The Creation and the Restoration

It is a great day when we can come together, especially here at the Feast. We are out of the world. Not necessarily out of this world, like a spaceship, but we're out of the darkness of this world. Well, hopefully we see that a little bit more when we come together at the Feast. We recognize this difference between the kind of life we're living now, we're emulating the Millennium.

And so we are removed from the darkness and dreariness of this world into the light of the truth of God. And so here we are, out of that darkened world. Just thinking of that reminded me of a story of a fellow that went to Party City. You know, the store Party City? He went to Party City and he bought eight of these smoke machines, these fog machines, you know?

And the clerk got really suspicious. Call the cops immediately! Turns out this guy was part of an extremist group. Get it? Get a smoke? Yeah, it's extremist. Okay, okay, we got it. Well, okay, if you didn't like that one, you'll really hate this one. You may have heard about the big fire. The big fire that took place at the circus. Wow, it was so monstrous, it was intense. Yeah, okay. That's just to kind of set the tone for this smoke and fire and dreary dark world that we come out of.

It is a mess out there. And yet here, God has called us to be different. He's called us to live His way right now. And we're looking forward to that time. He's going to get rid of this darkness. He's going to get rid of the ways of this world and He's going to restore all things. It's going to be totally different. We know that Acts chapter 3 tells us about that very thing. In fact, some people have said it's the pivotal scripture in the Bible. Acts chapter 3 verse 19 says we're looking forward to the refreshing times.

The times when God will restore all things. It's not going to be like this anymore. It's going to be very different. And that means people have to be different. And this world is going to have to be different. There's going to have to be a time that everything is restored to the way it was. So this morning, I want to think about that just a little bit. Well, what was it like? What was it like so that when we think about these times of refreshing that are coming, the time of restoration, well, what is it going to be restored like?

And what does that have to do with what it used to be? And then what it will be when we get to the millennium. And you know a way that we can find that out is we can look at the days of creation. The days of creation have a remarkable connection to the times of restoration.

Have you ever thought of the seven days of creation being prophetic of the millennium? Because there is this connection there between the days of creation and then what God's going to do as He restores all things. So think about that for just a moment. The prophecies of the millennium that's found in the days of creation.

And of course, God is creator. He created everything, all things created by Jesus Christ, by God the Father through Christ. And God has promised a new world out of the smoke and the darkness of this age. And so what we have this challenge right now is to get beyond the smoke and get beyond the darkness and look what God has planned. And we can begin to catch that vision and see through the darkness and the smoke by looking back at creation and seeing how prophetic it is of the future. So let's do that for just a couple of moments this morning.

Let's take a look back at Genesis chapter 1 and let's begin to think of the prophetic nature of the days of creation and the coming millennium. So go back to Genesis chapter 1 right at the very beginning, verse 1.

And we're going to see some interesting aspects as we look at the beginning. And what happens here? Of course, this is not the initial creation of the world and the universe, but here we find the world has become a mess. It is Tohu and Bohu. That's what it's described as in Genesis chapter 1, because God had to recreate things in a sense after Satan messed it all up. And so let's notice in Genesis chapter 1, verse 2, it says, And the earth was without form, without void, and darkness was on the face of the deep.

Much like the darkness of this world covers everything.

And so we find then, it says, The Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And then God said, Let there be light, and there was light. God saw the light and it was good, and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness he called night. So was the evening and the morning of the first day.

So this first day of creation, what do we have?

Light.

We have light.

And we think about that now in connection to the prophecy of the millennium.

What will bring light to this world?

All right, that's right. The return of Christ. Christ will come and bring the light. Can you think of any passages that reflect that very thing?

There's a beautiful one that I wrote down in John chapter 8. If you'd like to turn over to John chapter 8, verse 12 is an interesting section of Scripture where Christ himself talks about the light that's going to come. Here he's been going back and forth with the Pharisees, and they're challenging him in many different ways. But in chapter 8, verse 12, here Jesus is speaking to them.

Notice the main point. He says, I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.

The light of life. What's going to change the darkness of this age? Well, when the ruler of darkness is put away and Christ appears, the light of the world, and he's going to bring the light of his word, his way, his will, his understanding, and it will be open to everyone who is alive at that time and here on this earth, and Christ will bring that light. And so we have this connection back to the days of creation, when God said, let there be light, and the darkness was gone. In fact, there's an amazing prophecy about this that connects. That's also a millennial prophecy back in the book of Isaiah.

