The Eighth Day

Well, titled today, Eighth Day the World Goes on to Perfection. Eighth Day the World Goes on to Perfection. The messages of this feast have indelibly stamped upon our minds the urgency of the times in which we live. The world desperately needs to understand the great questions of life. Who is God? What is God? What is its purpose? And the corollary to that, who is man, what is man, and what is his purpose? Do you know that if you can answer those six questions, which I'm sure most of you can do, that that is, in a sense, the wisdom of the ages that has been imparted to you that you understand? God exists. Of course, the first great question is, does God exist? It says in Hebrews 11.6 that those who would come to God must first of all believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. Who is God? He is our Father. What is God? He is Spirit. His purpose? Bringing sons and daughters to glory. And the corollary, who is man created in the image of God with faculties akin to God with great potential. What is man made from the dust of the earth but with that great potential? And his purpose is to be in the family of God. The world desperately needs the God-ordained family structure to be restored. The world desperately needs to know who the true God is and understand the true path to the kingdom of God. The peoples of this world desperately need to be relieved of its suffering and pain. Let's note God's definition of the kingdom of God. There's one place in the Bible that says the kingdom of God is, and that is in Romans 14 and verse 17. Romans 14 and verse 17. In Romans 14 and verse 17, for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Remember what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15, 50, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. So as we look at the peoples of the world today, we're seeing that they're not experiencing righteousness, peace, and joy. This world desperately needs the kingdom to come. In the meantime, this world desperately needs godly leadership. This world desperately needs godly parents and children, and we could go on and on with this world desperately needs. In Revelation chapter 3 and verse 20, in the message there to the church at Laodicea, the last three verses there, John writes Revelation 3.20.

In Revelation 3 and verse 20, we see Jesus Christ is standing at the door knocking.

I stand at the door, behold, I stand at the door, knock, if any man will open, I will come in and sup with him. And Jesus Christ, in verse 21, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he is there making intercession for us. So are you, am I, ready to sup with our spouse's husband at the marriage supper of the Lamb? God and Christ are knocking on the doors of our hearts today. In Revelation chapter 4, just forward a page there, the apostle John is given a vision of God sitting on his throne. We'll look there at verse 8. The first several verses describe the great splendor of God's throne, him sitting on the throne. Verse 8, the 24 elders fell down before him that sat on the throne and worshiped him that lives forever and ever, and cast the crowns before the throne, saying, You art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for you have created all things. This next word in the Old King James, it says, For your pleasure.

That word in the New King James is translated correctly. Of course, as Mr. Keller says, I was a friend of King James, and I prefer that. The same Bible the apostles used.

This word, pleasure, in the Greek is theema. Theema, and it means will. 62 times it is translated will in the Bible. So, for your will they are and were created. All things were created for the will of God, for the will of God to be fulfilled. That includes human beings.

Now let's turn to Ephesians 1 and verse 9. In Ephesians 1 and verse 9, we also see this word once again, theema, translated correctly. In Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 9, having made known unto the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which is purpose in himself. So, God has had a great purpose, God and the Word. Both are co-eternal. Both are co-essential of the same essence. Existing in eternity, they planned out this great plan of salvation, that in the dispensation, or in the Greek, it's oeconomia, meaning this period of testing, administration. And we're under the administration now of grace, as it says in Ephesians 3 and verse 1, that in the dispensation of the fullness of times, that dispensation is the one that lies ahead of us. He might gather together in one thing, in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, which are on the earth, even in him, in whom we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will, Thelema, Thelema. Then we should be that we should be the praise of glory who first trusted in Christ.

So this great plan of salvation is according to the will of God in Christ. That word translated will 62 times in the New Testament. The plan of salvation was ordained before time began. Let's notice that very clearly in the Bible. This plan of salvation was ordained before time began. We'll read into it from 2 Timothy chapter 1 and verse 7. For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind. He's given us of His very essence, the Holy Spirit. God and Christ live in us.

