1. The Gospel Of John
John 1:35-40
Groomed for Leadership
September 8, 2013
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
www.3bp.blogspot.com
September 15
Baby Dedication
Brandon Opry and Dinner for Baby Boomers
Saturday, September 21
Cost: $15.00 per person (includes dinner and Opry ticket)
Young Adult Luncheon
Sunday, September 22
Tickets:
$6.00 adults
$5.00 students
$20.00 family maximum
Camp What-A-Family “All Star” Weekend
September 27-29, 2013
Lake Forest Ranch, Macon, MS

2. http://closingstages.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/rapture.jpg
Two weeks ago we discussed watching and praying (not date setting) concerning
the Rapture.
Remember the wart on the end of your nose thing?
Satan wants to use the “date setters” to cry wolf so many times that you decide to
quit paying attention (quit watching and praying) – Y2K, Mayan calendar, etc.
http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4749298680858224&pid=1.7&w=259&h=171&c=7&rs=1
http://a.abcnews.com/images/GMA/abc_gma_rapture_110521_wg.jpg

3. http://api.ning.com/files/cAVMa4eM9a8QawtB3j0jqTdbucdNQ54ToMCumkafPibdLik5
6Fp9sMOjGwVyvK6ezvEn8O3b*wWHt6wjYAh1IdrhcTmyQ6kU/rapturescreenshot1.jpg
http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4748967942883011&pid=1.7
Nehemiah 4:9 KJV
9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day
and night, because of them.
Nehemiah 4:9 KJV
Luke 21:36 KJV
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to
escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Luke 21:36 KJV
Watching for what?:
 Our own spiritual growth Aware of Scriptures (Isa. 17)
 World events - Israel
 The Jewish Feasts
 Astronomical events

4. http://stardate.org/sites/default/files/images/virgo_cluster.jpg
Genesis 1:14
14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day
from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
Genesis 1:14
http://www.operation-exodus.org/images/signs-of-the-times/signs-of-the-times.jpg
Matthew 2:2 KJV
2 Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and
are come to worship Him.
Matthew 2:2 KJV
http://www.stmary-dallas.org/stmary/images/stories/wise-men.jpg

5. Jesus was born after 6 pm (6:15 pm – 7:45 pm) Jerusalem time in September
between 6 BC and 2 BC) during the Feast of the Trumpets.
Luke 23:44-46 KJV
44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until
the ninth hour.
45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I
commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Luke 23:44-46 KJV
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/images/bigdates/home/holiday_good_friday.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/qUXd6nPYmCc/ThHQ5cCMBlI/AAAAAAAAAOU/v6wbWxAyHYE/s1600/cross10.jpg
Jesus died on the Feast of the Passover,
He was buried during the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
He was raised on the Feast of First Fruits.

6. Revelation 12:1-2 KJV
1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and
the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
Revelation 12:1-2 KJV
That celestial arrangement occurred when the Word became flesh and dwelt among
us (John 1:14) and the next time it occurs is September 23, 2017.
Joel 2:31 KJV
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great
and terrible day of the Lord come.
Joel 2:31 KJV
Acts 2:20 KJV
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great
and notable day of the Lord come:
Acts 2:20 KJV
Revelation 6:12 KJV
12 … And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great
earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became
as blood
Revelation 6:12 KJV
http://img.docstoccdn.com/thumb/orig/131601702.png
Total eclipse of the moon
http://airandspace.si.edu/webimages/640/WEB11715-2010_640.jpg

7. A blood-red moon
The moon may turn red or coppery colored during the total portion of a lunar eclipse.
A blood red moon is possible because while the moon is in total shadow, some light
from the sun passes through Earth's atmosphere and is bent toward the moon.
While other colors in the spectrum are blocked and scattered by Earth’s atmosphere,
red light tends to make it through easier.
The effect is to cast all the planet's sunrises and sunsets on the moon.
http://i.space.com/images/i/000/008/717/i02/lunar-eclipse-december-2010-nasa-keithburns.jpg?1300507508
"The exact color that the moon appears depends on the amount of dust and clouds
in the atmosphere," according to NASA scientists.
http://i.space.com/images/i/000/010/274/i02/total-lunar-eclipse-june-2011-namibia-reserve-tucker-1.jpg?1308229578
"If there are extra particles in the atmosphere, from say a recent volcanic eruption,
the moon will appear a darker shade of red."
God has used and will use the sun, moon and stars to convey His message
(remember hostile jamming?).