Take a look at Isaiah chapter 60.

Isaiah chapter 60, right at the very beginning of that chapter. This is a millennial prophecy, a messianic prophecy of the time that Christ will return. And so notice the wording and how it's connected to what we read all the way back in Genesis chapter 1.

Arise, shine, your light has come.

Kind of sounds like, let there be light. And there was light. Your light has come. Well, what about this light? This isn't talking about just a physical light. It says, verse 2, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth. Yeah, that's where we're at now. We are right there. Darkness is over the face of the earth, much like all the way back in Genesis chapter 1. Not necessarily a physical darkness, but a spiritual darkness covers our world.

But it's not going to stay that way. Notice it's not talking about physical. Verse 2, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth. Here's the real darkness. The deep darkness, the people.

People don't understand God's way. They don't know His will. They don't understand His purpose. They don't understand why they were born. So there is a deep darkness over the people of this world.

But God has a solution. And so we read about this here. The Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. Christ is going to return to this earth, and all will see Him. It says, even verse 3, the Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around and see. They all gather together. They come to you. Your sons shall come from afar. Your daughters shall be nursed at your side. So you have these beautiful images here. Then in verse 5, you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy.

That's the time we're picturing right now. We're imagining that time. We see that symbolism right now as we live these days of the Feast of Tabernacles. It pictures this coming time of abundance, and love, and peace, and joy. A wonderful time. And that's coming. And what's going to bring the light? Well, we know Christ is going to arise and shine, and people's minds will be open to the truth.

And of course, if that's going to take place, that also means the darkness has to be put away. And so Christ brings the light, and we recognize that on the Day of Atonement, that the darkness has to be put away.

And so the symbolism of the Day of Atonement, the binding of Satan, is also a part of that. Because we know what he's doing right now. In fact, there's a beautiful passage in 2 Corinthians that describes what it's like now, and what's going to happen to bring light. And of course, to bring light, we have to remove the darkness. 2 Corinthians chapter 4 describes just that. Let's note a 2 Corinthians chapter 4.

Near the beginning of the chapter there, verse 3, 2 Corinthians chapter 4, verse 3, familiar section of Scripture, the world is veiled. It's in darkness. There is smoke all around that's covering the truth of God.

Paul writes, if our gospel is veiled, it's veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the God of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness. All right, where does that verse take you?

Genesis 1. There it is. Genesis 1. This image of Christ's return and establishing His reign on earth, the kingdom of God, for a thousand years, the millennium. There it is right there. And what's got to happen? The God of this age, the one who is blinded mankind, has to be removed. And so ultimately, Christ will return, and there will be light to shine out of darkness. It says, who has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

So what a blessing for us! To understand that truth now. We understand that God has given us that light already. And so that should be reflected in who we are and how we live. Because God has brought that light individually, in that individual sense, to each of us right now. And so we have that opportunity now to shine forth His light, because God has revealed that to us. And so it's pretty interesting to see that connection with the first day of creation and light to Christ's return and the putting away of Satan, because that removes the darkness, and now we can be illuminated by the truth of God.

All right, now let's think of the second day of creation. Anyone remember what the second day of creation, if you don't peek back to Genesis chapter one? Okay, let's peek. Let's peek back to Genesis chapter one and see what is that second day where God is recreating the earth.

Aha! It's about water, isn't it? Genesis chapter one, look at verse six. God said, let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. Does God made the firmament, divided the waters which were under the firmament, from the waters which were above the firmament, and it was so. God called the firmament heaven, we have the atmosphere. So the evening and the morning were the second day. They were the second day. So as we begin to look at this second day of creation and the separation of waters, you think about water and its symbolism in the Bible.

Oftentimes, water symbolizes what? Oh, you guys are way ahead of me. That's right. God's Holy Spirit! God's Holy Spirit makes all the difference. In fact, God accomplished these things by the power of His Spirit. His Spirit was hovering over the waters.

Now we see this is taking place in a spiritual sense.

When we think of the beginning of the New Testament church, God poured out water, didn't He? Not a physical water, but a spiritual water. He poured out His Spirit on mankind. That was a filling of the prophecy of Joel. So if you turn over to the book of Joel in the minor prophets, just before the New Testament, we find the book of Joel. And in Joel 2, verse 28, this section of scripture is the part that Peter quoted in Acts 2. So if you remember Acts 2, the beginning of the New Testament church and the day of Pentecost, ties in with Joel 2 as well. Notice what Joel says about water, the symbolism of His Holy Spirit. Joel 2, 28.

