God's Coming Kingdom

It is obvious that many governments in the world today are struggling. We look at the civil war going on in Syria for quite some time now. Many, many people, well over 100,000. I'm not sure exactly the latest number. This past week I heard that there are a million children refugees from this one war in Syria. A million children living in refugee camps. What about Egypt? The army there taking over the government from the Muslim Brotherhood. And over a thousand people, I believe, is the latest figure that I've heard so far, who have died in the last week or so. What about Iraq and Afghanistan? Violence and bloodshed there between opposing groups.

And here in the U.S., we also have a crisis of government. Our president's approval rating is somewhere around 43 to 48 percent, depending upon the poll, whether Gallup, Time or Fox. And which means over half of the people do not approve of the president's job rating. And Congress has an adesmally low approval rating of about 17 percent.

Yes, governments are struggling.

At a time when world problems are escalating rapidly.

And so the problems in the world are outstripping the ability of our leadership to control them.

I want to read something that came out almost 40 years ago, not quite.

About 40 years ago, there was an organization that was formed called the World Future Society. You can go online and find out information about it. The World Future Society is an organization of people dedicated to the future, it says.

And they look for ideas on the future in areas like business and economics, energy, environment and resources, food and agriculture, habitats, health and medicine, information society, science and technology, world affairs. So they're trying to look into the future and figure out exactly what's going to happen, say, five years from now, ten years from now. Well, in 1975, I have an article here from U.S. News and World Report magazine, the June 23rd, 1975 issue.

In 1975, they got together. They were only had only been around about two years at that time. And they met 2,000 of them, men and women, met in Washington, D.C., in June.

And some of the conclusions they had, now put yourself back in time to 1975, it would be natural to look ahead maybe to the next 25 years. And that's what they were doing. What will the next 25 years be like? What will it be like in the year 2000? Of course, we're 13 years beyond that now. But, you know, they hit the nail on the head in many ways. Here's what they came up with in 1975. Effective leadership will be hard to find in the next quarter century, because today's political institutions cannot respond quickly enough to head off rapidly escalating problems. The world, they feel, is destined to lurch from crisis to crisis until political systems can deal with dangerous trends before they get out of control. That's exactly what has been going on and what continues to go on today. Political institutions, government, is trying to find solutions before these dangerous trends get out of control. They go on to say that the sheer weight of high-speed communications during the next two decades can produce the most informed and aware generation in history, or reduce the globe to a second tower of Babel, collecting and transmitting much information, but offering little comprehension of what it all means. That's where we are exactly. We offer a lot of information, but nobody understands exactly what it means. The core issue facing modern man is to strike a balance between the world's teeming population and the Earth's shrinking resources, and the time remaining to find a way to resolve this question is critically short.

Thus, in their opinion, in 1975, global crises that may include nuclear terrorism, oil wars, widespread famine, and political revolution are almost certain to occur before the end of the century. We're seeing a lot of political revolution right now, aren't we? Also, we fear the threat of nuclear terrorism very, very much, and certainly there is and has been famine. Oil wars, you know, some of this has not come to pass totally, but there's been some of that. So the world's problems today are great, and governments are struggling and simply are not able to find the solution to the problems that we are facing. Wouldn't it be great if there were a government able to deal with today's challenges and solve the problems of war and bloodshed and corruption and terrorism and hunger and poverty? What about a government that had a 100 percent approval rating where the leadership is composed of true public servants?

You know, the fall holy days are near, and they usher in a time when the earth is going to have perfect government, and there's going to be a 100 percent approval rating for the way this government is run. Let's read about that government today and let it refresh our minds and inspire us and lift us up and fill us with hope for the future, because this is actually the only hope the world has. Let's also at the same time see how we fit in. We fit in to this government that is coming, and we need to see how we fit in and what we should be doing about it. Let's read some key verses to begin the sermon about government, the government that is coming. Jesus, just before his death, talked about this government that is going to be set up on the earth. John chapter 18 and verse 36. John chapter 18 and verse 36. Jesus was before Pilate on the day that he would die, and Pilate asked him what he had done. Jesus in verse 36 said, My kingdom is not of this world.

If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here. Pilate therefore said to him, Are you a king then?

Are you a king? Jesus answered, You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. So Jesus said, You say rightly that I am a king, but my kingdom is not now. This is not the time setting for my kingdom. This is not when I'm going to be king.

