Marcus Walker Van Every

Yahweh vs. the “gods” — {Round 2}

February 21, 2020April 25, 2022Marcus Walker Van Every1 Comment

“They provoked His jealousy with foreign gods; they enraged Him with abominations. They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to gods they had not known, to newly arrived gods, which your fathers did not fear.”
Deuteronomy 32:16-17

In my last post, I laid down groundwork concerning the real nature of the “gods” of the Old Testament. When the LORD forbade the children of Israel to worship other gods, He was not protecting them from imaginary beings or man-made idols. The One True God [Elohim] — Yahweh — was reminding Israel of His exclusive and unique status as King and Creator of the universe, while at the same time warning His people of the dangers of turning away from Him to worship and serve the lesser gods [elohim] of the nations. Nothing is more grievous to the LORD than when His people commit spiritual apostasy.

But if these “gods” are real, spiritual entities who have declared war against Yahweh and desire to be worshiped above Yahweh, then who are they and from where did they come?

The Origin of the gods

“When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God.”
Deuteronomy 32:8

There exists only One True God and Creator of the universe — the Most High — who has no beginning and no end. He is the LORD — Yahweh — and He has revealed Himself to mankind in the Person of Jesus Christ — God the Son — who created all things in heaven and on earth, both visible or invisible, whether “thrones, dominions, rulers or authorities” [Colossians 1:16].

These ancient, cosmic “rulers,” or divine princes, were created by Yahweh as part of what the Bible calls the heavenly host. In their original state, these were the spiritual “sons of God” who were created to worship and serve Yahweh and tasked with executing His will in heaven [see Job 2:1, 38:4-7, Psalm 29:1, 89:5-8].

The origin of the “gods,” therefore, is the God of gods — Yahweh — the Creator. For He created the heavenly host.

“You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.”
Nehemiah 9:6

Although there are myriads of these spiritual sons of God who have remained loyal to Yahweh and continue to serve Him, the Bible reveals that a considerable number of the “heavenly host” made a willing choice to rebel, committing high treason in heaven, and declaring themselves enemies of the Most High. Without going into detail, I am of the persuasion that at least three divine rebellions can be accounted for in Scriptures, including the Serpent in Genesis 3, the sons of God in Genesis 6, and a subsequent defection at the tower of Babel [Genesis 10-11, Deuteronomy 32:8-9].

For this post, I will focus on the Babel incident as being the primary point of origin for the “gods” of the nations.

The Host of Heaven

God’s judgment of the nations at Babel is often overlooked, but it is critical to understanding the Old Testament theme of Yahweh verses the gods. What we discover in Deuteronomy 32:8-9 is that when the LORD confused the languages of mankind and created the boundaries of the nations on earth, He also gave the nations their “inheritance.”

What was their inheritance? The nations were divided up according to the number of the sons of God and handed over to their power and authority. In other words, the nations got what they had sought after and asked for at Babel — other gods. In judgment, the Most High disinherited the nations and gave them over to these gods.

These divine princes were seditious and proved to be disloyal to Yahweh — traitors to the throne, and therefore they assumed the role as territorial spirits — the evil principalities and powers behind the deception and oppression of the nations [Ephesians 6:12].

The tower of Babel was never an attempt to build a skyscraper into outer space, but rather it was an ancient temple complex that was astronomically aligned to summon the “gods” to come down from heaven and inhabit and energize that dedicated space. This is why Babel was the epitome of idolatry and pure blasphemy. It was man’s attempt to worship and serve other gods and create a counter kingdom on earth.

Along with human sacrifice, astrology was one of the universal characteristics of every single pagan nation that emerged after the tower of Babel. There has always been a connection with pagan idolatry and astrology — which included the worship of the celestial gods represented by the sun, moon, and stars and also the practice of divination through interpreting the signs in the heavens.

All ancient cultures — from Egypt, Babylon, India, Scandinavia, to the native tribes of the Americas — were steeped in astrology and the worship of the heavenly host. This is why the LORD strictly forbade His people to participate in astrology and divination. God doesn’t prohibit these practices because they are harmless but because they are so real and dangerous.

“And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the LORD your God has allotted to all the nations under the whole heaven.”
Deuteronomy 4:19

“If there is found among you, within any of your towns that the LORD your God is giving you, a man or woman who does what is evil in the sight of the LORD your God, in transgressing his covenant, and has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun or the moon or any of the host of heaven, which I have forbidden, and it is told you and you hear of it, then you shall inquire diligently, and if it is true and certain that such an abomination has been done in Israel, then you shall bring out to your gates that man or woman who has done this evil thing, and you shall stone that man or woman to death with stones.”
Deuteronomy 17:2-5

What about Idols?

One of the most common objections to the existence of other gods is the argument that the Bible regards them as mere idols — graven images of wood, stone, or metal crafted by men. The prophets of Israel would often ridicule the nations for bowing down to such idols made with human hands and at the same time condemn the children of Israel for doing the same. Consider Isaiah’s words.

Also he makes a god and worships it; he makes it an idol and falls down before it. Half of it he burns in the fire. Over the half he eats meat; he roasts it and is satisfied. Also he warms himself and says, “Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire!” And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!”
Isaiah 44:15-17

Moses also drew some correlation between idols and the “gods” of the nations.

“And the LORD will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known.”
Deuteronomy 28:64

So do these passages prove that the “gods” of the Old Testament were merely idols?

The short answer is a resounding NO, but to shed some perspective it is imperative that we have an accurate understanding about how the ancients themselves would have associated graven images and the spirits that were believed to inhabit them.

As we have seen, the Scriptures draw a clear distinction between the physical idols and the gods that they represented. This doesn’t mean that some ancient pagans still could have ignorantly assigned some divine status to the idols and identified the graven images with the “gods” themselves. Much like Catholic relics during the Dark Ages were given divine status to some degree by ignorant Christians who wished to “see and touch” an object that had some supernatural power, pagan ritual worship was often reduced to the graven image available at the time.

Hebrew scholar and author Michael Heiser speaks to this ancient phenomenon in his book, The Unseen Realm.

“Ancient people did not believe that their gods were actually images stone or wood … What ancient idol worshippers believed was that the objects they made were inhabited by their gods. This is why they performed ceremonies to ‘open the mouth’ of the statue. The mouth (and nostrils) had to be ritually opened for the spirit of the deity to move in and occupy, a notion inspired by the idea that one needs to breathe to live. The idol had to be animated with the very real spiritual presence of the deity. Once that was done, the entity was localized for worship and bargaining.”
Michael Heiser, Unseen Realm, p. 35-36.

