Millennial Metaphors
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon      Oct 17, 2011
Presented by Brian Shaw  

God uses several very intriguing, very descriptive images to describe the millennial peace that we’re all looking forward to in His word.

We mention several often at the Feast of Tabernacles and they help us to envision how that millennial rest that will be ushered in by the Kingdom of God, and how it will enrich life on this planet.

But they are much more worthy of more than just a mention. We tend to touch on them quite often at the Feast and kind of tear through them and they reside at the surface level and are they’re very beautiful, descriptive metaphors; but they are just that, they’re metaphors. They are real, these things will happen, they will change; but they’re descriptive of something much bigger.

These Biblical illustrations of the millennial peace that we are all expecting are very colorful, very memorable, but they involve much more extensive changes than what we may initially understand when reading them.

Again, they are millennial metaphors, I like to call them, distilled depictions of the principle transformations that will bring peace to this troubled world. Essentially they describe what will happen when the government of God rules over the governments of men.

As such, the fact that they are focusing on government, their implications for our preparation here and throughout our lives as the kings and priests in the Ruling Family of God are even more profound.

I’d like to take some time this morning to understand these millennial metaphors a little bit more. There are more than just three but I don’t have the time to cover all of them. I think if we begin looking at these descriptions that God gives us from the perspective of how peace will come and how it will come through the government of God and our part in that government, it will help us to understand a little better.

We’ll just look at the three, the three that we are most familiar with. The first one is in Isaiah chapter 11 and verse 6.  
 
Isa 11:6 – The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard will lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them.

We’ve used this quite often on Family Day or Youth Day in the past to describe the nature of the animals being changed, that predatory disposition in these more violent of animals changing and we recognize this and look forward to this. My family doesn’t have any pets at present; we’re holding out for a polar bear; at least I am. Although the size of the pooper scooper for a polar bear must be huge (that’s not in my notes).

I think we all think of this from that level of having a really cute, big, fluffy pet that was dangerous in this age but is just nice and gentle and docile in the next age. And that will happen. Animal tendencies will be changed; their inclinations will be modified by their Creator God.

This is not just disposition as you read in your Festival brochure cover quotes Isaiah 65 and verse 25 where it talks about their digestive systems actually being changed; the lion eating straw.

So the whole balance of nature will change. All the ecosystems on the earth, on the planet, will change.

But is this prophecy limited to animals? I mean, are predatory animals really such a hindrance to world peace?

The second one I’d like to look at is in Isaiah 40 and verse 4.
 
Isa 40:4 – Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain.

We recognize this and have talked about this over the years; that the mountains will be lowered and the valleys will be raised making inaccessible areas accessible may be indeed the biggest project of the millennium itself, preparing for the onset of potentially 40 billion people resurrected at the end of that age.

Transportation systems are going to have to be improved; we’re going to have to make more of the earth cultivable. We know that we have to prepare the earth.

But is this prophecy limited to the earth’s terrain? Are mountains and desolate places really such an obstacle to world peace?

The third one I’d like to look at is in Amos 9:13.  
 
Amos 9:13 –Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, And the treader of grapes him who sows seed; The mountains shall drip with sweet wine, And all the hills shall flow with it.
This idea of the plowman overtaking the reaper…
When God’s agrarian laws are put in place the abundance of what the earth will produce will be astounding, tremendous. We look forward to that so much.

But again, is the abundance that we’re going to have limited to simply agriculture? Is scarcity of resources on this planet the biggest inhibitor of world peace? I don’t doubt that it contributes to it but maybe something contributes to that and needs to be changed.

I think when we look these on the surface, we can see that these prophecies describe something even bigger, broader, more encompassing governmental changes that will result when the Kingdom of God rules over the kingdoms of men.

You see, the greatest obstacle to world peace is man’s attempt to rule over himself apart from God, and that’s what will change.

I’d like to look at the origins of man’s government for a moment just to kind of give some perspective here and understand the world that we live in and the governmental structures that we live in in this age. How did they begin and why do they have the tendencies that they have?

