Bible Study No 30 of Revelation

Well, good evening, brethren. This is our 30th study on the book of Revelation.

Today we're going to address another very important prophetic section.

This far, up to here, we have completed the prophetic description of the events symbolized by the Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles.

We, therefore, as part of that, we covered events which will occur before the sign of Christ's coming, during his coming, and after his coming, that is, during the millennium.

Today we'll look at the growth of God's government during the millennium, including the rebellion during the earlier part of the millennium of the nations which are in the region of God and may God. Now, I emphasize the section there that says the nations which are in the region of God and may God, because we'll also look at the rebellion inspired by Satan after the millennium, which is a different one of the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and May God, as if we read in Revelation 20, specifically verse 8. So, there is going to be a rebellion in the earlier part of the millennium of the nations which are in the geographical region I call outlined of Gog and May God, and we will look at that. But to contrast, we'll then look at the rebellion of being a part of the inspired by Satan, which will be after the millennium of the nations which are in the four corners of the earth. So, therefore, that rebellion is not just of the people of Gog and May God, but is of the nations which are in the four corners of the earth. So, we'll look at that because it is an important bit of understanding that we need to comprehend. Then, as part of that review, we will then, and following up, we will address events related to the eighth day, which is the last or the seventh, the last festival, in other words, the seventh festival, of the seven festivals of God. So, we know there are seven festivals, and the eighth day is the last of those seven festivals, in other words, the seventh. It is a closing festival. Now, it is important to understand this, and I'm just going to mention it here at this moment, because it is important for us to understand. Let's look at that in Leviticus 23. In Leviticus 23, Leviticus 23, and we'll look at verse 36. We know Leviticus 23 is a section that talks about all the holy days, but then in verse 36, it says, for seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. Those are the seven days on the Feast of Tabernacles, right? And then it says on the eighth day, because you and I know the Feast of Tabernacles is a festival for seven days, but after the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days, that is the eighth day. And the eighth day is a separate festival by itself. And it says the eighth day you shall have an holy convocation. You shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. It is a sacred assembly. Now, this word sacred assembly is the only, or this two words, sacred assembly, is only used on this holy day, the eighth day of these seven festivals in Leviticus 23. It is only used on this eighth day. So it says it is a sacred assembly and you shall do no custom work. So it is worth to understand the Hebrew word behind, the Hebrew word behind. This translated words called sacred assembly. The Hebrew word is atsari Hebrew 0 6 1 1 6, which means a solemn assembly, a cycle, or festival, festival, festive meeting. Why has this got a specific label to it? Let's call it the word label for a description because it's a festival that closes this period of God's festivals and the actual feast.

It's like a closing festival. It is a completing festival that closes the annual holy day calendar. Let's put it this way. So it closes the feast period and it ends or completes all of God's festivals on this eighth day. Now this day is referred to in John 7 37. John 7 37. Let's look at it.

John 7 37.

It says, John 7 37. It says, on the last day, that great day of the feast. Now there is a debate by some people saying, well it is the last day, therefore it's the seventh day, not the eighth.

On the other side it says, that great day of the feast.

Now, here is an important clue. The word great in Greek is the Greek word 3173, which in Greek means megas. Mega, like you talk about, something which is mega, like, means very big, great, very big, megas. Interesting enough, it is the same award as in John 19 31. So let's look at John 19 31. John 19 31, it's talking now about the day that Christ died, and it says, therefore, because it was the preparation day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath. For that Sabbath was a high day. The word high in Greek is the same word megas, 3173. In fact, in Spanish and in Portuguese, above John 7 37 and John 19 31 uses the same word grande. So you could call it John 7 37 and in John 19 31 in English the same word because that's what it is in Greek and it's the same writer, John. So you could have chosen, the translators could have chosen, as they chose, in John 19 31 to use that was a high day. Right? We quite often refer to John 30 31. It was a high day. So they could have translated John 7 37, the last day, the high day. You see, we immediately relate in English when we say that high day, that that was a Sabbath. It's a high day which is an annual Sabbath.

So therefore, in John 7 37 you could have used the last day, the high day, it was an annual Sabbath. Now, as I said, there is a little debate and I'm going to explain that because during the Feast of Tabernacles, the Jews at that time had what they used to call a water and light ceremony towards the latter part. So towards the evening, it will be a ceremony of different waters, like fountains, illuminated fountains. And think about it, if you have water and then as the sun sets, as the evening comes, you have those fountains with light illuminating. And I have seen in a number of places where they have those musical fountains with water and light.