The Apostle Paul reinforces this ancient understanding of idolatry in his letter to the church in Corinth, which was immersed in the Greek culture of pagan idolatry. Although the idols in and of themselves were mere inanimate objects, the demonic powers behind them were all too real.

Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
1 Corinthians 8:4-6

“What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?“
1 Corinthians 10:19-22

Clearly Paul regarded pagan idolatry as communion with real. spiritual entities, he called demons. These same demons are the heathen gods of the nations and are a real threat to mankind.

Next time I will begin identifying many of the specific gods of the Old Testament and suggest that they are still at work today, misleading millions of unsuspecting people down the wide path of death and destruction.

Yahweh vs. the “gods” — {Round 1}

February 19, 2020April 25, 2022Marcus Walker Van Every3 Comments

“You shall have no other gods before me.”
Exodus 20:3

I studied the Bible intently for many years, completed a seminary degree, sat under excellent teaching, planted a church, and preached hundreds of sermons before I ever learned the true identity of the “gods” of the Old Testament. Looking back, especially knowing now what I didn’t know then, it baffles me that the church overwhelmingly has misinterpreted and ignored one of the most significant themes in all of Scripture.

Yahweh vs. the “gods” of the nations

Like me, the majority of Christians reading through the Old Testament almost certainly have never been taught how to interpret the real nature of the “gods” through Biblical lenses. Unfortunately, whenever the term “gods” — Hebrew elohim — is mentioned in Scripture, our minds have been preconditioned to automatically categorize them one of two ways.

The false gods of the nations aren’t real, spiritual beings, but rather figments of the human imagination.
The gods of the Old Testament are just man-made idols of wood, stone, or metal, and therefore no real threat to God and His people.

If this is what you have always believed about these “gods,” then I only ask you to keep an open mind and consider what the Bible really says on this critical topic.

The LORD is One

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.”
Deuteronomy 6:4

Monotheism — or the worship of One God — is foundational to the Judeo-Christian worldview. Belief in the One True God is essential to our faith and is one of the core doctrines that must never be compromised.

The unique nature of Yahweh — the LORD GOD — becomes even more clearly expressed when compared and contrasted against the backdrop of pagan idolatry and historical polytheism — or the belief and worship of many gods. Whereas the pagan nations traditionally have worshiped a pantheon of other gods, the God of the Bible has distinguished Himself as both Creator and Lord over all in heaven and earth. As the One True God, Yahweh expects total allegiance and exclusive worship.

How should we understand monotheism in light of this reality, however?

When we affirm that there is only One God and Creator of the universe, does that mean that we must automatically eliminate the possibility of the existence of other “gods,” or can we interpret monotheism in a different way? In other words, is the existence of Yahweh — the Most High God – mutually exclusive with other gods?

“To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides him … know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.”
Deuteronomy 4:35, 39

For example, when the Bible speaks of Yahweh in terms of being the “only” God, or that there is “no other” god besides Him, are we supposed to interpret such terms in a strict sense, meaning that Yahweh is all by Himself in the heavens? Or should we understand such phrases through the lenses of comparative language?

Strict monotheism doesn’t allow for the existence of other gods because doing so might in some way degrade or trivialize the unique and exclusive nature of the God of the Bible. What I have discovered, however, is that Biblical monotheism is not strict in that sense. Not only does the Bible allow for the existence of other “gods,” but also the Biblical narrative becomes incoherent unless the gods of the nations are indeed real, spiritual entities.

You Shall Have No Other gods

When it comes to Scripture, it doesn’t get more basic than the 10 Commandments. Interestingly enough, the LORD’s very first commandment to His people was the strict prohibition against serving and worshiping other “gods,” or elohim. By placing this commandment at the top of the list, the God of Israel clearly established precedent and priority in regard to His relationship with His people. He expected believing loyalty and total fidelity from the children of Israel. Nothing less.

Now notice a few critical components about this commandment. First, the LORD refers to “gods,” not idols. Granted, there is a Biblical connection between graven images and the gods of the Old Testament [i.e. the 2nd Commandment], and I will spend considerable time on the relationship between the two later, but for now, I believe it is imperative that we take the commandments one at a time.

Again, the Hebrew word used here is elohim, which is significant because elohim always refers to real, spiritual beings. Even Yahweh Himself is called God — Elohim — well over 2,000 times in the Old Testament. Yahweh is a spirit, an Elohim, and there are many other elohim in the spirit realm. However, no other elohim is Yahweh. He is unique.

Consider the following Scriptures that contrast Yahweh with lesser gods.

“For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.”
Deuteronomy 10:17

“For You, O LORD, are Most High over all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods.”
Psalm 97:9

Now I would like to ask a critical question at this time.

If the First Commandment is to be taken seriously, why would the LORD GOD of Israel strictly forbid the worship of other gods if they didn’t exist? Why would other gods even be considered a legitimate alternative to Yahweh if they were merely figments of the imagination? Why would the LORD place such high priority on warning Israel about turning to other gods if they weren’t real?

I think we know the answer. It is absurd to think that the LORD would place so much emphasis on beings that don’t exist!

The truth is that these other “gods” indeed are real and pose a legitimate threat both to the purposes and people of God. These gods are responsible for leading the nations into generational idolatry and spiritual depravity of the worst kind and continue to manipulate millions to this day. This is why the cosmic mission of Jesus is so inextricably bound to His earthy mission. Christ came to redeem for Himself a people for His own possession from every “nation,” which means saving them from grasp of the gods!

As we will see next time, the Biblical story of redemption cannot be told without an accurate view of this epic battle between Yahweh and the gods of the nations, and the deeper we dig into the Scriptures, the more we will discover about the true identity of these hostile gods who continue to wage war against the Most High.

Exposing the Chemical Conspiracy

February 18, 2020Marcus Walker Van Every1 Comment

I’m breaking away from my normal prophetic mode to do something I rarely do — share a personal observation.

The genesis for this post was born one morning in the shower — where all great ideas seem to emerge!

As I was washing my hair with cheap shampoo — labeled with some notion of being 100% natural — I decided to flip the bottle over and read the ingredients on the back. Needless to say, the fine print disclosed what I already knew in my heart.

There was nothing “natural” about the product I was using on my hair — only a long list chemical concoctions and artificial ingredients that I couldn’t even pronounce, much less identify.

And that’s when it hit me … we are being systematically poisoned by chemicals.

Just think about it. Consider how many chemicals we are putting in or on our body throughout the course of each day. If you have never considered this before, allow me to put it into perspective. The average person will be exposed to countless chemicals every day. Let us count the ways.

Brush my teeth with chemically ridden toothpaste (fluoride etc…) which seeps into my gums, followed by gargling more chemicals in the mouthwash. Don’t forget, I’m using the city water supply as well, which contains … you guessed it — more fluoride, chlorine, pesticides and fertilizers.

