Millennial Temple Worship – Part III By Dr. John Pappas

The book of Ezekiel describes a future Temple its makeup and service with great detail. Ezekiel was trained as a priest before his freedom was taken and Jerusalem trodden down, her inhabitants taken captive. God commissioned Ezekiel as a prophet, a spokesman for God, so he served that commission in the Babylonian exile with a unique priestly perspective. Ezekiel is called "the father of Judaism" because of his influence on worship without the Temple. It was however, Ezekiel and the heart of the Israelites who looked forward to fellowship with the Lord through worship in the Temple. It was Ezekiel who prophesied the method of worship for the millennial Temple. Worship that is significantly different than that prescribed for Mosiac Temple worship. This final article describes worship for Ezekiel's final chapters. Worship In the period before the Mosiac Law, worship was primarily a spontaneous act involving individuals like Cain and Abel (Gen. 4:3-4), Noah (Gen. 8:20), Abraham (Gen. 22:5), Isaac (Gen. 26:23-25) and Jacob (Gen. 35:1-7). Worship involved a blood sacrifice, a right heart, and devotion to the One True God. It involved the killing of an animal, no doubt reflecting the act of the Lord who provided a covering for Adam and Eve whose disobedient act brought sin to the human race through the fall. The bloody act reflecting the death that resulted from the fall and a sober reflection of a holy, just, yet merciful God. A God who so loved the world that He provided a way for mankind to call it like it is – a way for sinful mankind to come before a holy, just God to confess the greatness of God and the sinfulness of self. To confess – to call it like it is! Worship always involves God's word and acknowledging the truth of who He is – the Creator of the all things. He has so graciously written down His word for us to know, His word that pierces our hearts resulting in praise and song as we recognize how great and awesome a God He is. As we acknowledge for His works, provision and goodness to His creation. The Hebrew word for worship is the verb shachah meaning "to bow down." The idea is one of reverence as one comes into the presence of the holy God who is the omnipotent creator of the universe. The psalmist puts millennial worship into perspective when he writes: Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! 2 Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious. 3 Say to God, "How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. 4 All the earth shall worship You And sing praises to You; They shall sing praises to Your name." Selah (Psalm 66:1-4) Worship in the Mosiac Law Period Worship during the Mosiac Law involved the word of God (2 Chr. 6:4-11; Neh. 9:3-38), songs of praise and music, (1 Chr. 16:6, 42-43; 2 Chr. 5:13; Ps. 150), public prayer (Deu. 26:15), public testimonies, and blood sacrifices and offerings. There were special days and feasts, all of which required that the worshiper worship the One True God and Him only. Worship during this period involved the institution of the Tabernacle then Temple. A detailed method is laid out describing how the chosen sinful tribe was to properly approach a holy God; worship that was uniquely different from any other tribe of the earth. Mosaic Worship served to further set God's chosen people apart from the world with dietary, clothing and even manner of life requirements that all spoke to the people revealing the sinfulness of man and the holiness of God. The Lord Himself fulfilled the Law (Matt. 5:17), thus abolishing the ordinances of the Law (Eph. 2:14-15). He completed what it pointed to (Heb. 8:5-6; 9:11-15, 23-28), bearing its curse on the cross (Gal. 3:13) thus ending its burden (Rom. 7:4-6; 10:1-5; Gal. 3:24-25) and giving us freedom from it (John 8:31-36; Gal. 5:1). Worship in the Church Age During the Church age blood sacrifices are not required. Instead, the believer is to observe the communal meal which memorializes the sacrificial death, burial and resurrection of Christ. A new body of believers is formed in the Church which is made up of both Jew and Gentile. The Word of God is prominent in worship, along with songs of praise and music. Public prayer and testimonies are also part of the worship of our Lord God – the Only True God. Worship during the Millennium During the millennium, worship will again involve blood sacrifices. The Lord Himself will teach us His Word and praise, song and music will return to the Temple. In the millennium the Lord will be Israel's God and they will be His people (Ezek. 36:28). Not only will Israel rejoice in the salvation of the Lord, but Gentiles will celebrate the great work He has done as He judges the world for rebellion against the Lord and His people Israel and His Church. The world will acknowledge the Lord and Him only. The Temple in the Millennium A large portion of the prophecy of Ezekiel chapters 40-48 deals with the temple, its structure, priesthood, ritual, and ministry. This should not be overlooked since the Temple will be the central place of the millenium! The place where the Lord Himself will dwell! The Temple will not just be a place of worship for Israel, but Gentiles will partake in its ministry. In citing Isaiah, Jesus tells Israel that God's house will be a house of prayer for all the nations (Isa. 56:7; Mark 11:17). The Location. In the first place, the Temple is located in Israel proper, but not necessarily in the city of Jerusalem that we know today. Though a city will be located outside the Temple proper. The land in view in Ezekiel 40-48 is the land given to the tribes where the land is finally divided up and distributed to the tribes (Ezek. 45). This is in fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant (cf. Gen. 12, 15, 17), and in particular, the Land Covenant (cf. Deu. 30). The Lord calls the land of Judah "Holy Land" making it the unique place of promise (cf. Zech. 2:12-13). Each tribe is to receive a section of land, but the first part is to be set aside for the Lord. It is called a holy section of land for the priests to minister (45:1). The area for the holy sanctuary will consist of (a) the Temple, (b) a place for the houses of the priests, and (c) a place for the Levites in chambers in the sanctuary. This same idea of dividing the land up for the tribes is the same as was intended in Joshua's day according to lot, where the Levites did not receive a portion of land but was instead given cities to dwell in (Num. 35:2; Josh 21:2). However, the uniqueness of the millennium finds the place for the priests and Levites localized and particular to the Temple. In addition, just adjacent to this holy area will be located property for the city, a holy district for the whole house of Israel (45:6). A special place for the Prince will be allocated on both sides of the city. Structure of the Temple. The structure of the millennial temple is unique in its organization and decoration (Ezek 41). The structure has various gates, east, north and south (but no west gate). It has various chambers and archways leading to the various areas. The structure's three stories contain chambers on each level. The Temple has an alter in front of the holy place, and a holy of holies. But, this temple does not have a veil, an ark, or a high priest. The walls are lined with carved cherubim and palm trees. Each cherubim has two faces, the face of a man faced the palm tree, while the face of a lion faced the other palm tree (41:18-19). The temple is surrounded by an area called the separate place which surrounds the temple on all sides except the east where the porch is located. Dr. Pentecost notes, "It is noteworthy that in all the description there is no mention of an ark, or mercy seat, or veil, or cherubim above the mercy seat, or tables of stone. The only article of furniture described is the table or altar of wood (41:22) that answers to the table of shewbread, that which bespeaks communion with God." (J. Dwight Pentecost, Things to Come, p. 515) Purpose. The purpose of the Temple is given by Unger as (1) "To demonstrate God's holiness (42:1-20). This is the pervading theme of the entire book and especially so in the purpose and details of the kingdom temple (cf. 43:10). The holiness of the Lord is further emphasized by the principle of separation. At the very outset the wall separating the courts and temple from all that is introduced (40:5). The cell buildings, 42:1-14, are called holy and have a similar function of separation. The established separation of the whole enclosure is set forth, 15-20. (2) To provide a dwelling place for the divine glory (43:1-17). Ezekiel sees the return of the glory to take up residence in the temple's holy of holies during the kingdom age, as he had seen its departure before the fall of the city in 586 B.C. (cf. 9:3; 10:4; 11:23-24). 'This is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever.' (3) To provide a center for the divine government (43:7). 'This is the place of My throne' (cf. Isa. 2:2-3; Mic. 4:2). The theocratic administration throughout the vision is stressed. (4) To perpetuate the memorial of sacrifice (43:18-27). This sacrifice, of course, is not rendered with a view of obtaining salvation, but it is commemorative of an accomplished redemption maintained in the presence of the revealed glory of God." (Merrill Unger, Unger's Bible Handbook, p. 380) As can be seen, the millennial Temple brings the glory of the Lord back and all Israel will worship the Lord in peace. It is there that He will fulfill all His promises of righteousness in both manner of true worship and government. His earthly kingdom reign is displayed in all it's splendor and glory in the Temple on the hill - Zion. The Lord in the Millennium Central to the millennium is the Lord Himself. The Lord will return physically, a bodily return in the same way that He ascended into heaven (cf. Acts 1:11; Matt. 24:30; Rev. 1:7). He will return in His resurrection body! The prophet Isaiah speaks of the millennial character of the Lord like this: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:6-7) In the millennium the whole world will worship the Lord God: It will be in that day that all the world will go up to the mountain of the Lord to worship Him. Notice what the prophet Zechariah says, "And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came up against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. (Zech 14:16) It is clear that not only will Jesus return to re-establish the Davidic Kingdom (Amos 9:11-12; Ezek. 37:24-26; Luke 1:33-33; etc), but bring spiritual revival to Israel (Jer. 31:31-34; Rom. 11:26-27). The Theocratic Kingdom. The uniqueness of the millennial kingdom is that Christ will act as King in the promised Davidic Kingdom. Dr. Chafer writes: "Every Old Testament prophecy on the kingdom anticipates His kingly office: (a) Christ will yet sit on the throne as David's heir (2 Sam. 7:16; Ps. 89:20-37; Isa. 11:1-16; Jer. 33:19-21). (b) He came as a King (Luke 1:32-33). (c) He was rejected as a king (Mark. 15:12-13; Luke 19:14; cf. Gen. 37:8; Ex. 2:14). (d) He died as a King (Matt. 27:37). (e) When He comes again, it is as a King (Rev. 19:16; cf. Luke 1:32-33)." (L.S. Chafer, Systematic Theology, Vol 3, p. 233). The Lord's Kingdom reign is made clear in the New Testament! Dr. Couch writes, "The New Testament proclaims loud and clear that Jesus is the Anointed One, the Messiah! When Christ's birth was announced to Mary the angel said: 'He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of Him father David; and He shall reign over the house of Jacob (Israel) forever; and of His Kingdom there shall be no end.'" (Luke 1:32-33) (Mal Couch, For the Cause of Zion, p. 123) The character of the age is found in Isaiah 11:4, "But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked." The Extent of His Rule is Over the Entire Earth His rule is over the entire earth. It was God's intent from the beginning of the creation of man that the earth should be ruled over by man. Adam sacrificed his right to rule when sin entered the human race. God's purpose, however, is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. In Psalm 2:6-9 God declares His purpose to set His king in Zion who will have as His possession 'the uttermost parts of the earth." (John Walvoord, The Millennial Kingdom, p. 301) The Satisfaction of His Rule Over Israel Israel was not satisfied with the their theocratic rule. They wanted to be like the rest of the nations who had kings (1 Sam. 8:4). The book of 1 Samuel describes the destruction of the priestly family of Eli and the general downgrading of worship in Israel and her demand for a king. This was seen as a rejection of the Lord by the people (1 Sam. 8:7), so they get a king – Saul, a powerful, handsome Benjamite. A king who lacked devotion to the Lord and sought advise from a witch. The Lord, however, will return and rule Israel in a just and proper way. He alone will show Israel what a true King is like in a theocratic rule where both Priest and King are joined in a Malchizedekian priesthood that will last forever (Gen. 14:18; Heb. 5:6; 6:20; 7:1-28; Ps. 110:4). The Character of the Kingdom The kingdom will be characterized by righteousness. This is the ethical part of