Many of our young people are without hope, discouraged and depressed to the point where they are suicidal. Even within the church there is discontentment, disappointment and loneliness. They look at the world around them, and they see no hope for the future. There is unrest and war throughout the world. Unemployment is a real problem. When they come out of High school, College or University, there is no guarantee for a job or career. They seem to have no goal to work to in life, many turn to drinking, drugs and partying. The youth from Christian back grounds are not exempt from this dilemma.

Where is society heading and what is the solution to the problems that are facing us as a Christian society. Part of the problem, I believe lies within the church itself, and some of the teachings that have been passed down, through the last several centuries. Namely (in a nut shell) that things are going to get so bad in these last days that, the Christians will have to be evacuated from the earth (rapture) in order to escape what is coming upon this world. We have tapes, books and movies about what these last days, portraying all that will happen to the unbeliever. However if you are a Christian (saved) you will escape all this tribulation, because Jesus will rapture you. This is believed by the majority of Christians, even though Jesus prayer to the Father was “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil (day) one. “ John 17:15.

This all seems very realistic and good to the older generation, that is looking forward to meeting their creator, but the youth have a built in God given desire to live and realize their potential here on earth. Life is a very special gift from God and most youth, Christian or not, look forward to growing up, finding their career or vocation in life, get married and raise a family, and have a God given fulfillment in life. They are not that interested to hear about the rapture that supposedly could take place any moment, because they would miss out on all their hopes and dreams that God had for them here on earth. (with trials & tribulation) I had a young prominent business man, say to me, after hearing a message on the rapture

that he could not get too excited about the fact that the rapture could happen any time, that life was too good for him. Now coming from a Christian business man it almost seems sac-religious, but this is exactly what I was referring to when I say the church is partly at fault because of the teaching that this young man received. 

Let me explain first of all, that I do believe in Christ’s secret appearing to the saints at the turn of this millennium. Just as the third feast, Tabernacles was kept at the end of the year, so also will this third and last experience be fulfilled, by Christ through the marriage of Christ to His bride.(part of the church). Not all who say Lord, Lord will enter into the reigning and ruling with Christ in His kingdom, but “only those that do the will of my Father.” Matt.7:21 V. 22“ Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? V. 23 then will I say unto them, I never knew you. Depart from me, you that work iniquity.” (unrighteousness).

We are in the last days of this age. (2nd millennium) However that does not mean that our time on this earth will end at this time. Mankind has been on this earth for six thousand years, or six millennium, or six days, from the fall of Adam and Eve. 2 peter 3:8. (with the Lord one day is as 1000 yrs.) God has been restoring man to himself ever since the fall. Just as God created all things in six days, (probably 1000 yr. days) and then rested on the seventh day, the church will enter into a rest on the seventh millennium, and the devil will be bound for a thousand years. Rev. 20:6. During this time the Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached as never before, with the devil put away, the five- fold ministry will bring unity of the faith, and bring perfection to the saints, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Eph. 4:12&13 

Looking at this in the light of the New Testament, we have to realize that four thousand years have been fulfilled in the Old Testament through Moses and the Prophets. And ultimately by Jesus dying on the cross for our redemption, paying the price for our sins, with His own blood. We therefore, now in the New Testament dispensation, are looking at three one thousand year days, to complete our full redemption, of which we are now at the close of the second day. The next one thousand year day, (or third day) after the close of the present millennium, is the thousand year reign of Christ, with the over comers of Rev 20:6. The 

teaching that many of us have received and accepted, is that the rapture will take place before the great tribulation, and Who! to those left behind and supposedly destroyed. According to Rev. the Bride will be ruling and reigning with Christ for a thousand years. My question is who will Christ and the over comers be ruling over if the believers are raptured and the unbelievers destroyed? The Bible says that as it was in the days of Noah. How was it in the days of Noah? Who was taken away, and who was kept safe in the ark? It was the righteous that were kept safe in the Ark, and inherited the earth, and the wicked were taken away in the flood. Matt.24:39 “ And knew not till the flood came and took them all away, so also shall the coming of the Son of man be, 40: Then shall two be in a bed, one shall be taken and one left, 41: two shall be grinding at the mill ,one shall be taken and one shall be left.” According to most church’s traditional teaching is that the righteous are taken and the wicked are left, but if it was as in Noah’s day, the reverse is true, the wicked are taken and the righteous are left to inherit the earth. Jesus said in the parable of the seed and the tares “ let both grow together until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares in bundles and burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” (here on earth) Matt. 13:30