Take a hot shower with that same chemically charged water supply, which again penetrates the skin, seeping into our body. Lather up with chemically composed soap and shampoo that compounds the chemical release into the body. So most of us have already had a heavy dose of these harmful substances before 7 am.

Put on lotions or perfumes, body sprays and deodorants, which contain aluminum and other chemicals that also penetrate the skin and enter the blood stream.

Ladies are putting on tons of makeup and concealers etc… that are also composed of chemical compounds.

Shave with more chemicals in my name-brand shaving cream plus more contaminated water. Maybe slap on an aftershave chemical splash to boot.

Get dressed with clothes that have been washed in chemically charged laundry detergent and whatever chemical fabric softeners we use.

Although I try to be conscious about my diet and try to avoid processed and packaged foods, the average person will likely eat some form of highly processed, sugar-laden snack for breakfast (more chemicals) and wash it down with something along the lines of a Diet Mountain Dew, which contains one of the most harmful substances known to man – aspartame. Any cooking we may do, if not using a water filter, will be done with the same city water supply, releasing more chemicals into your food.

Many cooking utensils and pots and pans release more harmful metals into our food and surely everyone has to admit that the traditional microwave meal in plastic containers cannot be good for us as it melts around our food.

Plus, we just washed our dishes in detergent full of … yep more chemicals.

Beyond that, even most of our fresh fruits and vegetables have been sprayed with harmful pesticides and other chemicals to preserve color or accelerate ripening. Not to mention the genetically modified foods we eat that have been infused with pest-resistant chemicals, such as the notorious RoundUp. It’s impossible to know what we are consuming if we don’t grow it ourselves.

Most Americans are taking some form of medication, which may or may not be legitimate to treat our medical “conditions.” Big pharmaceutical companies are making billions of dollars each year on keeping us just sick enough to remain dependent on their drugs. Big Pharma has become specialized in treating symptoms as opposed to providing any real cures. And the question remains. Do we really know what we are putting into our bodies with these medications and how they affect us?

Don’t forget to wipe down the counters with chemical cleaners before you go!

Grab a bottled water for good conscience when you head out the door. Well, most bottled waters are nothing more than municipal tap water, and even spring water in a plastic bottle will be contaminated with traces of plastic.

Pop a piece of gum into your mouth before arriving to the office and digest even more artificial ingredients.

By lunch time it’s time to eat more processed food, or worse, fast-food, which is notorious for using artificial ingredients, margarine, hormones, dies, food coloring, high fructose corn syrup, and other harmful ingredients like monosodium glutamate etc… Wash it down with more soda, adding to the poison intake for the day.

It’s flu season, so like a good citizen we head down to the clinic to grab a flu shot, not knowing that the vaccination solutions contain heavy metals and other harmful chemicals that contribute to the contamination of our bodies.

Wash you hands with chemical soap throughout the day.

Consume more chemically laden food and beverages throughout the day that have little to no nutritional value.
How about cell-phone radiation and other radiation we are constantly being bombarded with in this digital world. Studies have shown for years that cellular radiation is linked to cancer and lowered testosterone in men.

And notice that I haven’t even begun to mention the amount of contaminates we are inhaling through the air, whether purposefully or not. Smoking cigarettes and vaping chemicals are obviously the most dangerous forms of poison intake, but add to it the reality of chemical trails and other pollutants being released into the air, and it become clear that we rarely are breathing clean air.

Germany, Hesse, Frankfurt, near Frankfurt International Airpor

Now before you classify me as a radical environmentalist or fringe conspiracy theorist, just stop and ask yourself, “is this a reasonable assessment of what we put in and on our bodies on a daily basis?” I think it is self-evident that chemicals are ubiquitous in the products we use everyday, and we all are being adversely affected by them.

This is not an exaggeration of the facts. If anything it could be an underestimation!

I do not have to align myself with the radical environmental lobby and climate change militia in order to exercise enough common sense to know that we are being systematically poisoned by chemicals.

We know that our society is plagued by auto immune diseases, chronic fatigue, low testosterone and sperm counts among men, ADHD, autism, mental fogginess, short-term memory loss, obesity, diabetes, and CANCER. It seems everywhere we turn we are growing sicker as a society.

It is not a stretch to draw some connection between the impurities and chemicals that we are putting in our bodies and this enormous explosion of sickness in our world today.

If you are like me, then maybe it is time we truly begin making necessary changes to our diets and hygiene that will eliminate the chemicals from our bodies so that we can actually feel what it is like to be healthy again.

There are many good websites out there that can help you get started on the road to healthy, chemical-free living. Here is one example — Young Living.

The Year of the Locust

February 14, 2020April 22, 2022Marcus Walker Van Every1 Comment

“What the devouring locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust has left, the young locust has eaten; and what the young locust has left, What the devouring locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust has left, the young locust has eaten; and what the young locust has left, the destroying locust has eaten.”
[Joel 1:4]

The locust is a rather non-threatening insect, much like the grasshoppers I used to chase as a young boy. But when hundreds of millions of hungry locusts swarm together, they become a ominous force of devastation to millions.

Recent news reports coming out of Africa and the Middle East are bringing attention to some of the most threatening locust plagues in recent memory. Although these locust swarms historically emerge in regular cycles, the most recent locust plagues have caused greater concern, as authorities in these regions believe the plagues “of Biblical proportions” may only get worse.

Of course, the greatest concern is how the locusts will affect the crops in these regions, potentially causing food shortages and famines for millions.

Some predict the insect population to boom by a factor of 500 by June. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN is calling the situation in the Horn of Africa “extremely alarming,” and estimates that a swarm covering one square kilometer can eat as much food in a day as 35,000 humans.

The desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) is notorious. Found in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, they inhabit some 60 countries and can cover one-fifth of Earth’s land surface. Desert locust plagues may threaten the economic livelihood of one-tenth of the world’s humans.

A desert locust swarm can be 460 square miles in size and pack between 40 and 80 million locusts into less than half a square mile.

Is this just another regular cycle of locust swarms — business as usual — or should we pay closer attention to these signs from a prophetic perspective?

Famines and Pestilences

“There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.”
[Luke 21:11]

Jesus warned us that the beginning of the birth pains would include signs of increased turmoil throughout the world, such as revolutions and wars, earthquakes, pestilences and famines. Sure, humanity has dealt with these things for thousands of years, so what’s unique about our day? What most people seem to miss is that Jesus implies that in the last days, we will have the ability to receive reports about such phenomena from all around the world — i.e. diverse places. Only in the past 100 years have we had the capacity to communicate around the world, and only in the past 25 years of mobile technology have we had instant access to such reports at our fingertips.