It says, It shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. Your old men shall dream dreams. Your young men shall see visions. And also on my men's servants and on my maid servants, I'll pour out my Spirit in those days.

And so now, instead of just a select few, like the Old Testament, we had specific individuals, like a David, or like an Isaiah, or like many of the prophets, individually given God's Spirit. Now it's different.

God began the church in Acts 2 and poured out His Spirit. And so God has called us as a group to fulfill these prophecies in Joel 2. And in fact, that should make all the difference. It made all the difference on the earth in the atmosphere.

Now it should change us as well.

In fact, if we go to the book of Romans, it reminds us of this great difference that really is a prophecy of the millennium as well. Let's take a look at this. Romans 8 and verse 9 is where we'll pick it up. Romans 8 and verse 9. A familiar section of Scripture, it talks about how our carnal minds are empty against God. They are totally, absolutely opposed to God.

But what makes the difference? So that we're not opposed to God. So we're not enemies against God.

What's His Spirit? His Spirit makes all the difference. So we see here, it says, verse 8, it says, those that are in the flesh cannot please God. What's going to be different? What's different now for us? And what's going to be different when God opens their minds in the millennium?

His Spirit, verse 9. You are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. If indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, He is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body's dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. And so we've been given this opportunity now. The waters have been divided, you might say, in our life. That we're no longer drowning in this way, the ways of this world. Now we have God's Spirit, so we can live in the life. We can live in righteousness, as it says here in verse 10. And so what a difference! It makes all the difference in the world. And that will be the same opportunity those in the future will have as well. If we skip down to verse 14, look at the critical difference to divide the difference between those that are in the world and those who are of God. It says, as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. How do you know if you're a true Christian? How do you know if you're a disciple? How do you know if you're going to be a part of the kingdom of God? Well, you've got to be led by the Spirit of God. You've got to have God's Spirit living in you. And you've got to be submissive to that Spirit. That's what a Christian is. And so we see that's what it takes. And if this world is going to come out of darkness, and if there is going to be light, it's going to take the power of God's Spirit to make all the difference. That's going to be the dividing factor, you might say.

And of course, we know Christ said, if anyone thirsts, let him come to me. In fact, he said that on the last day of the feast. That great day is what John 7.37 says. Come to me and I will give you what?

Living water. Living water. Ultimately, that section of John 7 talks about his spirit. His spirit makes all the difference. And that's what's going to make the difference in the millennium as well. This world doesn't know God. They don't understand God. He hasn't opened their minds yet. Ultimately, we can look to the dividing factor when Christ returns. Imagine this. God and his Spirit will be the influence on this world. Right now, the influence is Satan and his demonic realm.

But we get to the time of the kingdom of God. Imagine the influence, the evil influence is gone, and the power of God's Spirit is present. Wow. Talk about a division between now and the future. Powerful time.

All right. That takes care of day two. All right. We all remember what day three is, right? Okay, I've got to look back because I already forgot.

Take a look back at Genesis 1. Genesis 1.

We'll pick it up in verse 9 this time. Genesis 1.9. Okay, the waters are gathered together into one place. And what happens on the third day?

Dry land appears. And so it was. God called the dry land earth. And the gathering together of the waters, He called the seas. God saw it was good. It was good. And we see the results of the land. It says, Let the earth bring forth grass and herb that yields seeds, the fruit trees, all these wonderful things. And it did just that. In verse 13, So the evening and the morning were the third day. So we have dry land that appears. Now you might say, Okay, now it's going to be a stretch. What does that have to do with the millennium?

What does that have to do with anything for that matter?

I think about what occurs at the return of Christ.

What will be established?

His kingdom, His rule, His government, the government of God will be established on this earth.

It's not a pretend thing. It's not just wishful thinking. It will be a literal kingdom. It will be a literal kingdom with a king.

And it will have subjects.