8. Consider the solar and lunar eclipses.
These come and go with clockwork regularity.
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0604/eclipse2006_seip_big.jpg
Nevertheless, some strange occurrences may be noted when these astronomical
events fall on the Feast Days or the high Holy Days of Israel.
These signs in the heavens speak uniquely of God's fore-planning as He uses these
rare events to convey His message.
Something that is already rare astronomically is for four full lunar eclipses to occur in
succession.
http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/iaOMatlVP6Q/maxresdefault.jpg
Usually, many partial eclipses occur between the times of total lunar eclipses.
For four totals to occur in a row is astronomically remarkable.

9. http://endoftheworld.net/Jesus/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/74359_427985647272639_75133957_n.jpg
However, even more amazing is for such a tetrad of lunar eclipses to occur on Jewish
feast days.
http://jayinreallife.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/blood-moon-9-1.jpg
There were no tetrads in the 1800's or the 1700's or the 1600's.
The tetrad event only occurred once in the last century (1900’s).
Those occasions were in 1967 and 1968 when the four total lunar eclipses occurred in
succession on The Passover April 24th 1967, and then during The Feast of Tabernacles
on October 18th 1967; then The Passover again on April 13th 1968, and The Feast of
Tabernacles on October 6th 1968.
The point that is of interest in this connection is that the tetrad of lunar eclipses in the
20th century surrounded the return of the Old City of Jerusalem to Jewish control on
7th June 1967, which itself was a fulfillment of prophecy (Psalm 102:12-22 and Luke
21:24-25, 32).

10. This lunar tetrad event coupled with Jewish feasts only occurs once in this present
century, namely in 2014-2015.
http://www.lasttrumpet.org/blood_moon_tetrads.png
There is a tetrad of total Lunar eclipses starting again on The Passover on April 15th
2014, followed by The Feast of Tabernacles on October 8th 2014; then again on The
Passover April 4th 2015 and The Feast of Tabernacles on the 28th of September 2015
followed by the Day of Atonement on September 23, 2015.
The total solar eclipses also feed into these rare occurrences.
The first total solar eclipse being March 20th 2015 (Nisan 1), and Rosh Hashana on
9/14/2015.
http://www.mreclipse.com/Special/image/SEDiagram1c.JPG
http://coromellblogdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/total-solar-eclipse.jpg?w=584

11. So there is a culmination of significant astronomical events in September 2015 with a
total solar eclipse for Rosh Hashana just a few days before the key Day of Atonement
September 23rd, followed a few days after that by a total lunar eclipse for the Feast
Of Tabernacles.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/e_f3JMYISi0/USe2mOwdTKI/AAAAAAAAEMo/9kf7cCMzGEI/s400/TETRAD+of+Blood+Moons+2014-2015.png
Jesus said in
Revelation 3:3 KJV
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.
If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not
know what hour I will come upon thee.
Revelation 3:3 KJV
Watching!
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTFbLxpfqurywB8qQyxCYdQZr2q8syM28PWw4q1rOZDDh4cI1oP
Praying for what?:
The peace of Jerusalem
The lost
Our nation
Our leaders
Our SS and church
Our own family members

12. t2.gstatic.com
“In the Old Testament, there are twenty times as many prophecies about Jesus’
second coming as there are about His first advent. In the 260 chapters of the New
Testament, the second coming is mentioned 380 times. The second coming is truly a
most important topic.” Bob Brasset
t0.gstatic.com
All through the Old Testament the prophets kept saying:
SomeOne is coming!
SomeOne is coming!
There was an expectantcy among the common people when John the Baptist was
preaching the message of repentance.
2,000 years from Adam to Abraham
2,000 years from Abraham to Jesus
2,000 years from Jesus to us!
SomeOne is coming again!

13. http://alivewithjesus.org/graphics/timeline1.jpg
John had baptized Jesus, then Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness.
http://www.jesuspictures.co/jesusbaptism77.jpg
This account in John 1 takes place about six weeks after Jesus had been baptized.
http://mystical.agustinongpinoy.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/baptism-ofjesus_matthew.jpg

14. John 1:35-40 KJV
35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye?
They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest
thou?
39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and
abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon
Peter's brother.
John 1:35-40 KJV
http://b.vimeocdn.com/ts/444/821/444821780_640.jpg
Andrew comes from the Greek word meaning: “manly”.
He was a disciple of John the Baptist and became the first follower of Jesus to be
identified by name.
Hometown:
Bethsaida (house of fish).
Occupation:
fisherman & apostle of Jesus Christ.
Family Tree:
Father – Jonah
Brother - Simon Peter