The recent Coronavirus outbreak in China, for example, has at least raised awareness and provided some context to how potentially dangerous a pandemic could be. Although it has been difficult to discern how severe this outbreak truly is, we must at least be paying attention to how the world health organizations are responding.

The recent locust plagues are no different. For the vulnerable economies in the Middle East and Africa, severe crop damage could create famines of epic proportions. Only time will tell how bad it will be.

Locusts in the Bible

Locusts are often associated with judgment in the Bible. The first mention of a locust plague is found in the Exodus account, as the LORD brought judgment upon Pharaoh for his obstinance. At least this plague was unique in that the LORD promised it would never be equalled again.

“So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and throughout that day and night the LORD sent an east wind across the land. By morning the east wind had brought the locusts. The locusts swarmed across the land and settled over the entire territory of Egypt. Never before had there been so many locusts, and never again will there be. They covered the face of all the land until it was black, and they consumed all the plants on the ground and all the fruit on the trees that the hail had left behind. Nothing green was left on any tree or plant in all the land of Egypt.”
[Exodus 10:13-15]

The LORD later warned the children Israel before entering the Promised Land that if they refused to keep His commandments and turned to worship other gods, He would bring judgment upon them as well.

“You shall carry much seed into the field and shall gather in little, for the locust shall consume it.”
[Deuteronomy 28:38]

Finally the prophet Joel describes an army of locusts associated with the last days and the Day of the LORD. Upon closer inspection, I am of the persuasion that Joel was describing a supernatural army of invaders in the last days that will swarm upon the mountains of Israel like locusts, devouring everything in its path.

“For a nation has come up against my land,
powerful and beyond number;
its teeth are lions’ teeth,
and it has the fangs of a lioness.
It has laid waste my vine
and splintered my fig tree;
it has stripped off their bark and thrown it down;
their branches are made white.”
[Joel 1:6-7]

Joel’s vision of this supernatural army is one of “darkness and gloom, a day of thick darkness and clouds,” which is typical of a locust swarm. Consider some of the details provided.

“Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains
a great and powerful people;
their like has never been before,
nor will be again after them
through the years of all generations.
Fire devours before them,
and behind them a flame burns.
The land is like the garden of Eden before them,
but behind them a desolate wilderness,
and nothing escapes them.
Their appearance is like the appearance of horses,
and like war horses they run.
As with the rumbling of chariots,
they leap on the tops of the mountains,
like the crackling of a flame of fire
devouring the stubble,
like a powerful army
drawn up for battle.”
[Joel 2:2-5]

Interestingly enough, the book of Revelation provides even more context to this end-times army, confirming that it will be much more than a swarm of insects. Joel’s locust army is one that will emerge from the pits of hell in the last days to plague the people who have pledged their allegiance to the Beast. As you will see, John’s vision is drawing directly from Joel’s vision.

I will leave you with John’s vision in Revelation 9, which speaks for itself.

“And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. 2He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft.3Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth. 4They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. 6And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them. 7In appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle: on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces, 8their hair like women’s hair, and their teeth like lions’ teeth; 9they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle. 10They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails. 11They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.”
[Revelation 9:1-11]

The Day of the LORD — The Kingdom of 1,000 Years

February 12, 2020April 22, 2022Marcus Walker Van Every1 Comment

“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”
[2 Peter 3:8]

Considering that I have spent a substantial amount of time on the Day of the LORD, my aim is to bring this series to its conclusion, so here goes.

As a firm believer in Biblical creation and a “young” earth model of Biblical history, it is important to begin by demonstrating how the Day of the LORD will be the final 1,000 years — or 1 Day — of redemptive history before God creates a new heaven and new earth. This of course has become known as the Millennial Kingdom of Christ, which I believe to be a literal 1,000 years of Christ’s reign on earth.

Peter provides a keen insight into the Day of the LORD by reminding us that “with the Lord” one day is as a thousand years, and a thousands years as one day. Obviously the Millennial Kingdom will be that unique Day on earth when we will dwell WITH THE LORD and He will dwell with us!

In summary, I believe that there has been approximately 6,000 years of human history, although our imperfect dating methods must allow for some general latitude on the exactness of this date [+ or – 200 years or so]. All I know is that according to the Biblical record and the genealogies provided in Scripture, we are approaching the completion of 6,000 years — or 6 Days — of human history, which can only mean one thing.

The imminent return of the Lord Jesus is at hand. Once Jesus returns on THAT DAY, it will inaugurate the beginning the final 1,000 years — the 7th Day of rest — for all of God’s people. Here is a simple visual that may help provide some perspective. [Note — the “rapture and second coming are simultaneous events — not separate]

By establishing the original creation week, the LORD was giving us a prophetic pattern of history in the first book of the Bible. The Sabbath Day rest on the 7th Day has always been a picture of the final Day — or 1,000 years — when God returns to earth to give rest to His people! What a day of rejoicing that will be!

So if we are dealing with a literal Kingdom of 1,000 years, what will the Day of the LORD really be like? I will try to hit the high points here.

The Tribute of the Nations

One of the first recurring themes I see in the Scripture describes how the surviving nations will bring tribute and offerings to the LORD in Zion, honoring Him as the King of kings. There are many passages that depict this during the Millennium, but I will only provide a few here.

“At that time tribute will be brought to the LORD of hosts
from a people tall and smooth,
from a people feared near and far,
a nation mighty and conquering,
whose land the rivers divide,
to Mount Zion, the place of the name of the LORD of hosts.”
[Isaiah 18:7]

“Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings shall bear gifts to you.”
[Psalm 68:29]

Isaiah 60 perhaps provides one of the most detailed accounts of the nations paying tribute to King Jesus.

“And nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising
Lift up your eyes all around, and see;
they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from afar,
and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.
5Then you shall see and be radiant;
your heart shall thrill and exult,
because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
6A multitude of camels shall cover you,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
all those from Sheba shall come.
They shall bring gold and frankincense,
and shall bring good news, the praises of the LORD.
7All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you;
the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you;
they shall come up with acceptance on my altar,
and I will beautify my beautiful house.
Who are these that fly like a cloud,
and like doves to their windows?
9For the coastlands shall hope for me,
the ships of Tarshish first,
to bring your children from afar,
their silver and gold with them,
for the name of the LORD your God,
and for the Holy One of Israel,
because he has made you beautiful.
Foreigners shall build up your walls,
and their kings shall minister to you;
for in my wrath I struck you,
but in my favor I have had mercy on you.
11Your gates shall be open continually;
day and night they shall not be shut,
that people may bring to you the wealth of the nations,
with their kings led in procession.
12For the nation and kingdom
that will not serve you shall perish;
those nations shall be utterly laid waste.
13The glory of Lebanon shall come to you,
the cypress, the plane, and the pine,
to beautify the place of my sanctuary,
and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
14The sons of those who afflicted you
shall come bending low to you,
and all who despised you
shall bow down at your feet;
they shall call you the City of the LORD,
the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.”
[Isaiah 60:3-14]

The Universal Worship of Yahweh

Along with tribute and offerings from the nations, the Bible also describes that Day as a time when all the nations of the earth migrate to Israel to worship the LORD of lords in all His glory.

“Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths.”
[Zechariah 14:16]

“For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the LORD, so shall your offspring and your name remain. From new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me, declares the LORD.”
[Isaiah 66:22-23]

The Scriptures also describe a unique highway from Egypt to Assyria in that Day that will allow the nations to caravan to Zion to worship the LORD.

“In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and Assyria will come into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance.”
[Isaiah 19:23-25]

The Law Will Go Forth from Zion

As the King of the Universe reigns from His throne, the law of the LORD will be the law of the whole earth and justice will prevail in God’s Kingdom. All who forsake God’s law will be punished, but all who obey will enjoy God’s favor and blessing forevermore. Jesus will rule “on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore” [Isaiah 9:7].

It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, and many nations shall 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 his ways and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
[Micah 4:1-3]

Satanic Influence will be Removed

The Millennial Kingdom will be free from the presence and power of the evil one — the devil — as the earth will enjoy a Day of victory over our enemies.

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.”
[Revelation 20:1-3]

Peace and Prosperity for the Earth

The coming Kingdom of God will be a time of peace from war and the overall longevity of life. Beyond that, all of nature will be in harmony. I believe this will include no more catastrophic storms or earthquakes. No more brutal famines or harsh winters. It will be paradise on earth again.

“For behold, I create new heavens
and a new earth,
and the former things shall not be remembered
or come into mind.
18But be glad and rejoice forever
in that which I create;
for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,
and her people to be a gladness.
19I will rejoice in Jerusalem
and be glad in my people;
no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping
and the cry of distress.
20No more shall there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not fill out his days,
for the young man shall die a hundred years old,
and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.
21They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23They shall not labor in vain
or bear children for calamity,
for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD,
and their descendants with them.
24Before they call I will answer;
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
25The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;
the lion shall eat straw like the ox,
and dust shall be the serpent’s food.
They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain,”
says the LORD.
[Isaiah 65:17-25]

The Restoration of Paradise

The Millennial Kingdom will be a progressive restoration of paradise on the earth, as God’s people will be commissioned by the LORD Himself to expand the beauty and glory of His name throughout the earth.

Living waters will flow from under God’s throne in Jerusalem and will replenish and bring new life to all the desert lands. Men will harvest the best of crops and catch an abundance of fish, enjoying the fruit of their labor in the joy of the LORD!

“And in that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the streambeds of Judah shall flow with water; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the LORD and water the Valley of Shittim.”
[Joel 3:18]

“Again you shall plant vineyard, on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant and shall enjoy the fruit. For there shall be a day when watchmen will call in the hill country of Ephraim:
‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.’”
“They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion,
and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the LORD,
over the grain, the wine, and the oil,
and over the young of the flock and the herd;
their life shall be like a watered garden,
and they shall languish no more.
Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance,
and the young men and the old shall be merry.
I will turn their mourning into joy;
I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.
I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance,
and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness,
declares the LORD.”
[Jeremiah 31:5-6, 12-14]

“Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar … As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8And he said to me, ‘This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh. 9And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. 10Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From Engedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. 11But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. 12And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.’”
[Ezekiel 47:1, 7-12]

The Saints will Rule with God

Finally, I would like to leave this series with Scriptures that describe the role of God’s people in His Millennial Kingdom. The saints — or holy ones — will rule and reign with Christ during this time, executing His will, participating in the restoration, and inheriting the Kingdom itself. Our level of authority and responsibility in the Kingdom will be determined by our faithfulness and obedience to God in this life. Some, therefore, will be given greater roles than others.

“The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.”
[Revelation 2:26-27]

“But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever… And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.”
[Daniel 7:17, 27]

“You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
[Luke 22:28-30]

Once the 1,000 years are ended, the devil and death will be destroyed once and for all, and God will make everything new in a new heaven and earth in which we will dwell forevermore. This is the final eternal state.

“They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.”
[Revelation 22:4-5]

The Day of the LORD — Cleansing the Land from the Spoils of War

February 6, 2020April 22, 2022Marcus Walker Van EveryLeave a comment

“So that they will not need to take wood out of the field or cut down any out of the forests, for they will make their fires of the weapons. They will seize the spoil of those who despoiled them, and plunder those who plundered them, declares the Lord GOD.”
[Ezekiel 39:10]

Once the great Day of God’s wrath is finished and the last wicked warrior falls to the ground at the battle of Armageddon, the LORD will roar from Zion and all the saints will shout for victory! As King Jesus takes His seat on His glorious throne, the administration of His government will begin.

One of the most practical details about the Day of the LORD that often is overlooked involves the spoils of war. The Lord Jesus will put an end to the war of all wars at His coming, and the aftermath will leave the earth desolate in ruins, scattered with countless dead bodies and weapons.

The spoils will be for the taking, but the task of cleaning up will be overwhelming. Interestingly enough, the Scriptures provide details about the aftermath of the war and the process of cleansing the land.

There is a Stench in the Land

I have written extensively about the catastrophic loss of life on the Day of the LORD. As Jesus comes to tread the winepress of God’s wrath upon the nations, untold millions will die, leaving a river a blood in His wake. These horrid details are often difficult to process and just as easily ignored altogether.

But the reality of death on that Day will be inescapable. Not only will the wild beasts and birds gather to feed on the carrion (Revelation 19:17-21), but also a foul stench will arise, filling the air with the repulsive odor of decaying flesh.

Both Joel and Isaiah spoke of this Day.

“I will remove the northerner far from you,
and drive him into a parched and desolate land,
his vanguard into the eastern sea,
and his rear guard into the western sea;
the stench and foul smell of him will rise,
for he has done great things.”
[Joel 2:20]

“For the LORD is enraged against all the nations, and furious against all their host; he has devoted them to destruction, has given them over for slaughter. Their slain shall be cast out, and the stench of their corpses shall rise; the mountains shall flow with their blood.”
[Isaiah 34:2-3]

7 Months for Burial

Cleansing the land of these dead bodies will be no small task. Ezekiel provides exclusive insight about how long this process will actually take.