In Genesis 1 (we won’t turn there) we read that God gave dominion over the earth to mankind but quickly we see in Genesis 3 that man rejects God’s intervention, God’s guidance, God’s counsel and decides they’re going to set off on their own and determines apart from God how they’re going to have dominion over the earth.

Let’s turn to Genesis 6 and verse 1. In Genesis 6 and verse 1 we recognize what happened; this is about 1,600 years after that time of man’s dominion over the earth apart from God. God is still influencing, guiding those who would seek Him for counsel, but dominion over the earth and dominion over men as well that was in rejection of God, in opposition to what God had instructed to do.

In Genesis 6 and verses 1 through 3 we see the result.

Gen 6:1 – And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them,

Verse 2 – that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were beautiful; and they took wives for them of all who they chose.

There’s an indication here that they didn’t understand God’s design for family which we recognize even to this day, even secular rulers recognize that family is the basis for social order within society, the basis for peace.

Verse 5 – And the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 

When the family structure breaks down, there isn’t much worth saving. We see this in Malachi 4 verse 6 where God says if the hearts of the fathers aren’t turned to the children and children to the fathers… if there’s any connection to the past and preparation for the future, all kind of united by His design for family He’s going to wipe out the earth with utter destruction. This is what this was leading to.

Gen 6:6 – And LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and he was grieved in his heart.

Verse 7 – And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, creeping thing, and birds of the air; for I am sorry that I have made them.

Mankind revealed for 1,600 years that they were incapable of governing themselves or the earth and the life on the earth apart from God and God purposes to destroy them.

Let’s turn to Genesis 7 and verse 23.

Gen 7:23 – (God inspires Moses to write here) And every living thing was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, creeping thing, and bird of the air; and they were destroyed from the earth: only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive.

One family is preserved; God’s institution for social order amongst mankind. It comes through the flood intact in one family.

Once again we see the importance of family in the way God works through family and that institution to bring about social order and peace, governance.

Let’s turn to Genesis 10 now because we see quickly that man resorts back to, apart from God, their own design, and understanding of how to rule over men. There’s a principle character that’s introduced here that I would like to point out and examine a little more. We see within this individual and what certain commentaries and other accounts say of him that help us to understand why our governments are the way they are today by human nature instigated by Satan, not by God.

Genesis 10 and I’ll begin reading verses 6-12.

Gen 10:6 – And the sons of Ham; Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.

Verse 7 – And the sons of Cush; Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.

Verse 8 – Cush begat Nimrod:

So Nimrod is the great-grandson of Noah.

Verse 8 (cont’d) – he began to be a mighty one on the earth.

Many commentaries and those who break down the Hebrew here say that “mighty one” is an indication of a great leader, one who sought preeminence among men.
Now he’s seeking this preeminence in opposition to an existing governing structure that was under Noah, the patriarchal system that God has set up. His rebellion here is not against no governance. Some people say there’s no indication that any governance by God prior to Nimrod applying his imperial design here. But clearly, the governance structure was family.

Verse 9 – He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: therefore it is said, Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD.

There’s much in this statement that we’ll break down in a few moments but let’s keep reading.

Verse 10 – And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

He was the ruler over the land of Shinar and those are kingdoms within the land of Shinar.

Verse 11 – Out of that land he went out into Assyria,

He stretched out his kingdom; he expanded his empire.

Verse 11(cont’d) – and built Nineveh, and Rehoboth–Ir, and Calah,

Verse 12 – and Resen between Nineveh and Calah that is the principal city.

Nimrod, a mighty hunter, is identified in scripture as the principle ruler in Shinar and a beginner of human empires after the flood.

He founded empires, that’s clear from scripture, kingdoms apart from and opposed to the existing family order. He was rebelling against the family structure that was set up, established through Noah, his great-grandfather. And that pattern largely continues to this day.

We don’t build doctrine in the Church of God on commentary but commentary can help us understand a little bit more about history, what was happening at the time. If we can break down the language or someone has done that for us, it can help us to understand a verse a little better. It also adds color to help us picture what was actually happening at the time.

