1 00:00:01,100 --> 00:00:04,020 Shall we turn tonight in the prophecy of 2 00:00:04,020 --> 00:00:06,860 Zechariah to chapter seven. 3 00:00:08,040 --> 00:00:11,040 We have reached the third division of this 4 00:00:11,040 --> 00:00:12,000 great prophecy. 5 00:00:13,260 --> 00:00:16,080 We have mentioned that the prophecy falls into 6 00:00:16,080 --> 00:00:17,320 four divisions. 7 00:00:18,300 --> 00:00:21,180 The first section in chapter one, beginning at 8 00:00:21,180 --> 00:00:25,640 verse one, through verse six, where we have 9 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:28,000 a call to national repentance. 10 00:00:29,420 --> 00:00:31,960 Then as we concluded this morning the second 11 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:35,040 section, we found it to be a series 12 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:38,800 of eight visions given to Zechariah the prophet 13 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:39,860 in one night. 14 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:44,080 And beginning in chapter one through and verse 15 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:46,320 seven and going down through to the end 16 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:50,720 of chapter six, we have that division of 17 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:51,300 the visions. 18 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:55,320 Tonight we come and desire to take two 19 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:56,560 chapters together. 20 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:00,820 We shall read and comment as we go 21 00:01:00,820 --> 00:01:03,440 along in chapter seven and eight. 22 00:01:04,300 --> 00:01:07,340 Chapter seven and eight were written by the 23 00:01:07,340 --> 00:01:11,840 prophet regarding an event that took place two 24 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:15,600 years later than when the beginning of the 25 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:19,960 prophecy was begun in chapter one. 26 00:01:20,940 --> 00:01:25,060 It is quite noticeable, and sometimes it is 27 00:01:25,060 --> 00:01:29,100 criticized because of this, that the prophecy was 28 00:01:29,100 --> 00:01:32,200 not written consecutively at one time. 29 00:01:33,060 --> 00:01:37,160 But two years later, the chapters before us 30 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:39,180 were written by Zechariah. 31 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:43,160 And later on, perhaps even two more years, 32 00:01:43,700 --> 00:01:46,840 the rest of the prophecy was finished, beginning 33 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:51,120 with chapter nine, going through verse chapters fourteen. 34 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:55,140 We must say that God does not write 35 00:01:55,140 --> 00:01:59,820 his word as perhaps men would always write 36 00:01:59,820 --> 00:02:01,060 their books. 37 00:02:01,940 --> 00:02:05,060 And so that gives us the reason for 38 00:02:05,060 --> 00:02:08,479 the exhortation that Paul wrote to Timothy. 39 00:02:09,300 --> 00:02:14,020 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a 40 00:02:14,020 --> 00:02:18,500 workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly 41 00:02:18,500 --> 00:02:20,280 dividing the word of truth. 42 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:24,260 There is no question of doubt, there is 43 00:02:24,260 --> 00:02:28,500 the great need of rightly dividing the written 44 00:02:28,500 --> 00:02:29,420 word of God. 45 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:32,920 We humbly depend upon the teaching of the 46 00:02:32,920 --> 00:02:34,560 Holy Spirit to do so. 47 00:02:35,220 --> 00:02:38,740 And we look at the chapters tonight, together, 48 00:02:39,060 --> 00:02:42,800 chapters seven and eight, which bring before us 49 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:48,520 a question, and then God's answer concerning the 50 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:49,040 question. 51 00:02:49,780 --> 00:02:53,320 We read particularly tonight, beginning at verse one, 52 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:55,200 first of all through verse three. 53 00:02:55,940 --> 00:02:58,400 And it came to pass in the fourth 54 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:01,800 year of the king, Darius, that the word 55 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:04,560 of the Lord came unto Zechariah in the 56 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:07,360 fourth day of the ninth month, even in 57 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:11,440 Chislew, when they had sent unto the house 58 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:17,280 of God Chereza, and Regemilech, and their men 59 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:21,540 to pray before the Lord, and to speak 60 00:03:21,540 --> 00:03:24,440 unto the priests which were in the house 61 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:27,160 of the Lord of hosts, and to the 62 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:32,580 prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth 63 00:03:32,580 --> 00:03:38,760 month, separating myself, as I have done these 64 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:40,300 so many years? 65 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:44,000 Here we have the presentation of the question 66 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:48,040 that came from the hearts of some of 67 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:50,640 the captives that had returned from Babylon. 68 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:54,680 The temple was being under construction. 69 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:58,420 The temple was perhaps finished two years later 70 00:03:58,420 --> 00:03:59,460 than this occasion. 71 00:04:00,300 --> 00:04:03,280 But as they saw the reconstruction of the 72 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:07,820 temple, the restoration of the city, under the 73 00:04:07,820 --> 00:04:12,260 ministry of Ezra, Nehemiah, and the prophets Zechariah 74 00:04:12,260 --> 00:04:17,360 and Haggai, there was a natural agitation in 75 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:19,940 the minds of the Jews in that day, 76 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:24,660 whether they should continue what had been self 77 00:04:24,660 --> 00:04:32,800 -imposed national facts and sorrowing in regard to 78 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:37,320 the commemoration of the destruction of Jerusalem, Solomon's 79 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:41,200 temple, in the days of Nebuchadnezzar, and the 80 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:42,540 ensuing events. 81 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:49,400 The captives in Babylon had unquestionably placed upon 82 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:56,200 themselves imposed facts that they might present to 83 00:04:56,200 --> 00:05:00,820 God their sorrow, at least outwardly, for the 84 00:05:00,820 --> 00:05:03,320 tragedies that had befallen their nation. 85 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:09,040 Now the question comes, shall we continue to 86 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:12,540 weep and keep the facts of the fifth 87 00:05:12,540 --> 00:05:16,240 month as we have done so these many 88 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:16,800 years? 89 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:19,920 Now we have the Lord's answer in two 90 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:21,000 great ways. 91 00:05:21,900 --> 00:05:24,320 In the rest of this chapter, beginning in 92 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:27,760 verse four and going down to the end, 93 00:05:28,460 --> 00:05:31,020 we have the Lord answering through his servant 94 00:05:31,020 --> 00:05:33,960 the prophet in a negative manner. 95 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:37,700 In chapter eight we shall see that the 96 00:05:37,700 --> 00:05:41,440 Lord answers the question in a positive manner, 97 00:05:42,180 --> 00:05:44,400 but let us look as we go to 98 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:47,340 verse four, and may we read from verse 99 00:05:47,340 --> 00:05:48,960 four through verse seven. 100 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:53,800 For here we have the negative answer to 101 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:57,520 the question, and in this negative manner God 102 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:00,820 presents to them, through his servant the prophet, 103 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:03,280 a divine rebuke. 104 00:06:04,500 --> 00:06:06,580 Then came the word of the Lord of 105 00:06:06,580 --> 00:06:10,260 hosts unto me, saying, speak unto all the 106 00:06:10,260 --> 00:06:13,760 people of the land, and to the priests, 107 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:20,300 saying, when ye fasted and mourned in the 108 00:06:20,300 --> 00:06:24,300 fifth as well as the seventh month, even 109 00:06:24,300 --> 00:06:28,560 though seventy years, did ye at all fast 110 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:31,880 unto me, even to me? 111 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:35,540 And when ye did eat, and when ye 112 00:06:35,540 --> 00:06:40,040 did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, 113 00:06:40,840 --> 00:06:42,740 and drink for yourselves? 