15. http://www.urantiansojourn.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/ANDREW1-1400x786.jpg
Andrew knew his mission was to point people to the Messiah.
He was always bringing others to Christ.
His interaction with Christ caused him to immediately leave and tell his brother, Peter,
of the Messiah, the Son of God (John 1:35-42).
Key Verses:
John 1:41
41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have
found the Messiah" (the Christ).
John 1:41
Andrew brought a boy with two fish and five barley loaves to Jesus, who multiplied
them to feed 5,000 people (John 6:8-13).
John 6:8-9
8 … Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, 9 "Here is a boy with five small barley
loaves and two small fish…
John 6:8-9
Philip and Andrew brought some Greeks to Jesus who wanted to meet Him (John
12:20-22).
We should bring others to Christ just as Andrew did.
Andrew's strengths:
He hungered for the truth.
He found it, first in John the Baptist, then in Jesus Christ. (The Heavenly Man)
The Apostle Andrew made Jesus the most important thing in his life, and so should we.

16. http://www.ingodsimage.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/AndrewTheSecondFiddleAndFifthWheelApostle1.jpg
Andrew lived in the shadow of his more famous sibling, Simon Peter.
After leading Peter to Christ, he then stepped into the background as his boisterous
brother became a leader among the apostles and in the early church.
Peter and Andrew were part of Jesus' inner group.
However, Peter, James and John were in a closer circle to Jesus than Andrew was.
The Apostle Andrew is mentioned fourth in the list of disciples, indicating he stayed
close to Jesus even though he had accepted a “second fiddle position”.
Accomplishments of the Apostle Andrew:
Andrew continuously brought people to Jesus.
http://www.ellenwhite.info/images/chapt-illus/DA/RHFiveLoavesAndTwoFishes_11.jpg
After Pentecost, Andrew became a missionary like the other apostles and preached
the Gospel.
Andrew went to the "land of the man-eaters," in what is now the Soviet Union.
Christians there claim him as the first to bring the Gospel to their land.
Andrew preached to the Scythians [modern day Georgia in southern Russia] and
Thracians [modern day Bulgaria].

17. Andrew's weakness:
Like the other apostles (except for John), Andrew abandoned Jesus during his trial
and crucifixion.
Andrew’s death:
After being whipped severely by seven soldiers, they tied Andrew’s body to an X-
shaped cross with cords to prolong his agony and crucified him at Patrae (or Edessa),
a town of Achaia [Greece]; and there too he was buried.
Date of martyrdom:
70 A.D.
His followers reported that when he was led toward the cross, Andrew saluted it in
these words: “I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been
consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it.”
He continued to preach to his tormentors for two days until he died.
The X-shaped cross (Crux Decussata) is now called St. Andrews cross.
http://www.livingstreams.org.sg/sac/images/info/history/saclogo.jpg
Andrew went to join Peter with Christ in eternity six years after Peter’s death.
http://0.tqn.com/d/christianity/1/6/A/I/Andrew200x267.jpg

18. What is an apostle?
An apostle was one of Jesus Christ's 12 closest disciples, chosen by Him early in His
ministry to spread the Gospel after His death and resurrection.
In the Bible, they are called Jesus' disciples until the Lord's ascension into heaven,
then they are referred to as apostles.
The word "apostle" comes from apóstólos, formed from the prefix (apó-, “from”) and
root (stéllō, "I send", "I depart") and originally meant "messenger, envoy".
The Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament argues that its Christian use
translated a Jewish position known in Hebrew as the “sheliach” (SCHLEE – ah).
In the synagogue, an important official was the sheliach, meaning
"to be sent."
These sheliach carried the collections taken up in Babylonia and Jewish colonies of
the Roman empire to Jerusalem for the support of the Temple.
Every Jew was obliged to give every year for the expenses incurred by the Temple
and its sacrifices.
http://www.wiki/images/2/20/Solomon's_Temple.jpg
The Temple priests were sent each year apostles from Jerusalem to the different
synagogues of the world to bring greetings from their brethren in Judea, and to
see that the synagogue worship was rightly observed in these distant lands.
Apostolos (Apostle) has a stronger sense than the word messenger, meaning one
who is entrusted with a foreign mission, with the authority of a delegate.
The English translation is, "I am sent to you . . .", or "I have been commissioned to give
you . . ."