I'm not saying they had music there because it doesn't say, but we know they could have had music, musicians singing and things like that. But as you study a little bit of the tradition of that day, you find that at that time they had, during the Feast, towards the evening, towards the end of the days, they had these water ceremonies and then it culminated with flowing water and with lights. And the lights were very effective towards sunset and the evening, the early evening.

So the last one that it would have, the last one that it would have, the last festival ceremony with these lights would be towards the end of the seven days of the Feast, at the beginning of the eighth day, they had that ceremony of lights, of water and lights. Now, look carefully how Jesus used that, let's call it, symbology of the water and lights festival as a lead-in to the subject. Look, it says, on the last day, that high day or great day of the Feast, which you and I know, it starts at sunset. So towards the end of the seventh day, at the beginning of the eighth, right, they had that ceremony. So this would have been at the beginning of the eighth day, which yes indeed was towards the end of the seventh, after sunset then would be the eighth day. So it says, Jesus stood and cried saying, if anyone first let him come to me and drink. So they had that festival of water and lights, and Christ said, I am the light, and this is coming to me and drink. Very significant, very significant at the beginning of the eighth day. At the beginning of the eighth day. Why is it significant at the beginning of the eighth day?

Because remember, you and I know, brethren, that the eighth day symbolizes the Second Resurrection.

The Second Resurrection means a time when the whole of humanity will have access to the truth. The whole of humanity now, on the Second Resurrection, is called. So the whole of humanity can come to Christ and receive God's Holy Spirit. And that's why it says, very significant at the beginning of the eighth day, right at the beginning of the eighth day, right after the symbolism of the eighth day, which is that 100 year period, as we'll discuss at the little late, in which we believe to be 100 years. Okay, fair enough. Some people dispute that it might not be. I'll go through that again. I went through that in the last study. But again, let's say it will be a 100 year period. It will be a period over a number of years. We know that. Anyway, right at the beginning of that period, in other words, as sunset the day begins, the symbolism of that day, Christ says, if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. Living water is the symbolism of God's early spirit. So God's early spirit will be open to mankind, to everyone, during the period of the second resurrection. They will not be blind anymore. You see? That is very significant. Now, look back just one chapter to John chapter 6 verse 44. In John chapter 6 verse 44, it's a well-known scripture that we quote. It says, no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I'll raise him up at the last day. You and I refer to that quite easily, quite often, that nobody can come to Christ unless the Father calls him. This is applicable to today's age before the time of the second resurrection. That is repeated also in verse 65 of John 6. Therefore I have said to you, no one can come to me unless it has been granted to him by my Father. So that is applicable before this great meaning of the eighth day. But the eighth day, that is the second resurrection, then Christ says, he who believes in me, as the scripture said, if you first come to me and drink, you see there is a different change, a different situation here. In the second resurrection, basically it means all of mankind has their mind open to understanding the truth. Now another interesting point to that is in John 7 verse 53, because in John 7 53 says, and everyone went to his own house. Why did they go to their own house? Why is there a statement that at the end of this evening ceremony, so it was after sunset, that they went to their own house? Why is there such a statement? Because brethren, the Feast of Tabernacles is for seventh day. They supposed to tabernacle in temporary dwellings for seven days, not for eight.

Therefore, at the end of the seventh day, after the ceremony in the evening, they could leave their temporary dwellings, maybe a tent outside of their home or whatever it is, and go and sleep inside their house. Therefore, they went to their own house. That's why it says then in chapter 8 verse 1, now early in the morning, so that would have been the day portion of the eighth day. Right, so it is very important for us to understand that the Scripture of John 7, 37, and 38, even though some people say, well, it could be at the end of the seventh day of the Feast, some people say, well, it could be at the beginning of the eighth day. Putting all these things into context, it's like putting a puzzle together. It fits that it is more appropriate and correct. And using the example that is the same word, megas, which means a high day, or a great day, or a grande day, it's basically a Sabbath. And also, when you read about this day, it was a Sabbath, because in chapter 9 verse 14 and verse 16, it talks about a situation that happened about a man that was healed on the Sabbath. And so it was a Sabbath day, that a day, a Sabbath.