114 00:06:44,830 --> 00:06:47,350 Should ye not hear the words which the 115 00:06:47,350 --> 00:06:50,810 Lord hath cried by the former prophets? 116 00:06:51,770 --> 00:06:57,910 When Jerusalem was inhabited, and in prosperity, and 117 00:06:57,910 --> 00:07:02,070 the cities thereof round about her, when men 118 00:07:02,070 --> 00:07:05,930 inhabited the south and the plain. 119 00:07:07,190 --> 00:07:09,530 Now from the context of the words of 120 00:07:09,530 --> 00:07:11,630 Jehovah to the people and to the priests, 121 00:07:12,910 --> 00:07:15,690 it is very evident that he rebukes them 122 00:07:15,690 --> 00:07:21,090 for the fact they fasted, yes, but they 123 00:07:21,090 --> 00:07:24,990 did not fast unto God. 124 00:07:26,190 --> 00:07:31,050 There was no true sorrow, there was no 125 00:07:31,050 --> 00:07:36,610 true repentance for what had taken place, and 126 00:07:36,610 --> 00:07:41,930 particularly there was no sorrow and repentance for 127 00:07:41,930 --> 00:07:43,630 the sins of the nation. 128 00:07:46,060 --> 00:07:50,100 They were sorrowing, yes, but they were sorrowing 129 00:07:50,100 --> 00:07:54,520 for their calamities that had overtaken them, and 130 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:59,780 the facts were self-imposed, but self-judgment 131 00:07:59,780 --> 00:08:02,100 and humiliation were missing. 132 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:08,700 For God required the manifestation of true repentance 133 00:08:08,700 --> 00:08:13,840 by a return to the obedience of his 134 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:15,100 precious word. 135 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:18,620 Now may we not apply the truth of 136 00:08:18,620 --> 00:08:20,820 this to our own hearts and consciences? 137 00:08:23,090 --> 00:08:28,210 We should not indeed manifest such conditions ourselves 138 00:08:28,210 --> 00:08:32,970 because of the outward calamities that may overtake 139 00:08:32,970 --> 00:08:36,630 us in life, but when there has been 140 00:08:36,630 --> 00:08:40,929 the root cause of sin for the calamities 141 00:08:41,580 --> 00:08:44,990 and for the sorrows that we feel, it 142 00:08:44,990 --> 00:08:47,050 is the desire as well as true to 143 00:08:47,050 --> 00:08:50,690 the character of God that there should be 144 00:08:50,690 --> 00:08:56,150 genuine repentance, confession and sorrow for what we 145 00:08:56,150 --> 00:08:59,930 know to have been sinned against him. 146 00:09:01,070 --> 00:09:03,730 Now you find the Lord very plainly talking 147 00:09:03,730 --> 00:09:04,290 to them. 148 00:09:05,010 --> 00:09:07,450 At the end of verse seven, or five 149 00:09:07,450 --> 00:09:09,650 rather, at the end of verse five, he 150 00:09:09,650 --> 00:09:13,630 said, ye did not at all fast unto 151 00:09:13,630 --> 00:09:18,230 me, and even when ye feasted, your fastings 152 00:09:18,230 --> 00:09:21,750 were for your own self, and your feasting 153 00:09:21,750 --> 00:09:23,130 was for your own self. 154 00:09:23,870 --> 00:09:28,530 But now note, he reminds the ministry of 155 00:09:28,530 --> 00:09:30,750 the prophets in the past that come to 156 00:09:30,750 --> 00:09:34,310 the people of Israel, should you not hear 157 00:09:34,310 --> 00:09:39,370 the words which the Lord had cried by 158 00:09:39,370 --> 00:09:41,090 the former prophets? 159 00:09:42,270 --> 00:09:47,930 When Jerusalem was in prosperity, when it was 160 00:09:47,930 --> 00:09:51,350 inhabited in the cities round about, both in 161 00:09:51,350 --> 00:09:53,170 the south as well as in the plain, 162 00:09:54,230 --> 00:09:58,110 when God saw declension coming amongst his people, 163 00:09:59,190 --> 00:10:02,010 he sent the ministry of the prophets. 164 00:10:03,330 --> 00:10:05,830 May I say a word regarding the ministry 165 00:10:05,830 --> 00:10:06,990 of God's prophets? 166 00:10:08,070 --> 00:10:12,670 Prophets were never used by Jehovah until there 167 00:10:12,670 --> 00:10:16,690 was spiritual declension and the threat of spiritual 168 00:10:16,690 --> 00:10:18,350 apostasy in Israel. 169 00:10:19,490 --> 00:10:23,050 May I go further to state, the reason 170 00:10:23,050 --> 00:10:28,150 for prophetic ministry was because of the failure 171 00:10:28,150 --> 00:10:30,350 of the priestly ministry. 172 00:10:31,830 --> 00:10:34,450 Read the prophecy of Malachi, the last book 173 00:10:34,450 --> 00:10:39,790 in the Old Testament, where God condemns the 174 00:10:39,790 --> 00:10:44,930 unsafefulness of the priests, for the priests were 175 00:10:44,930 --> 00:10:49,190 by God given the authority to teach the 176 00:10:49,190 --> 00:10:52,250 people the word of God and present to 177 00:10:52,250 --> 00:10:54,650 them the knowledge of Jehovah. 178 00:10:55,470 --> 00:10:59,930 But when the priesthood failed to minister the 179 00:10:59,930 --> 00:11:02,750 knowledge of Jehovah to the people of God, 180 00:11:02,750 --> 00:11:04,370 there was a declension. 181 00:11:05,230 --> 00:11:08,310 It may have began with the king, and 182 00:11:08,310 --> 00:11:10,470 it would have been, and it was, continued 183 00:11:10,470 --> 00:11:11,330 in the people. 184 00:11:12,250 --> 00:11:15,910 Then God sent the ministry of prophets. 185 00:11:17,090 --> 00:11:21,810 Prophetic ministry was always a call to repentance, 186 00:11:22,770 --> 00:11:26,850 confession of their failure, repentance of their sin, 187 00:11:26,850 --> 00:11:32,210 and seeking the Lord in genuine humiliation. 188 00:11:33,070 --> 00:11:37,610 The Lord did not see it, and before 189 00:11:37,610 --> 00:11:40,890 answering the question, which he does in chapter 190 00:11:40,890 --> 00:11:45,090 eight, he rebukes the nation and the people 191 00:11:45,090 --> 00:11:48,970 for thus not having been obedient in the 192 00:11:48,970 --> 00:11:51,210 past to his required word. 193 00:11:52,050 --> 00:11:55,970 Now note verses eight through ten, for here 194 00:11:55,970 --> 00:11:59,290 the Lord tells directly what he expected and 195 00:11:59,290 --> 00:12:00,290 what he had desired. 196 00:12:01,170 --> 00:12:03,970 The word of the Lord came unto Zechariah, 197 00:12:04,090 --> 00:12:07,470 saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, 198 00:12:08,970 --> 00:12:14,890 Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassion 199 00:12:14,890 --> 00:12:20,690 every man to his brother, and oppress not 200 00:12:20,690 --> 00:12:25,810 the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor 201 00:12:25,810 --> 00:12:30,230 the poor, and let none of you imagine 202 00:12:30,230 --> 00:12:34,230 evil against his brother in your heart. 203 00:12:34,950 --> 00:12:37,830 Now these words are very clear and plain. 204 00:12:38,570 --> 00:12:44,230 What God required was the practical righteousness of 205 00:12:44,230 --> 00:12:48,570 their minds in the obedience to his words, 206 00:12:49,130 --> 00:12:53,370 manifested in their conduct one to the other. 207 00:12:53,910 --> 00:12:57,870 For what had existed, and you may read 208 00:12:57,870 --> 00:13:01,770 it in the contemporary prophecies that preceded Zechariah, 209 00:13:02,450 --> 00:13:07,210 Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, there had been the 210 00:13:07,210 --> 00:13:10,630 oppression of the widows, there had been the 211 00:13:10,630 --> 00:13:14,230 oppression of the fatherless, and of the stranger, 212 00:13:14,670 --> 00:13:18,710 and of the poor, and there had been 213 00:13:18,710 --> 00:13:24,710 that which manifested evil against their brethren, and 214 00:13:24,710 --> 00:13:30,010 the failure to execute true justice, and showing 215 00:13:30,010 --> 00:13:33,910 mercy and compassion every man to his brother. 216 00:13:34,870 --> 00:13:37,830 My beloved, we can recognize a principle that 217 00:13:37,830 --> 00:13:38,530 is divine. 218 00:13:40,030 --> 00:13:43,790 God wants the fruitfulness of the life and 219 00:13:43,790 --> 00:13:48,050 the testimony of the character to reflect the 220 00:13:48,050 --> 00:13:52,290 obedience of his children to his precious word. 221 00:13:53,270 --> 00:13:56,010 May we not transfer again the truth of 222 00:13:56,010 --> 00:13:58,730 this to our own hearts, as well as 223 00:13:58,730 --> 00:14:02,790 to our own character, to realize that God 224 00:14:02,790 --> 00:14:07,790 desires his truth to be carried out in 225 00:14:07,790 --> 00:14:09,850 righteous practice. 226 00:14:11,350 --> 00:14:15,170 And God reminds the nation, I never saw 227 00:14:15,170 --> 00:14:19,890 the evidences of my word being obeyed in 228 00:14:19,890 --> 00:14:20,230 you. 229 00:14:20,930 --> 00:14:23,050 That's why I sent the prophet. 230 00:14:23,540 --> 00:14:26,910 Now note what God has to say regarding 231 00:14:26,910 --> 00:14:30,530 their action to the former prophet, as we 232 00:14:30,530 --> 00:14:32,110 begin reading in verse 11. 233 00:14:32,970 --> 00:14:36,950 For then God tells of the disobedience, but 234 00:14:36,950 --> 00:14:39,950 they refused to hearken. 235 00:14:40,830 --> 00:14:46,450 They pulled away the shoulder and stopped their 236 00:14:46,450 --> 00:14:50,490 ears, that they should not hear. 237 00:14:51,850 --> 00:14:55,570 God speaks in admonition concerning the past history, 238 00:14:56,350 --> 00:14:59,410 that the people of Israel have pulled away 239 00:14:59,410 --> 00:15:00,170 the shoulder. 