He was talking about his second coming. Jesus Christ will return to set up a government on the earth, and it's a government that is going to tackle the problems of the world, no matter what they may be. And this government will bring a solution to the problems of mankind. Let's go to Zechariah chapter 14, and we see that Jesus Christ, at his return, is going to become king over all the earth. He's going to set up a government on the earth. How many people in the world realize that in the Protestant world? Most people do not. They think Jesus is going to come back, not to govern, not to set up a government, but they think he's going to come back and everybody will be resurrected. Everything is all over. The righteous go to heaven and the unrighteous go to hell, and God's plan is complete. They don't understand that Jesus Christ is going to set up a government on the earth and that this government is going to rule over the nations and bring peace and a solution to mankind's problems and finish God's great plan of salvation with humanity. In Zechariah chapter 14 and verse 1, Behold, the day of the Lord is coming.

And that's the day that is represented by the next holy day when Jesus Christ will return, represented or pictured by the Feast of Trumpets. I will gather all nations to battle against Jerusalem. Verse 2. Verse 3, The Lord will go forth and fight, and in verse 4, His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives. And in verse 8, In that day it shall be that living waters will flow out from Jerusalem. These living waters represent the spirit of Almighty God. They represent the solution to warfare, bloodshed, hunger, and starvation, and all the atrocities that are going on in the world today. Real solutions to mankind's problems represents the spirit of God and the laws of Almighty God proceeding out from Jerusalem. It's kind of a type here of the spiritual truth and way of life going out from Jesus Christ. In verse 9, The Lord shall be king over all the earth. In that day it shall be the Lord is one and His name one. So yes, Jesus said He came to be king, to become a king. And His Second Coming, He will certainly come back with great power to be king of the earth.

There's a prophecy in Isaiah chapter 9 about a government. Again, how many people in the world understand that Christ is coming back to govern? You know, I went to church about 15 or 16 years with my parents when I was a boy, and I never remember a message about Jesus Christ coming back and setting up a government on the earth. I never had a message like this one I'm giving today, that Jesus Christ then is going to be the top one in a government that will be set upon the earth at His Second Coming.

In Isaiah chapter 9 and verse 6, Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder. That's what we're talking about this afternoon. Government. That means to govern. It means to lead people, nations, to govern over nations and people. The government shall be upon his shoulders. Name shall be called wonderful, counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end. This is wonderful to think about, isn't it? I mean, this is a message. This is good news. This is certainly very much a part of the gospel of the kingdom of God, the message we proclaim to the world. God is going to set up a government. Christ will return and be king. He will set upon the throne of David and over his kingdom to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.

You know, Jesus Christ is well qualified, isn't he, to have a government where there is judgment, righteous judgment and justice for everyone. And He will see to it that that is the kind of government that does exist and it will go on for a thousand years. In Isaiah chapter 2, He's going to then bring peace to the world and there will be no more bloodshed, no more warfare, no more military academies where people learn the fine art of killing other human beings.

Well, that'd be great. That doesn't make a better sense, does it? Go to school and sit there and you learn how to kill your enemy. Well, we won't need military institutions when Christ sets up His government. In Isaiah chapter 2 and verse 2, now it shall come to pass. Let us say, it shall come to pass. In the latter days, there's the time setting and we're living in those time those latter days now, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains.

God's kingdom will be set up on the earth, will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will flow to it. Many people shall come and say, come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob.

You know, without Satan around, notice how teachable man is. Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord and He will teach us His ways and we will walk in His paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be the world capital where Jesus Christ will have His temple and reside.

I think He will certainly get out to other parts of the earth. I don't think Jesus will just be in Jerusalem all the time. He'll get to other parts of the earth, but think about that. That'll be exciting, won't it? Different parts of the earth have a visit from Jesus Christ. Today, people get excited when the president or other leaders visit their area. But what about when Jesus Christ comes for a visit?

That's going to really be exciting. He will judge between the nations and shall rebuke many people. They shall beat their swords in the plowshares and their spears in the pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. Yes, Jesus Christ is returning, and He's going to set up a government on the earth.

And it's going to bring the solution to the problems that mankind has not been able to find the solutions to during this age. Jesus will be king. But guess what? He's not going to rule alone. Many, many verses show that God has been very busy during these 6,000 years.

