking about, and this will paint you and me more of the picture of God’s plan, what John was inspired to write.

John 5:26. John wrote, For as the Father has life in Himself, so has He given to the Son to have life in himself, and has given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of Man.

Verse 28—Marvel not at this—let’s notice—for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear his voice, speaking about Joshua Christ’s voice, and will come forth—let’s notice—those who have done good, unto the resurrection of life. Let’s notice what’s being said, “Unto the resurrection of life.” …and those who have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. So, this is somewhat said better, “resurrection of life, of spirit life, and a resurrection of judgment.” It’s better said.

So, there’s coming a time when all are going to hear the voice of God’s Son. Some are going to be changed at that moment to have eternal life and some are going to be resurrected to judgment, the Great White Throne judgment. There are going to be some that are alive when this takes place, just like some are going to be alive when Joshua Christ returns to this earth. There are some who are going to be alive at this moment in time just like they will be when Joshua Christ returned to this earth. They will be changed. Now there will be a spirit being at the beginning of the hundred-year period of time.

I hope everyone understands what they have been offered. I hope you understand that you have found that pearl of great price. I hope you understand that you have found that treasure that God speaks about in His book, the treasure that one finds and sells everything that they have to buy that treasure, to buy that field. I hope you see what it’s worth.

Let’s turn over to Romans 8:18. Paul lived a rough life. He was beaten and left for dead. He was beaten so many times, and he lived a rough life. This is what Paul wrote, For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation, speaking about mankind, eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. The first resurrection. That’s what it’s been speaking about.

For the creation was subjected to vanity, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption, better said, the bondage of evil, into—let’s notice—the glorious liberty, better said, the freedom (liberty), the freedom—let’s notice—of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pains together until now. The birth pains, speaking about the creation, and we can look on the horizon and we can see the birth pains for you and me now. We see them.

And not only they, but we also who have the firstfruits of the spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves. We do because we see the suffering that is coming upon mankind. They have no idea what is about to take place. So, some of us groan within ourselves because of what we see, and we are eagerly waiting for the adoption as sons, talking about when our change comes.

Wherever we fit in God’s plan I hope you understand what you’ve been offered. …the redemption of your body, to have spirit life forever without pain, without suffering, with peace forever.

For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for what does one still hope for when he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, then we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. In other words, with patience.

Likewise the spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought to. We don’t always. We don’t know when the bombs will fall. Might be tomorrow. Might be next week. We don’t know when. So the spirit, it says, makes intercessions for you and me. In other words, God knows our minds. …with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Now, he who searches the heart, better said, the mind knows what the mind of the spirit is, because it makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together to good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. In other words, according to His plan, God’s plan.

For whom He foreknew, He also predetermined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He predetermined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

So, God tells us what it’s worth. God says, “It’s much more precious than any gold upon this earth and though we are tried with fire might be found unto praise, honor, and glory at the appearing of God’s Son, Joshua Christ.” The Millennium is when he will appear. That’s when he will be here for mankind, the time that you and I are here observing, the time that God’s son will be here, the time when the beginning of the peace process will begin. That’s what we are picturing.

So, we are waiting for that time with patience. We’re waiting for those signs to be in the sky as God’s Son returns back to this earth to begin the restoration of peace. The Millennium is the beginning of God’s peace being restored, peace that He gave up such a long time ago. But the Millennium will be the beginning of peace being restored. God says it will be restored and God says that there will be peace forever.

You don’t have to turn there but I’m going to just read a little bit of where we started off today in 1 Peter. It’s in 1 Peter 1:3 if you want to note it. It says, Blessed be God and the Father of our Lord Joshua Christ, which according to His abundant mercy… And He has shown us so much mercy, brethren, by letting us see in here His plan for mankind to bring about peace. And He’s begotten us again to a living hope by the resurrection of His Son from the dead, Joshua Christ, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, that will not fade away. And it’s reserved in heaven for you and me, for those God will call and those that will accept what God offers them, to have peace forever.

That inheritance is reserved now for many. We know about 144,000 that will be here at the beginning of this millennial reign of God’s Son upon this earth. They will now have their inheritance that this is speaking about. They have accepted God’s offer of peace forever in the God Family. They have become Elohim.

So, brethren, enjoy this Feast of Tabernacles and do as God says, be sober, be sober-minded and hold fast to what God has revealed to you.

1. Chapter 1