So it was not only just a high day, but it was also a weekly Sabbath. So that is very interesting. That's got also very important meaning towards the accuracy of the Hebrew calendar, but that's a different subject. Anyway, so we understand that this eighth day is YAH represented in John 7, starting from verse 37 through to John 9, being apart all the way till John 10, verse 21. The events of that eighth day begin, or are described, from John 7, verse 37, to John 10, verse 21. So all that is in the same day. The section from John 7, 37, till the end of chapter 7 is the evening portion. From John 8, verse 1, through to John 10, verse 21, is in the day portion of that eighth day. And that's important for us to understand, because if you look at the miracles and the things that happened, they tie in with the spiritual meaning of the Second Resurrection, the eighth day, which we will touch a little later tonight. So another important point of review that I want to highlight is, do you remember the fifth and sixth trumpets which are described in Revelation 9, 1 through 12, and verses 13 through 16? So let's look at Revelation 9, 1, Revelation 9, verse 1 through 12. If you remember now, Revelation 9, verse 1 through 12, is the first trumpet, which is that section of the locusts. And then if you read also Revelation 9, 13 through 16 and beyond, is the section of that army of 200 million, which actually is the sixth trumpet. So we have, remember, my question before, if you remember those fifth and sixth trumpets, right, let's tie that in with Daniel. So Daniel chapter 11, so this I'm again doing as a point of review, Daniel chapter 11, but it is important to put all these things into its context. So Daniel chapter 11, and we'll read from verse 14, Daniel 11 verse 14, it says, and at the time of the end the king of the south shall attack him. We know that the king of the south pushes against the king of the north, right, and the king of the south shall attack him, that is the king of the north, which is basically the beast power, and the king of the north, which is the beast, shall come against him, that's against the king of the south, like a whirlwind, with chariots, wolvesmen, with many ships, and he shall enter the countries of the realm and pass through, you know, with the countries of the middle east, and he shall also enter the glorious land, in other words, the area of Jerusalem, and many countries shall be overflown, but these shall escape out of his end, Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon, which we believe could be countries like Jordan, shall, and then in verse 42, he shall stretch out his end against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. So that is the king of the north destroying the king of the south. He says he shall have power over the trees of gold and silver, and over all the precious thing of Egypt. What are the precious things of that area of Libya, of the Ethiopians, of that middle east? It's oil. It's gas today. So it says, continue, it says, verse is when the king of the north destroys the king of the south. All right, then what do we have? We have basically two superpowers left. See, the king of the south is out. So now we have the king of the north, and the nations of the east and north.

So now we have verse 44, then used from the east and north shall trouble him, shall trouble the beast power the king of the north, and therefore he shall go out of great fury to destroy and annihilate many. Right, so what do we have? The king of the north will be troubled by rumors coming from the east and the north. And what do we have? We have then what we call the fifth trumpet, that section of the locusts of Revelation 9 1 through 12. That is a battle out. We went through that before. Now what happens? After that period, as we see in Revelation 9, verse 1 through 12, that period of a few months, that it says there that will torment the people for five months after that period. Now remember, this is during that period of the day of the Lord. That last year of the period of the Great Tribulation. So the Great Tribulation is three and a half years. We've covered that carefully. And then that last one year, which is the day of the Lord, which is symbolizing the symbolism of the day of trumpets, plural, right, the trumpets of that period. During that period, there's these locusts and then people are in great pain for five months. And then after that, then we have the sixth trumpet, which is Revelation 9, 13 through 16, which has got this army of horsemen with 200 million people. So we have this army of 200 million people, which kills a third of mankind. So what do we have is these people of the north, or rather the east and north, as it says here, which is areas like Russia, China, Korea, and as we discussed before, most surely, most probably would include nations like Afghanistan and Pakistan, and nations like Iran and India. A big conglomerate of those that will form this power of the east and north, which will now be in conflict with the beast. The beast, as they exert great pain on them for five months, wants that possible bacteria or some sort of gas that impacts those people for that period, kind of washes away. Those nations stand up and do a counter-attack against the beast power, and they're so vicious. It's an army of 200 million, and they probably will use things like atomic warfare, because it says it will kill a third of mankind. It says that out of their mouths, you read that in Revelation 9 verse 17, says, out of their mouths will come fire, smoke, and brimstone, and with these three plays, a third of mankind will be killed. So it's probably that sort of type of warfare. So we have that army coming to counter-attacking the beast power, which has said is the sixth trumpet, and what follows next? Follows next, as we know, is Revelation 11 verse 15, because that's the seventh trumpet, because that's when Christ now has to intervene. Why? Because now these two are going to say, it's either me or you will blow each other. So there is a great war on earth, and they're ready to destroy every human being on the planet. So Christ has to intervene to save mankind, to save the world.