19. This ecclesiastical meaning of the word was later translated into Latin as missio, the
source of the English “missionary”.
What happened to the twelve apostles?
1) Judas went and hanged himself.
2) Andrew was crucified in Edessa, Greece.
Andrew
Http://biblenest.com
3) Bartholomew was beaten and then crucified in India.
4) James the Great, older brother of John, was beheaded by Herod in 44 A.D. in
Judea. Acts 12
5) James the Less was beaten, stoned, and then clubbed to death at age 94 in
Jerusalem.
6) Jude, brother of James, was crucified in 72 A.D. in Edessa, Greece.
7) Matthew was killed with a weapon that had a blade and spike in 60 A.D. in
Nadabah.
8) Matthias was stoned and then beheaded in Jerusalem.
10) Peter was crucified head down by his request as unworthy to die in the same
position as his Lord, in Rome.
http://www.lib-art.com/imgpaintingthumb/9/2/t32229-crucifixion-of-peter-lorenzo-veneziano.jpg
11) Philip was scourged, imprisoned, and then crucified in 54 A.D. in Heliopolis,
Phrygia.
12) Simon was crucified in 74 A.D. in Britain.

20. 13) Thomas was thrust through with a spear in India.
http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSwk5BTxunueXqrw-xAkCbTgE-dQQjmBb20jPxkFgyETq8sQk2m
http://www.catholic.org/saints/ff_images/126.jpg
Stephen was stoned to death in 34 A.D. in Jerusalem.
Paul was beheaded with a sword in Rome.
Luke was hanged on an olive tree in Greece.
Mark was dragged to death in Alexandria.
The deaths of the Apostles increase the certainty level of the historicity of the
resurrection to a level that is beyond excuse for disbelief.
People do not die for their own lies, half-truths, or fabrications.
Since the Apostles died proclaiming to have seen Christ dead then alive again and
ascend into heaven, Christ is Who He said He was, God incarnate Who came to take
away the sins of the world.
Why does God allow these things to happen?

21. Hebrews 11
Group A
Group B
Hebrews 11:1, 4-6 KJV
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice (behold, the Lamb of
God) than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying
of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found,
because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that
he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must
believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:1, 4-6 KJV
Group A
Hebrews 11:33-40 KJV
33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises,
stopped the mouths of lions.
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness
were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again:
Group B
and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better
resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds
and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the
sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted,
tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains,
and in dens and caves of the earth.

22. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the
promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be
made perfect.
Hebrews 11:33-40 KJV
John 15:18-27 KJV
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the
world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If
they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying,
they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know
not him that sent me.
22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have
no cloak for their sin.
23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not
had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law,
They hated me without a cause.
26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even
the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the
beginning.
John 15:18-27 KJV
When you suffer, you are being groomed for future rulership!
2,000 years - Adam to Abraham
2,000 years - Abraham to Jesus
2,000 years - Jesus to us
1,000 years reign on earth
7,000 years total

23. http://greatwhitethrone.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/timeline-1.png
Why a Millennium?
Does Jesus really need to return to earth to reign?
By Dr. David R. Reagan
"What purpose does the Millennium serve?"
The Word clearly teaches that the Lord is coming back to this earth to reign for a
thousand years.
But, "Why?"
Why would the Lord want to come back to this rotten world?
What could possibly be His purpose in returning to this world to reign for a thousand
years?
Why does the Lord or the world need a Millennium?
God has several vitally important purposes for the Millennium.
Promises to the Jews
The first reason there must be a Millennium is that God has made promises to the Jews
which He will fulfill during that time.
God has promised that He will gather to the land of Israel the remnant of Jews who
accept Jesus as their Messiah at the end of the Tribulation (Ezekiel 36:22-
28 and Zechariah 10:6-9).
He will pour out His Spirit upon this remnant (Isaiah 32:15; 44:3), greatly expand their
numbers and their land (Ezekiel 36:10-11; 48:1-29), and make them the prime nation in
all the world (Isaiah 60-62).
They will serve as an object lesson of the grace and mercy which God bestows upon
those who turn to Him in repentance: "And it will come about that just as you were a
curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you that
you may become a blessing" (Zechariah 8:13).