I’d like to read from three commentaries, fairly well known and well-respected commentaries, that expand on this verse for us and help us to understand it.

The first is from Keil&Delitsch.

Keil&Delitsch: “Nimrod the hunter became a tyrant, a powerful hunter of men. This course of life gave occasion to the proverb, ‘like Nimrod, a mighty hunter against the Lord,’ which immortalized not his skill in hunting beasts, but the success of his hunting of men in the establishment of an imperial kingdom by tyranny and power.” He was “. . , founder of the first imperial kingdom.”

The governments of men are based on a predatory nature started by someone who was a hunter. Now, it’s not that hunting animals is wrong, I don’t mean to say that, but taking those applications of hunting animals, stealth, force, capturing and applying them toward men is. That was the foundation of his empire, ‘like Nimrod, a mighty hunter against the Lord,’ in some translations. He’s in opposition to God and God’s design and he took off building his own empires apart from the governmental structure that God had established.

Let’s read here from Josephus, Jewish historian, on Nimrod. This is from Antiquities of the Jews.

He writes: “. . Nimrod was a bold man, and of great strength of hand. He persuaded them (this is the people around him) not to ascribe it to God, as if it was through His means they were happy, but to believe that it was their own courage that
procured that happiness. He also gradually changed that government into tyranny, seeing no other way of turning men from the fear of God, but to bring them into a constant dependence on his power.”

He sought to turn them from the fear of God, established a governmental structure that was an impediment, an obstacle, to people understanding God and His way. That was his design and he did so that he would create a constant dependence on him and his rulership.

Let me read here from the Jewish Encyclopedia. This is a note from their Rabbinical literature.

Jewish Encyclopedia a note from Rabbinical literature: “Nimrod is the prototype of a rebellious people, his name being interpreted as "he who made all the people rebellious against God”. “He is identified with Cush and with Amraphel…

Amraphel is mentioned in Gen 14:1; he’s the king of Shinar that came against Sodom and Gomorrah with Arioch king of Ellasar, Tidal, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and took Lot and Abraham went to take Lot back. Amraphel, since he’s mentioned as the king of Shinar, some commentaries say it’s probably the same individual. We learn more about him by looking and understanding what the name Amraphel means.

Go back to the quote: “He is identified with Cush and with Amraphel, the name of the latter being interpreted as "he whose words are dark”. He was the first to make war on other peoples. “Some say Amraphel was his real name, and he was called Nimrod, "the chief rebel," as leader of the tower- builders, "who led the world unto rebellion" against heaven's Ruler; others again say Nimrod was his real name, and he was called Amraphel as that of one whose "commands brought darkness [destruction] on the world", or of one who "provoked and made sport of the world".’

It’s interesting to note here that this was the first act of war after the flood. Governments of men are organized for strife, for war. And we recognize in this whole section on rebellion and the whole concept and the name of Nimrod that governments of men stand in opposition to the government of God.

We understand from this that Nimrod was quite possibly the first tyrant. He subjugated men by deception and stealth and forced them to his rulership to further His own interests. His nature was predatory and so was the design for his government. He sought to be an impediment or an obstacle to the fear of God for men so they would depend on him and not God. And he was steeped in competition, driving strife, creating war. Now the pattern he established for the way men rule over men apart from God remains either the template or, eventually, the outcome for every human government on the planet today.

Though some of these governments are established to the best intentions, we see what happens over time.

Even Israel, though delivered out of this by God, moves toward this model. Let’s go to 1 Samuel chapter 8. This is where Israel is approaching Samuel and telling him that they want a king like the nations around them. The priesthood was their connection to God, but when they were called out of Egypt, out of that governmental structure of nations, they moved into God’s structure. The priests were their connection to God and God organized them by family, by tribe and that’s the way the promised land was divided up, the way it was governed.  They were uncomfortable with this because of what they saw in the nations around them. Let’s read in verse 1 of 1 Samuel 8 and we’ll read through verse 8.