“On that day I will give to Gog a place for burial in Israel, the Valley of the Travelers, east of the sea. It will block the travelers, for there Gog and all his multitude will be buried. It will be called the Valley of Hamon-gog. For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land. All the people of the land will bury them, and it will bring them renown on the day that I show my glory, declares the Lord GOD. They will set apart men to travel through the land regularly and bury those travelers remaining on the face of the land, so as to cleanse it. At the end of seven months they will make their search. And when these travel through the land and anyone sees a human bone, then he shall set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon-gog. (Hamonah is also the name of the city.) Thus shall they cleanse the land.”
[Ezekiel 39:11-16]

Although I can’t be certain, this passage seems to designate this grueling job to “the house of Israel,” which I understand to be the survivors from Israel who turn to Jesus in repentance and faith at His coming and are saved [see Zechariah 12-13, Joel 2].

The cleansing of the land will be one of the very first steps of restoration in the Millennium.

7 Years of Fuel

In a future post, I plan to emphasize how all the nations will pay tribute to the LORD in Zion and bring their treasures to Israel during the Millennium. The nations will flow to the mountain of the LORD each year to honor the King of kings. But Zechariah seems to imply that there will be some immediate spoils of war in the aftermath of the Day of the LORD.

“And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the peoples that wage war against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths. And on that day a great panic from the LORD shall fall on them, so that each will seize the hand of another, and the hand of the one will be raised against the hand of the other. Even Judah will fight at Jerusalem. And the wealth of all the surrounding nations shall be collected, gold, silver, and garments in great abundance. And a plague like this plague shall fall on the horses, the mules, the camels, the donkeys, and whatever beasts may be in those camps.”
[Zechariah 14:12-15]

Ezekiel also indicates that the immediate spoils of war will provide enough fuel to sustain the land during the first seven years of the Millennium!

“Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and make fires of the weapons and burn them, shields and bucklers, bow and arrows, clubs and spears; and they will make fires of them for seven years, so that they will not need to take wood out of the field or cut down any out of the forests, for they will make their fires of the weapons. They will seize the spoil of those who despoiled them, and plunder those who plundered them, declares the Lord GOD.”
[Ezekiel 39:9-10]

This passage reinforces the idea that there will be many survivors from both Israel and the nations that will enter the Millennium in natural bodies and will have the same basic needs that we do in this present age, such as food and shelter. Only those who receive resurrected bodies at the return of Christ will enter the Kingdom in a glorified state like that of Jesus Himself.

As I begin to shift my focus to the Millennial Kingdom, I will do my best to address all of these issues from a Biblical perspective.

The Day of the LORD — The Bema Seat of Christ

February 5, 2020April 22, 2022Marcus Walker Van EveryLeave a comment

“For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
[Matthew 16:27-28]

The Day of the LORD is the dawning of the coming Kingdom of God, when King Jesus leads all His redeemed in triumphant procession, riding the clouds through the wilderness from the east, and passing through the Eastern Gate of Jerusalem before entering His Temple. It is a Day when Christ will sit down on His throne and take His rightful place as the Eternal King of Israel. As Isaiah says, “the government will be on His shoulder … of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom” [Isaiah 9:6-7].

One of the first orders of business in God’s new kingdom will be to gather the multitudes before the Judgment Seat of Christ. It is the Day that we all must stand before our God and our Righteous Judge and give an account of our lives. It is the Day we receive either the due penalty or gracious reward for our words, thoughts, and actions while on earth. It is also the day that every knee will bow before the King of kings.

“So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
[Philippians 2:10-11]

For believers in Christ Jesus, there will be no condemnation at this judgment — but many of us likely will suffer a strong sense of loss for time wasted and for missed opportunities in the present age. Motives will be exposed. Deeds brought into the light, and every word counted before our God.

For unbelievers who survive the great tribulation and God’s wrath, this Day of judgment will be most dreadful indeed.

Jesus will Judge our Secret Thoughts

The coming Judgment Seat of Christ is a sobering reminder that nothing is ever done in secret. No deed goes unseen. No secret motive remains hidden. No sin is unnoticed. No one ever really “gets away” with anything. God knows all things, even the secret things, and our secrets will be judged on that Day.

“They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.”
[Romans 2:15-16]

The Apostle Paul wrote more extensively about the Judgment Seat of Christ than anyone. He realized that he too would stand before the Judge of all the earth on that Day.

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”
[2 Corinthians 5:10]

“For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.”
[1 Corinthians 4:4-5]

Even King Solomon understood the gravity of that Day when all men will give an account of their lives to God.

“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.”
[Ecclesiastes 12:13-14]

The Righteous will Receive their Reward

For God’s children — those who have trusted in God’s Only Son — the Judgment Seat of Christ will be the Day we receive our rewards before entering the Kingdom. Jesus taught extensively about how faithful stewardship in this life will determine how one is rewarded in the Kingdom. Paul also reminded the churches that everything we do in the body will be tested on that day.

“For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”
[1 Corinthians 3:11-15]

As I mentioned earlier, the resurrected saints will not be condemned nor fear punishment at the Judgment (Bema) Seat of Christ, but many will suffer loss, knowing that more could have been done for the Kingdom.

On the other hand, the faithful will be rewarded on that Day. For sake of time, here is a short list of rewards that believers will receive.

A New Name — [Isaiah 62:1-3, Rev. 2:17, 3:12]
Authority to rule and judge in God’s Kingdom — [Luke 19:11-27, 22:28-30, Rev. 20:4-6]
A Place at the Master’s Table — [Luke 12:35-40, 22:30, Rev. 19:6-10]
Imperishable Crown of Righteousness — [2 Timothy 4:8]
Imperishable Crown of Life — [James 1:12, Revelation 2:10]
Unfading Crown of Glory — [1 Peter 5:4]
Imperishable Inheritance — [1 Peter 1:4-5]

For the first time in human history, God will effectively reign on earth as it is in heaven, and all His people will be subject to Him and be given the privilege to participate in His Kingdom rule.

For the wicked, however, there will be no consolation.

The Wicked will Receive their Punishment

Like many scholars and Bible teachers, I draw a distinction between the “white throne” judgment mentioned in Revelation 20 and the Bema Seat of Christ. The white throne judgment takes place after the 1,000 years of the Messianic Kingdom and only involves the “dead” who must be ultimately judged for their unbelief and wickedness. The Judgment Seat of Christ, however, takes place immediately after His return to earth on the Day of the LORD, prior to the millennial Kingdom.

Both the righteous and the wicked will be present at the Judgment Seat. Let us turn to the Scriptures for some clarity.