So understand, Christ saving the world here is at an international level.

So we're talking about saving physical human beings, and that is the seventh trumpet, and we read that in Revelation 11 verse 15. It says, then the seventh angel sounded, and he says, and the kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ, and shall reign forever and ever. So that is the seventh trumpet. Brethren, I'm reviewing this, because we need to understand this in context, and then we know that is the last trumpet. 1 Corinthians 15 verse 52. 1 Corinthians 15 verse 52. And it says, in a moment, at the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, the trumpet will sound, the dead will be rising corrupt, and then we shall be changed. So this, brethren, is the meaning of the day of trumpets. It's the symbolism of the day of trumpets, which includes, in first place, all the other six trumpets, which is the day of the Lord, which is that one year which we went through, but it also includes the seventh trumpet. It's the meaning of this symbolism of the day of trumpets. And on that last trumpet, Christ will come. Then, going back to Revelation 11, we were reading a moment ago about the seventh trumpet in Revelation 11 verse 15, since the seventh angel sounded, the kingdom of the world has become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ, he shall reign forever. And then read in verse 18. In verse 18 says, the nations were angry, and your wrath has come. You see what happens. The beast power is now fighting against the nations of the east and north. They're ready to destroy one another and to wipe out mankind from the planet. In other words, they're ready to really be the end of the world, but it will not be the end of the world because Christ will intervene. Christ will come. But when they see Christ coming, when they see, quote-unquote, could be perceived like an invasion from outer space, when they see this happening, what they do? It's like two dogs fighting and you try to interfere with two dogs fighting. What happens? They turn against you. So what happens is these two groups of nations, the beast power and the nations of the east and north, will now turn towards Christ. And it sees that the nations were angry and your wrath has come and the time of the end. So it's the time of the dead that they should be judged. We went through that. Number one, the dead being judged is that some dead will be judged to be resurrected in the first resurrection and other deads will be judged to remain dead for another thousand years. Two, and that it should reward your servants, the prophets, the saints and those that fear your name small and great. Two, there will be the reward. There will be the first resurrection, which is a gift, a gift of eternal life. It's a better resurrection, two eternal life, but it will also be a reward. Some will rule over ten cities, some will rule over five. So it will be a reward. It will be a crowning, a giving of positions, a declaration of who has what? Positions of authority.

And three, right at the end of verse 18 says, and should destroy those who destroy the earth. So at Christ's coming there are a number of events or things that happen. There will be a resurrection. There will be the rewarding of the saints, and there will be that fight to destroy those nations.

That's what we have in Revelation 11 verse 18. But oh, look at also at Revelation 16. Look at also Revelation 16, 12 through 16. Revelation 16. Revelation 16 is the seven lost plagues, right? Now the seven lost plagues are part of the seven trumpets. So when the seven trumpet sounds, then there are seven lost plagues, right? We went through that carefully in previous studies. These seven lost plagues are very drastic and happen over a very quick period. And one of them, which is between verse 12 to verse 16, which is the sixth plague or the sixth lost plague or the sixth ball, is the afraid is drying up and allowing therefore these armies to gather into the valley of Armageddon for the great day of God Almighty for this great war, because they then gather in Armageddon, the valley of Megiddo, Armageddon, and then they marched towards Jerusalem to fight against Christ. So that's what happened. So they ease a brief time period for the nations to gather. They see Christ coming. They see this invasion. They turn and yeah, it is a little brief period of time. But it is a few days. Nowadays with modern technology, this happens quickly. And if these lost plagues did not happen over a very limited short period of days, all the whole mankind will have been eradicated, because this will be so drastic. And this is also described in Zechariah 14. Turn with me, please, to Zechariah chapter 14. Zechariah 14. Let's look at Zechariah 14. Let's look at verse 1 through 3. Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, and your spoil shall be divided. For I will gather all nations to battle against Jerusalem. Yes, they'll be gathered in Armageddon, as we saw in Revelation 16, 12 through 16. And then they will march toward Jerusalem. You see what that will happen. And you look at in verse 3, and the Lord, that Jesus Christ, that Yahweh, that's Christ Himself, Jesus Christ will go forth and fight against those nations as He fights in the day of battle. You see? And then it says in verse 4, He will stand in the mouth of all of us. And then in verse 5, the people will flee.