1Sam 8:1 –  And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

Verse 2 – Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah: they were judges in Beer–sheba.

Verse 3 –And his sons walked not in his ways, they turned aside after dishonest gain, and took bribes, and perverted justice.

Verse 4 – Then all the elders of Israel gathered together, and came to Samuel at Ramah:

Verse 5 – and they said to him, Look, you art old, and your sons do not walk in your ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

Verse 6 – But the thing displeased Samuel; when they said, Give us a king to judge us. So Samuel prayed to the LORD.

Verse 7 – And the LORD said to Samuel, Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you: for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

Now God would still reign over them and work through whatever system of governance they would establish, that would never end but he recognized that they needed or they wanted something else and He would let them go their way just as was started back in Genesis.

Verse 8 – According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, with which have forsaken me, and served other gods, so they are doing to you also.

He was comforting Samuel here that this was a rejection of God and His ways and not a rejection of Samuel. Let’s look at verse 9 and read that through verse 22.

Verse 9 – Now therefore heed their voice: however you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.

He was pointing out to them what will happen in Israel after they establish this form of government.

Verse 10 – So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who asked him for a king.

Verse 11 – And he said, This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for his own chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.

Verse 12 – And he will appoint captains over his thousands, and captains over his fifties; and will set some to plow his ground, and to reap his harvest, and some to make his instruments of war, and equipment for his chariots.

War making, taking sons out of families and being used in his form of governance to either attack or defend other nations.

Verse 13 – And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, and cooks, and bakers.
It wouldn’t stop at the sons. If we ever reinstate the draft in this country don’t be surprised if women are included.

Verse 14 – And he will take the best of your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants.

Verse 15 – And he will take the tenth of your grain, and of your vintage, and give to his officers, and servants.

Verse 16 – And he will take your male servants, and your female servants, and your finest young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work.

He will take the land that was given to them, their inheritance as families.

Verse 17 – He will take the tenth of your sheep: and you will be his servants.

Verse 18 – And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourself; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.

Verse 19 – Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, No; but we will have a king over us;

Verse 20 – That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

Verse 21 – And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the hearing of the LORD.

Verse 22 – And the LORD said to Samuel, Heed their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel, every man go to his city.

Israel was frustrated by God’s family model, that structure where they all reported to the priest then directly to Him. They chose rather the model of the nations around them. They wanted a king and the results were not good. We see that in the history of Israel.

We should not be surprised to see the governments of men, which oppose and usurp God’s authority, God’s government, usurping roles and responsibilities that God gave to families. We should be aware of that, though we are not to oppose them. By God’s design they are for His purpose in this age and for our learning. We have to respect these governments. God will work through them; He’ll work out His plan through them.

Let’s go to Romans 13. Romans chapter 13, verses 1 through 5. Something that I think we forget – I know I do. As an American I think that my roots are solidly anchored in rebellion – I think that quite often I get a bristle on the back of my neck when somebody in authority takes a hand in my life. This is not the pattern we are supposed to have as Christians, as followers of God, as those who are led by God’s Holy Spirit. We recognize that God is in control of all and all authority belongs to Him. Let’s read verses 1 through 5 in Romans 13.

Rom 13:1 – Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority but from God: and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

Every authority that exists is appointed by God. They aren’t necessarily practicing His ways but God will work out His purpose through them.

Verse 2 – Therefore whoever resists the authority, resists the ordinance of God: and those who resist will bring judgment upon themselves.

This is God’s edict here.

Verse 3 – For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? do what is good, and you will have praise from the same:

Verse 4 – For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain: for he is God’s minister, a revenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

Verse 5 – Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience sake.

We are ambassadors here of a different kingdom. We aren’t to be involved in the governments of men. We know where they will end and we certainly aren’t to rebel against them by God’s instruction. We work within them and God will work through them.

He still accomplishes His plan through us and with this world. However, peace, true world peace will not come through the governments of men.