240 00:15:00,910 --> 00:15:04,250 The inference or the illustration of this suggests, 241 00:15:04,890 --> 00:15:08,650 as an oxen is seeking to be thus 242 00:15:08,650 --> 00:15:12,310 burdened with its yoke, yet the shoulder of 243 00:15:12,310 --> 00:15:15,610 the oxen resists the yoke that is being 244 00:15:15,610 --> 00:15:19,290 placed upon it and pulls the shoulder away. 245 00:15:20,550 --> 00:15:25,290 So the people of Israel refused to bear 246 00:15:25,290 --> 00:15:28,690 the yoke that Jehovah put on them, and 247 00:15:28,690 --> 00:15:32,070 that was the requirement of obedience to his 248 00:15:32,070 --> 00:15:32,930 precious word. 249 00:15:33,950 --> 00:15:37,530 Again, my beloved, may I say, lovingly to 250 00:15:37,530 --> 00:15:39,170 you as well as to my heart and 251 00:15:39,170 --> 00:15:40,330 conscience also. 252 00:15:41,390 --> 00:15:43,150 Think of the words of the Lord Jesus 253 00:15:43,150 --> 00:15:44,510 as a believer today. 254 00:15:45,530 --> 00:15:48,710 When the Savior said in Matthew 11, 28 255 00:15:48,710 --> 00:15:52,150 and 29, Come unto me, all ye that 256 00:15:52,150 --> 00:15:54,130 labour and are heavy laden, and I will 257 00:15:54,130 --> 00:15:54,910 give you rest. 258 00:15:55,710 --> 00:16:00,010 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of 259 00:16:00,010 --> 00:16:03,530 me, for I am meek and lowly in 260 00:16:03,530 --> 00:16:08,210 heart, and ye shall find rest unto your 261 00:16:08,210 --> 00:16:08,750 souls. 262 00:16:09,690 --> 00:16:11,830 My beloved, there is a yoke for the 263 00:16:11,830 --> 00:16:17,630 believer, and that yoke certainly declares that he 264 00:16:17,630 --> 00:16:23,890 requires our obedience and our submission to his 265 00:16:23,890 --> 00:16:25,410 required word. 266 00:16:26,270 --> 00:16:28,430 I think of the words that Hobson Taylor 267 00:16:28,430 --> 00:16:32,550 once read when he said this statement that 268 00:16:32,550 --> 00:16:33,670 I've never forgotten. 269 00:16:34,510 --> 00:16:41,290 The greatest mission in the world is submission. 270 00:16:43,700 --> 00:16:45,340 How true is that statement? 271 00:16:46,300 --> 00:16:51,260 And God required submission to his word of 272 00:16:51,260 --> 00:16:52,500 his people of old. 273 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:56,700 My beloved, it is the same principle today. 274 00:16:57,820 --> 00:17:00,880 Oh my beloved fellow believer, may I encourage 275 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:04,099 you as well as exhort my conscience and 276 00:17:04,099 --> 00:17:08,920 heart to be obedient to the precious word 277 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:12,400 of God, and let the spirit of obedience 278 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:16,500 and submission be ours to what he has 279 00:17:16,500 --> 00:17:20,099 to declare and the responsibilities that he gives. 280 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:23,200 But they not only pull the shoulder away, 281 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:28,580 they stop their ears that they should not 282 00:17:28,580 --> 00:17:29,000 hear. 283 00:17:29,620 --> 00:17:32,700 Now you note the digression, you note how 284 00:17:32,700 --> 00:17:37,100 they continued more and more to repel against 285 00:17:37,100 --> 00:17:39,120 the required word of God. 286 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:42,780 First, resisting and pulling away the shoulder. 287 00:17:43,420 --> 00:17:47,440 Second, stopping their ears, they did not wish 288 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:49,160 to hear what he has to say. 289 00:17:50,120 --> 00:17:54,900 And then third, in verse 12, yea, they 290 00:17:54,900 --> 00:18:01,160 made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest 291 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:04,300 they should hear the law, and the word 292 00:18:04,300 --> 00:18:07,340 which the Lord of hosts hath sent in 293 00:18:07,340 --> 00:18:11,360 his spirit by the form of prophets. 294 00:18:12,220 --> 00:18:15,220 Now God brings the issue right down to 295 00:18:15,220 --> 00:18:18,360 the conclusion, for what he says in the 296 00:18:18,360 --> 00:18:21,820 next words covers the history of his judgments. 297 00:18:22,980 --> 00:18:25,660 Now may I remind you, and think clearly 298 00:18:25,660 --> 00:18:30,700 of this, these men had just passed through 299 00:18:30,700 --> 00:18:34,520 70 years of captivity in Babylon. 300 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:40,160 They had recently returned to the land of 301 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:40,640 Israel. 302 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:44,400 They had now begun the re-establishing of 303 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:47,340 the house of God, the rebuilding of the 304 00:18:47,340 --> 00:18:51,100 city and of the walls, and the restoration 305 00:18:51,100 --> 00:18:52,440 of the testimony. 306 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:57,980 But God reminds them that their self-imposed 307 00:18:57,980 --> 00:19:02,440 feasts had not been genuinely feasts or fasts 308 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:03,180 of repentance. 309 00:19:04,060 --> 00:19:06,760 And he reminds them that because of the 310 00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:09,720 former disobedience, now note at the end of 311 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:16,060 verse 12, therefore came a great wrath from 312 00:19:16,060 --> 00:19:17,720 the Lord of hosts. 313 00:19:18,660 --> 00:19:21,860 Therefore it is come to pass that as 314 00:19:21,860 --> 00:19:25,920 he cried and they would not hear, so 315 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:30,260 they cried and I would not hear, saith 316 00:19:30,260 --> 00:19:31,160 the Lord of hosts. 317 00:19:32,260 --> 00:19:35,360 What a sad commentary on the disobedience of 318 00:19:35,360 --> 00:19:36,160 God's people. 319 00:19:37,780 --> 00:19:40,620 May I ask again, could there not be 320 00:19:40,620 --> 00:19:45,660 written likewise, the sad commentary upon the disobedience 321 00:19:45,660 --> 00:19:49,080 of the church through the centuries of time? 322 00:19:50,020 --> 00:19:53,200 For when you and I see the conditions 323 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:57,420 that prevail today, may I say with all 324 00:19:57,420 --> 00:20:01,820 my mismiss, the failure of the church is 325 00:20:01,820 --> 00:20:06,560 due to the faithlessness of men. 326 00:20:10,220 --> 00:20:12,500 And as you and I see the great 327 00:20:12,500 --> 00:20:14,740 failure at the end of the church age 328 00:20:14,740 --> 00:20:20,020 that prevails the testimony of the profession of 329 00:20:20,020 --> 00:20:26,420 Christendom, it is due to failure to obey 330 00:20:26,420 --> 00:20:27,700 the word of God. 331 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:33,260 Now may I ask, without condemning any particular 332 00:20:33,260 --> 00:20:39,180 person or persons, may you and I realize 333 00:20:39,180 --> 00:20:43,640 that even we ourselves have contributed our share 334 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:44,380 of the failure. 335 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:48,700 In a bible reading of many years ago, 336 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:54,010 probably 50, the failure of the church was 337 00:20:54,010 --> 00:20:56,790 brought up by one brother as he thus 338 00:20:56,790 --> 00:21:00,150 stated the conditions that existed even then. 339 00:21:00,950 --> 00:21:03,850 And as he emphasized the failure of the 340 00:21:03,850 --> 00:21:07,110 church, one of the older brethren and a 341 00:21:07,110 --> 00:21:12,810 gifted brother said, brother, yet don't forget you 342 00:21:12,810 --> 00:21:15,610 are a part of that failing church. 343 00:21:17,910 --> 00:21:21,550 Yes, my beloved fellow believer, may you and 344 00:21:21,550 --> 00:21:24,450 I humbly recognize that. 345 00:21:25,010 --> 00:21:27,470 If you take the seven letters to the 346 00:21:27,470 --> 00:21:30,350 seven churches of asian in revelations chapter two 347 00:21:30,350 --> 00:21:34,750 and three, you find again and again in 348 00:21:34,750 --> 00:21:38,370 every letter the repetition He that hath an 349 00:21:38,370 --> 00:21:41,910 ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith 350 00:21:41,910 --> 00:21:44,030 unto the churches. 351 00:21:45,070 --> 00:21:48,890 And though their letters are addressed to seven 352 00:21:48,890 --> 00:21:55,450 specific churches, yet the individual believer within each 353 00:21:55,450 --> 00:22:00,930 one was given the responsibility to hear the 354 00:22:00,930 --> 00:22:06,590 message, to hear it, and overcome the difficulty. 355 00:22:07,690 --> 00:22:11,530 Oh may you and I certainly realize the 356 00:22:11,530 --> 00:22:14,170 character of God is unchangeable. 357 00:22:14,510 --> 00:22:18,230 But read on, he says, as they cried, 358 00:22:18,830 --> 00:22:21,030 when I cried they would not hear, so 359 00:22:21,030 --> 00:22:23,210 they cried and I would not hear, said 360 00:22:23,210 --> 00:22:26,490 the Lord above, but I scattered them with 361 00:22:26,490 --> 00:22:29,930 a whirlwind among all the nations, whom they 362 00:22:29,930 --> 00:22:30,590 knew not. 363 00:22:31,270 --> 00:22:35,150 Thus the land was desolate after them, that 364 00:22:35,150 --> 00:22:39,070 no man pass through nor return, for they 365 00:22:39,070 --> 00:22:42,190 laid the pleasant land desolate. 