But the world at large is ignorant of what God is really doing during this time, during these 6,000 years. Most people think that God has been trying to save the world, and yet most of the world is deceived and has been deceived in the past. So what has God been busy doing? Well, that second half on our seal, He has been preparing a people. He's been preaching the gospel through His servants, but He has been preparing a people, those that He calls, preparing them for what? to reign with Christ. Christ will not then operate a one-man show. He will have saints with Him at His return. Let's turn back to Zechariah 14 one more time.

Christ does not land on the Mount of Olives when His feet light down upon the Mount of Olives alone.

Remember in verse 4, we read Zechariah 14 in verse 4, and that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives. That's the very same Mount that He ascended from after His resurrection, where He ascended up to God's throne. And notice the last part of verse 5, Thus the Lord, my God, will come, and all the saints with you, all the ones that God has been preparing to reign with Christ, will be with them. When His feet stand on the Mount of Olives, they won't stand there alone. They will stand there with Him.

If we indeed have been prepared to reign with Christ, we will be with Him. Let's go to now the book of Daniel, chapter 7. So the saints are going to be with Christ, and they're going to assist Jesus Christ in governing on the earth. I know again that this is very different than what most people in the world understand. They think the righteous go up to heaven. They kind of float around on the cloud. That's one idea. There's no specific job that the saints will be doing up in heaven. You ever heard of anything? Kind of idle. That'd be kind of boring, wouldn't it? It would be very boring. But the truth is that the saints are going to be with Christ where He is, and He will be king over all the earth, and the saints will be with Him, and they will help to govern over the nations on the earth. In Daniel, chapter 7, in verse 13, I was watching in the night visions, and behold one like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He came, and this is like Jesus Christ ascending up to God's throne after His crucifixion.

He came with the clouds, through the clouds, up to God's throne. He came to the ancient of days. He's been there as our high priest. They brought Him near before Him. To Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and His kingdom, the one which shall not be destroyed. So a kingdom is being conferred on Jesus Christ, and at just the appropriate time, the Father is going to send Him back to establish that kingdom on the earth. But notice in verse 21, I was watching, and the same horn was making war against the saints and prevailing against them until the ancient of days came. This is talking about the second coming of Christ. Until the ancient of days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom. And verse 26 says that the court shall be seated. The King James Version has judgment. The judgment shall be seated, and they shall take away His dominion to consume and destroy it forever. Then the kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall 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.

So the saints, the holy saints, brethren, the few, the handful that God has been calling during this time. In Noah's time, think about how few there were. Only eight people got on board the Ark.

And so God has not been working with huge numbers down through the ages. And even in the age of the church, there have been thousands of people. Even 3,000 people were baptized on the day of Pentecost, and 5,000 another time were added. But the numbers have been fairly small, and today they continue to be small. Those few that God has been calling are being prepared to govern.

I don't know just how much we think about it, and maybe it's good that we don't want to have any big heads that, well, boy, I'm training to be in government. Well, the truth is we are in training, and we will be a part of God's government. It's not something that we can be puffed up about. In fact, it's kind of humbling to think about that God could prepare us and use us as public servants in the government that Jesus Christ is going to set up. But that's exactly what he has been busy doing. Matthew 24 brings out that the elect are going to be—these elect, these ones that God has been choosing during this age are going to be gathered to Christ at His return. In 1 Corinthians 15, verse 50 on down, they are going to be changed to immortality at the last trumpet. They will meet Christ in the air as He returns to the earth.

And so the government that is going to be in control in the millennium when Christ establishes God's kingdom will not be a human government. I think we would believe that there will be human leadership in communities, in cities. There will be human leadership that we will work with, but over the human leadership will be a level that is not there now. And that is the level of spirit beings led by Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ and the saints will be guiding and directing. They will be the ones who are really in control and will make sure that things go in the right direction. They will teach God's law, Christ and the saints, and enforce God's law. Let's read some verses in the book of Revelation. Quite a number of verses about what God is preparing the saints of this age to do. In Revelation 1, I'm going to just take a few minutes and read these verses very quickly. The saints of this age are being prepared. That's one of the responsibilities of the church, preparing a people. Revelation 1 and verse 5.

It's grace and peace from Jesus Christ, the first-born witness, the first-born from the dead. And notice the ruler over the kings of the earth. Well, he's not actually ruling yet, is he? But he will at his return, the ruler over the kings of the earth. To him who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood. Jesus Christ did that. That's, of course, pictured so well by the Passover and that we commemorate once every year. He loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood and has made us, that's what he's busy doing, preparing us to be kings and priests to his God and Father. To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. So Jesus Christ then has cleaned us up and is busy as head of the church, making us, preparing us to be kings and priests.