In Ezekiel 34, the LORD gives a warning to the wicked shepherds who have abused and taken advantage of His people. God will judge between the sheep and goats and between the sheep and sheep, revealing who truly belong to Him — the Good Shepherd.

Jesus continues this idea throughout the gospels. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says that judgment will be rendered according to the fruit that is produced. Each person who does not produce good fruit will be “cut down and thrown into the fire” [Matthew 7:19]. The Lord goes on to warn us about the severity of that Day.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'”
[Matthew 7:21-23]

Jesus paints the picture a little clearer in one of His parables.

“The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.”
[Matthew 13:41-43]

Evidently, the wicked will be judged and then cast out of God’s presence into the tormenting fire to suffer everlasting punishment. For those who must face the Judge of all the earth, it will be a Day of terror, knowing that there “no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries” [Hebrews 10:26-27].

I will leave you with one of the most vivid scenes of the Judgment Seat of Christ in all Scripture.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world …
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels’ … And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
[Matthew 25:31-34, 41, 46]

The Day of the LORD — O Gates! Lift Up Your Heads

January 31, 2020April 22, 2022Marcus Walker Van EveryLeave a comment

“Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing east. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory.”
[Ezekiel 43:1-2]

Last time I left off with the Lord Jesus — the King of Glory — leading His army of holy ones in triumphal procession from Sinai to the Sanctuary in Zion. Yeshua is Yahweh — the full embodiment of the divine nature and eternal power — in the form of a man — Immanuel — God with us.

Psalm 68 must be the most beautiful description and most vivid account of the Day of the LORD and the return of the King of Glory. It is well worth an in-depth study of its own but for now will serve as the backdrop to this post.

“Your procession is seen, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary— the singers in front, the musicians last, between them virgins playing tambourines: Bless God in the great congregation, the LORD, O you who are of Israel’s fountain!”
[Psalm 68:24-26]

God’s word never ceases to amaze me. When I consider, that in His infinite wisdom, the LORD has provided the true testimony and historical record of the past as well as the clear view and prophetic vision of the future. This is what qualifies the Bible unique among all other writings — both sacred or secular. The Bible is no mere human invention. It is a supernatural phenomenon.

Try to envision for a moment this divine procession in the future. Do you see Moses and Elijah? Abraham and Peter? Jacob and Paul? King David and Queen Esther? Michael the Archangel? They are all there!

Can you see the mighty ones — the angel armies — lifting their swords? Can you hear the people weeping tears of joy and the children singing songs of praise? Can you see a multitude that no man can count, from every tribe and nation, following their Savior King and shouting in victory?

Can you see the glorified Christ? Wrapped with inapproachable light … riding His chariot of fire on a cloud.

It is more amazing still that God provides multiple viewpoints for the same future events. David was given one perspective in Psalm 68, as a participant in the procession. Ezekiel was given an altogether different vision from the holy city Jerusalem. Let’s take a closer look.

Coming from the East

Just as the sun rises in the east and the morning light dawns over the horizon, the Son of righteousness will arise upon the earth on that Day and shine in the brightness of His glory. As the Spirit of God carried Ezekiel to the Eastern Gate of Jerusalem, he was given a glimpse of this beautiful procession coming from the east.

Ezekiel saw what we all long to see … “the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east” [Ezekiel 43:1]. He could hear this multitude moving across the earth like the sound of many waters. An awesome sight to behold.

David helps further explain the tumult.

“O God, when you went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness, Selah
the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.”
[Psalm 68:7-8]

The dawn imagery prevails throughout the Scriptures!

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
[Isaiah 60:1-3]

Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your saints shout for joy. For the sake of your servant David, do not turn away the face of your anointed one … For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: “This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.”
[Psalm 132:8-10, 13-14]

“God came from Teman,
and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah
His splendor covered the heavens,
and the earth was full of his praise.
His brightness was like the light;
rays flashed from his hand;
and there he veiled his power.”
[Habakkuk 3:3-4]

Even the Apostle Peter echoes this in his second epistle.

“And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
[2 Peter 1:19]

Open the Gates!

As the LORD leads His procession toward Jerusalem — you can hear the shouts growing louder, the praises being lifted higher, and see the light shining brighter. And one can only imagine the collective voices of God’s saints all proclaiming in unison … “Open the Gates! Open those ancient doors! So that the King of Glory may come in!”

David was given another glimpse into the future moment when the LORD of Glory enters the Eastern Gate in Jerusalem.

“Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle!
Lift up your heads, O gates!
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
he is the King of glory!”
Selah
[Psalm 24:7-10]

Once King Jesus enters the city, He will make way to His royal throne in the Temple of God — the Sanctuary.

“As the glory of the LORD entered the temple by the gate facing east, the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple. While the man was standing beside me, I heard one speaking to me out of the temple…”
[Ezekiel 43:4-6]

Next the LORD will take His rightful place as King of kings and sit down on the throne of David to declare final victory and rest from all our enemies.

“Son of man, 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. And the house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoring and by the dead bodies of their kings at their high places.”
[Ezekiel 43:7]

Kingdom and Power and Glory Forever

At the moment Jesus Christ sits down on His throne, His rule and reign as King of the Universe shall begin. The whole world will be astonished at the presence of the glory of God Almighty! For the kingdom and the power and the glory are His forever. Amen.

“O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;
sing praises to the Lord,
Selah
to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
Ascribe power to God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
and whose power is in the skies.
Awesome is God from his sanctuary;
the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God!”
[Psalm 68:32-35]

And the exciting part at this point is … His reign will have just begun!

The Day of the LORD — The Second Exodus

January 30, 2020April 22, 2022Marcus Walker Van Every1 Comment

“The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary. You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.’
[Psalm 68:17-18]

The Exodus of Israel from Egypt provides one of the best templates for the Day of the LORD and the mighty acts that God will perform on that Day. One of the most fascinating details that I have discovered in my studies involves Yeshua coming to liberate His people from bondage, literally setting captives free from the power of Antichrist. Just as the LORD delivered His people out of slavery in Egypt, He will return to redeem His people from captivity in the end.

Flee to the Wilderness

The Lord Jesus warned His disciples of the coming deception and ensuing destruction of the great tribulation. He prophesied that the abomination of desolation [Matthew 24:15-22, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12] would be the clearest sign that triggers the beginning of the great tribulation. This is the point when the Antichrist will exalt himself in the Most Holy Place, desecrating the Temple in Jerusalem.

When this happens, Jesus says, it is time for God’s people to flee into the wilderness to escape the ensuing wrath of the evil one. I am of the persuasion that many will flee into the Sinai wilderness to be protected during this time.