366 00:22:43,090 --> 00:22:47,110 Beloved, the seventy years of captivity was the 367 00:22:47,110 --> 00:22:51,950 hand of God's judgment, and the Sabbath that 368 00:22:51,950 --> 00:22:54,150 the people had never kept in the land. 369 00:22:55,110 --> 00:22:59,350 The Sabbaths were brought to pass as God 370 00:22:59,350 --> 00:23:03,250 sent them into captivity for seventy long years. 371 00:23:04,230 --> 00:23:07,650 So as we look at the seven chapters, 372 00:23:08,210 --> 00:23:11,110 we find that God gives them the negative 373 00:23:11,110 --> 00:23:13,750 answer by a divine rebuke. 374 00:23:14,270 --> 00:23:19,690 Then following the rebuke, then he gives the 375 00:23:19,690 --> 00:23:22,530 positive reply to the question in chapter eight. 376 00:23:23,110 --> 00:23:24,970 Now shall we read chapter eight? 377 00:23:25,690 --> 00:23:27,770 As we look at chapter eight, we find 378 00:23:27,770 --> 00:23:29,510 it divided into two divisions. 379 00:23:30,590 --> 00:23:34,010 In the first seventeen verses, there is a 380 00:23:34,010 --> 00:23:36,990 comforting and consolatory message. 381 00:23:38,270 --> 00:23:40,730 And then, beginning at verse eighteen to the 382 00:23:40,730 --> 00:23:45,530 end, there is the complete answer, the divine 383 00:23:45,530 --> 00:23:47,090 answer to their question. 384 00:23:48,170 --> 00:23:50,270 Oh my beloved, may I reflect with you 385 00:23:50,270 --> 00:23:50,710 again? 386 00:23:51,710 --> 00:23:56,730 Before God answers the question, he touches their 387 00:23:56,730 --> 00:23:57,350 conscience. 388 00:23:59,610 --> 00:24:05,230 He touches the conscience to remind them of 389 00:24:05,230 --> 00:24:05,970 their sins. 390 00:24:07,830 --> 00:24:11,630 And then in chapter eight, he commences his 391 00:24:11,630 --> 00:24:14,750 message of consolation and encouragement for them. 392 00:24:15,390 --> 00:24:17,410 Shall we read it, beginning at verse one? 393 00:24:18,210 --> 00:24:19,910 And I want you to know something, first 394 00:24:19,910 --> 00:24:20,410 of all. 395 00:24:21,510 --> 00:24:24,210 Go down the chapter with me, and I 396 00:24:24,210 --> 00:24:26,270 want you to see the repetition of a 397 00:24:26,270 --> 00:24:28,870 phrase that is important. 398 00:24:30,210 --> 00:24:32,030 You have it first in verse two. 399 00:24:32,370 --> 00:24:35,910 Notice how it begins, thus saith the Lord 400 00:24:35,910 --> 00:24:36,410 of hosts. 401 00:24:36,930 --> 00:24:40,750 Now note verse three, thus saith the Lord. 402 00:24:41,130 --> 00:24:45,550 Note verse four, thus saith the Lord of 403 00:24:45,550 --> 00:24:45,870 hosts. 404 00:24:46,450 --> 00:24:49,950 Note verse six, thus saith the Lord of 405 00:24:49,950 --> 00:24:50,310 hosts. 406 00:24:51,150 --> 00:24:54,530 Note verse seven, thus saith the Lord of 407 00:24:54,530 --> 00:24:54,830 hosts. 408 00:24:55,610 --> 00:24:58,730 Note the ninth verse, thus saith the Lord 409 00:24:58,730 --> 00:24:59,370 of hosts. 410 00:25:00,010 --> 00:25:03,810 Note the fourteenth verse, for thus saith the 411 00:25:03,810 --> 00:25:04,590 Lord of hosts. 412 00:25:05,170 --> 00:25:08,810 Note the nineteenth, thus saith the Lord of 413 00:25:08,810 --> 00:25:09,230 hosts. 414 00:25:09,830 --> 00:25:13,330 Verse twenty, thus saith the Lord of hosts. 415 00:25:13,850 --> 00:25:17,150 And verse twenty-three, thus saith the Lord 416 00:25:17,150 --> 00:25:17,630 of hosts. 417 00:25:18,210 --> 00:25:19,210 Ten times! 418 00:25:19,990 --> 00:25:21,130 And beloved, why? 419 00:25:24,120 --> 00:25:28,340 God is speaking of a truth, and God 420 00:25:28,340 --> 00:25:32,240 is declaring His word will not return unto 421 00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:32,920 Him void. 422 00:25:34,340 --> 00:25:36,240 Thus saith the Lord of hosts. 423 00:25:37,360 --> 00:25:41,260 For this is the way that God determines 424 00:25:41,260 --> 00:25:44,260 He will deal with Jerusalem, and with Judah, 425 00:25:44,460 --> 00:25:45,140 and with Israel. 426 00:25:46,540 --> 00:25:49,800 My beloved, when you see the determined purpose 427 00:25:49,800 --> 00:25:52,380 of God, go back to chapter one, please. 428 00:25:52,380 --> 00:25:55,800 You recall in chapter one, as we read 429 00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:59,400 the sixteenth and the seventeenth verse of that 430 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:03,680 first chapter, we have the same repetitious phrase, 431 00:26:04,060 --> 00:26:05,680 beginning in verse sixteen. 432 00:26:06,100 --> 00:26:10,480 Therefore thus saith the Lord, I am returned 433 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:12,000 to Jerusalem with mercy. 434 00:26:12,540 --> 00:26:14,800 My house shall be built in it, saith 435 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:17,340 the Lord of hosts, and the line shall 436 00:26:17,340 --> 00:26:19,300 be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. 437 00:26:19,880 --> 00:26:23,860 Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the Lord of 438 00:26:23,860 --> 00:26:28,160 hosts, my cities through prosperity shall yet be 439 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:31,960 spread abroad, and the Lord shall yet comfort 440 00:26:31,960 --> 00:26:35,220 Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem. 441 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:40,180 May I say, beloved, the determined character of 442 00:26:40,180 --> 00:26:43,520 God is revealed in the book of Zechariah 443 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:47,620 regarding His purposes for Jerusalem, for Israel, and 444 00:26:47,620 --> 00:26:48,640 His earthly people. 445 00:26:50,740 --> 00:26:54,780 My, you never met a more determined being 446 00:26:54,780 --> 00:26:57,760 than God. 447 00:27:00,620 --> 00:27:04,840 And oh, beloved, to transfer the application to 448 00:27:04,840 --> 00:27:06,840 our present age of grace. 449 00:27:08,620 --> 00:27:11,600 How precious to realize, as Paul wrote to 450 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:16,800 the Ephesians, that before the foundation of the 451 00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:20,880 world, He predetermined that He would have a 452 00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:24,960 family of children, holy and without blame before 453 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:30,620 Him in love, accepted in the beloved, in 454 00:27:30,620 --> 00:27:34,900 whom we have redemption through His blood and 455 00:27:34,900 --> 00:27:38,660 the forgiveness of sins according to the riches 456 00:27:38,660 --> 00:27:39,480 of His grace. 457 00:27:41,180 --> 00:27:45,420 Oh, my beloved, we must worship and adore 458 00:27:46,540 --> 00:27:51,360 that blessed being, who before the earth ever 459 00:27:51,360 --> 00:27:55,820 began and its foundations were laid in the 460 00:27:55,820 --> 00:27:59,700 choice of His being, He wanted you and 461 00:27:59,700 --> 00:28:00,040 me. 462 00:28:00,600 --> 00:28:01,220 Hallelujah. 463 00:28:04,030 --> 00:28:07,850 Chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son, 464 00:28:08,110 --> 00:28:12,470 and by the Spirit sealed to be His 465 00:28:12,470 --> 00:28:12,950 own. 466 00:28:13,770 --> 00:28:17,810 Now, if you question God's choice regarding Jerusalem 467 00:28:17,810 --> 00:28:21,030 and Israel, you ought to question His choice 468 00:28:21,030 --> 00:28:22,090 about you, too. 469 00:28:25,490 --> 00:28:29,950 For oh, the determined purpose of God is 470 00:28:29,950 --> 00:28:33,130 declared in the book of Zechariah, as in 471 00:28:33,130 --> 00:28:36,130 no other prophecy, regarding what He will yet 472 00:28:36,130 --> 00:28:39,770 do in the final fruition of Israel's glory. 473 00:28:40,850 --> 00:28:43,070 Now, let's look at the chapter carefully as 474 00:28:43,070 --> 00:28:43,770 we go through. 475 00:28:44,610 --> 00:28:46,730 In verses 1 and 2 of chapter 8, 476 00:28:47,110 --> 00:28:50,750 He declares His great love and His jealous 477 00:28:50,750 --> 00:28:51,850 love for Zion. 478 00:28:52,430 --> 00:28:54,310 Again, the word of the Lord of Hosts 479 00:28:54,310 --> 00:28:56,750 came to me, saying, Thus saith the Lord 480 00:28:56,750 --> 00:29:00,930 of Hosts, I was jealous for Zion, with 481 00:29:00,930 --> 00:29:05,010 great jealousy, and I was jealous for her 482 00:29:05,010 --> 00:29:06,950 with great fury. 483 00:29:08,110 --> 00:29:10,530 My beloved, may I say, this is jealous 484 00:29:10,530 --> 00:29:11,030 love. 485 00:29:12,830 --> 00:29:14,710 This is jealous love. 486 00:29:15,150 --> 00:29:16,310 This is not jealousy. 487 00:29:17,390 --> 00:29:18,890 Please note the distinction. 488 00:29:20,210 --> 00:29:23,390 This is a love for Judah, a love 489 00:29:23,390 --> 00:29:26,790 for Jerusalem, a love for His people that 490 00:29:26,790 --> 00:29:27,830 was a jealous love. 491 00:29:28,110 --> 00:29:30,850 I, the Lord thy God, am a jealous 492 00:29:30,850 --> 00:29:31,490 God. 493 00:29:32,810 --> 00:29:37,750 As He gave the Decalogue of Moses, thank 494 00:29:37,750 --> 00:29:39,170 God for such love. 495 00:29:39,350 --> 00:29:39,910 Hallelujah. 