Jesus Christ is our ark of safety. Those that are “ in the Secret Place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 9i. Yes there will be great tribulation at the end of this second day, ( we have not yet entered the third day) such as the world has not seen before or ever after. This psalm was written for just such a time as is coming upon the whole earth. Just as the Ark carried the righteous to safety and inherited the earth, so will those that are in the Secret Place of the Most High” ( over comers) be kept, carried and protected, throughout the tribulation period. This tribulation period is not going to be seven years as tradition has taught us, and is not scriptural. It will be three and one half years. Rev. 12:6&14 and !3: 5 all relate to the same period of time. 

During this time of tribulation, when destruction and terror will be all around us! If God is our secret dwelling place and we are under the shadow of the Almighty. Then “ A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near to you, only with your eyes shall you behold the reward of the wicked. Psalm 91: 7&8. It is imperative that we as believers are sold out to Christ, to be an over comer, and if we are we have nothing to fear what is coming upon the whole earth. However, if you or I are not one of those who takes these last days seriously, we will be one of those “ men whose hearts are failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.” Luke 21:25&26. But if Christ is our Ark of safety and these things begin to come to pass, “ then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws near.” Luke21: 28b. It is not my intention to put fear into any ones heart, but to show you , and me, that as Christians, that the answer for our protection is not going to be in financial security, home security or for that matter police security, but only to DWELL IN THE SECRET PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH, that is in the SHADOW of the ALMIGHTY. 

In Rev. 12:1 The woman, (part of the Church, the bride that marries Christ) that brought forth the manchild, (manifested sons of God, Rom. 8:19) and she was persecuted by the dragon, (devil). God let her flee into the wilderness, where she was protected for three and one half years. The fact that she was great with child, indicates that the marriage of Christ and the bride has already taken place, When the dragon goes after her, to persecute her, to her were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, times and half a time, (3 ½yrs.) from the face of the serpent. (devil). Then when the dragon can’t persecute the church, he was angry with the church, and went to make war with the remnant (seed of like kind) of her seed, which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Rev. 12:17. Here we see that those Christians that were not the over comers (five foolish virgins) did not enter into the marriage feast of the Lamb. They did not have the oil needed for their lamps. Therefore they did not have the protection that the woman received. In Verse 17 it says that he (dragon) went to make war with the seed of like kind, and in Chap.13:7. “ And it was given unto him (dragon) to make war with the saints, and to over come them, and there was no protection for them. And it was given him to make war with the saints, and over come them. Vr. 5 “and power was given unto him to continue forty- two months” (3 ½years) It is during this same time period of 3 ½ yrs. when the remnant are persecuted that the church is protected in the wilderness. The remnant ( the seed of like kind) that had the testimony of Jesus, and the woman saved from persecution by God in the wilderness, both these groups were born again believers, The difference was one group (The woman had bought or received the Holy Spirit (oil) and were over comers and the others ( remnant) were not willing to pay the price, therefore did not have the protection. 

Let us look at what Jesus was telling us through the parable of the ten virgins. “Then shall the kingdom of haven be likened unto ten virgins. Which took their lamps and went forth to meet their bridegroom. The five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them. But the wise took oil in their vessels, with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold the bridegroom is coming, you go out to meet him. And all of the virgins arose, and trimmed their lambs. And the foolish said to the wise, give us of your oil for our lamps have gone out. But the wise said, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but rather you go to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But He answered and said, Verily I say unto you I know you not. Watch therefore, for you don’t know neither the hour or the day when the Son of man comes.” Matt. 25: 1 – 13.