“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people.
[Luke 21:20-23]

‘And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.”
[Revelation 12:13-14]

For God’s people dwelling in the Holy Land in the last days, it is imperative that they recognize the abomination of desolation and flee to the wilderness. The Scriptures even seem to imply that God will supernaturally preserve and protect His people in the wilderness for the duration of 3.5 years, much like He provided for Israel during its 40-year wandering.

Even though many of God’s people will be able to flee and escape the wrath of the Antichrist, others will be killed by the sword or taken into captivity — both Jews and Christians.

Into Captivity You Will Go

Once the Beast (Antichrist) is revealed and assumes his position of power, he will begin a 42 month (3.5 year) military campaign in the Middle East. His focus, however, will be the destruction of God’s people all over the world, as he is allowed to “make war on the saints and conquer them” [Revelation 13:5-9]. Again, the Lord provides a warning for the saints to heed during this great time of difficulty.

“If anyone is to be taken captive,
to captivity he goes;
if anyone is to be slain with the sword,
with the sword must he be slain.”
Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.
[Revelation 13:10]

“They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”
[Luke 21:24]

Prophets Zechariah and Joel also echo the words of Luke.

“Behold, a day is coming for the LORD, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city.”
[Zechariah 14:1-2]

“For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land, and have cast lots for my people, and have traded a boy for a prostitute, and have sold a girl for wine and have drunk it … You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to remove them far from their own border.”
[Joel 3:1-3, 6]

The Scriptures could not be any clearer. As the Antichrist and his armies ravish the land and conquer many nations, some of God’s people will be able to escape and go into hiding, but many will be taken as captives for spoil and exiled.

It is in the midst of this desperate situation that King Jesus will return to carry out a military campaign of His own. He will strike down His enemies, set the captives free, and lead His people in triumphant procession from the wilderness back to Jerusalem to reclaim His throne from the Antichrist.

The Second Exodus

The testimony of the Biblical prophets is replete with detailed descriptions of the the liberation of God’s people, their regathering back to the Promised Land, the restoration of the fortunes of Judah, and the establishment of the true Kingdom of Israel.

Psalm 68, which is referenced above, is worth reading as one of the most comprehensive descriptions of the Second Exodus. I will share a few more here that speak of that great Day of liberation.

“On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious. On that day the Lord will extend His hand a second time to recover the remnant of His people from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; He will collect the scattered of Judah from the four corners of the earth.“
[Isaiah 11:10-12]

Alas! That day is so great
there is none like it;
it is a time of distress for Jacob;
yet he shall be saved out of it.
“And it shall come to pass in that day, declares the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off your neck, and I will burst your bonds, and foreigners shall no more make a servant of him. But they shall serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.”
“Then fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the LORD,
nor be dismayed, O Israel;
for behold, I will save you from far away,
and your offspring from the land of their captivity.
Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease,
and none shall make him afraid.
For I am with you to save you,
declares the LORD;
I will make a full end of all the nations
among whom I scattered you,
but of you I will not make a full end.
I will discipline you in just measure,
and I will by no means leave you unpunished.”
[Jeremiah 30:7-11]

“Your procession is seen, O God,
the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—
the singers in front, the musicians last,
between them virgins playing tambourines …”
[Psalm 68:24-25]

Next time I will focus on the judgment of the survivors, the marriage supper of the Lamb, and the restoration of the fortunes of Jacob.

The Day of the LORD — Your Kingdom Come [Part 2]

January 25, 2020April 22, 2022Marcus Walker Van EveryLeave a comment

And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
[Matthew 26:63-64]

Jesus came. He lived. He died. He was buried. He was raised. He ascended. He sat down at the right hand of the Power on high, and He will come again. While we understandably emphasize the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, we all too often neglect to appreciate His ascension and session. If we aren’t careful, we can miss both the cosmic scope and universal reign of King Jesus.

The Ascension and Session of King Jesus

After spending 40 days with His disciples, teaching them about the Kingdom of God, our risen Lord was carried away out of their sight on the clouds to heaven. It was another validation that Jesus was the Son of Man, spoken of by the prophets, riding on the clouds surrounded by the shekinah glory of the LORD. He ascended to the preeminent place of power in the entire universe. The ascension of Jesus is essential in understanding His exaltation above every ruler, power, throne, and dominion in heaven and on earth.

Having ascended to the highest position of authority in the universe, the Lord Jesus then sat down (session of Christ), signifying that His work was finished and that His reign had begun.

When it comes to Christ’s ascension and session, the Bible is rich with content. Here are a variety of samples from the New Testament.

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.“
[1 Peter 3:18-22]

“And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”
[Ephesians 1:19-23]

“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.“
[Hebrews 1:1-4]

The Old Testament also provides some vivid imagery of the present reign of the LORD.

Thus says the LORD:
“Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?”
[Isaiah 66:1]

“The LORD is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens!
Who is like the LORD our God,
who is seated on high,
who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.”
[Psalm 113:5-8]

The LORD says to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses; he will shatter chiefs over the wide earth.
[Psalm 110:1, 5-6]

This present reality provides so many profound implications for believers. Jesus presently is our Faithful High Priest and Advocate making intercession for us. All power and authority belongs to Him, and He in turn provides what we need to fulfill the Great Commission. Positionally, all believers are seated with Christ in the heavenly places, meaning that we have a seat waiting for us at the table, a place prepared for us! King Jesus is accomplishing His will from heaven until the fullness of time arrives and He stands up — sent by the Father — to come again.

The Return of King Jesus

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
[Philippians 2:9-11]

The Kingdom was promised. The King was born. The King redeemed sinners by His death and was raised victoriously to life. The King ascended to heaven and then sat down on His heavenly throne. And yes… the King will come again!

Just as the birth of the King was announced by the heavenly host, His return will also be accompanied by loud shouts of joy and the cry of a command from heaven. The last trump will sound along with the voice of the archangel, and the sky will be rolled back like a scroll, as the King leads His army from heaven.

Let us consider a sample of the Biblical testimony concerning this momentous day — the Day of the LORD!

“Lift up your heads, O gates!
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
he is the King of glory!” Selah
[Psalm 24:9-10]

“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”
[1 Corinthians 15:22-26]

There are literally too many passages practically to share, so I will leave us with two more. Next time … I will begin examining the series of events connected to the return of the King and the establishment of His Kingdom on earth.

“The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad!
2Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3Fire goes before him
and burns up his adversaries all around.
4His lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
5The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the Lord of all the earth.
6The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory.
7All worshipers of images are put to shame,
who make their boast in worthless idols;
worship him, all you gods!
8Zion hears and is glad,
and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
because of your judgments, O LORD.
9For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.”
[Psalm 97:1-9]

“And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”
[Revelation 19:14-16]