496 00:29:42,750 --> 00:29:45,930 My beloved, you and I can never measure 497 00:29:46,770 --> 00:29:50,070 the breadth, the length, the depth, and the 498 00:29:50,070 --> 00:29:55,670 height of the love that encompasses the redeemed 499 00:29:55,670 --> 00:29:57,250 children of God. 500 00:29:59,940 --> 00:30:03,460 My fellow believers, God's jealous for you and 501 00:30:03,460 --> 00:30:10,180 me, and that love is a jealous love. 502 00:30:10,540 --> 00:30:13,080 And may I say, He has a right 503 00:30:13,080 --> 00:30:13,880 to be jealous. 504 00:30:15,200 --> 00:30:17,620 You may not always have a right to 505 00:30:17,620 --> 00:30:17,800 be. 506 00:30:18,560 --> 00:30:19,360 He does. 507 00:30:21,700 --> 00:30:24,080 And then note, as you look at verse 508 00:30:24,080 --> 00:30:28,160 three, He tells of returning to Zion, Thus 509 00:30:28,160 --> 00:30:31,760 saith the Lord, I am returned unto Zion, 510 00:30:32,060 --> 00:30:34,800 and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, 511 00:30:35,300 --> 00:30:38,560 and Jerusalem shall be called a city of 512 00:30:38,560 --> 00:30:41,120 truth, and the mountain of the Lord of 513 00:30:41,120 --> 00:30:43,640 hosts the holy mountain. 514 00:30:44,840 --> 00:30:46,960 Hope you love it what names there be. 515 00:30:47,760 --> 00:30:49,640 He returning to Zion. 516 00:30:50,800 --> 00:30:53,020 He returning to Zion. 517 00:30:53,500 --> 00:30:56,480 When one thinks of the final fulfillment of 518 00:30:56,480 --> 00:31:00,140 the prophecy, as indicated in the second Psalm, 519 00:31:00,860 --> 00:31:04,420 Yet have I set my King in my 520 00:31:04,420 --> 00:31:05,920 holy hill of Zion. 521 00:31:05,920 --> 00:31:10,520 Read the 132nd Psalm, and David is told 522 00:31:10,520 --> 00:31:15,300 that God declares, I have chosen Zion to 523 00:31:15,300 --> 00:31:16,180 be my city. 524 00:31:17,820 --> 00:31:21,420 My beloved, you and I cannot fathom the 525 00:31:21,420 --> 00:31:24,240 divine interest of a holy God in the 526 00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:27,320 city of Jerusalem from the very time He 527 00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:28,620 made the choice of it. 528 00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:32,320 And then He says, I'm going to dwell 529 00:31:32,320 --> 00:31:33,900 in the midst of Jerusalem. 530 00:31:36,020 --> 00:31:37,900 My, you know, when I was invited to 531 00:31:37,900 --> 00:31:39,760 go to the Holy Land recently, I said, 532 00:31:39,840 --> 00:31:41,040 well, I would like to go when it 533 00:31:41,040 --> 00:31:41,860 was more holy. 534 00:31:44,660 --> 00:31:49,700 But oh, when you recognize the transformation that 535 00:31:49,700 --> 00:31:52,960 He's going to make, and He will dwell 536 00:31:52,960 --> 00:31:54,080 in the midst of Jerusalem. 537 00:31:54,200 --> 00:31:57,020 And note next, Jerusalem shall be called a 538 00:31:57,020 --> 00:31:57,860 city of truth. 539 00:31:59,460 --> 00:32:01,060 I want to tell you, if you went 540 00:32:01,060 --> 00:32:03,000 over there right now, you'd find a lot 541 00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:04,020 of lies there. 542 00:32:05,220 --> 00:32:07,080 And you can find them all over the 543 00:32:07,080 --> 00:32:07,380 earth. 544 00:32:10,990 --> 00:32:13,830 You remember the, you remember the prophet Jeremiah 545 00:32:13,830 --> 00:32:17,790 declared in his day of apostasy and declension, 546 00:32:18,450 --> 00:32:20,930 that truth had fallen in the street. 547 00:32:24,280 --> 00:32:28,400 My beloved, when the restoration is complete, as 548 00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:32,860 God indicates and determines in this chapter, Jerusalem 549 00:32:32,860 --> 00:32:34,660 will be the city of truth. 550 00:32:35,800 --> 00:32:38,600 Nay, we shall see, we've already seen in 551 00:32:38,600 --> 00:32:41,880 the preceding fifth chapter, or the fourth chapter 552 00:32:41,880 --> 00:32:44,780 rather, that Israel is to be the light 553 00:32:44,780 --> 00:32:49,540 of the world, disseminating the truth throughout the 554 00:32:49,540 --> 00:32:49,880 world. 555 00:32:50,940 --> 00:32:53,240 You know, the Pilate said to Jesus as 556 00:32:53,240 --> 00:32:55,560 he stood before Him, what is truth? 557 00:32:57,860 --> 00:33:01,280 And yet the embodiment of all truth was 558 00:33:01,280 --> 00:33:03,000 standing in person there. 559 00:33:04,520 --> 00:33:09,360 But someday, Jerusalem will be known throughout the 560 00:33:09,360 --> 00:33:11,180 world as the city of truth. 561 00:33:12,080 --> 00:33:15,060 If you want to learn the truth, you'll 562 00:33:15,060 --> 00:33:17,120 have to go to Jerusalem in the Millennial 563 00:33:17,120 --> 00:33:17,660 Kingdom. 564 00:33:18,160 --> 00:33:21,420 And the priests of Jerusalem and of Israel, 565 00:33:21,900 --> 00:33:24,740 ministers of God, will carry the truth of 566 00:33:24,740 --> 00:33:28,480 God to the then known world in every 567 00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:28,980 corner. 568 00:33:29,840 --> 00:33:32,840 But don't, and the mountain of the Lord 569 00:33:32,840 --> 00:33:36,500 of hosts will be a holy mountain, or 570 00:33:36,500 --> 00:33:40,420 the holy mountain, the holy mountain. 571 00:33:40,640 --> 00:33:41,900 May I go further please? 572 00:33:41,980 --> 00:33:43,460 I've got to give you another scripture. 573 00:33:44,100 --> 00:33:45,280 It's in Zephaniah. 574 00:33:45,520 --> 00:33:46,620 Can you find the fella? 575 00:33:46,980 --> 00:33:48,460 He's a little, he's back a couple of 576 00:33:48,460 --> 00:33:48,720 books. 577 00:33:49,340 --> 00:33:50,760 Zephaniah chapter three. 578 00:33:51,260 --> 00:33:53,160 I want you to note verse thirteen. 579 00:33:53,800 --> 00:33:56,000 It will not only be a city of 580 00:33:56,000 --> 00:33:58,640 truth, and there'll not only be in its 581 00:33:58,640 --> 00:34:01,120 midst the God of truth, but I want 582 00:34:01,120 --> 00:34:03,320 you to note something precious. 583 00:34:03,860 --> 00:34:06,680 Chapter three of Zephaniah, verse thirteen. 584 00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:13,520 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, 585 00:34:13,800 --> 00:34:16,659 nor speak lies. 586 00:34:17,540 --> 00:34:21,739 Neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in 587 00:34:21,739 --> 00:34:22,780 their mouth. 588 00:34:23,380 --> 00:34:25,679 For they shall feed and lie down, and 589 00:34:25,679 --> 00:34:27,179 none shall make them afraid. 590 00:34:29,280 --> 00:34:32,300 Can I ask you just a simple question? 591 00:34:36,840 --> 00:34:38,500 Do you believe every Jew today? 592 00:34:43,510 --> 00:34:47,530 May I point out the transformation of God's 593 00:34:47,530 --> 00:34:50,250 people, the godly remnant in that day? 594 00:34:51,250 --> 00:34:56,270 They shall not do iniquity, neither speak lies, 595 00:34:56,870 --> 00:35:01,050 neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in 596 00:35:01,050 --> 00:35:02,310 their mouth. 597 00:35:04,730 --> 00:35:06,450 Why, what a transformation. 598 00:35:08,470 --> 00:35:10,170 But let's go back to our chapter and 599 00:35:10,170 --> 00:35:10,830 hasten on. 600 00:35:12,030 --> 00:35:15,930 For, as the prophet writes, the mountain of 601 00:35:15,930 --> 00:35:18,110 the Lord of hosts will be the holy 602 00:35:18,110 --> 00:35:18,790 mountain. 603 00:35:19,510 --> 00:35:22,630 And then in verse four and five, note 604 00:35:22,630 --> 00:35:22,970 this. 605 00:35:23,750 --> 00:35:26,050 It will be a populated city. 606 00:35:26,950 --> 00:35:29,290 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, there shall 607 00:35:29,290 --> 00:35:32,070 yet old men and old women dwell in 608 00:35:32,070 --> 00:35:35,210 the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with 609 00:35:35,210 --> 00:35:38,310 his staff in his hand for very age. 610 00:35:38,750 --> 00:35:41,590 And the streets of the city shall be 611 00:35:41,590 --> 00:35:45,730 full of boys and girls playing in the 612 00:35:45,730 --> 00:35:47,530 streets thereof. 613 00:35:48,590 --> 00:35:52,150 My beloved, it will be a populated place. 614 00:35:52,950 --> 00:35:55,230 The aged and the young dwelling together. 615 00:35:56,110 --> 00:35:58,670 And may I remind you that in the 616 00:35:58,670 --> 00:36:00,810 millennium, you know some of the folks in 617 00:36:00,810 --> 00:36:04,010 that day, they'll do what Methuselah was never 618 00:36:04,010 --> 00:36:04,830 able to do. 619 00:36:05,270 --> 00:36:07,470 And you know, Methuselah really went through a 620 00:36:07,470 --> 00:36:08,870 long period, didn't he? 621 00:36:10,490 --> 00:36:11,650 969 years. 622 00:36:12,870 --> 00:36:15,590 And I've often thought 69 years is enough 623 00:36:15,590 --> 00:36:16,130 for me. 624 00:36:16,450 --> 00:36:18,990 I wouldn't want 969 here. 625 00:36:19,690 --> 00:36:23,370 But in the millennium, people will go through 626 00:36:23,370 --> 00:36:23,610 it. 627 00:36:23,790 --> 00:36:26,390 Go to Isaiah 65 for a moment with 628 00:36:26,390 --> 00:36:26,630 me. 629 00:36:27,130 --> 00:36:31,150 Isaiah chapter 65, for the prophecy of Isaiah 630 00:36:31,150 --> 00:36:35,610 touches upon the population of Israel and of 631 00:36:35,610 --> 00:36:37,130 Jerusalem in that day. 632 00:36:37,750 --> 00:36:40,090 The 65th chapter of Isaiah. 633 00:36:40,530 --> 00:36:42,930 Let me read verse 20 through 22. 634 00:36:43,710 --> 00:36:44,890 Listen to these words. 635 00:36:45,370 --> 00:36:46,130 They're precious. 