a legal system. Not only does a kingdom have a land (the whole earth), a people (all the people of the earth) it also has a law – the law of the land. This law is marked by Christ who is not only the law-giver, but the judge who will deal righteously in that day. Sin will not go unpunished! Those who are in open rebellion will be put to death (Isa. 66:20, 24; Zech. 14:16-19). Dr. Walvoord writes, "While it is obvoius that even under the rule of Christ there will arise from children born in the millennium those who merely profess to follow the King without actually being saints, the true character of these is manifested at the end of the millennium in the final revolt. Meanwhile they will be forced to obey the King or be subject to the penalty of death or other chastisement." (Walvoord, p. 302) Holiness The central characteristic of the kingdom age is holiness, righteousness and knowledge. Isaiah 11 describes the millennial reign of the Lord. A time when "the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord (Isa. 11:9). The Hebrew word used for knowledge used in Isaiah 11 reflects a complete knowledge, a complete understanding and is particular to the knowledge of God. Righteousness Another characteristic of the Lord in the millennium is the glory of the Lord or the Shechinah Glory. Not only will the Shechinah Glory be in the Holy of Holies, but will be a wall of fire around Jerusalem (Zech. 2:4-5). All flesh will see it in that day (Isa. 40:5). The Word of God The Lord Himself will teach the world from His holy mountain (Isa. 2:3). And many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us concerning His ways And that we may walk in His paths." For the law will go forth from Zion And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 And He will judge between the nations, And will render decisions for many peoples; And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they learn war. (Isa. 2:3-4) Ezekiel records, "His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory." (Ezek. 43:2). Life centers around the Lord. He is the Bead of Life. "The orthodox [Jew] also made a connection with the coming of the Messiah and the bread coming out of heaven. They said 'that in the days of the Messiah the treasury of manna will again descend from on high.' Christ spoke of Himself as similar to the manna. He said that He Himself was 'the living bread' that came down out of heaven. He said however that He is not like the manna which was only temporary fod. The Jews who ate that finally died, but those who partake of Him as the living spiritual bread 'shall live forever' (John 6:51-58)." (Mal Couch, For the Cause of Zion, p. 127) The Manner of Worship After a proper consecration of the altar (43:18-27), worship may begin. The attitude of the millennium is holiness, peace, security, joy, and gladness, because the prince of peace reigns on His throne (Isa. 32:16-20; 35:5-10; 51:3; 55:12-13; 61:10-11), and because of what He has done for His name's sake (Isa. 66:5; Ezek. 20:9). Isaiah puts it this way, "I will greatly rejoice, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its bud, and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord Jehovah will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations" (Isa. 61:10-11). This attitude is not only held by the Jew of that day, but by the gentle who will also share in the great joy of the day. Micah points out, "…many nations shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem…" (Micah 4:1-2). The Priests It is the Temple that serves as the focal point of worship in the millennium. This, after all, is the place where the Lord's glory will be. The Temple will have a proper order to it. There will be priests that are descendents of Zadok, a particular branch of the Levites that will be responsible for the alter and sacrifices, who personally come near and minister to the Lord (40:45-46; 43:19; 44:15). They are to stand before the Lord to offer the fat and blood (44:15). They are allowed to enter the sanctuary, and when they enter the inner court they are required to wear special linen garments – no wool (44:17), (a) linen turbans on their heads (44:18), and (b) linen trousers on their bodies (44:18). No clothes that contain sweat are allowed. And when they leave the sanctuary to see the people they are to change garments leaving the garments in the holy chamber (44:19). In addition, their hair shall not be long nor shaved (44:20), and neither are they allowed to drink wine when they enter the inner court (44:21). They may have only one wife who is Jewish and was a virgin or a widow of a priest (44:22). The priestly duties are (a) to teach the difference between holy and unholy, clean and unclean (44:22-23), (b) to act as judges (44:24), and (c) shall live holy lives, observing appointed times and days. They shall not come near dead bodies except in the case of a family member (44:25). They shall have no possessions for God is their possession (44:28), and they shall eat the best that is reserved for them (44:29-30). The priests are to eat of the holy offerings presented (a) the grain offering; (b) the sin offering; and (c) the trespass offering. In addition, they are to observe the ordinances of the alter which include sacrificing burnt offerings and sprinkling blood on it (43:18). The Levites The Levites will be in charge of the temple, a ministry of guarding and maintaining the temple but are excluded from priestly service (40:45-46). They will be gatekeepers of the house (44:11), and will slay the burnt offerings for the people (44:11). They shall not be as priests but keep charge of the temple for its works (44:13-14). The Temple Singers There will be singers present with a chamber just for them but not much else is said of their ministry in the millennial Temple (40:44). It may be the case that their function, selection, and duties did not change from what was known in Ezekiel's day. That is, singers were selected from the among the Levites (1 Chron. 9:33; 15:16). David himself spoke to the chief Levite to appoint singers along with and psalms, lifting these up with joy (1 Chron. 15:16; cf. Ps. 84). Possibly sons of Heman, Asaph, Ethan, and Jeduthun (1 Chron. 15:19; 2 Chron. 5:12). Possibly numbering more than one hundred and fifty (2 Chron. 5:12). Their instruments were cymbals, harps, trumpets, and instruments of music (2 Chron. 5:13). The Prince There is the Prince who will serve a special place in the Temple and act as priest. This is an apparent new position in the Temple, acting something like a governor-priest whose ministry is to insure proper measures and organization of Temple feasts and services (45:9-17). Though the identity of the Prince is not disclosed, most identify him as the resurrected David or a descendent of David who will have sons (46:16). If this is not the resurrected David, where then does one find David in the millennium? The East gate is shut permanently except on rare occasion because the Lord entered that gate with all His glory. Only the prince may be at the gate. He is allowed to enter by the archway and eat there. Concerning the prince, Dr. Grant writes, "He seems to occupy an intermediary place between the people and the priesthood, since he is found among the former in their seasons of worship, not among the priests, nor privileged to enter the inner court, yet drawing nearer than the people themselves, since he may worship in the inner east gate which opens upon the inner court, while the people worship in the outer court as gathered at the door of this gate." (J. Dwight Pentecost, Things to Come, p. 523) The Prince is to give burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offering at the feast, New Moons, Sabbaths and appointed seasons (45:17). The Prince functions as an overseer of Temple services. The east gate is only to be opened on the Sabbath and New Moon at which time the Prince is to perform the offerings (46:1-8). The North gate is for the people (46:9). They are to enter on the appointed feast days by the north and exit by way of the south. The South gate is also for the people (46:9). They, likewise, are to enter the south and exit by way of the north. There shall be presented daily burnt offering to the Lord (46:13). The burnt offering shall be a lamb of the first year without blemish and a grain offering also presented every morning. These are said to be "a perpetual ordinance" (46:14). The People and Idols One interesting item to point out is that no foreigner shall enter the Lord's sanctuary, either uncircumcised in heart or flesh (44:9). There is some disagreement as to who the uncircumcised in flesh are. The verse is literally "every foreign son, uncircumcised of heart or uncircumcised of flesh shall not come into My holy place." While Kiel & Delitzsch believe the foreigner to be gentiles, Raschi believes the use of the word "son" implies they are Jews who "had fallen into heathen idolatry." (Kiel & Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament) The point is made clear in its context. Ezekiel explains clearly that they are both the heathen that Israel had brought into the sanctuary and Jew who followed the heathen into idolatry: 5 The LORD said to me, Son of man, mark well, see with your eyes and hear with your ears all that I say to you concerning all the statutes of the house of the LORD and concerning all its laws; and mark well the entrance of the house, with all exits of the sanctuary. 6 You shall say to the rebellious ones, to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD, Enough of all your abominations, O house of Israel, 7 when you brought in foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in My sanctuary to profane it, even My house, when you offered My food, the fat and the blood; for they made My covenant void—this in addition to all your abominations. 8 And you have not kept charge of My holy things yourselves, but you have set foreigners to keep charge of My sanctuary. 9 Thus says the Lord GOD, No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, of all the foreigners who are among the sons of Israel, shall enter My sanctuary. 10 But the Levites who went far from Me when Israel went astray, who went astray from Me after their idols, shall bear the punishment for their iniquity. (Ezek. 44:5-10) The Lord is recalling the generations of Israel that had mixed foreign worship. Shortly after the First Temple was built by Solomon, God says, " 6 But if you or your sons at all turn from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, 7 then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them; and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight. Israel will be a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 8 And as for this house, which is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and will hiss, and say, 'Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?' 9 Then they will answer, 'Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore the LORD has brought all this calamity on them.' (1 Kgs. 9:6-9) Dr. Prices writes, "The seeds of the Temple's destruction were first sown when Solomon established multiple centers for idolatrous worship. His political marriages had a part in this – as part of his contractual agreement, Solomon had to provide for the worship practices of his 1,000 foreign wives and concubines (1 Kings 11:1-3). (Price, pp. 70-71) There will never again be idols in the House of the Lord - no more foreign objects of worship. There will be only one God and He is the Lord! The People - Israel The people will rejoice, sing and be of one mind: Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, They shout joyfully together; For they will see with their own eyes When the LORD restores Zion. 9 Break forth, shout joyfully together, You waste places of Jerusalem; For the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. (Isa. 52:8-9) National Israel will be saved, the covenant made with Abraham and expanded with the Land, Seed and New covenants (cf. Gen. 12, 15; Deu. 30; 2 Sam. 7; Jer. 31) will be fulfilled in the millennium, "My Spirit" and "My words" will never depart (Isa. 59:21). Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost summarizes Israel in the millennium: Israel will become the subject of the King's reign (Isa. 9:6-7; 33:17, 22; 44:6; Jer. 23:5; Mic. 2:13; 4:7; Dan. 4:3; 7:14, 22, 27). In order to be subjects, Israel, first will have been converted and restored to the land. Second, Israel will be reunited as a nation (Jer. 3:18; 33:14; Ezek. 20:40; 37:15-22; 39:25; Hos. 1:11). Third, the nation will again be related to Jehovah by marriage (Isa. 54:1-17; 62:2-5; Hos. 2:14-23). Fourth, she will be exalted above the Gentiles (Isa. 14:1-2; 49:22-23; 60:14-17; 61:6-7). Fifth, Israel will be made righteous (Isa. 1:25; 2:4; 44:22-24; 45:17-25; 48:17; 55:7; 57:18-19; 63:16; Jer. 31:11; 33:8; 50:20, 34; Ezek. 36:25-26; Hos. 14:4; Joel 3:21; Mic. 7:18-19; Zech. 13:9; Mal. 3:2-3). Sixth, the nation will become God's witness during the millennium (Isa. 44:8, 21; 61:6; 66:21; Jer 16:19-21; Mic. 5:7; Zeph. 3:20; Zech. 4:1-7; 4:11-14; 8:23). Seventh, Isreal will be beautiful to bring glory to Jehovah (Isa. 62:3; Jer. 32:41; Hos. 14:5-6; Zeph. 3:16-17; Zech. 9:16-17). Finally, Israel will rejoice as the Lord dwells with them in a place where His holy name will never again be defiled: He said to me, "Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the sons of Israel forever. And the house of Israel will not again defile My holy name, neither they nor their kings, by their harlotry and by the corpses of their kings when they die, 8 by setting their threshold by My threshold and their door post beside My door post, with only the wall between Me and them. And they have defiled My holy name by their abominations which they have committed. So I have consumed them in My anger. (Ezek. 43:7-8) The Feast Days of Old The feast days are special days the Lord set aside for Israel to observe and they serve to point forward to specific figures concerning the Lord. Some of these feasts will continue in the millennium but others will not. Here is how all the feasts are figured. The Spring Feasts The spring feasts are Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Pentecost. Passover. Passover was the first of the spring holy days and the first of three annual pilgrimage feasts required by all Jewish males to celebrate at the Temple in Jerusalem. Passover commemorated the historical deliverance of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. Death passed over the one who placed the blood of the lamb over the threshold of the door. The feast foreshadowed redemption through the crucifixion of the Lamb of God - Jesus Himself who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Feast of Unleavened Bread. The day after Passover begins the week long feast of Unleavened Bread. During the week the nation is to do no work. On the first and last days the people are to offer sacrifices. The feast emphasized Israel's separation from the world. It also foreshadowed the sinless humanity of Jesus, or theologically - the impeccability of Jesus. Jesus is called the bead of life (John 6:35). It is because He was sinless in His humanity that He was the only possible acceptable sacrifice, once for all. Feast of First Fruits. The Feast of First Fruits is celebrated on the day after the Sabbath following Passover. "Worshipers brought the first sheaf of barley into the Temple, and the priest waved it before the Lord. Then the priests threshed the barley, ground the grain into flour, and offered it to the Lord as a grain offering along with a quart of wine. The first fruits symbolized divine blessing and were a guarantee that the harvest would be bountiful." (Robert Dean in Tim LaHaye, Ed Hindson gen, ed., The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy, p. 108) The feast foreshadowed Christ as the First Fruits of the Resurrection (1 Cor. 15:20). Like the feast, the resurrection of Christ guarantees the harvest that is to follow. Pentecost. Fifty days after First Fruits is the feast of Pentecost (The Feast of Weeks). The third annual pilgrimage feast that celebrated the wheat harvest and God's provision. The central feature of the day was the offering of two loaves of bread for the people from the firstfruits of the wheat harvest. It was a day of thanksgiving in which free-will offerings were made. The feast represented the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit under the terms of the New Covenant. Fall Feasts The fall feasts are the Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement and Feast of Tabernacles. Feast of Trumpets. The new moon of the seventh month marked the beginning of Rosh Hashanah – the civil new year. It was also called Yom Terua "the day of sounding" and hence referred to as the Feast of Trumpets. The day marked the high holy days in Judaism as the Day of Atonement follows ten days later. It is a day of retrospection, prayer, and repentance. It is said that on this day God judges all men for their deeds and decides who shall live or die, prosper or suffer adversity (Wycliff Bible Dictionary, p. 604). The Feast of Trumpets anticipates the future regathering of Israel. Day of Atonement. The Day of Atonement – Yom Kippur ("day of covering") is not a feast but a solemn day and represented the atonement offered for the high priest, the people, and the sanctuary. This day was a day of fasting and after offering a young bullock for a sin offering for himself and his house, the high priest presented the two goats, cast lots over them, one marked for Jehovah, the other for Azazel (scapegoat). The goat marked for the Lord was slain and the scapegoat was brought forward, the high priest, laying hands upon it, confessing over it all the sins of the people, then it was sent into uninhabited wilderness. The two goats were looked upon as one offering. The Day of Atonement foreshadowed the national repentance of Israel at the Second Coming. Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Tabernacles also called the Feast of Booths, or Ingathering occurred when the harvest was finally in and the people rejoiced that all was complete. The feast lasted seven days. The people gathered fruit and dwelt in booths made of branches and tree foliage to commemorate the complete provision of God and their wilderness wanderings when their fathers dwelt in temporary shelters. Sacrifices were more numerous during this feast than at any other, consisting of 189 animals for the seven day period. When the feast coincided with a sabbatical year, the law was read publicly to the entire congregation at the sanctuary (Deut. 31:10-13). The booths were dismantled on the last day, and on the eighth day a holy convocation was observed. The feast is a memorial of Israel's redemption from Egypt and foreshadows her regathering and restoration at the Second Coming. The Feast Days of the Millennium There will be a limited set of feast days celebrated during the millennium. Absent will be the feast of Pentecost, First-Fruits, Trumpets, and the Day of Atonement. There will be: The New Year's Feast (Ezek. 45:18-20), Passover/Unleavened Bread (Ezek. 45;21-24), and the Seven Day Feast of Tabernacles (Ezek. 45:25). Included as feasts is the Sabbath days and New Moons. New Year's Feast. The New Year's Feast is something new. It involves the first day of the first year and also the seventh day of the seventh month. Hence, this feast involves the first month of both the civil and religious calendar! It is to be performed on the first day of the first month where a young bull without blemish is to be sacrificed and the sanctuary cleansed. On the seventh day of the seventh month a young bull shall be sacrificed to cleanse the people, that is, "for anyone who has sinned unintentionally or in ignorance. Thus you shall make atonement for the temple" (Ezek. 45:20). We see in the millennium a combining of the civil and religious systems as they come together in a theocratic kingdom where the Lord will reign in a unique Melchizedekian priesthood. Passover/Unleavened Bread. This feast lasts for seven days and starts on the fourteenth day of the first month. But it also includes a feast week on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. The details are as follows: In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, you shall have the Passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten. 22 On that day the prince shall provide for himself and all the people of the land a bull for a sin offering. 23 During the seven days of the feast he shall provide as a burnt offering to the LORD seven bulls and seven rams without blemish on every day of the seven days, and a male goat daily for a sin offering. 24 He shall provide as a grain offering an ephah with a bull, an ephah with a ram and a hin of oil with an ephah. 25 In the seventh month, on the fifteenth day of the month, at the feast, he shall provide like this, seven days for the sin offering, the burnt offering, the grain offering and the oil. (Ezek. 45:21-25) The Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Tabernacles is slightly different than that from the Mosiac system. There is a difference in the number of offerings and no eighth day. The feast is mandatory for both Jew and Gentile. Those who do not send a representative to Jerusalem for this feast will not receive rain (Zech. 14:17). Daily Service, Weekly Sabbath and Monthly New Moon Service. Along with the feast days will be the daily service (45:13), weekly Sabbaths (46:3) and monthly New Moon (46:3) services which all involve a blood sacrifice with gain and oil offerings. Though, there is no mention of a wine offering, indicating the absence of the aging process as people will live as long as in the days before the flood, where 100 years is seem as young (Isa. 65:20). There is the voluntary burnt and peace offering prepared by the prince which is prepared as it is on the daily Sabbath offering. Gentile Worship Gentiles who survive the Judgment of the Gentiles for their treatment of Israel are the ones who will enter and populate the gentile nations in the Millennium. Dr. Fruchtenbaum says, "These are the sheep Gentiles who, because of their faith shown by their pro-Semitism, will be able to participate in and populate the Kingdom." (Arnold Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of the Messiah, p. 493). In the Millennium, the Lord will be the center of Gentile attraction as they seek Him (Isa. 11:10), as He is the light to them (Isa. 49:5-7). They will be subject to the King and receive justice from Him (Isa. 42:1) in His reign. All the kings of the Gentiles will worship Him (Isa. 49:7). It is clear that even the offerings of the Gentiles will be accepted upon the Lord's alter (Isa. 56:4-5). In fact, Gentile inclusion in the Temple worship is said to be brought by "the children of Israel" to the house of the Lord (Isa. 66:18-24). The Gentiles will come to worship on the Sabbaths and New Moons (Isa. 66:23) and the Feast of Tabernacles (Zech. 14:16-19). And for those who transgress against the Lord will die and their bodies and be seen (Isa. 66:24). For those who do not pay obligatory tribute on the Feast of Tabernacles will have their rain withheld from them for a year (Zech. 14:16-17). Even those I will bring to My holy mountain And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples. (Isa. 56:7) Healing Waters Flowing under and out from the Temple toward the east will be flowing water (Ezek. 47:1-2). The water flowing forms a river that runs to the sea, and by the time it reaches the sea its waters are healed (Ezek. 47:9). The waters will flow into the sea which Unger identifies as the Dead or Salt Sea "whose poisonous waters will be healed (2 Kg. 2:19, 22; Isa. 11:6,9), making it teem with life." (Merrill Unger, Unger's Commentary on the Old Testament, p. 1598). "And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live" (47:9). But, its swamps and marshes will not be healed and given over to salt (47:10-11), showing that the kingdom age will not be sinless – though sin will be greatly restrained! Along with the healing waters are the healing trees. These trees grow along the bank of the river and seem to be of diverse species that bear fruit for food that do not fail, leaves that will not wither providing medicine. They bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary (47:12). This healing waters reflects the fact that the curse will be lifted during the millennium. Dr. Walvoord wrotes, "Another important factor in the millennium is the fact that the curse which descended upon the physical world because of Adam's sin apparently is lifted during the millennium." (John Walvoord, The Millennial Kingdom, p. 317) The removal of the curse brings long life, their labor not hindered by the curse and the Lord will hear our voice (Isa. 65:17-25). Conclusion Worship in the Millennium will be presented at a Temple whose presence is glorified by the Lord Himself. The worship will consist of a sincere heart which sings the praises of the Lord. There will continue to be a distinction between Jew and Gentile. Even among the Jew, certain ones will be commissioned to perform priestly duties, certain ones maintenance duties, and a special prince who will perform special duties on special days. The reinstitution of the sacrificial system instituted in the millennium will have some features similar to the Mosaic system along with some brand new laws. Dr Fruchtenbaum writes, "For this very reason, the sacrificial system of the Millennium must not be view as a reinstitution of the Mosaic system, because it is not. It will be a brand-new system that will contain some things old and some things new, and will be instituted for an entirely different purpose."( Arnold Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of the Messiah, p. 460) But joy, peace and righteousness will reign in the Kingdom for the Lord as He will be presiding as Priest and King. Healing waters will flow and healing trees will provide medicine and food without fail. Dr. Benware says, "The millennial kingdom will be a wonderfully spiritual time. First and foremost, the risen, glorified Lord Jesus Himself will be present. This fact alone sets this period apart from all others. Then the apostle John saw this glorious Lord, he could do nothing but prostrate himself before Him. Certainly this will be the response of all the subjects of His kingdom." (Paul Benware, Understanding End Times Prophecy, p. 333)