Be not you therefore ashamed of the testimony, the mature, the witness, the record of our Lord, nor of me of His prisoner, but be you partakers of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God. Now here's our key verse, verse 9, our key verse with regard to what I am speaking of, who has saved us and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given in Christ Jesus before the world began. So there are three Greek words that are translated world in the New Testament. Chronos is this one. It means time. It's a word from which we get chronology. Before the chronos, the time began. Of course, Aeon is translated world, age, and also cosmos, which means the order of things. The plan of salvation, this ancient plan of salvation. There are other verses, like in 1 Peter, that talks about that from the foundation of the world, Jesus Christ was foreknown before the foundation of the world. Or Revelation 13, 8 says He was slain from the foundation of the world. The plan of salvation is brought to fruition by the will of God. Let's notice Isaiah now. In Isaiah chapter 9 and verse 6, one of the greatest of all messianic prophecies, and handles Messiah. Isaiah chapter 9 verse 6, For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, to establish it with judgment and with justice, from henceforth, even for ever, the zeal who will perform it through the will of God, the zeal of the Lord of hosts, will perform this. So God's will before the foundation of the world, the will of God and the Word, is going to be brought to fruition for all of humankind. This afternoon, Mr. Ossoff will fill in many of the details of that, but I'm going to focus more on going on to perfection. The world can go on to perfection when the Second Resurrection takes place. The world can go on to perfection, and we need to go on to perfection now. So why did God ordain this great plan of salvation? It is because God is love. As the Apostle John writes in 1 John 3.8 and 1 John 3.16, that God is love. 1 John 4.8 and 1 John 4.16. I think I misstated it to begin with. That statement that God is love means that is his state of being. He is love. All of his works are done in love. That means he does not have to decide whether or not he's going to do something out of love. The greatest motivating force in the universe is love. Love is an emotion that needs to be shared with others. Through the years, the Church of God has taught and has defined that love is an outgoing concern for others. As it says in 1 Corinthians 13.5, love seeks not its own. If love is not shared, it is only self-love, narcissism. God deeply desires to share who he is and what he is in a family setting with everyone that is created in his image. In the beginning, God created.

That is why he created humankind in the first place. We owe our very existence, our very life's breath to God, God's love, grace, and his will.

Children from an early age can only be taught to have a relationship with God and God exists. Who made the moon, who made the stars, who made the earth, who made you, and develop that relationship with God.

And to be acquainted with God of who he is and what he is and what is his purpose and the same thing with humankind. We have emphasized that in our Sabbath school programs way back from the beginning. Who is God and what is God? We're here because of God's love, grace, and will. Another one of God's great characteristics, that is, he is not a respecter of persons. In Romans 2 and verse 11.

For there is no respect of persons with God, no respect of persons. Thus, if God did not give everyone who's ever lived an opportunity for salvation, he would be a respecter of persons. Therefore, as the apostle Peter writes in 2 Peter 3.9, the Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is long suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. We have historically taught that this day represents the time in which God's great plan of salvation as revealed by the Holy Days is fulfilled. The Bible is replete with scriptures that show us that this is not the only day of salvation, and that a resurrection to spiritual and physical life is prophesied in many places in the Bible. I want to look at three of those places right now with you. Let's go to Daniel 12. In Daniel 12 and verse 1, this is really an inspiring chapter, and there are many things contained. I don't want to get too sidetracked on all of the elements of Daniel 12, but in Daniel 12 verse 1, and at that time shall Michael stand up the great prince which stands for the children of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to the same time. So, of course, speaking of the great tribulation that Jesus Christ spoke of in Matthew 24, there will be a time of trouble since it's never before. Daniel even gives the countdown. After you see the abomination of desolation placed, there is a countdown, but that is another time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the book, and many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. We're going to read in just a moment, of course, from the Gospel of John, chapter 5, verses 28 and 29, that is also a time of judgment.

So many will shine, and they'll turn many to righteousness, verse 4, but you, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, even to the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. And as I mentioned, you read the rest of the chapter, and you will see much about the end times. Now let's go to John, chapter 5, which adds some to that, starting in verse 28, and John, chapter 5, and verse 28. Marble not at this, for the hour is coming, in which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice.

It didn't exclude anyone.