636 00:36:46,610 --> 00:36:49,930 Concerning the same time, there shall be no 637 00:36:49,930 --> 00:36:53,170 more sense an infant of days, nor an 638 00:36:53,170 --> 00:36:55,990 old man that is not filled his days. 639 00:36:56,350 --> 00:36:59,010 For the child shall die a hundred years 640 00:36:59,010 --> 00:36:59,690 old. 641 00:37:00,930 --> 00:37:03,090 About three or four years ago, I had 642 00:37:03,090 --> 00:37:04,890 a funeral of a dear old sister, one 643 00:37:04,890 --> 00:37:07,590 of our neighbors, and a godly sister in 644 00:37:07,590 --> 00:37:10,070 Christ, at the age of 102. 645 00:37:10,870 --> 00:37:12,810 And she'd never been in the hospital all 646 00:37:12,810 --> 00:37:13,710 through her life. 647 00:37:14,410 --> 00:37:18,130 But here's a case where a person dies 648 00:37:18,130 --> 00:37:21,250 in the millennium at a hundred, and considered 649 00:37:21,250 --> 00:37:22,290 a child. 650 00:37:23,690 --> 00:37:25,210 And may I say this is not the 651 00:37:25,210 --> 00:37:26,330 second childhood either. 652 00:37:30,920 --> 00:37:34,800 Because the length of life will be extended 653 00:37:34,800 --> 00:37:37,900 in the millennial kingdom under the blessings of 654 00:37:37,900 --> 00:37:38,580 the Messiah. 655 00:37:38,880 --> 00:37:39,580 But read on. 656 00:37:39,920 --> 00:37:42,400 But the sin of being a hundred years 657 00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:43,900 old shall be a curse. 658 00:37:44,140 --> 00:37:46,740 And may I inject the fact that when 659 00:37:46,740 --> 00:37:49,220 sin rises in that day, as we saw 660 00:37:49,220 --> 00:37:52,280 this morning, the one who is the lawgiver 661 00:37:52,280 --> 00:37:55,160 will immediately be the judge. 662 00:37:56,080 --> 00:37:59,480 And justice will fall upon the sinner immediately 663 00:37:59,480 --> 00:38:01,960 in that day of the kingdom. 664 00:38:02,660 --> 00:38:06,680 And no sin will be permitted to continue 665 00:38:06,680 --> 00:38:11,140 in rebellion against the righteous throne of the 666 00:38:11,140 --> 00:38:12,040 King of Kings. 667 00:38:12,920 --> 00:38:16,180 My, I really wish he were here. 668 00:38:17,560 --> 00:38:21,380 To subjugate the violence and the crime and 669 00:38:21,380 --> 00:38:23,740 all that is the rebellion of the human 670 00:38:23,740 --> 00:38:26,700 heart against sin, sin against the Holy God. 671 00:38:27,780 --> 00:38:31,120 And the sinner being a hundred years old 672 00:38:31,120 --> 00:38:34,040 will be cut off and judged and accursed. 673 00:38:34,380 --> 00:38:35,880 And verse 21, read on. 674 00:38:36,080 --> 00:38:39,640 They shall build houses and inhabit them. 675 00:38:41,200 --> 00:38:44,080 The banks will not foreclose on them. 676 00:38:44,960 --> 00:38:47,740 There'll be no economic failure to take the 677 00:38:47,740 --> 00:38:48,400 homes away. 678 00:38:49,020 --> 00:38:51,820 And they shall plant vineyards and eat the 679 00:38:51,820 --> 00:38:52,800 fruit of them. 680 00:38:54,080 --> 00:38:55,520 Successful agriculture. 681 00:38:56,040 --> 00:38:58,320 They shall not build and another inhabit. 682 00:38:58,320 --> 00:39:00,860 They shall not plant and another eat. 683 00:39:01,200 --> 00:39:03,460 For if the days of a tree are 684 00:39:03,460 --> 00:39:07,140 the days of my people, and mine elect 685 00:39:07,140 --> 00:39:11,460 shall long enjoy the work of their hands, 686 00:39:11,720 --> 00:39:12,620 and so on. 687 00:39:13,440 --> 00:39:15,780 Adore when you look at Zechariah's prophecy. 688 00:39:16,300 --> 00:39:19,760 He puts the age, women and men, and 689 00:39:19,760 --> 00:39:22,080 the little children all together. 690 00:39:22,980 --> 00:39:25,020 Now, beloved gentlemen, let me say this. 691 00:39:25,880 --> 00:39:27,980 There certainly will be some evidence of old 692 00:39:27,980 --> 00:39:29,700 age when you get to be 900 years 693 00:39:29,700 --> 00:39:34,180 of age, whether men or women. 694 00:39:34,620 --> 00:39:38,400 But, there'll be the continuing of life and 695 00:39:38,400 --> 00:39:41,760 the abundance of children playing in the street. 696 00:39:42,400 --> 00:39:44,040 And thank God for that, you know. 697 00:39:44,640 --> 00:39:46,240 You know, you wouldn't let your kids play 698 00:39:46,240 --> 00:39:47,380 in the street today, would you? 699 00:39:48,080 --> 00:39:49,500 I know we did it when I was 700 00:39:49,500 --> 00:39:51,280 a boy, but we didn't have so many 701 00:39:51,280 --> 00:39:53,440 automobile and other things. 702 00:39:53,900 --> 00:39:58,760 But, how one can recognize the populated place 703 00:39:58,760 --> 00:40:00,640 of Jerusalem in that coming day? 704 00:40:01,180 --> 00:40:02,400 Then go further, please. 705 00:40:03,000 --> 00:40:05,660 As we see what follows in verse 6. 706 00:40:06,200 --> 00:40:06,920 It's marvelous. 707 00:40:07,400 --> 00:40:08,320 It's a garden. 708 00:40:08,940 --> 00:40:11,760 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, if it 709 00:40:11,760 --> 00:40:14,680 be marvelous in the eyes of the remnant 710 00:40:14,680 --> 00:40:18,480 of this people in these days, should it 711 00:40:18,480 --> 00:40:20,680 also be marvelous in mine eyes? 712 00:40:21,360 --> 00:40:23,420 Saith the Lord of hosts. 713 00:40:24,320 --> 00:40:26,560 In other words, what God is saying. 714 00:40:26,820 --> 00:40:28,240 You think it's too hard? 715 00:40:28,660 --> 00:40:30,220 You think this is too difficult? 716 00:40:30,720 --> 00:40:32,340 You think this is too wonderful? 717 00:40:32,840 --> 00:40:35,040 Do you think this is too marvelous, that 718 00:40:35,040 --> 00:40:35,940 it's impossible? 719 00:40:37,560 --> 00:40:39,320 My beloved, let me say this. 720 00:40:39,320 --> 00:40:44,220 As Abraham said, and Abraham was told, is 721 00:40:44,220 --> 00:40:47,500 anything too hard for the Lord? 722 00:40:49,140 --> 00:40:50,880 Nothing's too hard for him. 723 00:40:52,620 --> 00:40:54,980 And hallelujah, he'll bring it to pass. 724 00:40:55,840 --> 00:40:58,060 He'll bring it to pass. 725 00:40:59,890 --> 00:41:02,690 The birth of Isaac was marvelous. 726 00:41:03,550 --> 00:41:08,550 Abraham doubted, and I and Sarah particularly doubted, 727 00:41:08,810 --> 00:41:10,910 and lapped up her sleeve at such a 728 00:41:10,910 --> 00:41:11,490 suggestion. 729 00:41:11,870 --> 00:41:14,850 And then the Lord said, is anything too 730 00:41:14,850 --> 00:41:15,990 hard for the Lord? 731 00:41:16,850 --> 00:41:19,390 And if you may recall, when Isaac was 732 00:41:19,390 --> 00:41:21,770 born, they called in such meaning, laughter. 733 00:41:23,350 --> 00:41:26,350 Beloved, may I say, there's going to be 734 00:41:26,350 --> 00:41:30,370 great laughter in the city of Jerusalem in 735 00:41:30,370 --> 00:41:32,270 the days of the great King. 736 00:41:33,050 --> 00:41:33,730 What joy. 737 00:41:33,850 --> 00:41:34,630 But let's read on. 738 00:41:35,630 --> 00:41:38,330 I want you to know Israel's complete restoration. 739 00:41:38,330 --> 00:41:40,410 As you go to verse 7 and 8, 740 00:41:40,770 --> 00:41:43,730 Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, Behold, I 741 00:41:43,730 --> 00:41:46,630 will save my people from the east country, 742 00:41:46,810 --> 00:41:49,290 and from the west country, and I will 743 00:41:49,290 --> 00:41:52,070 bring them, and they shall dwell in the 744 00:41:52,070 --> 00:41:54,970 midst of Jerusalem, and they shall be my 745 00:41:54,970 --> 00:41:58,270 people, and I will be their God, in 746 00:41:58,270 --> 00:42:00,910 truth and in righteousness. 747 00:42:02,090 --> 00:42:07,230 The restoration is going to be absolutely complete. 748 00:42:08,110 --> 00:42:14,550 Oh, thank God for the literal promise of 749 00:42:14,550 --> 00:42:21,400 a restored Israel, when God will fulfill his 750 00:42:21,400 --> 00:42:26,140 divine purposes, and accomplish his will, that he 751 00:42:26,140 --> 00:42:29,660 is determined to carry out with that chosen 752 00:42:29,660 --> 00:42:34,660 people, and the godly remnant who will populate 753 00:42:34,660 --> 00:42:36,460 the kingdom of that day. 754 00:42:38,280 --> 00:42:42,200 I must say I get very much disturbed 755 00:42:42,200 --> 00:42:47,340 over the teaching of some that relegate no 756 00:42:47,340 --> 00:42:48,980 future to Israel at all. 757 00:42:51,910 --> 00:42:56,550 Remember years ago, as one brother took exception 758 00:42:56,550 --> 00:42:59,930 to a little comment I made regarding God's 759 00:42:59,930 --> 00:43:03,890 future purpose for Israel, and he came after 760 00:43:03,890 --> 00:43:06,270 dinner where I was having dinner with some 761 00:43:06,270 --> 00:43:09,810 Christian friends to talk with me, and then 762 00:43:09,810 --> 00:43:12,510 he proposed to me that my teaching was 763 00:43:12,510 --> 00:43:15,990 wrong, and that Israel would have no kingdom, 764 00:43:16,150 --> 00:43:18,110 no nation, there'd be no land, there'd be 765 00:43:18,110 --> 00:43:18,870 no millennium. 766 00:43:20,010 --> 00:43:21,810 I let him go on until I made 767 00:43:21,810 --> 00:43:24,450 sure that he told it all, and then 768 00:43:24,450 --> 00:43:26,730 I said, let me understand you correctly. 769 00:43:27,710 --> 00:43:30,610 If you tell me what I think I 770 00:43:30,610 --> 00:43:34,290 understand you to say, Israel will have no 771 00:43:34,290 --> 00:43:37,630 future at all, and there's no promises for 772 00:43:37,630 --> 00:43:40,910 a restored nation, land, or kingdom, and king. 773 00:43:41,530 --> 00:43:44,670 Right he said, and he was quite enthusiastic, 774 00:43:44,810 --> 00:43:47,110 he thought I was really understanding it perfectly. 