We will be some of those subjects. Physical human beings will be His subjects. And will it be a literal place as well? Absolutely! It'll be on this earth. It'll be right here. It'll be the land. It will be the land. And so this third day is certainly prophetic of the kingdom, that it will be a literal place that will be established right here on the earth. In fact, there's so many passages we could turn to when you think about that literal aspect of the establishment of the kingdom. Most of the religious world doesn't get that. They don't understand. They don't understand this will be a real thing. It's not just something in your heart. It's not just wishful thinking. But it will really happen. I think one of the best examples of that is found over in the book of Daniel. Look at Daniel chapter 2 for a moment. This beautiful section of Daniel, we recognize immediately as a prophetic section of Scripture. And near the end of that second chapter, all the way down to verse 44, we see this literal kingdom spoken about. So notice Daniel chapter 2, and we'll pick it up in verse 44. Here Daniel is giving the interpretation from God of a dream that Nebuchadnezzar was having. And he had seen this amazing statue, and he was looking for the interpretation of what it meant. Here Daniel is explaining the meaning. So we're jumping into that thought. But notice the connection to what's going to happen at the return of Christ. Verse 44, In the days of these kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom. And of course, Nebuchadnezzar was one of the kings, as well as those that would follow after him. And whether it was the king of Persia, or whether it was Alexander and the Greeks, or whether it was the Roman... Those were real kingdoms! Those weren't pretend things. They weren't ethereal things. They weren't made up. These were real kingdoms of this earth. And so when Daniel interprets the dream and said, God will set up a kingdom. It's a literal thing. That's absolutely going to happen, literally. It says the kingdom will not be left to other people. It will break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, these kingdoms of men. And it will stand forever. It will stand forever. In fact, it intimates how that begins with this stone made without hands. Jesus Christ himself will come and destroy the kingdoms of men. And God's kingdom then will be established. And it's going to stand forever. Forever. And it starts with that thousand-year reign of Christ on earth. And then what's going to happen? Once Christ returns, what happens?

What happens literally? If you think literally for just a moment, it's kind of interesting because when we compare it to the days of creation, God creates the land. And what happens to that land?

Becomes productive and grass starts growing and there's crops and all kinds of wonderful things that begin to grow.

We know before Christ returns that this world is going to be in a mess. There's going to be world war. We know those plagues that are going to be poured out at the end. We know God is going to destroy those who destroy the earth. And we know this world is going to be an absolute mess and it's going to have to be renewed. It's going to have to be reinvigorated and refreshed and restored. And part of this particular section of Genesis points to the time of the millennium when the earth itself, the land, will once again be productive. And it will begin to produce the kind of crops that are necessary. The minor prophets speak to this. Amos is one of them that ties back to this third day of creation. Let's notice what Amos had to say about this in Amos chapter 9.

Amos chapter 9, we'll pick it up in verse 11. Amos chapter 9 in verse 11, it's one of those minor prophets, one of the 12, might take a second to find them because they're pretty tiny little books that are wedged right in here just before the New Testament.

But notice how Amos prophesies about the time of the millennium. This is not just about the time when Israel would come back to the land after Babylon. Now it's talking about the future, for our future.

Amos 9.11, it says, On that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David which has fallen down, and repair its damages. I will raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old, that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord who does this thing. That gives us a clue. That's not talking about returning from Babylon, because there were no Gentiles that were a part of Israel at that time. The Jews came back out of Babylon. This is talking about everyone having their minds open, having an opportunity to understand the truth. The Gentiles, the non-Israelites will have that opportunity. So it's focusing then to the future millennium. In fact, verse 13. Let's notice what it says. Verse 13, Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when the plowmen shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes, him who sows seed. And the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it.

Now, if you're living up in the mountains right now, you're probably glad it's not dripping with wine. It would make the roads pretty hazardous. We have a time slipping around trying to get to church, if that was the way it was right now. The land flowing with milk and honey. Yeah, sticky and wet.

Yeah, not so good. But this is just that symbolism of how wonderful it's going to be, and how productive the land will truly be. It says they'll build away cities, verse 14, and inhabit them. They'll plant vineyards and drink from them. They'll make the gardens and eat the fruit of them.

We get to picture that time right now.

Maybe after you got done eating last night, you said, I'll never eat for the whole rest of the feast.

I think I've said that more than once, this feast already.

Because there's such an abundance. I mean, there's, you know, so many places that we can eat and experience wonderful things, and just not enough days to do it all. Or maybe not enough money to do it all, either.

But there's coming a time that we're imagining, we're picturing that, we're symbolizing that right now. And that symbolism was also found back in the days of creation as well.

All right, let's go on to number four. Let's go on to day number four. Let's see what we can recognize out of the symbolism of this creation days, and this fourth day. The fourth day starts in verse 14 of Genesis chapter one. Genesis chapter one, verse 14. God said, let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night, and let them be for signs and seasons and for days and years. Let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and it was so. And of course, God made the two great lights. We've got the sun and the moon, and it says, he made the stars also.