And then at the end, verse 5 says, Thus the Lord, my God, will come. That's talking about Christ's coming. The Lord, YHWH, because understand the word Yahweh or Jehovah or YHWH, the tetragram, means eternal. And it could be referring to the Father and could be referring to Jesus Christ. They're both eternal. And therefore, the eternal, my God. And in this case, you've got to look at the context. And in this case, it's talking about Christ coming and the saints who are with Him. Why? Because they've resurrected and the saints are with Him. And then continue in verse 9. And it says, in that day shall be that living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, physically and spiritually. Remember what we read? Yeah, they'll be in living waters. Why? Because God's Spirit will be available now to mankind as they repent during the millennium, as soon as Christ comes. And look at verse 9. And then it says, and the Lord shall be king over all the earth. Yahweh, who is the Lord that will be king over all the earth? It's Christ, Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords. In that day it shall be the Lord is one and His name one.

And let's talk about Christ. And look at verse 12. And this shall be the play with which the Lord will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem. Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet. Their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets. Their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths. Yeah, they have all these modern technology. Well, they can't even press a button because Christ has to act quickly. And bang! They just evaporate. Their mouths, their eyes, their tongues just zapped at that moment. How quick Christ is fighting these nations that turn against Him at His return. So then we have now Revelation 20 verse 4 and 6. That again we read in the last study. We went through that and it says, I saw thrones and then it sat on them. There was the resurrected sites will be given responsibility and judgment was committed to them.

We will be in a position of judgment and that the great judge, which is Christ, Christ will delegate to other judges and the ream. And then it says, and they reigned, they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years during the millennium. But the rest of the dead will not live again until the end of the thousand years because those that have resurrected and Christ's coming, that is the first resurrection. Right? And in Hebrews 11 verse 35, let's look at that. Hebrews 11 verse 35. Hebrews 11 is the 5th chapter and it's talking about all these people that have been faithful. And then in Hebrews 11 verse 35, it says, and a woman received a dead to life again, some received miracles, others were tortured. Others were not delivered. They died in faith because they waited for a better resurrection. Why is the first resurrection a better resurrection? Because it is a resurrection directly to spirit beings to eternal life. It is a better resurrection. So what do we have here is the millennium that Christ will reign during the millennium and then what do we have is God's government over the nations will spread beginning from Judah. Remember we were reading Zechariah chapter 14 a moment ago? Let's go back to it. Zechariah 14 verse 14. Zechariah 14 verse 14. And it says, Judah also will fight a Jerusalem.

So Judah will be the first nation in mass that will convert and repent and recognize that Christ is the Messiah and then they will turn against these other nations physical Judah.

So God's government over the nations will spread beginning with Judah. Then the rest of Israel, Israelites will come. There'll be the second Exodus. People come in. Other nations will come into that of Israelite descent. Those that will be sealed as we covered earlier on. Those that will be sealed, they will come as we discussed that out of Revelation 7. They will come and they will then repent and convert. And then, so we've talked Judah, then the whole of Israel, and then the rest of Abraham's children. You see, because Israel is the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. That's Israel's Jacob, right? But God starts, obviously, from Abraham's family. So the rest of Abraham's children, that means the nations that are descending of Ishmael and others, they will then also be converted. And then the other surrounding nations, which includes Egypt and Assyria and Africa and things like that, they will repent. So what do we have is Jesus Christ's reign spreads through the nations during the millennium, or rather throughout the nations, during millennium, and the nations. That means as a group, all these nations, all the populations, start keeping the feast. And you read in Zechariah 14 verse 16 through 19, if one of those nations, like Egypt, says, no, I don't want to come, bang, they'll get a plague. Initially, no rain, and maybe other plagues following that. If you read at Zechariah 14, it kind of implies there could be other plagues as well. So it spreads to the whole world, and it gets to a point where that area of Jerusalem is dwelling in peace, and there's no walls, and the people are dwelling in peace.

But again, as it's spreading to the whole world, there's still people of carnal minds and resistance. That will have to be cleansed. There will be resistance. These mentalities that people have today, wrong mentalities, have to be cleansed. These attitudes, that's why it says, Christ will reproach and will correct many nations. He will correct them with a run of iron, basically bringing them to obey God. There is going to be some resistance in history, but then, as they start keeping God's holidays, etc., then they see the fruits of it, and then more and more people, let's call it, come aboard. So it's not, the millennium is not from day one, happy, happy, how we are. It will take time. As it spreads to other nations, they'll come to a point of what we have, which is Ezekiel 38. Ezekiel 38. Now, turn with me to Ezekiel 38. Ezekiel 38. In Ezekiel 38, we have these nations that rebel nations from the north and east.