Ask. Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, is Isaiah 48:16-17 about the Trinity? ANSWER: Yes, indeed, it is! There is the call to listen to the voice speaking: "Come near to Me, listen to this: From the time I have not spoken in secret. From the time it took place I was there." Then the passage says: "And now the Lord God has sent Me, and His Spirit." Verse 17 adds: "Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, 'I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit …'" The Redeemer is the preincarnate Messiah, then there is the Spirit, and finally the Lord God who is speaking! Unger and Young point out that this is a Messianic and Trinity passage. "The type prefigures the antitype, the Servant of the Lord (42:1-4), who 'did not come alone but … his entire ministry was in the power of the Spirit, a definite Messianic concept.'" The idea is repeated in 41:14; 43:14; 49:7, 27; 54:5, 8. Christ is called the Holy One of God who would not undergo decay, as mentioned in Psalm 16:10. Peter repeats this in Acts 3:27; 13:35. I think we would be surprised at the number of times the Trinity is seen in both the OT and the NT. Thanks for asking. Dr. Mal Couch

THE APOSTASY GALLOPING

Indications are showing that the apostasy is rapidly growing, as reported in The Journal published in the January 2009 issue from Summit Ministries. America is fast moving toward secularization. The population that accepts evolution is edging up. More than ever now believe that the Bible is built on legends and fables. This has soared from 1 in 10 to nearly 1 in 4 in just thirty years. Atheists and agnostics have increased in number from two million in the 1950s to as many as sixty million (a fifth of the population) according to the Harris polls.    The nonreligious population has doubled in the last fifteen years. Only half of Americans now believe absolutely in a personal God, which is below from a historic level in comparison to what is found in many second and third world countries. Church membership has declined to about half of what it was fifty years ago. It has accelerated rapidly after September 11, 2001. Only a fifth of the population turns up in church on any given Sunday. Mainstream denominational churches have dwindled almost to a minority status. Conservative churches too are losing ground. Those who hold to the Bible as the literal Word of God has fallen markedly from 4 in 10 to less than a third over the last thirty years.    Evangelical churches are shifting to the left and moving quickly from proclaiming and teaching the Truth from the pulpit. Light sermons, sermon-ettes, and devotionals, are the mainstay in most churches now. All out apostasy and liberalism will be the next phase which will cause churches to finally shrink to the size of a prune and then disappear altogether! Christ will continue to build His church right up to the end—to the day of the rapture of the church, the removal of true believers from the earth just prior to the prophesied Tribulation and Wrath of God that will last seven years. During the last days of the church dispensation, the numbers will be less and less. Persecution will probably be experienced by most who are trusting Christ. Churches will be under the gun but will probably be more healthy than at any time in the recent past.    Pastors, you need to prepare your congregation and flock for these changing times! –Dr. Mal Couch