These ten were all virgins (an unmarried maiden, believers) they all took their lamps (speaks to His word Ps. 119:105) to meet the bridegroom. They were all ready for heaven, born again. The five wise wanted more than to get to heaven, and they took extra oil in their vessels, ( baptized with the Spirit of God), The five foolish thought that their salvation experience was sufficient to be part of God’s kingdom, where they would rule with Christ. However they found out to late, that the key to entering into the kingdom was the extra oil, and when they returned the door was shut, and Christ declares, He doesn’t know them. This knowing speaks of an intimate relationship, and communion with Christ, and that Christ is Lord of all. (Just as Adam knew Eve, it speaks of a close intimate relationship, a love relationship) 

Any kingdom is made up of Subjects, and different Subjects have different positions in this kingdom. There are those that the King will appoint to positions to govern his kingdom, which would probably be those that were known to him, and that he could trust to obey his orders. Who would be better to head up this government then his own son? And he would help the king to set up his ruling and reigning team. And whom will they be reigning over? It is the subjects of his kingdom that they will rule over.

We as Christians are subjects of the Kingdom of (God) which is in heaven and Christ, Gods Son is going to choose his subjects to help Him, reigning and ruling this kingdom, (which will be here on earth) according to their faithfulness in following Him here on earth. In order to enter heaven and see the kingdom of God, we must be born again. John 3:3. “Verily, verily I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot SEE the kingdom of God.” Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Salvation (born again) gets us into heaven. PRAISE the LORD! we are saved from eternal condemnation, and not going to hell. When Nicodemus questions Jesus about this second birth in Ver.5 Jesus replies, “Verily, verily, I say to you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot ENTER into the kingdom of God.” Therefore to enter into the kingdom of God, we must be baptized in water and baptized in the Holy Spirit. Not all that are born again will be part of the bride of Christ. Only those that have been cleansed by the washing of the water of the word. Eph. 5:26

There are many scriptures that tell us that we are to expectantly look for Christ’s return. The question is how and when do we expect His return to take place? We know that Christ is coming for a church that is without spot or wrinkle, cleansed by the washing of the water of the word. Now in God’s eyes we as believers are cleansed by the blood of Jesus, when He died on the cross, for our sins, and we are saved from eternal condemnation, because of his shed blood. However it is not God coming for the church, but Jesus Christ, who is the head of the church, and we are His body. At this point and time the church is not cleansed and without spot or wrinkle, but God is in the process of doing just that, cleansing the Son’ of Levi.

In Malachi 3:1 we read “ and the Lord who you seek, shall suddenly come to His temple,Vr.2 but who shall abide the day of His coming? ( And who shall stand when He appears? For He is like a refiners fire and fullers soap. Vr. 3 And He shall sit as a refiners and purifiers of silver, and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering of righteousness. The Lord whom we seek is none other then the Jesus Christ, and He is coming to His temple. Which temple we as individual Christians, as well as the body of Christ are.

The purpose of His coming is very clearly pointed out in this scripture, it is to cleanse His temple. Just as the earthly temple was cleansed by Jesus during earthly ministry, He also will do the same in the spiritual temple, His church. To make the church righteous like He is, and to become His espoused Bride (2Cor. 11:2) “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? (mount of the Almighty God) Who shall stand in His Holy place? He that has clean hands and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul onto vanity, neither sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” Psalm 24:3-5 

“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many. (our first encounter with Christ) and unto them that look for Him shall He appear a second time, without sin unto salvation.” Heb. 9:28 Why will He appear a second time? Is it to rapture us and take us to heaven at this point, or is it as Malachi says, to cleanse the house of Levi? (the priesthood) which we as a church are. 