Look at it. And now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Son of Man, turn your face against God of the land of my God, the Prince of Rosh, Be second to Baal, and prophesy against him, and say, Thus is the Lord, Be all I am against you, O God, the Prince of Rosh, be second to Baal. I'll turn you around, put hooks in your jaws, and lead you with all your army, horses and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, the great company of bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. Persia, that's Iran, Ethiopia, that is Eastern Ethiopia, not Southern Ethiopia in Africa, but Eastern Ethiopia, which is probably an area of Southern India. And Libya, which will, it's Libya, which is, the Hebrew word is put, the Hebrew word for Ethiopia is kush, and the Hebrew word for Libya is put, which will probably be areas like North India and Pakistan and those areas. Right now, with them, all of them will shield their name, Gomor and all its troops, and the House of Togermah, probably what we call Siberia today. So we're talking about Gomor, probably China, and areas of Siberia. Many people are with you. So what do we have is a specific physical region, geographical region of nations. Those were the ones that basically fought against the beast power. Those nations are still out there, and they haven't quite yet accepted God's government. In fact, they're rebelling against it. And so those are the ones that trouble the King of the North. Remember during the 6th chapter that I mentioned that? So those nations will come and fight against Christ. And you read that in Ezekiel 38 verse 8 and 9, 16 and 32, which they'll come to Jerusalem, they'll come to the land of unworlded villages as you read in verse 11.

And that's maybe 20, maybe 30, maybe 50 years into the millennium. I don't know. But there'll be a time into the millennium that things have calmed down, people are happy in the area of Jerusalem, they are prosperous, is a land of unworlded villages. Other nations like Egypt and Assyria, which is Germany and Northern Europe and Africa, they all have come to say, yeah, they've got to accept this and now they've fallen in God's government. And now these nations of Gog and Magog are going to come and try and attack. And as we know, this is in the lack of days and then they'll be utterly destroyed. And you read there in verse 23, the Gentiles shall know that house of visual went into captivity for their iniquity because they were unfaithful to me. And it says, they all will know that God is God, that the Lord is God. That's what it will be. All nations will know that God is God, which means the whole of humanity will now reach a point says, hey, this is God's government, Christ is ruling and the whole of humanity will start submitting and to be blessed. And therefore, now we really have the meaning of the millennium, but it will take a few decades to reach that point. Right. Now we come to the point that the millennium has now ended, a thousand years and ended. And what is the situation of the world now? Now think about it. The situation of the world is a following. We know, Christ knows, we know there's going to be a second resurrection coming. There's going to be something like 70 billion people that are going to be resurrected. We're going to need houses. We're going to need food. We're going to need clothing. We're going to need toothbrushes and toothpaste and blades to shave and whatever else. So what do we have is towards the latter part of the millennium, we'll have a period of great, great extreme abundance so that all these factories, all these houses, all these things are ready for the second resurrection. You see, people are going to need clothes, they're going to need food, they're going to need places to live in their different areas, right, in their different geographies, in their different families, etc. So a great preparation has to, physical preparation, has to occur towards the end of the millennium. What that means is there'll be great prosperity. But you know what happens when there's prosperity?

You forget God. And some people forget God. And maybe some young people or some other people at that, they'll say, oh well, it's always been like this. You hear people are saying that a thousand years ago this was bad, ha ha ha, it's always been good. That never happened. It's like people today say, well man never went to the moon or the great persecution of the Jews during the Second World War never happened or whatever it is. People say, no, that never happened. It's a lie. You or whatever.

And so, what has to happen? God has to release Satan to deceive these rebels from all four corners of the earth. And then these rebels march onto Jerusalem and then they destroy them. You see, so these people at the end of the millennium that do not believe that they've had every single chance to receive God's only Spirit, to receive all the blessings, and they've turned it against it, and they turn against God, then God has got to destroy them. You see, so in Revelation 20 verse 7 and 8, it says, now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison. I've just finished explaining to you why that will be required. And we'll go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth.

