David Koberstein
Active member
The KINGDOM in two Stages
THE GREAT BATTLE
It has been stated that this world will come to an end with a great battle. What is this great battle? It is when the Lamb returns to defeat the antichrist and his empire, i.e., the Goat. The Lamb will arrive at the Mount of Olives and from there, descend toward the Eastern Gate through which He will enter the Temple. The final seven years can be broken into two halves. We have learned during the second half that Israel will be harshly persecuted for forty-two months. Not only is this period spoken of as three and a half years or fortytwo months, but also 1,260 days.
What is most interesting is when Daniel prophesied about this period of time, he added initially thirty days (1,290 days). Thirty days, according to Judaism, is a mourning period. The Jewish people will see the Lamb, Who sacrificed His life for His covenant people nearly 2,000 years ago, and they will realize what He did for them. How will they respond to this? As a nation, they never acknowledged His sacrificial death, so now at this time, Israel will mourn the Lamb. It is immediately after Daniel tells about these additional thirty days, that He writes, “Blessed is the one who waits and makes it to 1,335 days.” According to one prophetic interpretation, Israel will formally respond to the Lamb on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). Although in most languages this most holy day is spoken of in the singular, Day of Atonement, in the Hebrew language, it is called the Day of Atonements.
Why is the word atonement in the plural? Jewish tradition states, there is one atonement for this world and one for the world to come, i.e. the Kingdom. Daniel reveals that there will be in total an additional 75 days, 1,260 + 75 = 1,335. Because of Israel’s national acceptance of the Lamb on the Day of Atonement, it is believed that the counting of the 75 days should begin on the Day of Atonement. When adding 75 days to the Day of Atonement, one arrives at another special time on the Jewish calendar,
the Festival of Dedication (Chanukah). There is a belief within Judaism that Israel’s Messiah will appear before the people on Chanukah. It is during Chanukah today that every synagogue in the world reads about Moses going into the Holy of Holies to dedicate the Tabernacle for use.
As Moses entered into this place, the Torah states that he heard the voice of God speaking to him from above the mercy seat. This location is where God dwelt in the days of the Tabernacle and the Temple. It is also from this place that the Lamb will
rule over His Kingdom. Because the antichrist is the false messiah, he will enter this same location when he proclaims himself to be god and Israel’s messiah. Now one can understand why the antichrist chose this location to make this profession. Chanukah is the holiday that commemorates the purification of the Temple after Antiochus desecrated it.
It is precisely because the antichrist will have done the same thing when he enters into this Most Holy Place, that there will have to be a cleansing and a dedication of the Temple for use in the Kingdom. Therefore it should not be surprising that it will be on the Festival of Chanukah that the Lamb will dedicate the Temple and inaugurate the Kingdom of God. It is for this reason that those who wait in faithfulness and persevere 1,335 days are truly blessed! Blessed are those who shall inherit the earth. The Bible reveals that the Kingdom of G-d will have two distinct stages. The first will be upon the earth and it will last for 1,000 years. During this time, the Lamb will reign over a Kingdom of righteousness and peace. It is written that the Lamb will rule with a rod of iron. This is to inform the reader that it is the Lamb Who will maintain the righteousness and peace of this Kingdom. The book of Revelation states that just prior to the beginning of these 1,000 years, Satan will be bound in the abyss.
Throughout the 1,000 years, he will be in the abyss; however, at the end of the 1,000 years he must be released. What is the reason for him being released? On the first day of the Kingdom, each inhabitant will be a follower of the Lamb, but during
these 1,000 years, numerous people will be born. They will have lived under the righteous rule of the Lamb. In this Kingdom, faith is most different than in our time. As has been stated, the Lamb will mandate righteousness, and peace will be maintained. People will have no other option than to submit to the rule of the Lamb. However, when the 1,000 years ends, Satan will be released and go out to deceive those who were born during these 1,000 years.
A decision will be required from those who were born into the Kingdom. What is this decision? They will have a choice to accept the Lamb as their God, or believe the lie of the recently released Satan, who promises that he can defeat the Lamb. One of the most surprising occurrences in all the Scriptures is the number of people that will join with Satan—the Bible states as the sand is upon the shore. This great multitude will go out from the Holy City only to return a short while thereafter to wage war against
the Lamb and His people. This battle will be most anticlimactic, as fire will descend from the heavens and Satan and his followers will be defeated.
All who do not follow the Lamb will be cast into a lake that burns forever and ever. However, those who accept the Lamb will enter into the second stage of the Kingdom of God, the Garden of God.
THE GARDEN OF GOD
After this final battle, God will create a new heaven and a new earth, called the New Jerusalem. When one studies the Scripture which relates to the New Jerusalem, it becomes clear that the New Jerusalem is likened to the Garden of Eden, but with a few differences. These differences are what make the New Jerusalem the Garden of God.
When examining the book of Revelation, one learns several significant characteristics concerning the New Jerusalem. There will not be a sea or a Temple in the New Jerusalem. Prophetically, a sea represents instability and fear. In other words, the Garden of Gd is a place of stability, where there is nothing to fear. The reason that there will not be a Temple, is the residents of this Garden will be in an eternal right relationship with God (no need for sacrifices). Instead of a Temple, the reader is told that the dwelling place of God will be in the Garden.
Whereas in the Garden of Eden God came and went, the presence of God will forever be in the New Jerusalem. The word which is used repeatedly to describe this Garden is the word “new”. This word expresses an absolutely new reality which a person cannot fully appreciate now. The term “the New Jerusalem” assists the reader in understanding a major aspect of the Garden of God. The word “new” carries the idea of original. This means that in this Garden, the original purposes of God will be fulfilled.
