23. Worship in the Millennium

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Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church

Adult Sunday School

12 August 2018

WORSHIP IN THE MILLENNIUM

Zechariah 14:16-21 (KJV)

16And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. 17And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. 18And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. 19This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. 20In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD’S house shall be like the bowls before the altar. 21Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.

  • WORSHIP IN THE MILLENNIUM (1) 

34And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (Mk. 8:34 KJV)

“Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me.”

Despite their mistreatment of Israel, the repentant nations will be spared and provided opportunity for regular worship. The feast of Booths (Tabernacles) was one of Israel’s three pilgrim feasts observed annually by the people of Israel (v 16; Deut. 16:13-16). The feast commemorates the wilderness experience of Israel and celebrates the fall harvest (Lev. 23:39, 42-43). True worship shall be universally established amongst a remnant of the nations. Any nation slack in their worship and acknowledgement of their King will suffer punishment by a plague. And if a nation fails to go to Jerusalem for worship, it will have no rain and suffer losses (v 17). 

It is the same for God’s people today who fail to worship and acknowledge Him in their lives. Remember the encouraging words of the prophet Isaiah, “If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it” (Isa 58:13-14). 

Egypt is the nation that has caused much suffering to God’s people. In that day, Egypt will be subdued and in their obedience, they will also enjoy the blessings of salvation given to Israel. The rule of the Prince of Peace from Jerusalem will be most glorious because there will finally be lasting peace, Satan will be bound up for 1,000 years. What a blessed scene of true prosperity! 

May this study awaken us to the nearness of the Lord’s RETURN! Let us forsake the world and come to Jesus! 

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mk 8:36) Save me, Lord, from straying from You! 

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“In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.” (Zech. 14:20-21) 

18For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. 19And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. 20And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. 21And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD. 22For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. 23And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. 24And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. (Isa. 66:18-24 KJV)

 “In that day the nations shall worship at Jerusalem.” 

The mark of true consecration will be seen everywhere and practised in the millennium. It is “HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD.” 

All are cleansed and holy in Jerusalem and among God’s people. There will be holiness in public life “bells of the horses,” in religious life “pots in the Lord’s house,” and all private life “every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah.” Truly, “blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matt 5:8). God dwells physically in the midst of His saints who will be appointed to rule with Him. Sin will no more have dominion. What glorious freedom! 

These last two verses of prophesy may well close not only this book but the whole history of Israel, for it shows God’s original purpose fulfiled in Exodus 19:6, “And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” All who enter the house of the Lord are recognized as regenerated born- again believers. There shall be no Canaanites (heathen, unbelievers) in the house of the Lord of hosts. Our Lord rules in our hearts today but the corrupt nature wars daily against the spirit of holiness. May God’s people wage a good warfare against the corruptness in us, daily practising holy habits, watching and working for the night comes when no man can work. God does not forget His own children. The Lord truly remembers! 

The hallmark of gratitude is remembrance. Lord, may You fill me fully with Your Spirit for today.