FOR THE CAUSE OF ZION

Scofield's latest book, For The Cause Of Zion, is receiving some extremely kind endorsements. One reader said: Dr. Couch, thanks for a challenging and thought-provoking book. I have only begun to read it, but the chapter on the Messiah (chapter 2) is one of the best summaries of this subject I've read to date. God bless your ministry. –Fort Worth     And, Dr. Couch, I could not put down your new book. It's full of information about history I've never read before. What is your latest book about? --California     I'm glad you asked. I'm now working on a book entitled Satan, the Nations, and the End Times. It will be out about March! The book costs just $11 including shipping. Also, I'm open to sending a bunch for any who will distribute them to their congregation. –Dr. Mal Couch

THE APOSTASY: SLIDING TOWARD THE ABYSS!

Christianity is finished in Europe. While there are of course many who trust Christ in Europe and England, the vast majority of the population are lost, and profess to be either atheistic or agnostic. In total numbers, few are born again. Evangelicals in America are moving away from what the Bible teaches and are buying into what the world says about homosexuality. In ten years we will be where Europe is today. The Church will be snuffed out! (Though there will always be many who are born again right up to the end when the rapture takes place!) We reported that the vice president of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), Richard Cizik, resigned after making positive statements for same-sex civil unions. However, what he said is in line with the rapid changes about belief over the issue of homosexuality among Christians. We are falling into the Pit! Over the past few years a massive shift has taken place. Now 30% of white Evangelicals and black Protestants agree with Cizik's stance. In two years, the shift has moved to being in favor of same-sex civil unions. And these are people who claim to hold to the principles of Scripture, and claim to be born again. The statistics jumped from about 15% to around 30%. What will it be in another two years? 58% of white Evangelicals ages 18 to 29 support either gay marriage or civil unions. Interestingly, the numbers went the other way with those over 30 years of age. This confirms what I've been saying. Our nation is split on this issue by age because those who are younger have been brainwashed by the culture, by the government socialistic and anti-God schools. 25% of white Evangelicals say "gay and lesbian couples should have the same legal rights to marry as do a man and a woman." What is happening is there is a loss of authority of the Word of God. Most churches are not teaching from the pulpit strong and viable doctrine. Feel good messages, devotionals, are what people want. And, the Bible is not seen as the guide in real life issues. One liberal author said the Bible does not prohibit gay marriage, so why not? "The Bible is bent toward inclusiveness." There is no turning back the present trend. Judgment just hangs over the heads of people in this nation. And, Evangelicals will someday see and experience the error of their ways. If one studies the history of Rome, it is clear that in many, many ways, America is going the same direction. One of the emperors married his black male slave. Homosexuality, lesbianism, prostitution, sports, welfare, drove the nation in its last days. Almost half of each year was given over to sports holidays! Also, the Roman government practiced an outright rejection and persecution against all things Christian. Dispensationalists have been teaching for generations that the dispensation of the Church will someday fail, just as all other periods failed through history. The poor Covenant guys will not get it! They are misleading the sheep and not showing and explaining what the Bible teaches about the failure of the Church. They do not believe in what the Bible clearly teaches about an impending apostasy, the rapture of the Church, a worldwide tribulation, and the coming of the literal reign of Jesus Christ on the earthly throne of David. Without these great doctrines, the Church will go to sleep and have no clue where history is going. –Dr. Mal Couch

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, what is going on in Luke 16:8-9? ANSWER: This is a very tough passage of Scripture. Christ speaking about a steward and his master says: And his master praised the unrighteous steward because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light. And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that when it falls, they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. What throws us is the statement "mammon of unrighteousness." It seems Jesus is talking about profane riches, or simply money of the world. Though in itself money is not sinful, it is what the world uses in its dealings. The disciples had to use money to get things done, and even to bless people from time to time. Just like us today: we give donations and charity by using the world's money. We bless people with the funds of this government system. Our friends, those who are believers, who die and go before us to glory, will bless us when we arrive at our "eternal dwellings." They will do this because here on earth we used money to bless them. Money can be used for evil or for God's purposes. By reversing the thought in verse 11, I think the point is made clear. "If you have been faithful in the use of unrighteous mammon [worldly riches], you will be entrusted with the true riches [the spiritual riches]." I hope this helps. Thanks for asking. Dr. Mal Couch

WHO OWNS THE LAND?

What is going on today in Israel is a lie perpetrated by the Palestinian Arabs. They are making a false claim to the land that actually belongs to the sons of Jacob. God is bringing a judgment against a false religion and a people who do not hold the title deed to the Promised Land. Many of the peoples now surrounding the Holy Land are descendants of Ishmael, Esau, the sons of Abraham's other children through his wife Keturah, and from his concubines. They were not to possess the land. It is clear that the land is promised in perpetuity to Jacob and not Esau. Esau and his children would be granted the land to the East, Edom, which is now Jordan. The so-called Palestinian people have no claim to the Holy Land, the Land of Promise, whatsoever. The title deed to the land was given to the descendants of Jacob, who was the father of the twelve tribes. The Lord appeared to Jacob and blessed him and said: Your name is Jacob; you shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name. I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come forth from you. And the land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and I will give the land to your descendants after you. (Gen. 35:9-12) Then "Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan; …These are the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan. … He had acquired in the land of Canaan and went to another land away from his brother Jacob. For their property had become too great for them to live together" (36:1-7). God used a natural method of driving Esau from the land. His people were too great to occupy the Promised Land together with the people of Jacob. Esau's generations are listed in chapter 36. The chapter closes with this statement: "Esau is the father of the Edomites. These are the chiefs of Edom according to their habitations in the land of their possession" (36:43). There is a burning hatred and flaming jealousy of the Edomites against the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who have been brought by the Lord back to their Holy Land. The Arabs just can't stand the fact that the Jews through Jacob are being so prospered. Their intentions are so evil and they are fired up by a Satanic lie—that the land belongs to the Palestinians, which it does not! Unger states: "Esau not only intermarried with the Canaanites, displaying his profane nature, but also multiplied his wives. He therefore passed off the scene of spiritual blessing and left the land of promise." "It was not Jacob's faith, but God's grace carrying him on despite his unbelief [from time to time], that was most remarkable about this man." We know how the story is going to end in the Middle East, but the world does not! –Dr. Mal Couch

DANIEL 9:26-27: A DIFFICULT TRIBULATION PASSAGE By Dr. Mal Couch

Daniel’s Seventy Weeks

One of the most emotionally charged passages on the last half of the tribulation is found in Daniel 9:26-27. While part of what is written here by Daniel is quite clear, there are thoughts by the prophet Daniel that are elusive. Since all Scripture is inspired by God, we know the verses are from His inspiration and revelation to Daniel. This does not make all of the Bible easy to understand. There are still sections that we grapple with. The reason is that (1) often we do not see everything about a passage we should see because of something lacking in our base of knowledge, and (2) sometimes a prophecy will become clearer as we approach its fulfillment. Both factors may be true about these verses.

Daniel’s Seventy weeks is a much-disputed prediction. “We could call this the heart of Daniel’s prophecy as well as the backbone of all predictions. It is the unanimous opinion of all students of prophecy that whoever does not understand these verse cannot possibly obtain a clear concept of unfulfilled predictions.” (Bultema)

It is not the purpose of this article to completely explain the Seventy weeks of Daniel (Dan. 9:24-27) that are determined upon the nation of Israel. It is suffice to say that this calculates out to the 490 years of the Lord’s timetable determined in His working with the nation of Israel. The clock starts ticking with the degree of Artaxerxes Longimanus to restore and rebuild Israel which began in 444 B.C. 483 years comes out to the week that Christ was rejected and crucified in Jerusalem. Therefore there are now 7 years left in God’s specific and directed working with Israel—this is the seven years of tribulation that unfolds in such detail in the book of Revelation.