Now, with that as a background, let’s look back into these scriptures. Let’s go back to Isaiah 11. This time let’s begin reading in verse 1. We recognize that the governments of men have this predatory nature. They stealthily worked, they don’t necessarily reveal everything that they’re doing; they’re not open about it. They also tend to capture, seek control, seek to rule over, which is the nature of a hunter only they’re applying this toward men. Verse 1, look at the context of this verse.

Isaiah 11:1 – And there shall come forth a rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

Verse 2 – And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

This is about governance; this is about Christ’s rule. A rod is a symbol of authority and it’s in the hand of the stem of Jesse. This is a prophecy of Christ.

Verse 3 – His delight is in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge by the sight of his eyes, nor decide by the hearing of his ears:

Verse 4 – But with righteousness, he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth: he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.

Christ is going to rule over the governments of men in the manner of the family of God.

Verse 5 – Righteousness shall be the belt of his loins, and faithfulness the belt of his waist.

You know, it will be truly amazing to see the natures of animals change but we recognize in the context of what verse 6 is surrounded by, that this change will not happen solely to animals. Satan put away and his predatory nature gone within the governments of men when they report into the government of God.

This is about just and righteous rule and thought this verse is incredibly colorful, it’s describing more so, or should describe for us, how the governments of men will change under the rule of Christ.

There’s another scripture mentioned by Mr. Luker in his message. Let’s go to a different account of that. This is Luke 22, verses 24 through 26. We recognize from Christ’s own instruction what we are supposed to do as rulers and it doesn’t have anything to do with the way men rule in this age. We are to be a sharp contrast to that and we should be looking within ourselves for bits and pieces of this predatory nature because it comes from our human nature within us and that’s instigated by Satan himself, the god of this world. We should be clearing ourselves of these stealthy mannerisms we may have had in the past, or the way we seek to establish control. This is a different attitude, a different focus, different motivation that has to do with service.

Luke 22:24 – Now there was also a dispute among them (the disciples), as to which of them should be the greatest (or considered the greatest).

Verse 25 – And he said to them (this is Christ speaking), The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors.

Verse 26 – But not so among you (on the contrary): he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger (the less in authority); and he who governs, as he who serves.

The predatory nature of human governments will be changed. This will be an end to all oppressive human regimes. No more capturing through force or stealth or deception, no more tyranny, no more aggression, no more oppression, no more bullies.

Now what kind of peace will that bring? Can we imagine a world ruled in love: Benevolent, generous, kind, gracious leaders whose only concern is for those they are serving, those they love, for whom love is the principle motivation, their principle desire?

This is the picture that this metaphor should be painting for us and helping us to understand how we’re supposed to be preparing for that time. More importantly, brethren, can we who know this now practice that here, at this Feast? And can we take it away from this Feast back into our lives? Let’s go to John 13 verses 34 through 35. I know this is a very well-known scripture. We read it at Passover every year.

John 13:34 – A new commandment I give to you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

How is this new? We’re told in the Old Testament and throughout scripture that we’re supposed to love God above all and love our neighbors as ourselves. How is this new? He’s saying here that we should love one another as He loved us. See, that’s not just loving someone else as you want to be loved. That takes it a degree higher. It includes all of that, but moves to a whole new level. This is self-sacrificial love. Do we practice that here? Can we take it from us?

Verse 35 – By this will all know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

Love is the principle motivation of the rulers of the world tomorrow. We may not be able to cuddle a lion at the Feast yet, but by God’s spirit in us we can be generous, we can be kind and we can be gracious.  His spirit leads us to do this. We can share and not control. We can build up not destroy or tear down. We can love and not lord. We can apply and practice God’s loving nature.

Let’s look at the second of these millennial metaphors. Isaiah 40 beginning reading in verse 3. Let’s see the context of this prophecy as well.
 
Isaiah 40:3 – The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Much like the prophecies of John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus Christ. We should understand it in that context as we are preparing the way for Christ with the work that we’re doing now. I don’t necessarily mean by preaching the gospel to the world – that’s part of it – I mean about preparing the way within us for Christ in us so that we can apply ourselves as Christians in the ruling family of God. In this age and in the age to come.