Gog and Magog. You see, Gog and Magog, during the millennium, our nations belong into a specific region, right? But these are not from a single region. These are from the four corners of the earth. Again, Gog and Magog, as we saw, during the millennium, our nations belonging to a specific region. But now these are not from a specific region. They are from all over the world, our nations. It says, yeah, nations which are in the four corners of the earth. Is it possible that the word Gog and Magog will become like a nickname that will be used for people that are rebels? Will it be possible like it is today when people refer to Sodomites? They are referring to people who have the characteristics of those that were living in Sodom and Gomorrah at the time it was destroyed. Or this person is a Sodomite. Obviously, we're not talking about that the person lives in Sodom and Gomorrah because that was destroyed. But when we say these are Sodomites, we actually are describing an attitude, a mindset, an approach of those people those people that as a mindset of those that were in Sodom have the same practices.

Therefore, it is possible. I would now say I am assuming that this is the situation that after the rebellion of Sodom and Gomorrah, some other important, after the rebellion of Gog and Magog, after some 20 or 30 years or 50 into the millennium, the word Sodom and Gomorrah, or Gog, I keep saying Sodom and Magog, I mean the word Gog and Magog will then become a phrase, a nickname to people that are rebels. So we say, oh well, they are Gog and Magogites. But today we say, oh these people are Sodomites. So it is possible that the expression here is to a type of people that have an attitude, a mindset of rebellion, Gog and Magog from all nations. So this Gog and Magog of verse 8 of Revelation 20 is not the same Gog and Magog of Ezekiel 38 that we read a little earlier. Ezekiel 38 is a physical group of people during the millennium, maybe let's say 30-50 years into the millennium. But this in Revelation 20 verse 8 is people from all over the world that have the same spirit or attitude. Here in this verse are Gog and Magog rebels, rebels like Gog and Magog. And in verse 9 we read, they went up on the breath of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and of the beloved city and fire came from God out of heaven devoured them. These rebels are destroyed. Judgment begins with great power and strength on these rebels at the end of the millennium, at the beginning or just before the second resurrection. In other words, those rebels are wiped out. And then it says verse 10, the devil will deceive their most cost into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet where cost as it should be and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever, which means the ages of ages. So it is that Satan now is permanently removed and will never again influence mankind. That's what we have here.

So now we move on. What do we have? We've got the second resurrection. The rest of the dead rise to a second physical life. Revelation 20 verse 5, which says the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. So we have the rest of the dead rise to a second physical life. It is those who never had a chance during their first physical life. They now will have a second physical life. That is the symbolism of verse 8th day of the feast and will have their first opportunity to really understand and live God's way. So now we read verse 11 and 12 of Revelation 20. Then I saw a great white throne and he who sat on it from those from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away and it was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing. It was resurrected, standing, before God and the books were opened. Right? Before the throne, before God and the books were open.

And another book was open, which is a book of life. And the dead were charged according to the works by the things which were written in the books. So what do we have? We have a period of judgment, a period of promotion. They are resurrected. They are given life. That is parallel to Ezekiel 37, the value of dry bones. They are given life. And what happens? They resurrect. They live for a period and they learn the truth. They need to repent. They need to believe in Christ. They need to be counsel for baptism. They will then be baptized. Then they'll receive God's only Spirit. You read that in Ezekiel 37. Very clear. First, they resurrect to physical life. They receive the Spirit of man in man. Then Ezekiel 37 says, then they learn God and then they receive my Spirit, which means they get baptized and receive God's only Spirit. And then it begins the process of sanctification in which they have to overcome till the end of that period.

They have to overcome their desires, their passions, their difficulties. They have that period of probation, which we believe to be 100 years, based on Isaiah 65 verse 20, which are covered in the last Bible study, which, yes indeed, Isaiah 65 does apply to the millennium. But, verse 20, I didn't mention briefly in the previous study that it's got the duality or dual meaning that is also applicable to this period of possible 100 years. So, what do we have? What do we have during this period? Jews and Gentiles will be resurrected together. You read in Matthew 11 verse 20 through 24. Turn with me, please, to Matthew 11, verse 20 through 24, where he talks about, let me just turn to it, Matthew 11, and refers to it. This is a section that you can read and study more carefully at the time. It talks about the nations of Tyre and Sidon and Sodom themselves, and they will resurrect at the same time as the Jews of that time of Christ. So, they all will resurrect. So, Jews and Gentiles will be resurrected together. In Matthew 12 verse 41 and 42, we see as well, Matthew 12 verse 41 and 42 says, the men of Nineveh will rise up with this generation, and the queen of the south will, that was blind, that this generation was blind, they will have their eyes open during this eighth day, symbolism of the eighth day, during this period of the great white throne, and then they will understand the truth. And this is what I mentioned, Ezekiel 37. Again, let's just briefly look at Ezekiel 37. Ezekiel 37, that is verse 1 through 14. Ezekiel 37, verse 1 through 14. And it says, there's this valley of dry bones, and then it says, well, will these bones live? Yes, they will, you see that in verse 5. And then it says, I'll cause breath to enter into these bones. What is breath? It is the breath of life, which means they will have life, blood, again, living through the flesh, but they will also have to put it over man in man.