What are the 490 years [the Seventy Weeks] about?

The 490 years “are decreed for [Daniel’s] people and your holy city” (v. 24a). During this period the Lord is going “to finish the transgression, [and] make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy place” (v. 24b). God is going to clean house with His own people, remove their sins, soften their stubborn hearts. And the holy place (the temple) will be made holy again.

Coming up to the final months of the 483 years, the Messiah, the Prince will be “cut off” (vv. 25b-26a) and the “people (the Romans) of the prince (the antichrist) will come and destroy the sanctuary (the temple)” (v. 26b). On this Walvoord summarizes:

This seems to be a general reference to the fact that from the time of the destruction of the city of Jerusalem (70 AD), trouble, war, and desolation [would] be the normal experience of the people of Israel. … History has certainly corroborated this prophecy, for not only was Jerusalem destroyed but the entire civilization of the Jews in Palestine ceased to exist soon after the end of the sixty-ninth seven, and that desolation continued until recent times. (Daniel Commentary, p. 231)

The Antichrist

But what happens next? The answer brings us up to this puzzling and profound passage, verse 27. The “prince” of the people (the Romans) who destroyed the city and the sanctuary (v. 26) will then “make a firm covenant with the many [people who will be back in the Land] for one week,” or for seven years (v. 27)! The Jewish rabbis in their commentaries say “the many” is probably a reference to “the great ones,” the chief leaders of the people! The leadership will be fooled by the antichrist, thinking that he is the promised Messiah! But he is not! The antecedent “prince” goes back to the prince of verse 26 who is part of the Roman peoples! Daniel did not know of the gap between verses 26 and 27. God during that intervening period stopped the clock in His divine work with Israel. The clock will start ticking again with the beginning of the seven year tribulation, and that is marked by the signing of or the making of a peace covenant between this prince and the Jewish people. It seems clear that with the signing of the covenant, the antichrist gives permission for the Jews to build again another temple. Peace will be established between the Jews and the Arabs. The antichrist, the prince, is an international hero! More on the antichrist and the temple is predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12.

[With superb scholarship, Hoehner places the start of the Seventy week prophecy on March 5, 444 BC, with the cutting off of the Messiah in Jerusalem during the week of March 30, AD 33. See his The Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ]

The Difficult Passage

Daniel now deals with the final seven year period, the one week, the final period of God’s working with the nation of Israel. This seven years will be a judgment on the wayward nations and a spiritual purging on the Jewish people. Following this seven years the Messiah will return to earth and begin His Davidic millennial reign, the one thousand year rule of peace! But before He comes, this seven year time of wrath and judgment will come. It is described in a very emotionally charged way in verse 27b.

“In the middle (three and a half years) of the (seven year)week he (the prince, the antichrist) will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering (in the temple); and

on the wing of abomination will come one who makes makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”

From the Hebrew text I translate the passage another way: And upon the wing of detestable [idolatrous] things (by doing terrible things), he (the prince, the antichrist) shall be causing a holocaust, that is, until the annihilation gushes forth, that is, the determined end, upon the horrifying scene.

On the wing of abomination: “This is one of the most difficult passages in Daniel,” if not in the entire Bible. (Rabbinical commentaries) “The clause contains an obscure word (“abomination”) which is further complicated by an unintelligible syntax” in the Hebrew. (Daniel, Montgomery, p. 386) Remember that Daniel is elderly, and in his old age, he is overcome by emotion by what he sees and what he is told! He writes in emotional spurts and bursts!

Some have suggested the “wing” is the top part of a roof, the topmost point, or the pinnacle. The term can mean the structural wing of a building, the most prominent and obvious visual location. If this is so, many, many scholars surmise, this could be the pinnacle of the rebuilt temple on which some kind of pagan symbol is made visible! Some rabbis say it refers to an elevated position somehow related to the temple. Further, “The Jewish commentators take ‘wing’ as a figure of speech signifying an ‘elevated position’ and render: ‘upon an elevated position among detestable things (will be placed) an image which causes appallment.’” (Soncino Rabbinical Commentary)]

Van der Palm gives one of the most accepted free translations of the passage:

And on the pinnacle (of the temple) will stand the destroying abomination until everything is demolished and irreparable destruction has been poured on the destroyer.

“We may suppose a heathen image or emblem.” (Montgomery) This would be the emblem of the antichrist who is setting himself above God and all the gods of the world (2 Thess. 2:4). Or, another view: “It is more reasonable to understand ‘wing’ as a figure for the vulturelike role of the Antichrist as he swoops down on his beleaguered victims for the purposes of oppression and despoliation.” (Gaebelein)

Price basically concurs but with some differences:

The term “wing” (Hebrew, k’naf) has a direct association with the abomination of desolation and most likely describes the ‘place’ where it will occur in relation to the temple. This ‘wing’ may be understood metaphorically, has been the subject of extensive controversy and fanciful interpretation in both ancient and modern commentaries. It is possible that k’naf suggests the place where the abomination of desolation is placed: in the Holy of Holies in the place of the Ark of the Covenant, which was topped by winged cherubim.(The Popular Bible Prophecy Commentary, p. 256)

The abomination … makes desolate refer to the Desolator [who will come]. (Unger, p. 1670) “As the text stands it can be literally translated only as follows: “and upon the wing of abominations is a desolator.” (Ellicott) The Desolator of course is the person who causes the desolations mentioned in verse 26. That the Desolator will be doomed, nothing is said here. But “the prince” (the antichrist/desolator) appears merely as the instrument pre-ordained by God, by whose people both city and sanctuary are to be destroyed.” (Ellicott) “The word would be more properly rendered in this passage desolator, referring to some one who would produce desolation.” (Barnes)

In Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 Jesus refers to the “abomination of desolation” as something (or this someone) standing in the holy place, the sanctuary. He is prophetically speaking of the antichrist who will desecrate the temple itself. Again, Paul says this about this evil one, the lawless one, the antichrist. The apostle writes that he will “oppose and exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God” (2 Thess. 2:4).

Until a complete destruction: “Right up to the end that causes desolation.” Christ had this in mind when He predicted in His Olivet Discourse (cf. Matt. 24:15) the final horrors of the Tribulation. It is important to observe that this reference to “the abomination that causes desolation,” or “of desolation” conclusively proves that Jesus Himself regarded the fulfillment of the prophecy in Daniel as yet future.” (Gaebelein)
Or the passage could read: “The dictator will hold sway till the wrath of God is poured out in fury on the God-defying world of the Beast (little horn or ruler).” (Gaebelein)

As for the “desolator” himself, it is simplest to take him to be the world dictator of the last days, who will resort to violence to carry through his ruthless policy of despotism. The account in Revelation 13 indicates that the eschatological little horn will remain in control of world affairs down to the End, enforcing his will by violent means till the final conflict of Armageddon. (Gaebelein)

Is poured out on the one who makes desolate: This refers to the final pouring out that climaxes at Armageddon, when the blasphemous world ruler will be crushed by the full weight of God’s judgment.

Conclusion

After three and a half years the antichrist will break his alliance, cast off his mask, and turn against the apostate nation of Israel with all his demonic fury. He will cause the sacrifices of the temple service in the rebuilt temple to cease and reveal himself as a terrible destroyer. He will set himself up in the temple and pretend to be God.

The wording of the last part of verse 27 is very mysterious. Two things are clear, however. In the second part of the still future year-week the antichrist will destroy Israel in a terrible manner, and reciprocally at the end of the week divinely appointed destruction will be poured out on her. (Bultema)

Walvoord notes: “The fulfillment of this prophecy necessarily involves the reactivation of the Mosaic sacrificial system in a temple in Judea. The present occupation of Jerusalem [and the establishment of the new nation] by Israel [is] a preparatory step to the reestablishment of the Mosaic system of sacrifices. Obviously, sacrifices cannot be stopped and a temple cannot be desecrated unless both are in operation.” (Commentary, p. 235)

The antichrist will cause sacrifice and offering to cease and, in their place, erect, even unto the end of causing an overspreading influence, a detestable statue (or altar) in the temple, desolating in effect, says Wood.

Look for some peace process where the Arabs and the Jews co-inhabit the temple mount. The antichrist will bring in the miracle of peace. The world will say “peace and safety.” But the temple desecrated will bring a violent response from God Almighty, not only upon Israel and her rebellion, but on the world as a whole. The temple is a key component in understanding what happens the last of the tribulation.

