How to Hope: Lessons from the Israelites and Their Messianic Expectation, Part 65 (Second Coming Chapel Sermon #280 with Daniel Whyte III)

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How to Hope: Lessons from the Israelites and Their Messianic Expectation, Part 64 (Second Coming Chapel Sermon #279)

TEXT: Micah 4:1-5

1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.

2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, 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 the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it.

5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.

G. Campbell Morgan said, “To me the second coming is the perpetual light on the path which makes the present bearable.”

The Bible Knowledge Commentary says, “The words in the last days denote the time when God will bring to consummation all the events in history. Usually “the last days” refers to the Tribulation and the Millennium (in the OT the word “kingdom” often referred to the Millennium). Micah did not state when “the last days” will occur, for Israel was supposed to be looking all the time for the consummation of the ages. The mountain of the Lord‘s temple—Mount Zion where the millennial temple will be built—will become chief among the mountains. That is, the temple site will be the center of the millennial government, the place where Christ will rule. The religious and political systems will be closely related. From Moses’ day, Israel’s government was totally intertwined with her religious system. The king was anointed by God to govern the nation, and the priest was anointed to carry out the functions of worship. Also in the Millennium, Israel’s political-religious system, directed by the Messiah-King, will be predominant in the world. It will be raised above the hills. God’s plan to bless the world through Israel was not nullified by her sin. Eventually Israel will be prominent above all other nations. In the Millennium people everywhere will realize the unique place Israel occupies in God’s plans. No longer thinking of her as a small, insignificant nation, they will be attracted to her. In fact many peoples will travel to Jerusalem and her temple. “The verb stream may be a conscious play on the streams said to issue from the holy mount to water the earth; a reverse flow of people begins toward the center.”
The mountain of the Lord and the house of God both refer to the temple complex. People from many nations will go to Jerusalem to be taught His ways so that they may walk in His paths. In the kingdom saved Gentiles will want to learn the ways of the Lord, whereas ironically Israel was not interested in obeying the Lord. What a rebuke this was to Micah’s contemporaries. This fact is closely related to the former one. Law will be given in Zion, and God’s Word (revelation about Him and His standards) will be communicated. Since God will be the Ruler, it is natural that His Word should come from His place of rule. ///////
Many peoples and even strong nations will bring their disputes to the Lord. They will submit to God’s judgment, realizing that He will decide what and who is right. Micah’s readers were chafing under the Word of God, not wanting to be told by Him or by His prophet that they were wrong. By contrast eventually the whole world will submit willingly to God’s Word and His decisions. Implements of warfare (swords and spears) will be changed into tools of agriculture (plowshares and pruning hooks). Neither will there be a need to train people for warfare because the nations will be at peace. The Millennium is the kind of world people long for, a time when the earth’s resources can be used for good instead of destruction. Justice and righteousness will be rewarded rather than scorned.
Each person sitting under his own vine and his own fig tree depicts security. No one will fear losing his security, for the Lord Almighty has declared that they will be secure. In Micah’s day Israel’s leaders were forecasting peace for those who could pay the price but the only way to peace and security is to submit to God in trust.”

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Now, if you are not a believer in Jesus Christ, I urge you to trust in Him because He is coming again and you do not want to be left behind. Here is how you can place your faith and trust in Him for Salvation from sin and the consequences of sin.

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now that is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.

Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.

If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved from Hell and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! Congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door.” Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.

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Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.

He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.

He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.