And it says, it shows there that they will flesh, and then there will be flesh, and they will breathe. And then it says, then you shall know that I'm the Lord. In other words, they will then know God, the truth will be preached to them. And then it says, verse 7 and 8, it says, and then it happens, and it happened, and breath came upon them. And it says at the end of verse 10, it's an exceedingly great army, as I mentioned, probably as many as 70 billion people or more.

And these people said, it says here at the university level, oh, our hope is lost. But now there is a record, it says, wow, what's happening? It says in verse 12, I'll open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves and bring you to the land.

Obviously, talking about Israelites, but as we saw in Matthew 11 and 12, it applies also to Gentiles. They all will be resurrected. And look at verse 13, then you shall know that I'm the Lord. How would you know? Because the gospel will be preached today.

We will be teaching there. When I open your graves and I brought you out. And then in looking verse 14, once they repent and are baptized, it says, then I'll put my spirit in you and you shall live. What do you mean I'll put my spirit in you and you shall live? Well, they've just been resurrected to life. They're already living physically, but once they receive God's Holy Spirit, they have an opportunity to live eternally, eternal life.

And then you shall know that I'm the Lord, because then you will receive the truth. So there we're talking about a physical resurrection. And this is the prophetic symbolism of the eighth day, the last great day. But look at what is in that section on John 8. I mentioned, remember, John 8, little John 9, and even to the first part of John 10. It is related to that eighth day, or that great white throne judgment, or that period of 100 years, the second resurrection.

So we look at John 8. What do we got in John 8 verse 1 through 11? And this is so interesting, brethren. John 8 verse 1 through 11. What do we have? We have a bad woman caught in adultery in the very act, symbolizing, and then everybody comes there and point the fingers at her. And then Christ says, the right on the floor, and they all slowly, they all duck, they all leave. Symbolic of that resurrection when everybody suddenly has time to repent. And that's why Christ says to the woman and to those people in the second resurrection, in fact, says to all of us, go and sin no more.

You see, because Christ says, neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more. I am the light of the world. Because at that time, there will be no more spiritual darkness like today. People, the world, will have the light. So that section is quite beautifully applicable to this second resurrection, to this white throne judgment period, to this period, which is symbolized by today. Now, look also at John chapter 9, verse 1 through 7. What do we have? We have a man that was blind from birth. Can you see the symbolism?

Symbolizing mankind, there was blind from birth. But now, when they resurrected, their blindness is gone, and they know the truth. You see, this is so wonderful. We could put this all into context. The meaning comes to life. And what we have, therefore, is a situation that the Israelites and mankind has gone through a period which they have been spiritually blinded. And that's what, for instance, Romans 11 is a wonderful chapter describing the blindness that has happened to Israel and to mankind.

And it says there they are spiritually blind. But then, we read in a little later, because they will then will understand. And they'll come to understand. They were spiritually blind temporarily until the time of the Gentiles is completed. This time that we have. Then, in the world tomorrow and in the second resurrection, God will take their sons away, and they'll understand.

Brethren, this all is a great ministry that people that do not observe God's feasts do not get it. We really need to prize this wonderful, wonderful meaning of the last great day, of the eighth day. It's a wonderful meaning. It's really a wonderful meaning. Yes, it points also beyond that, an eternal life. But this basic meaning is so wonderful. And look at towards the end of Romans 11. He says in verse 33 and 34, he says, O the depth of the reaches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God, I will search about His judgment in His ways, by finding out.

Who has known the mind of the Lord? Who has become His counselor? Who has first given to Him and shall be paid to Him? Brethren, this is wonderful news. This is wonderful news. This whole meaning of the last great day, of the second resurrection, is a pearl of great prize.

Don't ever let it go. It really is an understanding that is so precious to all of us. Well, brethren, thank you so much. And that concludes tonight's Bible study.