Let's read chapter 2 now in verse 26. He who overcomes and keeps my works until the end. So we do have to overcome. We do have to finish that race that we heard about in the sermonette.

Can't just get started and then quit. He who overcomes and keeps my works until the end.

To him I will give power over the nations. Power over the nations. That's government. He shall rule them as government with a rod of iron. As the apostles' vessels, they shall be broken to pieces. So those who are being prepared are going to rule over nations.

And in chapter 3 and in verse 21, to him who overcomes I will grant to sit with me on my throne. So this again is government. Brother, our calling then is to a responsibility of government as a king and a priest. And I want to bring out one other word today as a judge. We'll get to those three positions of responsibility. God has called Christians today to prepare in the future to be a king, to be a priest, and to be a judge. So how are we doing in letting God prepare us for that? Sitting with Christ on his throne. In chapter 5, Revelation 5 and verse 10, it shows very well what our calling is all about. Has made us kings and priests to our God. How many people in the churches of this world believe they are being prepared to be a king and priest? They don't understand about the millennium, most of them. They don't understand about the kingdom of God being established on the earth. They don't understand that Christ is going to be king over all the earth, and that the saints of this age are going to be there with him and reigning in the position of government. Has made us kings and priests to our God, and we shall reign on the earth over the nations as we read. Let's go to Revelation chapter 11 and verse 15.

Revelation 11 and verse 15. Then the seventh angel sounded, and there were loud voices in heaven saying, The kingdoms of this world, the nations on this earth, Russia, China, India, United States, Germany, Egypt, Syria, all nations, the kingdoms of this world, have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever. They come under the control of the government that Christ will establish. And it goes on the same verse 17. The 24 elders said, We give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the one who is and was and is to come, because you have taken your great power and reigned. Yet Jesus will come back to set up God's kingdom with power and to reign. The nations were angry, and your wrath has come. In the time of the dead that they should be judged, and that you should reward your servants, the prophets, and the saints, and those that fear your name, small and great. In other words, those that God has called and prepared to reign with Christ will be rewarded. They will be given immortality, and they will be given responsibilities to govern with Christ. Let's go to Revelation 15. This is a general verse. It doesn't directly mention the saints of God, but it does mention all the nations coming to worship God. Revelation 15 and verse 3, Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the saints. So the saints are mentioned here. Who shall not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy, for all nations shall come and worship before you, for your judgments have been manifested. God's ways, God's laws, His government are made manifest to the world, revealed to the world, whereas during this age they are not. So brethren, our high calling—well, I guess we might go ahead and read one more passage. We should in Revelation 20 verses 4 and 6. Revelation 20 verse 4, I saw thrones—well, that's government, isn't it? I saw thrones, and they sat on them. Who? They. Well, the ones actually God has been preparing sat on these thrones, positions of government, and judgment was committed to them. Judgment is very important. It's going to be one of the important responsibilities we have in the government of God. Judgment was committed to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the witness of Jesus and the word of God, who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They lived in range with Christ a thousand years. And verse 6, Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death as no power they shall be priests of God and Christ and reign with him a thousand years. So the government of God is going to be in full control in teaching and administering the laws of Almighty God for one thousand years.

In our high calling, brethren, we want to think about today, and I hope we'll think about it as we go on through the Fall Holy Days. Sermons I've given the last time or two and today are preparing us for the Fall Holy Days. I want us to be looking on toward them and use these Fall Holy Days as a period of time where we do grow and we do think about these things more deeply.

But our calling is to reign with Christ as a righteous King, Priest, and Judge. Let's take each of these. What does a righteous King do? Well, let's read a few verses on what a righteous King accomplishes in Proverbs 29 and verse 2.

A beautiful verse here about a righteous leader, one that governs in the right way, in a holy and righteous way. In Proverbs chapter 29 and verse 2, when the righteous are in authority, Jesus Christ is righteous, those that are being prepared today will be righteous, that reign with Him. So when Christ, let's just say when Christ and the saints are in authority, the people will rejoice. Today the people are oppressed.

Many people are just disappointed with government. They've lost their faith in our own country.