775 00:43:47,810 --> 00:43:49,630 I looked at him and I said, my 776 00:43:49,630 --> 00:43:52,910 friend, I heartily disagree with you. 777 00:43:53,930 --> 00:43:56,170 He looked surprised, and he said, we can 778 00:43:56,170 --> 00:43:57,450 be friends can't we? 779 00:43:57,530 --> 00:44:00,790 I said, friend, I've got to love you. 780 00:44:01,730 --> 00:44:03,610 But I want to tell you one thing, 781 00:44:04,230 --> 00:44:06,830 when the rapture comes, I hope I go 782 00:44:06,830 --> 00:44:09,130 up alongside of you, and I'll tell you 783 00:44:09,130 --> 00:44:10,750 all the way up, I told you so. 784 00:44:16,380 --> 00:44:20,380 Beloved, beloved, please don't deny the hope of 785 00:44:20,380 --> 00:44:20,860 Israel. 786 00:44:22,120 --> 00:44:23,440 Don't deny it. 787 00:44:24,240 --> 00:44:28,020 God determined he will bring it to pass. 788 00:44:28,280 --> 00:44:29,660 Now let's read quickly on. 789 00:44:30,060 --> 00:44:33,800 From verse 9 through verse 17, God gives 790 00:44:33,800 --> 00:44:35,960 words of encouragement for future blessings. 791 00:44:36,560 --> 00:44:38,480 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, let your 792 00:44:38,480 --> 00:44:41,340 hands be strong, ye that hear in these 793 00:44:41,340 --> 00:44:45,760 days, the days of Zechariah, these words by 794 00:44:45,760 --> 00:44:47,460 the mouth of the prophets, which were in 795 00:44:47,460 --> 00:44:49,900 the day that the foundation of the house 796 00:44:49,900 --> 00:44:51,900 of the Lord of hosts was laid, that 797 00:44:51,900 --> 00:44:53,260 the temple might be built. 798 00:44:53,600 --> 00:44:55,960 For before these days there was no hire 799 00:44:55,960 --> 00:44:59,820 for man, nor any hire for beast, neither 800 00:44:59,820 --> 00:45:01,680 was there any peace to him that went 801 00:45:01,680 --> 00:45:03,880 out or came in because of the affliction. 802 00:45:04,300 --> 00:45:07,040 For I said, amen everyone against his neighbor. 803 00:45:07,420 --> 00:45:09,920 But now I will not be unto the 804 00:45:09,920 --> 00:45:12,780 residue of this people, as in the former 805 00:45:12,780 --> 00:45:15,300 days saith the Lord of hosts, for the 806 00:45:15,300 --> 00:45:18,900 seed shall be prosperous, the vine shall give 807 00:45:18,900 --> 00:45:22,000 her fruit, the ground shall give her increase, 808 00:45:22,360 --> 00:45:24,180 and the heaven shall give their due. 809 00:45:24,560 --> 00:45:26,920 And I will cause the remnant of this 810 00:45:26,920 --> 00:45:30,120 people to possess all these things. 811 00:45:30,540 --> 00:45:33,920 And it shall come to pass that as 812 00:45:33,920 --> 00:45:37,320 ye were accursed among the heathen of the 813 00:45:37,320 --> 00:45:41,360 nations, O house of Judah, O house of 814 00:45:41,360 --> 00:45:45,660 Israel, so will I save you, and ye 815 00:45:45,660 --> 00:45:46,840 shall be a blessing. 816 00:45:47,600 --> 00:45:51,160 Fear not, but let your hands be strong, 817 00:45:51,600 --> 00:45:53,980 for thus saith the Lord of hosts, as 818 00:45:53,980 --> 00:45:56,740 I thought to punish you when your fathers 819 00:45:56,740 --> 00:45:59,600 provoked me to wrath, saith the Lord of 820 00:45:59,600 --> 00:46:01,620 hosts, and I repented not. 821 00:46:02,000 --> 00:46:06,080 So again have I thought in these days 822 00:46:06,080 --> 00:46:09,340 to do well unto Jerusalem, and to the 823 00:46:09,340 --> 00:46:10,940 house of Judah. 824 00:46:11,500 --> 00:46:14,140 Fear ye not. 825 00:46:14,780 --> 00:46:18,100 Now notice encouragement, and his admonition. 826 00:46:18,980 --> 00:46:21,740 These are the things that ye shall do, 827 00:46:22,520 --> 00:46:24,660 speak ye every man the truth to his 828 00:46:24,660 --> 00:46:27,920 neighbor, execute the judgment of truth and peace 829 00:46:27,920 --> 00:46:30,760 in your gates, and let none of you 830 00:46:30,760 --> 00:46:34,980 imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor. 831 00:46:35,380 --> 00:46:39,060 And love no false host, for all these 832 00:46:39,060 --> 00:46:42,840 are things that I hate, saith the Lord. 833 00:46:43,480 --> 00:46:48,180 And one can recognize and properly see that 834 00:46:48,180 --> 00:46:53,020 God requires the genuineness of their obedience to 835 00:46:53,020 --> 00:46:56,180 thus obey his word, that the blessings may 836 00:46:56,180 --> 00:46:57,060 be enjoyed. 837 00:46:57,680 --> 00:47:00,780 Now the chapter closes with verse 18 through 838 00:47:00,780 --> 00:47:04,320 to the end, where God gives the actual 839 00:47:04,320 --> 00:47:05,800 answer to their question. 840 00:47:06,560 --> 00:47:08,620 Should they continue in those facts? 841 00:47:09,040 --> 00:47:10,320 Listen to his words. 842 00:47:11,300 --> 00:47:13,660 The word of the Lord came unto me, 843 00:47:13,780 --> 00:47:17,260 saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the 844 00:47:17,260 --> 00:47:19,060 past of the forefathers, and if you may 845 00:47:19,060 --> 00:47:19,840 note please. 846 00:47:20,520 --> 00:47:23,920 It began with mentioning one fact in the 847 00:47:23,920 --> 00:47:26,680 first part of the chapter, and then two, 848 00:47:27,340 --> 00:47:29,200 and now the Lord takes them all in, 849 00:47:29,660 --> 00:47:32,200 for there's no question of doubt they had 850 00:47:32,200 --> 00:47:35,360 all these facts that they'd imposed upon themselves. 851 00:47:36,020 --> 00:47:38,360 The past of the fourth month, the past 852 00:47:38,360 --> 00:47:40,540 of the fifth, the past of the seventh, 853 00:47:40,840 --> 00:47:43,700 and the past of the tenth shall be 854 00:47:43,700 --> 00:47:46,360 to the house of Judah joy and gladness 855 00:47:46,360 --> 00:47:48,840 and cheerful peace, therefore love the truth and 856 00:47:48,840 --> 00:47:49,100 peace. 857 00:47:49,360 --> 00:47:51,860 May I state briefly, time doesn't permit the 858 00:47:51,860 --> 00:47:55,700 detail of it, but these four feasts, they 859 00:47:55,700 --> 00:47:59,360 represented some tragedy in the history of Israel 860 00:47:59,360 --> 00:48:04,680 during that period, of the Babylonian captivity beginning 861 00:48:04,680 --> 00:48:06,960 with the destruction of Jerusalem and what followed 862 00:48:06,960 --> 00:48:07,280 on. 863 00:48:07,920 --> 00:48:11,620 And when these tragedies came, they imposed upon 864 00:48:11,620 --> 00:48:16,600 themselves these particular facts without any genuine repentance 865 00:48:16,600 --> 00:48:18,400 for their sin. 866 00:48:19,120 --> 00:48:22,100 But now God says, I'm going to make 867 00:48:22,100 --> 00:48:29,240 those facts joy and gladness, cheerful peace, therefore 868 00:48:29,240 --> 00:48:30,580 love the truth and peace. 869 00:48:31,600 --> 00:48:34,840 But all the restoration that God will give 870 00:48:34,840 --> 00:48:38,600 will be no need of fasting, but it 871 00:48:38,600 --> 00:48:44,160 will be joy, gladness, cheerful peace, therefore love 872 00:48:44,160 --> 00:48:45,040 the truth and peace. 873 00:48:45,120 --> 00:48:45,700 The read on. 874 00:48:46,400 --> 00:48:48,540 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, it shall 875 00:48:48,540 --> 00:48:51,300 yet come to pass that there shall come 876 00:48:51,300 --> 00:48:54,780 people, and the inhabitants of many cities, and 877 00:48:54,780 --> 00:48:56,920 the inhabitants of one city shall go to 878 00:48:56,920 --> 00:49:00,440 another and say, let us go speedily to 879 00:49:00,440 --> 00:49:01,740 pray before the Lord. 880 00:49:02,240 --> 00:49:03,720 Say, did you ever have anybody say that 881 00:49:03,720 --> 00:49:04,300 to you today? 882 00:49:06,460 --> 00:49:08,480 Has anybody invited you to go and pray 883 00:49:08,480 --> 00:49:09,340 before the Lord? 884 00:49:10,320 --> 00:49:13,900 Hard to get anybody to prayer meeting these 885 00:49:13,900 --> 00:49:14,760 days, isn't it? 886 00:49:15,800 --> 00:49:18,280 But what the Lord is saying that in 887 00:49:18,280 --> 00:49:21,360 that day of glory, when he brings the 888 00:49:21,360 --> 00:49:25,380 restoration to its fruition and culmination, there will 889 00:49:25,380 --> 00:49:27,900 be among the cities of the world, not 890 00:49:27,900 --> 00:49:31,380 just in Judah and in Israel, but in 891 00:49:31,380 --> 00:49:34,720 the cities beyond, there will be those that 892 00:49:34,720 --> 00:49:38,080 will say, let us go speedily to pray 893 00:49:38,080 --> 00:49:39,000 before the Lord. 894 00:49:39,240 --> 00:49:41,780 My goodness, think of it, a millennium of 895 00:49:41,780 --> 00:49:42,200 prayer meeting. 896 00:49:44,300 --> 00:49:45,800 What a change! 897 00:49:46,900 --> 00:49:47,960 What a change! 898 00:49:48,180 --> 00:49:50,140 And if you could get the same start 899 00:49:50,140 --> 00:49:53,360 to one prayer meeting a week these days, 900 00:49:53,480 --> 00:49:54,340 you're doing well. 901 00:49:55,940 --> 00:50:00,300 But in that day, the spirit of prayer 902 00:50:00,300 --> 00:50:04,400 will be upon the people at large, and 903 00:50:04,400 --> 00:50:07,460 they'll seek the Lord of hosts and say, 904 00:50:07,600 --> 00:50:09,880 now no, they won't say, you go to 905 00:50:09,880 --> 00:50:11,840 the prayer meetings, I'll go with you. 906 00:50:13,240 --> 00:50:16,740 I will go, and I will go also. 907 00:50:17,520 --> 00:50:20,260 Yea, note how broad it is. 908 00:50:20,720 --> 00:50:22,880 As it spreads to the length and breadth 909 00:50:22,880 --> 00:50:26,140 of the earth, many people and strong nations 910 00:50:26,140 --> 00:50:29,060 shall come to seek the Lord of hosts 911 00:50:29,060 --> 00:50:33,360 in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. 