The name Jerusalem is comprised of two Hebrew words, “to inherit” and “shalom”. Shalom comes from the Hebrew root which means “to fulfill”. Hence, true peace (the common definition for the word shalom) is when the will of God is fulfilled. Therefore, the New Jerusalem represents the eternal state whereby those who entered into a covenantal relationship with God will enjoy the original intent of God for His creation. There is similar imagery used between the Garden of Eden and the New Jerusalem, but
there are slight alterations which are very informing. In the Garden of Eden, there were four rivers; however, in the Garden of God only one.
The number four expresses a universal or global character. This should not be surprising, as the context for the Garden of Eden was the creation of the world. The number one expresses both unity and God, Who is One. In other words, the New Jerusalem emphasizes unity with God. The water of this one river is called living water, which expresses both eternal life and satisfaction. The inhabitants are promised that they will never thirst again. This is meant to convey that all the needs and wants a person could have will be satisfied in the Garden. It is promised that God will wipe away every tear and there will no longer be death. Similarly, mourning, screams, and all forms of pain will not be present in the New Jerusalem.
The inhabitants are called, “those who have overcome”. This term expresses victory. Around the Garden is a great wall with twelve gates. These gates are named after the twelve tribes of Israel; once again, emphasizing the connection between Israel and the Kingdom. The gates are open both day and night, showing that there is no threat of danger in this city. The foundation for the walls of the city are the twelve names of the Lamb’s disciples. This shows that the basis for the Kingdom is the Person and Work of the Lamb.
In the Garden of Eden, there were two trees, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life. In the Garden of God, there will only be the Tree of Life. This one tree will supernaturally be on both sides of the river of living water. This tree will provide its fruit each of the twelve months. Not only does the number twelve relate to Israel, but also to the people of God in general. Hence, the Tree of Life is connected to the fruitfulness of the people of God. There will not be any more curse in the Garden nor darkness. The light will not be from the sun or stars, but from the glory of God. The account of the New Jerusalem ends with the promise that the Lamb is coming and to be ready. Who is this Lamb? What has this Lamb done? What will this Lamb do when He returns?
THE LAMB OF THE GOD
In the Bible, a lamb is presented as a sacrificial animal. A lamb is not threatening; rather it is seen as endearing and docile. When the Prophet John (John the Baptist) saw Yeshua (Jesus of Nazareth) approaching him at the Jordan River, he responded, “Behold, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world.” John knew that Yeshua (Jesus of Nazareth) was sent from heaven to be the sacrifice that would bring forgiveness and eternal redemption to humanity for every and all sin. Therefore, it is not a coincidence that Yeshua gave (sacrificed) His life on Passover.
The Passover sacrifice is a unique offering to God. The reason for this is because the Passover lamb brings about redemption to the people of God. The term redemption is a covenantal word; in fact, the Bible teaches that the marriage covenant is a type of redemption (the bride had to be redeemed). This provides an understanding for why those who will be in the Garden of God are called His bride.
Therefore, when Yeshua came the first time, He was presented as the Lamb, Who laid down His life as the sacrifice for sin. When He returns, even though He is still known as the Lamb, He is also called the Lion of Judah. This Lion will defeat the Goat and bring victory and salvation to all who receive Him by faith. How does one receive Yeshua, the Lamb of God by faith? What is it that a person needs to do to find the grace of God, which is the basis for God forgiving one’s sin? The answers to these questions are found in the Hebrew word הבשורה which is translated, the Gospel.
This word means to proclaim news; but not just any news, only the good news of redemption. It is very significant that the word, הבשורה also is derived from the Hebrew word meaning “flesh” בשר .What is the relationship between the Gospel and flesh? The answer is very simple, the good news about redemption (the Gospel) is that God has come in the flesh to do the work of redemption.
Below you will find seven truths which one must accept/believe and acknowledge before God, in order to find the grace of God which brings salvation, i.e. the forgiveness of sins and the right to enter into the Garden of God (His Kingdom) for eternity. I invite you to respond now and receive salvation by
1. Confessing that you are a sinner and do not have a personal relationship with the Living God. Isaiah 59:1-2 states, “Behold, the hand of the Lord is not so short that He cannot save, nor is His ear too heavy from hearing; rather your iniquities separate you from God and your sins have caused His face to be hidden from hearing.”
2. Confessing before God that you do not want to continue sinning.
3. Confessing before God that you are unable to save yourself.
4. Confessing before God that you acknowledge that Yeshua was sent by God the Father to be your Passover sacrifice, when He died upon the tree (Cross).
5. Confessing that Yeshua from Nazareth is the Lamb of God (Messiah) and only through faith in Him is one redeemed/saved.
6. Confessing that Yeshua’s blood was shed for the remission of sins.
7. Confessing that Yeshua rose from the dead on the third day as the Scriptures state.
Pray this prayer to invite Yeshua to be your Savior and receive the gift of eternal life in the Garden of God… I confess before You, O God, that I am a sinner. I confess that I am not able to save myself. Therefore, I turn to Yeshua from Nazareth, Your only Begotten Son, Who You sent into this world to save me. I believe that He died upon the tree (cross) in order to pay the price for my sins.
I believe that He rose from the dead, signifying the victory over sin that He offers to all who believe in Him. I believe that only through His blood that You forgive my sin, those which I have sinned or will sin in the future. I want to invite You, Yeshua, to be my Lord, send me Your Holy Spirit, that I might walk in Your ways, obeying Your Word, in the Name of Yeshua the Messiah, Amen.
If you have prayed this prayer and affirmed these truths in your heart, then you have been forgiven. You are a child of God and Yeshua will work in your life and through your life by means of the Holy Spirit, to lead you in His will. Your life will have an eternal significance as you serve the purposes of His Kingdom beginning today.
By Dr. Baruch Korman