Trust in government is probably lower than it has been maybe ever. There's not the trust, it's just not there. But when the righteous, when Jesus and the righteous saints are in authority, when they govern, the people will rejoice. There will be trust. There will be 100% approval ratings from the wicked rules that says the people groan. So we need that kind of government, don't we? The righteous and holy government of Christ and the saints. Let's go to 2 Samuel 23, 2 Samuel chapter 23. Let's read about the last words of King David, a man after God's own heart. 2 Samuel 23 verse 1. These are the last words of David. Thus says David, the son of Jesse.

Thus says the man raised up on high, the anointed of the Lord of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel. He was musical, the sweet psalmist. He wrote many of the psalms. Verse 2, The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and his word was on my tongue. The God of Israel said, the rock of Israel spoke to me. So these are words actually from God then. They're just words that God spoke to David. They're words of God to David. He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. Brethren, we will be ruling just that way over men, and we will be 100% just, and ruling in the fear of God. He that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God, and what will be the result of such righteous government. Verse 4, The sun rising in the morning is beautiful, like the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. So it's beautiful the results of holy and righteous government.

What does a righteous king do? He brings wonderful blessings and results. We'll make sure that everybody is fed. Taking all their physical needs will be met and more fed, clothed. There will be absolute safety and protection. But then more than that, everyone will understand the meaning and purpose of his life and what he needs to be doing. That he has the opportunity to be a part of God's family and kingdom. So the righteous king is going to the righteous kings we will be, will be teaching people, guiding people, and understanding God's purpose for them and what they should be doing about it. Let's go to Deuteronomy 17. Deuteronomy chapter 17 and beginning in verse 14. Deuteronomy chapter 17 and verse 14. When you come to the land which the Lord your God is giving you and possess it and dwell in it and say, I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me, you shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses. One from among your brethren you shall set as king over you. You may not set a foreigner over you who is not your brother. For he shall not multiply horses for himself nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses. For the Lord has said to you, you shall not return that way again. Neither shall he multiply wives for himself lest his heart turn away. We know Solomon did that. Nor shall he greatly multiply silver or gold for himself. See, a king, a righteous king, is not looking out for himself. He's looking out for his people. He's a public servant. Verse 18. Also it shall be when he sits on the throne of his kingdom that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book from the one before the priest the Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children, in the midst of Israel. This is what a righteous king does. He understands the laws of Almighty God and strives to live by them. He sets that example himself of living by the laws of God. You know, for the king to go to the tabernacle or temple and look at the priest's book of the law and sit there and write word for word his own copy of it, that would begin to impress upon his mind. When you write something down, it impresses it more deeply upon your mind. That would impress it upon his mind right away, and then he would be reading from it every day. Well, you know, that's what we should be doing every day, too. Guess what we're going to govern by Christ and the saints? They're going to govern by this book, and that's why we need to be reading the Bible every day and learning more of it, because that will be the that will be the constitution by which we govern the holy scriptures, God's word in God's way. So, righteous king is living then God's way of life, and he's leading people. He's just in the way he leads people, and also he is ruling in the fear of God and helping his people to live a happy and productive life. He is a true public servant. What does a righteous priest do?

Well, let's read a few verses on that. Jesus, of course, is going to be the... He is our high priest today. Our chief minister in the church is Jesus Christ. You know, we have human ministers, but the chief minister is a spiritual being. It's Jesus Christ. Let's turn over to Matthew 20. Matthew 20, verse 25. We know Jesus here was instructing his disciples, who wanted to know who was going to be the greatest, and who could sit on the right hand or the left hand in the kingdom. And there was a lot of contention about that among the disciples. In verse 25, Jesus called them to himself and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. They just want to be in a position of authority. But verse 26, Yet it shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. Let him wait on others, serve others. Whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave. Just as the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life a ransom for many. You know that a true priest then is ministering to others. He's not trying to exalt himself. He's not trying to be somebody big. He is there to serve his people. He's there to help them and minister to them. Let's read from Isaiah 40. Again, this is how Jesus is going to lead, and we will need to follow that lead once we find positions of government with him. In Isaiah 40 and verse 10, Behold, the Lord God shall come with a strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him. His reward is with him and his work before him. Notice how he will minister to the people. Verse 11, He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.

So, you know, Jesus Christ will continue to be the chief high priest, chief minister in the millennium. He will be guiding people and helping like a shepherd does his flock, and gathering people, carrying them, gently leading them, ministering to their needs.