912 00:50:35,260 --> 00:50:37,260 Ah, what did you say? 913 00:50:37,380 --> 00:50:38,880 A national day of prayer? 914 00:50:39,240 --> 00:50:41,080 Bless your heart, international. 915 00:50:43,940 --> 00:50:44,620 Worldwide! 916 00:50:46,470 --> 00:50:49,310 And the center, the house of the Lord 917 00:50:49,310 --> 00:50:54,050 in Jerusalem, the place of prayer for all 918 00:50:54,050 --> 00:50:54,650 nations. 919 00:50:55,730 --> 00:50:57,510 And then as the verse closes at the 920 00:50:57,510 --> 00:51:01,050 end, the chapter closes saying, Thus saith the 921 00:51:01,050 --> 00:51:04,190 Lord of hosts, in those days it shall 922 00:51:04,190 --> 00:51:08,650 come to pass that ten men shall take 923 00:51:08,650 --> 00:51:11,710 hold out of all languages of the nations, 924 00:51:12,110 --> 00:51:15,370 even shall take hold of the skirt of 925 00:51:15,370 --> 00:51:18,310 him that is a Jew, saying, We will 926 00:51:18,310 --> 00:51:21,530 go with you, for we have heard that 927 00:51:21,530 --> 00:51:24,330 God is with you. 928 00:51:25,850 --> 00:51:28,130 I don't know what would happen today if 929 00:51:28,130 --> 00:51:33,570 ten men got hold of a Jew, but 930 00:51:33,570 --> 00:51:40,420 in that day, the literal evidence of the 931 00:51:40,420 --> 00:51:43,080 presence of the King of Kings, the Messiah 932 00:51:43,080 --> 00:51:46,940 of Israel, the presence of Jehovah in the 933 00:51:46,940 --> 00:51:51,400 midst of his people, Jerusalem, a city of 934 00:51:51,400 --> 00:51:56,200 truth, Zion, the holy mountain, and that city 935 00:51:56,200 --> 00:52:01,840 of truth disseminating Jehovah's knowledge throughout all the 936 00:52:01,840 --> 00:52:05,360 earth, will bring to the nations of the 937 00:52:05,360 --> 00:52:10,280 earth the realization, we want to go with 938 00:52:10,280 --> 00:52:13,700 you as they cling to that people, for 939 00:52:13,700 --> 00:52:17,160 we see that God is with you. 940 00:52:17,720 --> 00:52:19,960 I wish somebody get hold of me like 941 00:52:19,960 --> 00:52:29,680 that, and you will go with you, O 942 00:52:29,680 --> 00:52:34,360 my beloved, the determined purpose of Jehovah to 943 00:52:34,360 --> 00:52:35,360 bring it all about. 944 00:52:36,300 --> 00:52:42,940 And instead of fasting, feasting, joy, glad. 945 00:52:44,540 --> 00:52:48,540 You know I'm glad I'm saved, and I'm 946 00:52:48,540 --> 00:52:52,520 happy to know what lies before me and 947 00:52:52,520 --> 00:52:57,120 lies before you, my fellow believer, is nothing 948 00:52:57,120 --> 00:53:02,520 but eternal joy, through the one who gave 949 00:53:02,520 --> 00:53:07,320 himself for the sins of the world, that 950 00:53:07,320 --> 00:53:10,680 he might bring us into the blessings of 951 00:53:10,680 --> 00:53:13,940 the purposes of his Father, hallelujah. 952 00:53:15,740 --> 00:53:20,040 I never wonder anymore at the wonderful scene 953 00:53:20,040 --> 00:53:22,420 in the book of the Revelation, chapter five, 954 00:53:22,920 --> 00:53:25,540 when in the midst of the throne, and 955 00:53:25,540 --> 00:53:28,180 in the midst of the living creature, and 956 00:53:28,180 --> 00:53:30,800 in the midst of the elders, the glorified 957 00:53:30,800 --> 00:53:35,900 saints, we shall see that Lamb, and I 958 00:53:35,900 --> 00:53:40,040 do not wonder at all, in unison we 959 00:53:40,040 --> 00:53:44,180 shall fall at his feet, and praise him, 960 00:53:44,780 --> 00:53:50,540 and adore him, acknowledging thou art worthy, for 961 00:53:50,540 --> 00:53:53,160 thou hast redeemed us unto God by thy 962 00:53:53,160 --> 00:53:56,240 blood, and made us a kingdom of priests, 963 00:53:56,840 --> 00:54:00,480 and we shall reign on and over the 964 00:54:00,480 --> 00:54:00,800 earth. 965 00:54:01,420 --> 00:54:05,800 He's worthy, and O my beloved, if he's 966 00:54:05,800 --> 00:54:07,900 going to bring his earthly people as a 967 00:54:07,900 --> 00:54:11,780 godly remnant to the place of millennial glory 968 00:54:11,780 --> 00:54:15,400 and blessing, what shall you and I say 969 00:54:15,400 --> 00:54:18,360 who belong to the heavenly realm of the 970 00:54:18,360 --> 00:54:22,500 new Jerusalem above, the holy Jerusalem in heaven, 971 00:54:22,500 --> 00:54:25,360 to which he's brought us, and to which 972 00:54:25,360 --> 00:54:27,940 he will bring us in, in the fullness 973 00:54:27,940 --> 00:54:30,980 of that glory, to dwell in the presence 974 00:54:30,980 --> 00:54:34,840 of our God forevermore, in that blessed eternal 975 00:54:34,840 --> 00:54:35,320 home. 976 00:54:36,080 --> 00:54:38,700 You know, there's one thing I'm glad of, 977 00:54:38,820 --> 00:54:43,260 and that is, the future's very bright for 978 00:54:43,260 --> 00:54:44,480 a child of God. 979 00:54:45,620 --> 00:54:47,860 Friend in the meeting, if you're not saved, 980 00:54:50,230 --> 00:54:51,990 your future can be that bright. 981 00:54:54,140 --> 00:54:57,080 There's only two places for the eternal destiny 982 00:54:57,080 --> 00:54:58,460 of your soul and mine. 983 00:54:59,160 --> 00:55:01,020 One you know to be heaven, and the 984 00:55:01,020 --> 00:55:01,620 other hell. 985 00:55:03,120 --> 00:55:07,180 My beloved friend, there's no need to go 986 00:55:07,180 --> 00:55:09,240 to the place where there will be weeping 987 00:55:09,240 --> 00:55:14,360 and gnashing of teeth when Christ, the beloved, 988 00:55:14,600 --> 00:55:18,260 has died on the cross to open heaven's 989 00:55:18,260 --> 00:55:20,940 gate, for there was none other good enough 990 00:55:20,940 --> 00:55:22,880 to pay the price of sin. 991 00:55:22,880 --> 00:55:26,060 He only could unlock the gate of heaven 992 00:55:26,060 --> 00:55:29,500 and let us in, and dearly, dearly is 993 00:55:29,500 --> 00:55:32,160 he loved, and we should love him too, 994 00:55:32,700 --> 00:55:37,120 and trust in his redeeming blood, and seek 995 00:55:37,120 --> 00:55:38,020 his will to do. 996 00:55:38,020 --> 00:55:44,260 May I say, Jehovah our God and our 997 00:55:44,260 --> 00:55:48,440 Savior, there's nothing too hard for him to 998 00:55:48,440 --> 00:55:48,720 do. 999 00:55:49,420 --> 00:55:53,660 He can take the lowest sinner and bring 1000 00:55:53,660 --> 00:55:58,180 them to the pinnacle of heaven's glory, all 1001 00:55:58,180 --> 00:56:02,600 by grace, amazing grace alone. 1002 00:56:02,600 --> 00:56:06,480 Hallelujah, blessed be his name, shall we pray. 1003 00:56:09,200 --> 00:56:14,500 O blessed Father, greater thy ways, and thy 1004 00:56:14,500 --> 00:56:17,100 ways are past findinger. 1005 00:56:18,040 --> 00:56:20,860 When we consider and say, with a psalmist, 1006 00:56:21,060 --> 00:56:25,100 what is man, that thou art mindful of 1007 00:56:25,100 --> 00:56:25,440 him? 1008 00:56:26,400 --> 00:56:29,220 Or the Son of Man, that thou visitest 1009 00:56:29,220 --> 00:56:31,060 or regardest him? 1010 00:56:31,980 --> 00:56:36,760 Lord, we bow in wonder, worship, and praise. 1011 00:56:37,580 --> 00:56:39,620 What a God thou art. 1012 00:56:42,810 --> 00:56:47,170 We cannot fathom thy love, we cannot explore 1013 00:56:47,170 --> 00:56:52,710 the fullness of thy grace beyond our comprehension, 1014 00:56:54,010 --> 00:56:57,970 but Lord, we would bathe in the ocean 1015 00:56:57,970 --> 00:57:02,210 of its fullness, knowing that those whom thou 1016 00:57:02,210 --> 00:57:06,370 hast loved before the foundation of the world, 1017 00:57:07,130 --> 00:57:09,570 whom thou hast redeemed by the blood of 1018 00:57:09,570 --> 00:57:15,490 thy Son, that they are thine forever, accepted 1019 00:57:15,490 --> 00:57:18,290 in the beloved in whom we have redemption, 1020 00:57:19,130 --> 00:57:23,470 through his blood, the forgiveness of sins according 1021 00:57:23,470 --> 00:57:25,430 to the riches of his grace. 1022 00:57:25,430 --> 00:57:29,150 And blessed Lord, we want to say this, 1023 00:57:29,990 --> 00:57:35,910 thank you Lord for saving us, and that 1024 00:57:35,910 --> 00:57:40,210 thou wilt bring us to that eternal glory 1025 00:57:40,210 --> 00:57:41,270 that thou hast promised. 1026 00:57:43,040 --> 00:57:45,760 Thus saith the Lord. 1027 00:57:47,040 --> 00:57:53,040 Father, we rest on thy word completely. 1028 00:57:54,000 --> 00:57:55,180 Here we are. 1029 00:57:56,140 --> 00:57:58,320 It would please us to have the Lord 1030 00:57:58,320 --> 00:58:02,000 Jesus come even tonight, and take us into 1031 00:58:02,000 --> 00:58:06,680 that glory that he has prepared and is 1032 00:58:06,680 --> 00:58:08,220 preparing for us. 1033 00:58:09,120 --> 00:58:11,340 And we say in the language of our 1034 00:58:11,340 --> 00:58:16,880 chorus, even so come Lord Jesus, even so 1035 00:58:16,880 --> 00:58:22,620 come today, even so come, taking thy bride 1036 00:58:22,620 --> 00:58:23,260 away. 1037 00:58:24,040 --> 00:58:29,640 Oh, how my heart is yearning, longing indeed 1038 00:58:29,640 --> 00:58:31,440 to see thy face. 1039 00:58:31,840 --> 00:58:38,180 Even so come Lord Jesus, even so come 1040 00:58:38,180 --> 00:58:39,260 today. 1041 00:58:40,220 --> 00:58:43,060 But Lord, if there is one not ready, 1042 00:58:43,900 --> 00:58:47,700 please speak to that one by the Spirit 1043 00:58:47,700 --> 00:58:53,340 of God, convicting them now, may they trust 1044 00:58:53,340 --> 00:58:57,000 the Lord Jesus as their Savior. 1045 00:58:57,000 --> 00:59:01,640 We thank thee for all that thou hast 1046 00:59:01,640 --> 00:59:05,900 done, art doing, will yet finish, in thy 1047 00:59:05,900 --> 00:59:07,560 precious and holy name. 1048 00:59:08,540 --> 00:59:08,840 Amen.