Verse 4 – Every valley shall be exalted, every mountain and hill brought low: and the crooked places made straight, and the rough places made smooth:

Why?

Verse 5 – And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken.
 
It will be extraordinary; hard work but extraordinary to see the earth’s obstacles removed; to see the earth’s terrain changed to support life, to produce life; to prepare for those who will be resurrected in the great white throne judgment.

This is not just limited to the earth’s terrain. This verse is about removing impediments to fearing God and knowing Him in all His glory; removing obstacles that prevent us from having a meaningful relationship with God; building paths, as we heard earlier in the Feast, to God that are easily accessible, easily navigated; no more obstacles to God.

The governments of men are founded on human arrogance. We saw that in their design initially and we see that in them today, and they remain one of the biggest obstacles to truly submitting to God’s government, to His way of life. In most cases leaders eventually exalt themselves above the law in these governments while oppressing all those they consider beneath them. It’s built on greed; it’s built on selfishness. This exclusive view of themselves promotes elitism, favoritism, and oppression, leading to all forms of inequity and injustice. It’s based in pride because it’s instigated by the father of pride, the god of this world.

Matt 23:12 – (Christ said) "And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

That’s what this verse is referring to; those who exalt themselves in this age to put down others beneath them. They live on the mountain tops and they put down those in the valleys. That’s what will be changed. Sure, the earth’s terrain will be prepared. No doubt we will remove mountains and lift up some plains, but that’s not what’s going to bring peace. Luke 1 verses 51 and 52, let’s turn there. This is Mary’s prayer, referred to as the Magnificat. She makes a comment in here recognizing and understanding by God’s inspiration what her son would do. It’s very similar to Hannah’s prayer, the mother of Samuel back in 1Samuel 2. She recognized that God was doing something incredible and miraculous through her and she was willing to give her son over to the priesthood to serve. Mary was doing very much the same thing. She says:

Luke 1:51 – “He has shown strength with His arm (in reference to God); He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.” 

That’s what we’ll be doing. That’s what we need to do now. The terrain of the earth will be improved to make it more livable, more accessible, to accommodate relationships between people, to make stronger richer relationships. But you know what? That all begins first and foremost with a relationship with God. And in the millennium every obstacle to this relationship will be removed.

Can we envision a world where everyone is accountable to God, directly? Where all have direct access to Him, to His truth, to His law, to His government? Where all – every individual –  aspires as we did today, to His greatness?

Can we imagine what kind of world would result from that? A world of justice and fairness? A world void of discrimination, partiality, favoritism, filled with opportunity, filled with predictable outcomes, filled with reliable rewards? What you set out to accomplish, led by God, will be accomplished.

More importantly, brethren, can we who know this here practice it here?

Let’s go to 2 Corinthians 10, begin reading in verse 3. Ultimately the obstacles that have to be removed for world peace are not mountains or valleys or the oceans between them. Those obstacles are in our own hearts. These are the obstacles that we have to be removing right now today so that we can help others remove those obstacles then.

2Cor 10:3 – For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh:

Our battles are in our heads; our battles are between the ears. We fight in terms of principle. We dig deep to understand the law of God so we can apply it in every situation. We can’t reside on the surface, we have to understand the principles behind it so we can apply it and teach it.

Verse 4 – (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

2Cor 10:5 – Casting down arguments, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;

Verse 6 – And being ready to punish all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 
                       
We may not be able to lower mountains and raise valleys here at the Dells and I’m not sure the townspeople would appreciate it even if we could, but we can certainly remove every obstacle to God. We can dig down deep in the messages that we’re hearing and apply the principles, understanding the depth of heart, then work on changing the will, not just the actions. We can remove from our hearts everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. That’s what this prophecy is speaking of.

Let’s go to Amos 9 and look at the third of these prophecies. We’ll read verses 11 through 15.
 