And we will follow his lead. We will assist Christ in serving all of the needs of mankind, physically and spiritually. Let's go also to Isaiah 61, and we'll read the first four verses.

Isaiah 61 verse 1, The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the present to those who are bound. You know, Jesus' first coming fulfilled these to some extent. But what about his second coming?

His second coming will really be good news to the poor, really have healing for the brokenhearted all around the world, proclaiming liberty to the captives and opening the prison doors to those that are bound. Verse 2, To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord in the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the Spirit of heaviness, that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

True minister is looking then to bless his people with happiness and joy and all of the physical and spiritual needs that they have. And we're going to assist Jesus Christ, then, as a righteous priest. Well, we cover what a righteous king does, what a righteous priest does. What about a righteous judge? What does a righteous judge do? We are going to be sitting upon thrones and judgment will be given to them, it says. Let's also read a couple of more verses on that. The saints are going to judge in this government that we'll be a part of. We will need to make judgments in 1 Corinthians 6 and verse 1. 1 Corinthians 6 and verse 1, Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels how much more things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? That is, go out into the world to seek a judgment? I say this to your shame. Is it so that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore it is altogether an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. He says you should even be willing to accept wrong instead of doing that, instead of wronging or defrauding our brother. So yes, these verses clearly show that we should be learning judgment. If there is any matter that comes up in the church, any friction between members, we should be able to sit down. And with the spirit of God and the mind of Christ and the laws and the principles of God, see what should be done. You know, the church actually makes many judgments. Many decisions are made by the church.

So, and there are, of course, there are decisions based upon the laws of God. But the saints are going to help Jesus Christ to execute judgment. Let's just read those verses in Jude that Christ is coming back to execute judgment. And we'll need to be able to do that since we'll be sitting on that throne with Him. We also will need to be able to make judgments, to execute judgment. Jude, verse 14, Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men, saying, Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints. That's what the feast of trumpets pictures. Christ coming with the saints to establish God's government. Verse 15, to execute judgment on all. All during the one thousand years and all during the second resurrection period, to execute judgment on all. So that's what we will be doing as we sit on that throne with Christ. There will be, let's say you have a city of a hundred. Let's say you have a city of five hundred, maybe a thousand. There will be situations that arise where you will need to make decisions, judgments. I don't know what some of those may be. Maybe it's in making sure that everybody has the proper distribution as far as land so that each family can have sufficient to meet its own needs.

There may be some reapportioning as we go along. Some families may grow larger and others not so large. Maybe decisions will need to be made and judgments will need to be made.

Jesus Christ is called the righteous judge in 2 Timothy 4 and verse 8. Paul said there that that he had finished his course, therefore the righteous judge would give him that crown of righteousness in that day. So Jesus Christ is a righteous judge and we will need to also have righteous judgment. Let's read from Isaiah 11. This describes how Christ will judge and we'll need to follow his lead. And of course we will. In Isaiah chapter 11, this is how Christ will judge.

It's described here very well. Isaiah 11 and verse 1, there shall come forth a rod from the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him. It is talking about Christ. The Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel and might, knowledge, the fear of the Lord. His delight is in the fear of the Lord, so will be our delight. And he shall not judge by the sight of his eyes, nor decide by the hearing of his ears. That is, you know, judgments involve decisions. He won't make a decision by the hearing of his ears. But with righteousness he shall judge the poor and decide with equity for the meek of the earth.

That's how Christ will govern. That's how he will judge. In verse 5, righteousness shall be the belt of his loins and faithfulness, the belt of his waist. So we too must be learning righteous judgment today, the ability to make wise and right decisions based upon the laws of God.

A righteous judge must then take the circumstances of a situation that comes up and correctly apply the principles of God's law and make a right decision on what needs to be done. That's what a judge does, is to apply the principles of God's law to a specific circumstance or situation. Human beings can easily fall short of that. Let's get an example of that in John 7.

John chapter 7. Pharisees were really missing the mark in making the right decision. This is an occasion where Jesus healed someone on the Sabbath.

Some of the Jews had a problem with that. In John 7 and verse 22, Jesus said, Moses therefore gave you circumcision, not that it was from Moses but from the fathers, and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? You know, Jesus' logic and reasoning is sound, isn't it? If you circumcised someone, said that the law is not broken on the Sabbath, then why should you be angry with me because I healed someone, made them well on the Sabbath?