It was very good at the end of verse 18, and in verse 19, so the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

And we see some interesting aspects of what was happening. I mean, this literally took place as God reassembles and refreshes the earth after the confusion of Satan. He remakes the earth, and here we see the sections that he kind of highlights here. There were signs and seasons it talks about. It was to give light to the earth and to divide light from darkness.

Key aspects of what was happening here on the fourth day. In fact, sometimes if you've got little titles in your Bible, some Bibles, now these aren't necessarily inspired, or definitely not in the manuscripts, but sometimes they'll label each of these days with a little heading. Some Bibles will have a little title in this section that says, the assignment of lights. The assignments of light. So you've got the sun for the day and the moon for the night, and the stars and all these various things that are happening. Now, when you think about it in that sense with the idea of giving light to the earth and the fact that they're dividing light from darkness, I think what we begin to see is we kind of fit into this aspect of this fourth day. The assignment of lights. What's going to be happening, especially as we think about the millennium. I mean, we will be resurrected. We will be spirit beings with Christ.

And we know that God has prepared a special blessing for us. We know that Christ told the disciples. He was telling us by extension as well. In John chapter 14, you might just write it down, but that's where Christ said, if I go, I will return again. And in my father's house are many mansions. He said, don't be troubled. Don't worry. There are many places, places to dwell where we dwell with Christ. And so that refers to us and having these responsibilities that Christ is preparing a place for us. And of course, we also probably remember one of those famous passages that are all the way back in the book of Revelation. Let's turn over to Revelation just to remind ourselves of God's purpose and plan for us as we come to the time of the millennium and the resurrection. Revelation chapter 5 is certainly a reminder of our assignments as we come to the time of the millennium. Revelation chapter 5, notice verse 10. Revelation chapter 5 verse 10. Here everyone's singing a new song to the Lamb. He's worthy to take the scroll.

And what is it prophetic of? Prophetic of us in verse 10, where it says, You have made us kings and priests to our God, and we shall reign on the earth.

Of course, we know the ultimate king, king of kings, Lord of lords, is Jesus Christ.

But we will be a kingdom, I mean specifically here, a kingdom of priests, a kingdom of priests, leaders, teachers, servants.

That's our assignment in the millennium to do just that. That we will serve under Jesus Christ. We'll serve mankind, the physical people that survive through the Great Tribulation. They will need to be taught God's way. They will need to be served. They'll be shell-shocked from the terrible situations that have occurred during the time of the Great Tribulation. And part of our duties, part of our assignment, will be to do like De 4 talked about, to bring them light, to help shine that light of Christ on them. In fact, the prophecies of Isaiah are so beautiful and just fit and parallel this idea so perfectly. If you turn with me over to the book of Isaiah for just a moment, Isaiah chapter 30 describes this very thought. Not so much that we're going to be royalty as kings.

That's probably the wrong way to think of it. Not as royal. Christ is the king. We're His servants. He is the king, and we are His servants. And we are victorious because of Jesus Christ. And Isaiah 30, I think, gives us a little bit more meat on the bones as we think about what it will be like to serve with Christ and serve under Christ in the millennium, to help those who have lived through that terrible time of the Great Tribulation. Notice Isaiah chapter 30. We'll pick it up in verse 20. Isaiah chapter 30, verse 20.

It says, "...and though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction..." Yeah, that's what the people are going to be coming through. They have survived into the millennium, and they had adversity. They had affliction. They had deep trouble. Tribulation. No doubt about that.

Yet, it says, "...your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore." They won't have to seek out the truth. Not in the way that, you know, we had to try to see through the smoke and darkness of this world as God opened our mind to the truth. Here it says, "...your eyes shall see your teachers." We're going to be given that assignment to bring them light so they can see. So verse 21, "...your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, this is the way. Walk in it." Whenever you turn to the right hand or when you turn to the left, we see that it's going to be direction and guidance. In other words, teachers that are helping people, they're helping direct mankind, they're helping to lead them in the right way. This is the way. Walk in it. And so we're going to have that assignment to do that very thing as we rule with Jesus Christ. We're going to be teachers helping mankind to understand the truth, to understand His way, to apply that way, and live that way. Boy, what a difference that will be. So it will be in a way we're monitoring mankind and helping them. Christ put it in a different perspective when He talked about different assignments we might have in the future. Remember how Christ put it? Well, some might have 10 cities, some might have five cities that we would have guidance over, that we would have direction, that we would help teach and give the truth to them. And so we see that perspective as we look at what He said in Isaiah and prophesied about the future. In fact, I should have had you hold your place in Daniel because there's an interesting connection in the book of Daniel here as well. Look at Daniel chapter 7 for a moment, too. Daniel chapter 7.