This final cleansing is what is going to happen at the close of this age, in a supernatural ( not mans doing) work of God through Jesus Christ appearing in His saints. This is going to be a spiritual experience as dramatic, or more so, then what the disciples experienced at Pentecost, in the upper room, when they received the baptism with the Holy Spirit, for power to be Christ’s witnesses. It is called the Pentecostal experience because it happened on that very day, (Acts 2:1) and it is the second Jewish feast, and also the second experience for the Christian. The first being, being our salvation, at the Jewish feast of Passover, of the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world. However we know that there were three main feasts that the scriptures instructed the Jews to keep every year. The third and last feast was the feast of Tabernacles which was kept on the seventh month of their year. Now there is no scriptural evidence that this feast was ever fulfilled by Christ during the first centuries. We do know that the first two feasts were literally fulfilled, by Christ, Passover by his death, on the cross, on the very day of this feast, and out pouring of the Holy Spirit on the very day of Pentecost. We can read in scripture that these two feasts were literally fulfilled by Christ, it is mandatory that this third feast, namely Tabernacles, has to be fulfilled by Christ in this age, here on earth, and not in heaven. And it is this appearing of Christ, in His saints, to infuse them that seek for Him, with Holiness and righteousness. Just as the hundred and twenty were infuse with power for witnessing, because they were seeking Him. The same is true of this third experience. “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many, (salvation) and to them that look for Him shall He appear a second time without sin onto salvation.” Heb. 9:28.

There are many scriptures that will back up this appearing of Christ, to the saints, of which following are a few: “When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall you also appear with Him in glory.” Col.3:4. “And when the chief Shepherd (Jesus) shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory, that does not fade away” 1Peter 5:4. “ When He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed, before Him at his coming.” 1John. 2:28. “it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is” 1John. 3:2. Some of these scriptures could also apply to His return at the end of the millennium age. When the church will have been perfected, and He will present it to Himself, “a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Eph. 5:27

It is not to all believers that He will appear, but only to those that look for Him. The outpouring of God’s Spirit was received by only one hundred and twenty, (Acts 1:15) that were waiting for to receive this experience that Jesus had promised them. (Luke.24:49, “Tarry ye in Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”). Although there were approximately five hundred (1Cor. 15:6) that heard the message, that Jesus gave them, to stay in the city of Jerusalem, till they received this power. They obviously had not taken this to heart, because less then a third of them were there to receive this great experience of power. Today is no different, many of us as believers are satisfied with our salvation experience, as long as we get to haven, but will probably miss out on all the blessings by making Christ Lord of our lives, and taking the chance, that when He comes for His Bride, and says “I know you not.”

There are many references in the bible that tell us not to be ignorant of certain things, and when the scriptures warn us not to be ignorant of these certain things, we have to take special note of what it is, not to be ignorant of. One such scripture is found in 2peter.3:8 “ But beloved be not ignorant of this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as one day.” Now I know there are those that say, you can not interpret this literally, I beg to differ, its very plan and simple. One day with God is as one thousand years with us, and a thousand years of ours is as on day with God. If there was no other scripture to back this up, we could maybe question this interpretation, that I’m suggesting. But we have several other scriptures that support this interpretation. Psalm 90:4a “ For a thousand years in your (God’s) sight are but as yesterday when it is past.“ Jesus himself makes reference to certain periods of time as DAYS, when He really referring to millenniums) on several occasions. In Luke 13:32 He says to certain Pharisees, in response to their concern that Herod wanted to kill Him, and He says to them; “Go tell that Fox, behold I cast out devils, and do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I am perfected.” What was He actually saying to them.? He was obviously not referring to three twenty-four hour days, which would be a total of seventy –two hours, which does not make any scenes or meaning.

For we know that He did these cures and healing for much longer then two days, and the third day did He need perfecting? Obviously Christ did not need perfecting, but the church His body of which He is the Head, needs perfecting. Let me say that Jesus was talking in terms of His day being a thousand of our years. In other words He is referring to today as the 1st millennium, tomorrow is the 2nd millennium, and the third day as the third millennium. In other words He is going to do these, cures and casting out devils, throughout the 1st and 2nd millenniums, (which are almost past) by the church, in spite of its imperfection and the third day the church of which He is the Head is going to be perfected. As stated earlier Jesus did not need perfecting, because it was the very fact that he was perfect, that God, could accept His death on the cross as a substitution for our death. (all have sinned and come short) but the church His body does need perfecting and Christ without his body is not complete. It is Jesus that is coming for the church, and not God, and Jesus wants to be Lord of our life and wash us through His word and perfect us. 