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, where do you start the antichrist in Daniel 11? Most seem to say that he is first mentioned in verse 36 and on. ANSWER: You sent me a very complicated question about where I think we begin seeing him in prophecy, in that chapter. The best scholars I know say the reference to him does indeed begin with verse 36. It must be remembered that whether one is looking for information in chapter 11 about Antiochus Epiphanes or the antichrist, most of what is said has to do with events that we know, or will know, little about in terms of details. So it is difficult to be dogmatic as to all that is going on in this chapter. In some ways, chapter 11 is one of the toughest chapters in the OT, because it gives to us extremely detailed information and prophecies. Christ, and then Paul, refers back to Daniel 9 and 11 when predicting the coming of the antichrist. And of course so does the apostle John in the book of Revelation. The Lord refers to the antichrist and the Abomination of Desolation "standing in the holy place spoken of through Daniel the prophet" (Matt. 24:15). Paul also speaks of him in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-on. Scofield Ministries produced Paul Benware's excellent commentary on Daniel that is now available for a donation of $15. Those reading this really need this great volume. Dr. Benware handles with meaning detail, as much as can be known, the issues of Daniel 11. After going through all of the twists and turns on chapter 11, Benware concludes: "It seems best, therefore, to see 11:36-45 as referring to the coming Antichrist who will appear at the end of the ages and completely fulfill these predictions of Daniel. Dr. John Walvoord observed that 'many students of Scripture have recognized from antiquity that another king must be in view' and many of these (such as Jerome and Luther) identified him with the Antichrist of the New Testament. We are, therefore, in good company when we identify this king as the 'man of sin', 'the beast', 'the Antichrist'." The address for ordering the commentary is: 120 CR 3222, Clifton, TX 76634. Thanks for asking. Dr. Mal Couch

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, why did Christ heal and do miracles so often on the Sabbath? ANSWER: One could argue that He was pushing the Jews to accept good works being done on the Sabbath as upon any other day. But the better answer would be that He was doing a good work on any day, even it happened to be on the Sabbath. No work was to be done on the Sabbath, and the Jews, in their distorted view of the Law, saw Him violating the Law of Moses. A good answer may be found in John 7:21-24. Christ had done a good work on the Sabbath. He said, "I did one deed [on the Sabbath] and you all marvel" (v. 21). He added, "On this account Moses has given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a man. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath that the Law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath?" (vv. 22-23). In other words, the Jews did not consider circumcising on the Sabbath was breaking the Law, but they did healing someone! Christ was showing their hypocrisy and their legalism, and too, He was showing how much they hated Him. So it may be that Christ was not trying to taunt the Jews, but He simply was not going to stop healing or doing a good work on the Sabbath. Whatever was needed to be done, He went forward and did it, and did not care what the Jews thought. This is seen also concerning the man with a withered hand (Luke 6:6-12). He said to the Jews, "I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or to do harm, to save a life, or to destroy it?" (v. 9). The Jews responded and "were filled with rage, and discussed together what they might do to Jesus" (v. 11). The Jews had forgotten that "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath" (v. 5) and He could do as He pleased on that day. In my commentary on Luke I wrote: The great sorrow of this story is how the leaders could ignore the great miracle that had just taken place before their very eyes. Their religiosity and animosity toward Christ was so great that they were blinded with hatred. This moral and emotional tragedy permeates the gospel stories. The Jews were so spiritually narrow-minded that they could not see the big picture, nor could they see who He was, the promised King of Israel, and the Son of God. I believe this explains why He continued to "work" on the Sabbath no matter what they said or thought! Thanks for asking. Dr. Mal Couch

NOW AVAILABLE! New Audio Study CD

Get Dr. Couch's CD on TITHING, BAPTISM, and  COMMUNION Send $8 donation to: Scofield Ministries, 120 CR 3222, Clifton, TX 76634

BEN STEIN'S CONFESSION

Ben Stein recently made the following statement I have quoted below that I think you might find most interesting, whether you endorse what he said or not: -- Dr. Mal Couch

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees.. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu If people want a crïeche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us..

Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.

My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein

REPORT ON GLOBAL WARMING

At December's U.N. Global Warming conference in Poznan, Poland, 650 of the world's top climatologists stood up and said man-made global warming is a media generated myth without basis. Said climatologist Dr. David Gee, Chairman of the International Geological Congress, "For how many years must the planet cool before we begin to understand that the planet is not warming?" I asked myself, why would such obviously smart guy say such a ridiculous thing? But it turns out he's right. The earth's temperature peaked in 1998. It's been falling ever since; it dropped dramatically in 2007 and got worse in 2008, when temperatures touched 1980 levels. Meanwhile, the University of Illinois' Arctic Climate Research Center released conclusive satellite photos showing that Arctic ice is back to 1979 levels. What's more, measurements of Antarctic ice now show that its accumulation is up 5 percent since 1980. In other words, during what was supposed to be massive global warming, the biggest chunks of ice on earth grew larger. Just as an aside, do you remember when the hole in the ozone layer was going to melt Antarctica? But don't worry, we're safe now, that was the nineties. Dr. Kunihiko, Chancellor of Japan's Institute of Science and Technology said this: "CO2 emissions make absolutely no difference one way or the other ... every scientist knows this, but it doesn't pay to say so." Now why would a learned man say such a crazy thing? This is where the looney left gets lost. Their mantra is atmospheric CO2 levels are escalating and this is unquestionably causing earth's temperature rise. But ask yourself -- if global temperatures are experiencing the biggest sustained drop in decades, while CO2 levels continue to rise -- how can it be true? Ironically, in spite of being shown false, we must now pray for it. Because a massive study, just released by the Russian Government, contains overwhelming evidence that earth is on the verge of another Ice Age. Based on core samples from Russia's Vostok Station in Antarctica, we now know earth's atmosphere and temperature for the last 420,000 years. This evidence suggests that the 12,000 years of warmth we call the Holocene period is over. Apparently, we're headed into an ice age of about 100,000 years -- give or take. As for CO2 levels, core samples show conclusively they follow the earth's temperature rise, not lead it. It turns out CO2 fluctuations follow the change in sea temperature. As water temperatures rise, oceans release additional dissolved CO2 -- like opening a warm brewsky. To think, early last year, liberals suggested we spend 45 trillion dollars and give up five million jobs to fix global warming. But there is good news: now that we don't have to spend any of that money, we can give it all to the banks. John Tomlinson is a local conservative columnist for The Flint Journal. He lives in the Genesee County area.