And shall come forth, they that have done good, under the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of, and the Greek word that is translated damnation in the old King James is chrisis, and it means a time of judgment, the resurrection of judgment. It is translated judgment 41 times, damnation 3 times, so it should be judgment here. Now note 2 Timothy chapter 4, in verse 1. So these are verses showing that there is a time coming in which God is going to, through Christ, to judge the world, and that those who have died will live again. Of course, I could tell many heart-rendering stories myself about how desperately I want to see those that have gone before. One of my earliest childhood memories, I was three or four years old and living about a hundred yards from us with my great-grandmother, who was dying of breast cancer, and I would hear her screams as my grandmother changed her dressings on her breast every day. Then I'd live two years later, next door to my great-grandfather, who was dying of prostate cancer. Then my own mother had cancer. But she triumphed over that through, I'm sure, God's Prayer and many other things, and lived 40 more years and died at age 87. So many of us could tell all the stories of wanting to see all of those that are gone before us. I grew up in a Missionary Baptist Church. In fact, I was teaching Sunday school, young adults at the age of 20.

At that church, there were three donation boxes set out on a table, a box for local mission, national missions, and international missions. The focus was to get every person on earth saved that you could possibly get to, so that that person could escape the flames of the ever-burning gun of fire. I remember back then asking a question to the ministry and to others, what if a person died without ever hearing the gospel and thus never having an opportunity for salvation? What would happen to those people since God is not a respecter of persons? How could he justify sending them to Gehenna Fire? And the response was, they will be judged by their own law. And they would go on to say if they were good people, they would be saved. This, of course, contradicts what is revealed in Scripture. They tried to justify some of this by using two or three verses from the book of Romans, saying that those who have never heard the true gospel can be saved by their own law, which, of course, contradicts once again what's in the Bible. So let's look at Romans 2, verse 11, says God is not a respecter of persons. For as many as have sinned without law shall perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law. See, as in Adam all die, and death is passed on to us because all have sinned, it is through the second Adam, Jesus Christ, that all will have an opportunity to be saved. There are no shortcuts. We have people like John Hagee, who has Cornerstone Church down in San Antonio and Mega Church, and he teaches that the Jews have a different avenue to the kingdom of God than other people. I remember back Larry King interviewing Joel Osteen and saying, Joel, what about the Jews? Or what about this group? Yet you say that Christ is on the way, and he'd say, well, Larry, we'll just leave that up to God. He knows best for everybody and sort of brushed it on off. The Bible is clear. You look at verse 15, and verse 15 is a verse that could be confusing, which show the work of the law written in their hearts, speaking of the Gentiles, their conscience also bearing witness. Now conscience, some people say, let your conscience be your guide. Well, what is the fallacy of that is conscience really means the knowing within yourselves. And as we talked about the cultural shift on the Sabbath, your culture really determines to a large degree and shapes your conscience. So there are people historically who have been cannibals, and so if they were good cannibals, would they be saved? Of course not, but that's what they believe. And other people have other paths, so-called, to the kingdom of God. But there's only one true path, only one straight gate to the kingdom of God. Their conscience also bearing witness and their thoughts, the means while accusing or else excusing one another. In other words, in this life they're judged by their own law. Then you look at verse 16, in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. At the present time, they're judged in this life by their own law in this world. All die with or without the law in this age, but in the world to come, Jew and Gentile will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and be judged by Christ. Let's look at that back in Romans 14 verse 10. You know, we can all just say, well, the eighth day represents time for salvation for everyone, but we also need to be able to be apologists, and apologists is one who explains and justifies the stance that you take. Everyone, whether they be Jew, whether they be Gentile, that have died without an opportunity, will stand before the judgment seat of Christ, God and Christ. So we look at Romans 14 in verse 10.

But why do you judge your brother, and why do you set at naught your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, as I live, says, the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another anymore, but judge this, rather, that no man put a stumbling block on our occasion to fall in his brother's way. Now, you look forward to Philippians chapter 2, and verse 10. Notice what it says there. The first part of Philippians 2, it talks about Jesus Christ humbling himself, even to the point, the ignominious death of dying on the stake, and giving his life, making himself in no reputation for us, and taking on the form of a man.