Here it puts it in context as we look at part of our assignments as light to this world and the people who have survived through the Great Tribulation. Daniel 7, notice verse 27.

Daniel 7 verse 27. It says, "...then the kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven..." What happens to it?

"...shall be given to the people." Not the people that are physical, not those that are alive through the Tribulation, but who is it given to?

"...to the saints of the Most High." God willing, that's us. That's us, as we are spirit beings in that kingdom. We are spirit beings in that kingdom. That kingdom is given to us, and we help reign and rule with Christ for a thousand years. Like Revelation chapter 20 talks about. "...so it will be given to the people, the saints of the Most High." His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. "...and all dominions shall serve and obey him." Now, if that isn't something to get excited about, I don't know what is. I mean, what an amazing... I mean, we're going to have an opportunity to do that.

Little old us, who have no talents or abilities without our great God. I mean, it's an amazing thing. We're going to come to a time where the blind will no longer lead the blind, as Christ talked about. The deaf will hear. The lame will walk. And we will have that opportunity to be a part of this first resurrection. And have that kingdom given to us as we will serve our great God for eternity. For eternity, starting with that thousand years. Anybody want that assignment? All right, I'll take it. What an awesome blessing that will be. Absolutely, no doubt. All right, keep your place here in Daniel. We're going to come back to this in a moment. But I want to think about that next day. Let's go to day five and head back to Genesis. So, hold your place here in Daniel. We're going to come back here in a moment. Or if you've got a little marker, you might put it there.

But we're going to look at day five.

Anyone remember anything about a lion and a lamb at this time?

All right, you got day five. Day five is the creation of animals. Look at verse 20. Genesis chapter one, verse 20. It says, God said, Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures. Birds fly above the earth, across the face of the firmament of the heaven. God created great sea creatures, and they abounded every winged bird. And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful and multiply. And so we have animals being created. In fact, it even talks about the living creatures, cattle, and creeping things. So amazing blessings of animals. And that was the evening and the morning of the fifth day, is what verse 23 talks about.

Now, what happens in the millennium to animals? Animals like tigers and lions. Or if you're in the great Smoky Mountains, bears.

Well, in a sense, they're going to be recreated, in a sense, right? Their approach and their attitude, their different sense of who they are, is going to be different. It's going to be different. God's in a way going to remake them, so they're not violent creatures. Isaiah is probably the famous section. If you still hold your place in Daniel, we're going to come back there. But let's go to Isaiah first. Probably the classic passage that's a reminder of this, that shows us this violent nature will be changed, literally, in physical animals. And it's going to be different. They're going to be tamed. And Isaiah chapter 11 is a beautiful section of scripture that reminds us of that very fact. So let's look at Isaiah chapter 11, and remind ourselves of what the millennium will be like, when it comes to the animals. And the connection to this fifth day of creation. Isaiah chapter 11, verse 6 is where we can begin.

We probably could say some of this by memory, couldn't we? Verse 6, The wolf shall also dwell with the lamb. The leopard shall lie down with the young goat. The calf and the young lion, what happens to them?

With the faddling together, and a little child shall lead them.

I mean, that's going to be totally different. Totally different. In fact, I remember one time visiting San Diego. We kept the feast out there one year. Went to the San Diego wild animal park, and there was this lion, and there was a lamb in the pen with it. It was like, the millennium's here! Look at that! That's amazing! I got to talking with one of the workers that were there. He says, how can you put the lion and the lamb together? Oh, he says, every few days we throw in a fresh lamb.

Yeah, yeah. Oh, boy. Yeah, they're not going to last too long. Maybe a day or two until that lion's hungry, but look out.

But Isaiah is talking about a time they will be together. They're not going to throw in a fresh one every once in a while in the millennium. No, their whole approach is going to be different. The violent nature of animals is going to change. I mean, the cows and the bears will graze together. Of course, oh yeah, we didn't read the other part. That's pretty cool here as well. If we look down to what verse is it here? Verse 8. Skip back to verse 8. The nursing child shall play by the cobra's hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain. Why? For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Now, how much of the sea is covered by water?