But you say, I have been born again, washed in the blood of Jesus and my sins are for given and I’m going to heaven. Yes you are absolutely right! Your on your way to heaven, because God looks down upon you and because you have accepted Jesus as your substitution, (saved) He sees the blood and it blots out your sin, and God sees you as sinless because the blood covers your sin. That is why you are saved from hell and condemnation, and going to heaven. Being saved and going to heaven is only the beginning of what God has in store for us through Jesus Christ. We the body, are espoused onto Christ, that is, engaged to be married to Him, (2Cor. 11:2). But in order to be married to Him we must be perfected, and it is this perfecting that Jesus is referring to when He says “the third day I am perfected” He the Head is perfect but we the body are not as yet perfected. Although there are those that are reigning and ruling with him and were perfected at the Feast of Tabernacles at the close of the 2nd day and the church will be perfected throughout the 3rd millennium, which Revelation refers to as the one thousand year reign with Christ, here on this earth, while Satan is bound. It is this United Body of Christ the CHURCH that is perfected and will enter the Kingdom of God and Christ. We within the Kingdom will be entering into the 8th day and where the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard lie with the kid, the calf and the young lion together, and a little child shall lead them, and the lion shall eat straw, like the ox. A suckling child shall play by the hole of a asp, poisonous snake). They shall not hurt or destroy in my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. ( Isa. 11: 6 – 9) 

Again in John 2:19-21 Jesus says, “ Destroy this temple and in three days I will, raise it up, Then said the Jews, forty –six years was the temple in building, and will you rear it up in three days? But this spoke He of His body (physical).” This is a prophecy of Jesus that has a dual fulfillment, as so many prophecies do in both old and new testaments. The first fulfillment of this prophecy came at the resurrection of Jesus, His own physical body. However the scripture teaches that we are Christ’s body, His temple, and just as His own physical body was resurrected, on the third day, his body the church which is God’s temple, will be resurrected on the third day. Here again we have two, one thousand, year days since Christ’s resurrection and are about to enter into the third day (millennium). It is this day, the third day that the fulfillment of Christ’s second phase of this prophecy will be fulfilled, and just as Jesus own personal body was resurrected in three days, The church His Temple will be raised up in three days of one thousand years each. It is after this that the second resurrection will take place when the whole body of Christ is Perfected.

In the Old Testament, in the book of Hosea, we have another scripture that speaks to this very same issue. “Come and let us return unto the Lord; for He has torn, and he will heal us, He has smitten and He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; in the third day he will raise us up (the church His temple) and we shall live in His sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, (blessing) as the latter and former rain unto the EARTH.” Hosea 6:1-3. It is here on earth that the church will receive all of Christ’s blessings and not after we are raptured. This scripture does not make much sense if taken as literally, twenty-four hour days. Taken in the context of one day as a thousand years, it does make very good sense. Although this scripture was meant for Israel initially, it also is prophetic for today for the church. Much of the prophecies given in the Old Testament to Jews (Israel) will often be fulfilled in the New Testament church. The scripture says, that we the believers, are the true Jew, if we have been circumcised in our heart.

Now that we have established that it is on the third day (millennium) that the church will be perfected, let us see what is in store for the Christian on this third day? First of all let me say that I believe that when we enter into this day, the great tribulation will have taken place. All those that were dwelling in the secret place of the Most High will be part of the ruling with Christ, in these one thousand years, along with all those that refused to take the mark of the beast, and were martyred, together with the first century martyred Christians. ( Rev. 4:20:4b) These all will live and reign with Christ a thousand years. This is the First resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection, on such the second death shall have no power. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.” Rev. 20. 5&6 The devil will have been bound, and cast into the bottomless pit. The external forces of Satan upon mankind, will not be present, through all the evil forces that were imposed upon them. However the heart of man is wicked and deceitful, and proud and therefore man kind will still have to accept salvation through Christ. The salvation message will be proclaimed in miraculous ways, by angels. “and I saw an angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water.” Rev. 14: 6&7. 

It is at this time during the third millennium that the five fold ministry will be in full operation. Eph. 4:12 says, this ministry is given “for the perfecting of the saints; for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (temple). Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto a measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” This is not speaking about it happening in heaven, as we’ve been made to believe, but here on earth. It is the first fruits onto Christ that will enter into the first resurrection, which will take place at the end of this age, 2nd day, or the beginning of the third millennium. Romans: 8:19, declares them as the manifested sons of God. Rev.12 refers to them as the manchild, Rev. 14: declares them as the one hundred and forty four thousand on mount Zion, and there are others that would fall into this group.