And because he did that, he is exalted above every knee. And notice what this says. Philippians 2 and verse 10, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. And it goes on to say that he has been exalted above every name. You imagine going from that state of being, spirit being, with the glory in the family of God, and giving up that glory to be made flesh and well among us. And of course, he has been glorified and sits on the right hand of the Father. You heard that in the sermonette? I just read the verse in Revelation 3 at the beginning. Let's talk just a moment about the book of Romans and justification. The book of Romans is like a blueprint for world peace. It's a blueprint for being reconciled to God for all peoples. In chapter 1, I'm just giving here a broad overview of Romans, a little bit of it, not all of it. In Romans chapter 1, Paul takes and Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, takes the Gentiles to task. In chapter 2, he takes the Jews to task. And then in chapter 3, he begins to summarize where we all stand, and probably a verse that we could all quote if you look at Romans 3 in verse 23. In Romans 3 verse 23, he brings Jew and Gentile, everybody, as it were, into the same boat when he says, For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

So how can Jew and Gentile be justified?

Look at Romans chapter 3, just starting with the next verse down. In Romans chapter 3 verse 24, being justified freely by his grace through the redemption, the buying back, justified means to balance the scales, to pay the penalty through the redemption, the buying back power that is in Christ Jesus, whom God has set forth to be a propituation. He went in our stead. Instead of us having to go, he went in our stead through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are passed through the forbearance of God. This great Messiah had been promised from Genesis 3 and verse 15 and many, many messianic prophecies through the ages that a Messiah would come. Now picking it up in verse 28, 10. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Once you are convicted of your sins, if you were to begin to keep the law of God perfectly, that would not justify your sins that are passed. Because Romans 6, 23 says, the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. So as we read from verses 24 and 25, Jesus Christ went in our stead and we through faith accepted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and thus we were reconciled to the Father and viewed as sinless so that we could receive the earnest of the Spirit. So we continue here, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ. Now verse 28, therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Now that's where a lot of the world goes wrong because they read that and they postulate, theorize that the law is done away with, which we'll see in just a moment that is not the case.

Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also the God of the Gentiles? Well, like we said in chapter 1, he takes the Gentiles to task. Chapter 2 takes the Jews to task. And this great rhetorical question, is he not also the Gentiles? Yes, so the Gentiles. Are the Gentiles also seeing it as one God, who shall justify the circumcision by faith, the Jews, and uncircumcision the Gentiles through faith? Do we then make void the law through faith God forbid, yea, we establish the law. How is it that the law is established through that? What we've just read. All of us should be able to answer that. We establish the law in that if the law were not in effect. There would be no need for a Savior, no need for a Redeemer, no need for a propitiation if the law were not in effect. But since the wages of sin is death, then someone had to die, and Jesus Christ died in her stead. Thus the law is established, the law is in effect, and it is through faith that we're justified. Now more on this. You remember the promise made to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through his seed. Look at Genesis 12 and verse 3. Genesis 12 and verse 3. In Genesis 12 verse 3, just reading that one verse, because that's the one we really key in on, where Abraham left Ur of the Chaldees, and he journeyed across the river and into what we call the Holy Land today, a promise made to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through his seed. How are they all nations blessed through his seed? So Genesis 12 and verse 3. And I will bless them that bless you, and curse him that curses you. And in you shall all the families of the earth be blessed, all the families, Jew and Gentile. So we can now go to Galatians chapter 3. In Galatians chapter 3, and we will see in Galatians chapter 3 how that is fulfilled. Galatians chapter 3 and verse 14, it ties right in with opportunity for everyone. Is he the God of the Jews only? No, yes, he is the God of the Gentiles also. So that in the seed of Abraham, all nations, now look at verse 14, Galatians 3. 14, that the blessings of Abraham might come on the Gentiles, ethnos, nations through Jesus Christ that we might receive the promise of his spirit through faith. How does it come? That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through faith.

Brethren, I speak after the manner of men, though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man's dissonance are adds thereto. Now look at verse 26. In verse 26, For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek. There is neither born nor free. There is neither male nor female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. That's everybody. Everybody. And if you be in Christ, then are you Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise.

You know, Acts 4.12 says, There is only one name given under heaven whereby men must be saved. No, the Gentiles will not be judged just by their own law, and neither will any other nation or ethnos or ethnic group of people are all judged by the law of God. There is no salvation apart from repentance and faith in the sacrifice of Christ. So from Scripture, we can conclude that the plan of God is exclusive. What do I mean by that? Exclusive. There's only one way. There's only one path. There's only one gate. There's only one door. But on the other hand, it is inclusive. The plan is exclusive. Only one plan.