All of it! All of it! So the water is going to cover... The Word of God is going to cover this earth. And so we have this beautiful time that's pictured in the creation of animals. And of course, with the animals, we see that it not only applies physically. We often think of it physically, that the nature of animals are going to be changed in the millennium. True. No doubt about that. But we don't want to miss the fact that this is also a dual prophecy.

That's why I got you a hold of you to place there in the book of Daniel. So flip over to Daniel once again, and take a look at Daniel chapter 7. Daniel chapter 7 reminds us there's connections with animals to other things. These wild animals are symbolic as well. Wild animals can represent something. And Daniel chapter 7 is one of those that tell us exactly what wild animals represent symbolically. So if we look down to verse 4 of Daniel chapter 7, Daniel's having this amazing dream. Terrible vision. And verse 3 says, four great beasts came up out of the sea, each different from the other. And what were they? The first was like a lion and had eagle's wings. Then verse 5 says another beast, a second, like a bear. And then there was another. Verse 6, it says it was like a leopard. And then verse 7, this terrible, dreadful animal, exceedingly strong, huge iron teeth, devouring, breaking in pieces, trampling the residue with its feet.

What about these wild animals?

Are they going to be changed in the millennium?

They are. What are these animals symbolic of?

All right. Nations. Nations. People.

Man's governments. That's the nature of man's governments. They're pictured as wild animals in the Bible. They're not docile things. Man's government is out of control. Man does not know how to govern himself. And so the nature of man's government has to change as well. And so we see that will take place in the future, because God is going to wipe out all of man's governments and establish his government. And so God's government will be on this earth. So when you think of the millennium and what we imagine here, we live under the terms of the government of God. And so we live our entire life that way. We've been called to this way. And so when we look out at man's governments, boy, we can see the issues and the problems and the struggles they're having. But there's coming a day that God will change the nature, literally, of physical animals so that a wolf and a lamb can dwell together. But we'll also change the nature of government. Government will be different, and God's government will be established on the earth.

All right, let's go to number six. Go back to number six in Genesis chapter one. What comes next? I bet we could probably remember what comes next this time. We're getting down to the end, aren't we?

Man! All right, good. We got it. So Genesis chapter one, notice verse 24, we'll remind ourselves. Genesis 1.24 reminds us of that sixth day of creation. Let the earth bring forth living creature, cattle, creeping things, all these things. But the most important, verse 26, God said, Let us make man in our image according to our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish, over the birds, over the cattle, over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So God made man in his own image, the image of God. He created them. It says, male and female, he created them, and bless them. Be fruitful and multiply. And so God made man. And as he looked over this beautiful creation, what did he say about it?

He said, it was very good. Verse 31, very good. And so was the evening and the morning of the sixth day. So day six, we have human beings created. Human beings created on that sixth day. And of course, as we imagine that and the symbolism as it connects to the prophecies of the millennium, we know human beings will be different in the millennium.

We'll be different. We'll be spirit beings in the kingdom. But even those physical people that are still alive at that time, they'll have an opportunity to be different. And what will be the key to make them different?

God's spirit. The spirit of God will make them different. And they'll have an opportunity to be after the God kind. After the God kind. There's a prophecy, I think, that ties both of these things together. Day six of creation and then the millennium as well. If we look over to the book of Ezekiel.

Just go to the book of Ezekiel. If I had you hold your place in Daniel, you would have been close. But not quite. Ezekiel as well will pick it up in Ezekiel 11.

Ezekiel 11 is a beautiful reminder of what God is going to do as a connection to human beings and this recreation. This refreshing, this restoration. The way that God intended it to be takes place in the millennium. So Ezekiel 11. Look down to verse 17. Ezekiel 11.