24. Zechariah says the blessings of God upon the Jewish remnant will be so great in those
days that "ten men from all the nations will grasp the garment of a Jew saying, 'Let us
go with you, for we have heard that God is with you'" (Zechariah 8:23).
Promises to the Church
A second reason for the Millennium relates to a promise which God has made to the
Church.
God has promised that the Redeemed in Christ will reign over all the nations of the
world.
This promise was given through the prophet Daniel in the following words: "Then the
sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole
heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will
be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him" (Daniel
7:27).
In the New Testament, Paul repeated the same promise in the simplest of terms:
"If we endure, we shall also reign with Him" (2 Timothy 2:12).
Jesus affirmed the promise in His letter to the church at Thyatira when He wrote:
"And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give
authority over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron...“(Revelation 2:26-
27).
When John was taken to Heaven for a visit to the throne room of God, he heard a
heavenly host singing a song that contained the following verse: "And Thou has
made them [the Redeemed] to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will
reign upon the earth" (Revelation 5:10).
This promise to the Church of worldwide dominion is going to be fulfilled during the
Millennium.
That is what Jesus was referring to in the Sermon on the Mount when He said,
"Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5).
Jesus will reign as king of the world from Mt. Zion in Jerusalem (Isaiah
24:23 and Zechariah 14:9).
The Redeemed, in their glorified bodies, will help Him with His reign by serving
worldwide as administrators, judges, and spiritual tutors to those who enter the
kingdom in the flesh — and to their children (Daniel 7:18,27; Jeremiah 3:15; Luke 19:11-
17).

25. Promises to the Nations
God has promised that a time will come when the nations will be provided with their
greatest dream — namely, worldwide peace.
This has been an international dream since the beginning of time, but it has proved to
be impossibly elusive.
Peace conference after peace conference has been held.
Multiple treaties have been signed.
World organizations have been formed.
Yet, war continues to ravage the nations.
God has promised to give Mankind and the earth a rest from its wars.
But that peace will not come until the Prince of Peace returns.
Only then will the nations "hammer their swords into plowshares, and their spears into
pruning hooks."
Only then will we realize the dream of a world where "nation will not lift up sword
against nation, and never again will they learn war" (Isaiah 2:4).
God has promised that He will flood the earth with peace, righteousness, justice, and
holiness: "The earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the
sea"(Isaiah 11:9).
Even the bells on the horses bridles and the pots in the kitchens will bear the
inscription "Holy to the Lord" (Zechariah 14:20, 21).
These glorious promises of peace and rest and righteousness will be fulfilled during the
Millennium.
Promises to the Creation
God has also made promises to His creation which He will fulfill during the Millennium.
God has promised to remove the curse which He placed upon the creation due to
the sin of Man.
He has promised to deliver the Creation from its bondage to decay and to restore it
to its original beauty, balance, and peace (Romans 8:18-23).
The carnivorous animals will become herbivorous (Isaiah 11:6).

26. The deadly animals will cease to be poisonous (Isaiah 11:8-9).
The plant kingdom will flourish and produce bountifully (Isaiah 35 and Ezekiel 34:25-
31).
The land of Israel will be so radically transformed that visitors will proclaim in
amazement: "This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden" (Ezekiel 36:35).
Promises to Jesus
The most important reason for the Millennium is that God is going to use it to fulfill
promises which He has made to His Son.
God has promised Jesus that He will be glorified in history to compensate in part for
His humiliation in history.
The Bible says point blank that Jesus will return to manifest His glory (Isaiah 24:23; 66:18-
19; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10).
God also has promised that He will give Jesus dominion over all the world and that He
will reign over the nations from Mt. Zion in Jerusalem (Daniel 7:13-14; Isaiah 2:2-4;
Zechariah 14:1-9).
Psalm 2 presents a good summary of these promises.
It begins by surveying the rebellion of the world's political leaders against God and His
Son, referred to in the passage as "His Anointed" (verses 1-2).
It describes their contempt for the Lord (verse 3).
But the psalm says that God sits in the heavens and laughs and scoffs at them
because He has appointed a day of reckoning when He will "terrify them in His fury"
(verse 5).
That will be the day when He installs Jesus as "King upon Zion" (verse 6).
Jesus then speaks and tells of the promise that His Father has made to Him: "I will
surely tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, 'Thou art My Son, today I have
begotten Thee. Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Thine inheritance, and
the very ends of the earth as Thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of
iron...'" (Psalm 2:7-9).
It must be kept in mind that Jesus is currently a “King-in-waiting."
Like King David, who had to wait many years after he was anointed before he
became king of Israel, Jesus has been anointed King of kings and Lord and lords, but
He has not yet begun to rule.

27. He is currently serving as our High Priest before the throne of God (Hebrews 8:1).
He is waiting for His Father's command to return and claim all the kingdoms of this
world (Hebrews 2:5-9 and Revelation 19:11-16).
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