These are all in the same category of first fruits onto God and the Lamb. Paul says in Cor. 15:21- “ Since by man (Adam) came death, by man (Christ) came also the resurrection of the dead But every man in his order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming. Christ is the first fruits as He was raised up on the third day, then at the first resurrection, at the end of this age, (2nd day) or the beginning of the 3rd day (millennium) the first fruits onto Christ at His appearing (secret) in his Temple. Then at the close of the millennium, after Satan has been loosed for a short time, and then thrown into the lake of fire and we have the Great White Throne judgment, (Rev. 20:11-15) this is the second resurrection, where all man kind is resurrected and judged by God. 

Here we have all nations gathered before the judgement seat of Christ. Matt: 25: 32-34&41 “and before Him shall be gathered all nations; and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the king say onto them on his right hand , Come you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Then shall he say, also to them on the left, Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his angels.” Rev. 20:11-15 “And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, 12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and I saw another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works. 15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” These scriptures depict the scene as they portray the events of the last (second) resurrection, where all will come out of the grave, the believer , and unbeliever alike. There will be many that did not make it into the first resurrection, (first fruits) but will have their names written in the book of life, and will enter into the kingdom, but will have missed out on the reigning and ruling with Christ on earth during the thousand years. (3rd day) They were not willing to pay the price. And the price that all must pay is death to the self-life, (ego) thus entering into the third feast (Tabernacles) Marriage of Christ to the bride (Part of the church) Luke 14:16. Describes a certain man, (Christ) made a great supper and invited many. And he sent his servant (Holy Spirit) to say to them that were bidden, to Come: for all things are now ready. However all those bidden to come had excuses and asked to be excused, for various reasons. The servant came and reported the results to his Master, that the invited were not coming, who upon hearing this was angry, and instructed his servant to go out quickly into the city (church) and bring in the poor, the maimed, the halt and the blind. The servant comes back and says it’s done, and yet there is room, The Lord said to the servant go out into the high ways and hedges and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. and he said that none of those men invited, would taste of his supper. This is a parable that is depicting the situation within the church, today. The man is Jesus preparing the supper in the last or third feast (Tabernacles) that He will prepare (fulfill just as He did Pentecost). He invites many from the church (city) to come, but they’re to busy with there earthly things, like making a living, going on holidays, living the good life. When the Spirit reports to Jesus, He asks the Spirit to go into the streets and lanes within the city (church) to invite them to this great supper. These are all those that have been in the church, but for one reason or another are of the city in the streets and lanes. When the house is still not full He goes out of the city (church) and compels the down and outers to come into this great feast. 

When he says, that none, of these men that were bidden shall not taste of His supper, does not mean that they are not going to heaven. It does mean that they will miss out on the first resurrection, and the ruling with Christ in the millennium, and will not be resurrected till the Great White Throne Judgment, which is at the end of the one thousand year reign of the church, under Christ’s rule. After the thousand years are over, Satan is loosed for a little season. (Rev. 20:3b) He goes to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, and his vast army goes up against the camp of the saints and the beloved city,

And fire comes down from God out of heaven and devours them. And the devil is cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and false prophet already were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Rev. 20:7-10) 

John saw the great white throne Judgment, and the heavens and earth fled away, and there was no place found for them. And John saw the dead small and great stand before God, and the books were opened, and whose so ever was not found written in the book of life, was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:11-15). “ And I saw a new haven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth (earth & heaven before the flood) had come into view, and there was no more sea. (with the sea and oceans gone, lets the pre flood earth come into view) (most Bibles have an incorrect translation in this verse, “passed away,” should be “come into view” Rev.21:1 Rotham Ver.)

After this John saw the Holy city new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, behold the Tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall dwell with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, or crying, neither shall there be any more pain for former things have passed away.” Rev 21: 3&4.

“He that over comes shall inherit all thinks, and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.” Rev. 21:7 

Let us all strive for what Paul strove for “ that I might know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead” Phil. 3:10&11

Dave Loewen