Anybody that's seen circumcision, attended the circumcision of our two sons, it's not an easy thing. Not at all. And so what Jesus is referring to here was not something to do on the Sabbath, circumcision. And he says, why should you be angry then at me? Because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath. And he went on to say in verse 24, do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment. So I think it's good for us to keep this situation here in mind that it's possible to miss the mark on judgment. The Jews here in this case were certainly missing the mark. So we must learn righteous judgment based upon the laws and the principles of Almighty God, based upon the nature and the character of God, based upon what we read here in the Bible. So, brethren, yes, our calling is to be a righteous king. Our calling is to prepare now to be a righteous king, to prepare now to be a righteous priest, and to prepare now to be a righteous judge. Because we will be involved in ruling, teaching, and judging in the government that Christ is going to establish on the earth.

I'd like to encourage all of us to be thinking about this as we proceed on through the fall holy days. And let's read just a few verses. This will be my final sermon before the Feast of Trumpets here. But let's turn to Leviticus chapter 23 and just quickly read these verses. God's holy days are near. We want to grow during these days and hope we'll let God prepare us more in the way of being a righteous king, priest, and judge. In Leviticus chapter 23, these are God's festivals, he says, in verse 2 and also in verse 4. And the Passover is given and the Feast of Unleavened Bread and Pentecost. And then in verse 24, the fall holy day is just ahead. Speak to the children of Israel saying, in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a Sabbath and memorial, a blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. And so we will be observing that day, the Feast of Trumpets, on Thursday, September the fifth. And then on the Sabbath of September 14, verse 27, on the tenth day of the seventh month shall be the day of atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you. You shall afflict your souls, offer an offering made by fire back at that time. No work shall be done. We do not offer the offerings today, of course, but we certainly do fast and keep this day, keep it holy to God. In verse 34, speak to the children of Israel, the fifteenth day of the seventh month, the Feast of Tabernacles, for seven days. And it goes on to say, then no work to be done, and the eighth day also, no work and a holy convocation last day, the eighth day of the feast. So this Trumpets and atonement, Feast of Tabernacles and last great day, we must then grow spiritually by God's Spirit guiding and directing us more than ever. Let the fall holy days help us to grow. I tell you, we all grow weary and jaded. This world has an effect of wearing upon us. It's kind of negative. Everything is so much evil going on, and we need the fall holy days to revive us and rejuvenate us. Also, the fall holy days can help us to refocus and rededicate ourselves. We can get our spiritual binoculars just adjusted so that it's crystal clear everything is set just right to refocus on God's Kingdom. The holy days can help us and inspire and uplift us. We all feel the busyness of the age we live in. There's a lot coming at us, a lot of distractions, a lot of pressure and stress. I talk to members of the church who bring out these things to me. Let the fall holy days help us to catch our breath and be refreshed. We all need to learn more about how to be a righteous king and priest and judge.

Holy days can help us to do that. Some good reading would be a chapter in this book, our booklet, God's Holy Day Plan. There's a chapter on each holy day, and I always let to go back and review the chapter on the holy day at the time the holy day comes up. Good reading.

So yes, brethren, our high calling is to reign with Christ. We're going to be a part of a righteous government that will bring solutions to the world's problems. The world needs, very much needs, this righteous government of Christ. I want to read from, as we come very near the conclusion of the sermon, I want to read from a history book by Otis Mitchell with the title, A Concise History of Western Civilization. On page 404, next to the last page of this book is something about a section about the possibilities of a world government. He says in one of the paragraphs here, it has often been stated that the best solution to avoid constant international hostility and to allow the release of man's tremendous energies for constructive use is to build a world government. The skeletal framework of such an organization exists in the United Nations. Yet the UN is far from a world government. If self-interest remains the guiding principle of national states into the 21st century, it is unlikely that any workable supranational government could exist. The inability of people to solve their differences through any sort of world government makes the present a fearful time in which to live.

There is the ever-present threat that thermonuclear war will wipe out governments and governed.

But even the threat of nuclear holocaust has thus far failed to alter the pattern of nation against nation that has developed over the centuries. In other words, we desperately need a world government, but man is incapable of establishing it. But Jesus Christ is capable, and at His return, He is going to set up God's government all over the earth. Brethren, let's draw closer to God during the fall holy days. Let's be refreshed, and revived, and rejuvenated, and let's grow as God prepares us to reign with Christ as a righteous King, Priest, and Judge.