And the desire of God, not willing that any should perish, is inclusive in that God is the God of all nations, all peoples, and not willing that any should perish. This is in keeping with John 3, 16, the often quoted. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him, whosoever should not perish, but have everlasting life. So in the millennium, the door will begin to be open for every person to call upon the name of the Lord. And from that point forward, the door of salvation will eventually be open to whosoever will let him come and partake. So all of humankind will eventually have the opportunity.

Right now, judgment is on us, the house of God. And if it first began at us, what shall be the end of those who obey not the gospel of God? Well, they'll appear resurrected as physical human beings. We've been called to be the firstfruits. God has called you in his marvelous light and given you and I the opportunity to go on to perfection now. Now, the world cannot go on to perfection until everyone has had this opportunity. We're all standing before the judgment seat of Christ on a daily basis.

So we can ask ourselves, am I feasting daily on the Word of God? Am I renewing the inward man daily? Am I ready for the knock of the bridegroom on my door? Behold, I stand at the door. Any man will open. I will come in unto him and suck, and he with me. We can quote Matthew 4.4, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Let's notice this admonition. It brings it down to earth a little bit more. In Psalm 119, Psalm 119, I guess you would say, is one of my favorite Psalms because it has so much in it. It has just about anything you want to name. Doctrine, prophecy, Christian living. It's all there in Psalm 119. People that might be having a compulsive, addictive problem get on your knees and especially read verses I'm about to read here. In Psalm 119, verse 11, Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to your word. With my whole heart have I sought you, O let me not wander from your commandment. Your word have a head in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Is God through the Holy Spirit writing his laws on your inward parts, on my inward parts? He will not write what you have not heard or read.

Are you in a state of mind, on the other hand, that the people of Judah were in when Paul wrote the book to the Hebrews? That is a state of mind. If you will turn to Hebrews chapter 5.

In Hebrews chapter 5, of course, Paul writes this. Many talk about that he was preparing the people for the destruction of the temple. He is comparing and contrasting the elements of the Old Covenant with elements of the New Covenant, showing the superiority of the New Covenant.

In Hebrews 5.11, Of whom we have many things to say and hard to be uttered, seeing your Delab hearing. Now Paul wrote this circa 60 AD, and the church began on 31 AD, so it was only about 30 years, a generation and a half. They had become Delab hearing. Brethren, please don't ever let yourself become Delab hearing. You will never exhaust the life-giving words that are contained in Scripture. For when you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again, which be the first principles of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat. I would say that most of you in here who are adults have been in the church at least 30 years.

Some of the surveys have shown that 35 years or more, and of course many up to 60 or more years in the church. Those who have those that are Delab hearing have need of milk and not strong meat.

For everyone that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness. He is a babe. Strong meat belongs to them that are going on to maturity. Even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. In other words, they are doing what they know to do. He that knows to do good and does not unto him it is sin.

Therefore, now we go to chapter 6, Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not lay again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God. Let us go on to perfection.

They list six things there of repentance, faith, baptism, laying out of hands, resurrection, and judgment. Then it says in the next verse, maybe it's verse 4, This will we do. That is, we will go on to perfection, God permitting. God wants us to go on to perfection now. Let me show you a great summary verse of perfection. If you would look at 1 Corinthians 13. 1 Corinthians 13. I wish everybody can quote Matthew 5 in verse 48 which says, Become you therefore perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

What can we glean from these first three verses here in 1 Corinthians 13. Verse 1, Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, agape, spiritual love. God is love. God is spiritual love. So would it be doing violence in the scripture to say, If I am not becoming as God is. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and am not becoming as God is, have not charity, I am become as a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains and have not charity, if I am not becoming as God is, I am nothing.

You can know all of those things and be doing all of those things, but if you are not in this state of becoming, it says I am nothing. Then verse 3, And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, if I am not becoming as God is, see, God is perfect. And of course, I know there's the great philosophical debate that people could have of, We can't be perfect and flesh cannot be perfected.

Of course, you know we can quote Romans 8-7, now say, brethren, that the carnal mind is enmity toward God, not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. But if you are in the faith, you have the Spirit of God, and you are to obey the mind of the Spirit, and you can rule over the flesh. So, once again, let's ask ourselves, am I becoming love as God is love?