Therefore say, Ezekiel prophesies, Thus says the Lord God, I will gather you from the peoples, assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. God's going to bring his people, Israel, back to the Promised Land. Verse 18. And they will go there and they will take away all its detestable things and all its abominations from there. So there we see restoration has to take place. We'll be helping and guiding and teaching at that time. And how is that going to take place? Verse 19. I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them, and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. God's Spirit will make all the difference, and He will open their minds to His truth. And in a sense, they'll be recreated and refreshed with that opportunity to understand God's way and His will. They'll have His purpose open to them, where they can see and understand what life is all about, and what God intended it to be. And so it will be that time that Jeremiah prophesied about. Jeremiah 31, 31 talks about that time. Maybe we can refresh our memories of Jeremiah 31, 31. It's a time that we're living in right now, but one certainly prophesied about the future as well. So let's notice what Jeremiah recorded for us under God's inspiration. Jeremiah 31, 31. You're going to recognize this as soon as we get here. Prophetic of that time of the millennium, but this time right now that we're in. It says, Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord. I'll make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. Not according to the covenant I made with their fathers, in the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. But, verse 33, This is the covenant I'll make with the house of Israel after those days.

I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they shall be my people. And that prophetic time is coming. God will put his law into their hearts and minds. They'll understand the spiritual significance of God's way and his word. And so they will know him. They will understand his way. And so what's going to happen to mankind and society? It's going to be transformed. It's going to be totally changed. It'll be totally different. That there will not be this arrogance that mankind had. And so when they live the truth and they understand his way, we see it'll be totally different than our culture today. That is enmity against God. That is adamant opposed to God. And so we see that time is prophesied. And ultimately, Christ will rule in righteousness over all mankind. And of course with Christ ruling, that changes everything. And so we will have that opportunity to rule with him as mankind has their mind open to the real truth and what real life is all about.

All right. That brings us down to day seven. Day seven. What happened on the seventh day?

Yay! We know that one. Okay, great. Let's make a quick reminder. Here we are. We are here on the seventh day. We are here on the Sabbath day. We have Sabbath rest, Genesis chapter two, right at the very beginning. Thus the heavens and the earth and all the hosts of them were finished. And on the seventh day, God ended his work which he had done. And he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done. He blessed the seventh day, sanctified it, and sanctified it because in it he rested from all his work which God had created and made. And so God created the Sabbath by resting. And the work of creation was done.

Now we know the work of creation is still going on in a sense as God is creating a spiritual family in us and those that he will call later. We know there's coming a time that this world as a whole will rest. Right now, you know, we've got a few people here in Lake June, Alaska. There's a few people around the world that are celebrating the Sabbath today.

But this prophesies a time that the whole world will celebrate the Sabbath. Everyone will recognize the Sabbath.

And not just a day, but we know the millennium as a whole is a thousand years. A thousand year Sabbath in a sense.

We know that God created those things in six days. Mankind has had six days to do his work. And there's coming a seventh day when the whole earth will rest and God will direct mankind. And it will no longer be mankind's rule. This thousand year rest represents a Sabbath. Mankind has had six thousand years to do his thing. And at last, the world will be at rest when God ultimately returns to this earth. If you're still in Jeremiah, I hope you're still there because Jeremiah talks about this. If you're still there in Jeremiah 31, notice just back a little bit. Go back from Jeremiah 31-33. Go back to verse 10. Go back to verse 10 because it prophesies. It connects Genesis chapter 2 all the way to the future millennium as well. And how they connect together. Jeremiah 31-10. It says, Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare it in the isles far away. Say he who scattered Israel will gather him and will keep him as a shepherd a flock. For the Lord has ransomed Jacob and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him. They shall come and they will sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord, over the grain. The wine and the oil, the richness of everything that will take place that we celebrate and recognize and symbolize today. It says, Over the young of the flock and the herd, their life shall become like a watered garden, and they shall never languish again.

Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I'll turn their mourning into joy. I'll give the priests their full fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my bounty. Says the Lord. It will be a beautiful time of abundance where there will truly be rest. There will be peace.

Of course, we're told that's our goal. We're on this journey to the kingdom, and we're told we need to strive to enter that rest. Hebrews 4 talks about that beautiful section of Scripture in Hebrews 4 that shows this time we keep on this day is symbolic of that future rest in the kingdom of God. And so we recognize that, and we become so diligent to enter that rest, and it's symbolized today. Symbolized right here on this Sabbath day. And so as you imagine these seven days of creation, it is interesting to recognize the prophetic symbolism that's found in those days of creation and the millennium itself. We see a prophecy of what God has done in the past and what he will yet do in the future as he establishes the kingdom of God. And so as we look at the creation of light, and we look at the fact that God separated the waters, and then he made dry land, and he assigned the lights, and he created the animals, and then of course he also created human beings, and he rested. All of them point to the prophecies of the future coming kingdom of God. And so let's remain out of the smoke and the dust and the darkness of this world, and really catch the vision for the coming kingdom of God.