Amos 9:11 – On that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David which has fallen down (this is about rule, kingship, again this is about governance), and repair its damages; and I will raise up his ruins, and I rebuild it as in the days of old:

Verse12 – That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and all the Gentiles, who are called by my name, says the LORD that does this thing.

Verse13 – Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when the plowman will overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that sows seed; and the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it.

This abundance is directly related to the rebuilding of God’s government.

Verse14 – And I will bring back the captives of my people Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink wine from them; they shall also make gardens, and eat fruit from them.

The areas of this earth that the governments of men have destroyed will be rebuilt.

Verse15 – And I will plant them in their land (a beautiful reference to the people of Israel in this context of agricultural abundance), and no longer shall they be pulled up from the land I have given them, says the LORD God.

Brethren, it will be astounding to see the abundance God’s way produces on this planet. It will definitely not be limited to agriculture. Agriculture will be a result of it. Again we see that this is about governance – God’s government ruling over the governments of men. It is describing ultimately what will happen when the government of get is replaced by the government of give.

The effects of the GIVE way replacing the GET way extending to everything on this planet including agriculture.

In John 10:10 Christ said he came that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. This is not just about what we can grow. This is about how we can grow, internally. This is not just about what we eat; it’s about ingesting the word of God and having it change us. Abundance and prosperity will cover this earth. The way of give will overtake the way of get.

Turn with me to another scripture. Luke 6.
                                   
Luke 6:38 – "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." 
           
Give! We don’t have room enough to receive what He wants to give us.
In Malachi 3 verse 10, in the context of tithing, He tells us that. Bring His tithes into His storehouse and see if we have room enough to receive the blessings He wants to give us.

We all know we can’t out-give God. You don’t tithe or give offerings in the Church of God for any length of time without recognizing that. We cannot out-give God. So imagine, brethren, what will it be like when everyone on earth is trying to emulate God? You thought it was difficult trying to push off zucchini in August from people that had an abundance of zucchini. Amplify this a million times, when the way of get is an afterthought, not even a thought. It’s something that existed way back then and it doesn’t envelope us in our lives.

Prosperity over scarcity, people who are productive, not consumptive, where wealth is generated, not confiscated. That’s the world we will help build. Can we imagine a world without get? Where giving is so widespread, so prevalent that we will not have room to receive all that is given? More importantly, brethren, can we practice that here, at this Feast, and take it with us when we leave?

Let’s go to 1Timothy chapter 6.

1 Tim 6:17 – Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty,…

Do you feel rich in this present age? Do you feel rich at this Feast? I’m not talking about how much tithe you have. What’s in your heart?

 Verse 17 (cont’d) – nor trust in uncertain riches,…

The money in our pockets, the tithes that will end for us at the end of this age are uncertain riches. The riches that we receive here in our communication with each other, our growing relationships with one another, our understanding and application of the word of God….. this is true riches.

 Verse 17 (cont’d) – nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy;

Verse18 – Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share;

Is that the attitude we have here at this Feast?

Verse19 – Storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that all may lay hold on eternal life.

Here is true riches, eternal life. We may not have unlimited wealth in terms of dollars at this Feast, in this world, but we are here to celebrate the next world and the riches that we will carry from here into it. We will live then as life should be lived and so will the people of this planet. We will be able to lead them to do the same.

Brethren, here we can embrace the way of give.

I hope I helped us understand a little bit more of these millennial metaphors and recognize that they’re very appealing to children. I think God designs things that way; children will always have these visions in their head as they grow up and mature within the church but as they mature I think they will understand and recognize that there is much more there than a cute little bedtime story.

They depict much more extensive changes, in government, that we as the kings and priests of that time, preparing for it now, should fully understand so we can appropriately prepare for those times in this age.

When we review them, when we hear of them at the Feast of Tabernacles and we talk to one another about them, let’s remember them as those vibrant, descriptive portrayals of how the planet will change. Let us also understand them in the context of government. They are descriptions of the leadership, the justice, and the generosity that will bring a thousand years of peace under the Ruling Family of God.