Am I going on to perfection as He exhorts us to do? Humanity as a whole cannot go on to perfection until everyone has the opportunity for salvation. Scripture makes it clear, as we have noted many times, that everyone will be given a chance for salvation. We have to go on to perfection, so we will be there to serve as kings and priests with God and Christ.

If we are faithful, we're going to be given thrones. We will rule and reign with God and Christ. Let's look at Revelation 20. Revelation 20 and verse 4, the first three verses deal with the binding of Satan casting him into the bottomless pit. But I want to look at verse 4. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them. And I saw the souls of men that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, for the word of God, which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands.

And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and they ruled and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Then go to Revelation 22, as in the special music that we heard about seeing the glorified God. Look at Revelation 22, verse 1.

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruit, shielded her fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall serve him, and they shall see his face.

They shall see his face. We shall see him as he is. The old gospel song, we shall behold him. They shall see his face, and his name shall be in their foreheads. So am I. Are you ready to look on the face of God? Are you ready to look on the face of your Lord and Master Jesus Christ? This beast should be the most pivotal spiritual experience in your life up to this point. The trumpet has sounded in Zion. The handwriting is on the wall. He who has eyes to see, let him see. He who has ears to hear, let him hear, and let him heed. Blessed are they who are doers of the word and not hearers only. If we wait, if you, if I wait till next year to get our spiritual house in order, we may not be here next year. This next year, there's no telling what all is going to happen in this world. You see the clouds on the horizon. You read the news. You see the news. You know what's out there. So the next year is really going to be a time in which the wheat and the chaff will be sifted, and God is indeed sifting out the hearts of men before his judgment seat now. There will be those at the time of sifting out before the judgment seat later. The messages of the feast should have indelibly stamped upon your mind how desperately the world needs the glorious radiant spirit beings to teach them. So in view of all these things and much more, we could ask ourselves, what is my spiritual plan for overcoming and making my calling an election sure? So we will see you at the feast next year. Remember, a parable of the ten virgins. They all slumbered and slept. They all slumbered and slept. I think we tend to overlook that. Apparently saying, my Lord delays his coming, even those with oil in their lamps were asleep. The irony of this is that those who are in the condition, that condition, that is, with no oil in their lamps, are smiting their fellow servants. You see in Matthew 24, I think we fail at times to appreciate, appreciate is probably not the word, to realize, to capture the continuation of the thought. See, Matthew 25 is a continuation of the Olivet prophecy. It doesn't end like the first verse in chapter 6. So you look at Matthew 24.

Matthew 24. Matthew 24.

In verse 46, Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when he comes, shall find him doing. Verily I say unto you that he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But I say, if that evil servant shall say in his heart, my heart, my Lord delays his coming. See, people don't say it verbally. They may even talk about all the end is here and all of that. But yet at the same time, God knows us every bit of our heart, thoughts, and intent, and our actions, and shall begin to smite his fellow servants and eat and drink with the drunken. The Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looks not for him, and in an hour that he's not aware of, and shall cut him asunder and appoint him his portion with a hypocrite. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Now see, but now you look at the first few words there in chapter 25. Then, when, when that is going on, then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps and went forth and meet the bridegroom. So the admonition ever to us is to be reconciled to God in Christ and each member of the body of Christ.

So in view of all the things that we have heard here at the feast, the question of, am I ready, is ever before us. We desperately need to become holy as God is holy. You heard in the first sermonette by Mr. Moody on the first Holy Day. We all are influencing people in a positive or negative way, and one of the aspects of our influence is leadership. Where are we leading? Every word we utter, every step we take, every action that we make leads to influence. So are our thoughts, our actions, our steps designed to help others succeed? See, the great definition of leadership is the art and skill of helping others achieve their God-ordained potential.

So in view of all the challenges that lie before us, we need to set our goals and our focus clearly on the kingdom of God. The voice of the trumpet is sounded. We all need to take heat. Today is our day of salvation. If you and I are not going on to perfection, we're not ready. So I hope and pray the best for each one of you in the days that lie ahead. Wanda and I have enjoyed spending this time with you very much. It's been a wonderful feast, and we can sense it from the spirit and the attitude of all of you. So, brother and I do hope that you are blessed and we see you back here next year. And may God be with you until we meet again.