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, which denominations hold to baptism of infants? And why do they do this? ANSWER:  Dr. Lacy Couch goes to a nursing home each week in order to teach the Bible to some older folks. It breaks her heart to have some of them say, "My 'holy' baptism as a child is what is saving me." She has gotten many away from that false belief and helped them understand that it is only by faith in Christ that saves. Not "holy" water baptism!    Mainly, Catholics, Episcopalians, and Lutherans believe water baptism as an infant is what saves, though each group has some difference in meaning and in interpretation. The Lutheran Augsburg Confession says: "We confess that Baptism is necessary for salvation, and that children are to be baptized, and that the baptism of children is not void, but necessary and efficacious to salvation."    Remember, that people believe certain doctrines though they cannot prove them by Scripture, instead they hold them by tradition. In other words, they hold to a belief because that is what they were taught, and what they were taught must be true, whether they can prove it by the Bible or not. Many people do not believe in critical thinking, that is by observation, observation, observation, as to what the text says!    "Tradition, tradition" they sang in Fiddler On The Roof!    Those who hold to infant baptism use Luke 18:16 ("Permit the children to come unto Me"); Acts 10:23-48 (Cornelius' household); Acts 16:25-34 (The jailer's household); Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:3-6; Acts 2:38, 22:16.    Luke 18:16: This passage is easy! There is no way it can be talking about infants. Christ is referring to children who can walk, come up to Him, understand to a degree who He is! This in no way can support "infant baptism"! The main point has to do with their simple trusting and faith that then becomes an example to grownups. He added: "Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like (just as, with the same simplicity) a child shall not enter it at all." "Don't complicate the gospel--the simple way of faith in coming to Christ!"    Acts 10:23-48: The Roman officer invited Peter to come to his house "together [with] his relatives and close friends" to hear the truth. Those who hold to infant baptism imply that small little children were there who would get saved by water baptism (v. 47). But only those would be saved who "believed" in Christ and had "received forgiveness of sins," and who were "listening to the message" (vv. 43-44). You cannot apply this passage to infants and infant baptism! Those who (1) heard the gospel, (2) believed, (3) THEN received the Holy Spirit, and THEN (4) it was ordered that they be water baptized! (See vv. 47-48). IT IS IMPOSSIBLE to argue that water baptism has anything to do with getting saved from this passage. Water baptism is the sign of salvation that follows faith, and then the receiving of the Holy Spirit. They were already saved before they were dunked!    Acts 16:25-34: Paul and Silas went to the home of the jailer and spoke "to all who were in his household" (vv. 32-33). Those who hold to infant baptism say, "See, there must have been children here who were baptized." But the apostles said to the man, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household" (v. 31). They "spoke these words to the jailer" and they spoke these words to all who were in the house, implying that all in the house could understand these words! Infants could not do so! Then "immediately he was baptized, he and all his household" who had believed! (v. 33).    Galatians 3:27: This passage used by the groups mentioned above does not fit their argument either, because it has to do with spiritual baptism, "For you ARE ALL baptized INTO CHRIST [and thus] have clothed yourselves with Christ." This is referring to the baptism of the Holy Spirit whereby He unites us with the spiritual body of Christ, as explained in 1 Corinthians 12:12-on. It is interesting that these groups do not mention this passage which reads: "For by one Spirit WE WERE ALL BAPTIZED into ONE BODY, … we were all made to drink of one Spirit." This spiritual work does not take place by the water baptism administered by the pastor at the baptismal font in the church!    Romans 6:2-6: This passage ties directly into the 1 Corinthians 12 passage. It is not about water baptism but about the Spirit's baptism that ties us to the spiritual body of Christ. Common sense makes this clear and obvious! Paul writes "we are BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST JESUS [and have] been [baptized] into His death" (Rom. 6:3). We were baptized into His death, raised from the death, united with Him in the likeness of His death, and will be resurrected in the likeness of His resurrection (vv. 4-5). And, we were "crucified" with Him in order to be release from slavery to sin. Are these spiritual works are actual works? That is, were we actually nailed to His cross, crucified, buried and resurrected in an actual sense or a spiritual sense? Are these spiritual works, done by the Holy Spirit, or actual physical happenings? If they are spiritual works then so is the baptismal event spoke of here. Water baptism does not save but the work of the Spirit, whereby He unites us to Christ, this saves us!     Acts 2:38; 22:16. We have already explained Acts 2:38 previously. However, Acts 22:16 reads:   "And now why are all of you (plural) delaying? With each one of you (singular) standing up, and with each one of you (singular) calling upon His name, let all of you (plural) be baptized, and let all of you yourselves (plural) wash away your sins."   By the individual action of standing up, or coming forward to call upon the Lord, the result is that as a group they all then are baptized collectively as a group, and the overall result is that they all, by these acts, wash away their sins. There is a long list of verbs, and all the action is working together. One cannot say that the baptism is alone bringing on the salvation. The commitment to Christ is the stepping forward, the standing up, followed by the calling upon His name in order to be saved. These are the acts that saved them. They knew that the water baptism did not save! Their heart and soul commitment is what saved them! The Jews were appointed to KNOW something (His will), to SEE someone (the Righteous One), and to HEAR something (the utterance from His mouth) (v. 14). These are symbolic and spiritual things, not physical. So with the baptism. The water baptism was symbolic of the washing away sins. The water baptism in itself did not save!    Don't cling to tradition! I think it's about forty times or more in the book of John that tells us we are saved only by faith, and not by works or by baptism.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

PREPARE FOR THE COMING OF THE ARABS!

The rich Arabs just spent thousands of dollars for a full page ad in The Seattle Times with a hate-filled against the nation of Israel. The ad was sponsored by the wealthy Arab American Community Coalition (AACC). The ad was also co-sponsored by twenty-one other Arab organizations, plus some terribly misguided Spanish and liberal church groups. The ad goes on and tells the readers they need to contact several named senators, and also President-Elect Barack Obama.    Only premillennial/dispensationalists really know what is happening worldwide, and also in the Middle East. We know what is happening and where all of this is going because we study our Bible and let it speak in its literal and normal way. Our hermeneutic is consistent. We interpret the first coming of Christ literally, and we also interpret His second coming literally.    Now is the time to increase the message of the soon coming of the only Savior and King, the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no salvation apart from Him, and there is no world peace without His return. We cannot cling to this life, and our wealthy lifestyle forever. Peace is not found in our American cornucopia of plenty by which we are smothered with materialism, more plastic, batteries, toys, and junk! Our eternal hope, and particularly the hope of Israel, is in a new world and the promise of the arrival of the Judge and the Savior! America is not it! And the church is not the savior of the world. The church is made up of short-sighted and limited believers! Someday, "the Lord will take away His judgments against Israel. He will clear away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, will be in your midst; you will fear disaster no more. In that day it will be said to Jerusalem: Do not be afraid, O Zion; do not let your hands fall limp. The Lord your God will be in your midst, as a victorious warrior. … At that time I will bring you in [to the land], even at the time when I gather you together; indeed, I will give you renown and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the Lord" (Zeph. 3:15-20).      Praise God, we're almost there! –Dr. Mal Couch

THE BARNA GROUP

Recently, this survey organization made the following comments after interviewing many people about their religious beliefs. Please take careful note!    "Half of Americans recently surveyed now believe Christianity is just one of many options for genuine faith.    "Barna, the group's founder, believes the study confirms that more Americans are adopting a pluralistic mindset.    "Americans are increasingly very accepting of a diverse array of faiths. They're less likely to think that Christianity is right or accurate in what it teaches.    "The survey finds that many Americans are adopting their own ideas about faith, apart from God's Holy Word.    "People are deriving their biblical literacy and their views of spirituality from conversations that they have with friends, and they give that equal weight to things they might get in church or from other religious settings. They'll get their faith views from their own personal reflections as well as from their personal experiences and observations."    I have been saying now for months that we are galloping into the apostasy. This is clear proof that this is so. We are right behind what has happened in Europe many decades ago, and that we would be following the Europeans, I predicted as well. Only dispensatinalists fully understand what is happening because the Scriptures clearly tell us that the dispensation of the church will fail. Things will be made right only after the world comes through the prophesied judgment of the tribulation, followed by the return of Christ to reign and rule worldwide from Jerusalem.    Thousands are being misled by the false teachings of covenant theology that foolishly says the church is Israel and that God is through with the Jews. This heresy is known as replacement theology! Covenant theology also says the church is the promised millennial kingdom. Covenant theology proclaims a dual hermeneutic: taking part of the Bible literally and part of it, especially eschatology, allegorically, or in a "spiritualized" way. It is heresy to deny the actual return of Christ as Israel's King! –Dr. Mal Couch

THE JUDGMENT OF THE NATIONS COMING

The nations are building up a judgment that will pour forth will violent intensity at the end of the tribulation period. Israel will be the target and will be hated by the nations, especially by the Arab peoples who surround the restored Jewish homeland. This is made clear in Joel 3:1-17. A terrible judgment will take place when God has restored the fortunes of both the southern kingdom Judah, and the northern kingdom Israel. Then God "will gather all the nations, and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat ("Yahweh judges"), the valley that lies east of Jerusalem, the Kidron Valley. God will be defending His people who had been scattered "among the nations" (v. 2c). The Jewish people belong to the Lord in a special way. Joel says they are "His inheritance" (v. 2b). In the past, the nations had dispersed the Jewish people, they had "divided My land" (v. 2d) and had "cast lots for My people" (v. 3). Part of those to be judged are the descendants of Tyre, Sidon, "and all the regions of Philistia" (v. 4). These are the Canaanite-like peoples whose children have been in the land of Israel for centuries but no longer as a nation over the past 1,000 years or more. God says that He will "swiftly and speedily … return your recompense on your head" (v. 4). Thousands of years ago, these peoples had been guilty of selling "the sons of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to remove them far from their territory" (v. 6). Unger notes: That these were the first Greeks the Jews knew. "No doubt the germ of Greek civilization was influenced through the Jewish slaves imported into Greece from Phoenicia by early traders." God has a long memory and will bring a judgment upon these people and upon the Greeks who so mistreated the Jewish people. God will hold court among the nations. "Let the nations be aroused and come up to the valley of Jehospaphat, for there I will sit to judge, all the surrounding nations" (v. 12). The Lord will shout from Zion and from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth will tremble. But the Lord is a refuge for His people and a stronghold to the sons of Israel (v. 16). The Lord, the Messiah, will be reigning in Jerusalem. "Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, dwelling in Zion My holy mountain. So Jerusalem will be holy" (v. 17). History will not be complete until Christ returns and reigns in the Holy Land, and throughout the earth! His coming will be literal and actual, not in a mystical spiritualized sense. Dispensationalists, along with the orthodox Jews, know that the Messiah's feet will touch the Mount of Olives and He will reign among His people! Only then will all the wrongs of this world be made right. This is what we look for! –Dr. Mal Couch