Unfinished work

Daniel understood from the scriptures that the desolation of Jerusalem, God centre on earth, would last 70 years. In earnest prayer and in fasting, humility and servitude, he came before God Almighty beseeching forgiveness of sins on behalf of all of the twelve tribes of Israel. “Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the men of Judah and people of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you…O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name” (Daniel 9:7, 19).

God Almighty heard his prayer and responded to Daniel’s cry to restore honour to Jerusalem—the city God chose to seat His glorious presence. The God of Israel alone is the One who is the Source of all life and power—the “one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist” (I Corinthians 8:6). God has declared to all creation, “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me” (Isaiah 46:9).

Daniel desired that honour be justly restored and returned to the Supreme God and that the desolation of Jerusalem, God’s holy city on earth be filled again with His glory and presence, instead of the destruction and darkness that resulted from the sins of His people.

“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, His holy mountain.

Beautiful in loftiness, the joy of all the earth, like the peaks of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the great King” (Psalm 48:1-2).

Before Daniel finished praying, Gabriel, the messenger-angel gave him God’s response, “Seventy, ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to:

1. Finish transgression = stop/imprison rebellion within your people—the kingdom of Israel, all 12 tribes.
2. Put an end/seal up sin = hate sinning, imprison it, hinder it so that it is impossible to spread.
3. Atoned for wickedness = sins are altogether removed out of the sight of God—blotted out, altogether set aside as the Day of Atonement pictures. Hence, on the Day of Atonement of the last year of this evil age, the people of the 12 tribes of Israel who are not resurrected but come out of the Great Tribulation repentant, accepted Christ as their Saviour and God’s grace will be atoned for.

The three above are then replaced by:

         4.  Bring in everlasting righteousness which comes only from heaven as a gift of God.

“My righteousness draws near, My salvation is on the way, and My arms will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look for Me and wait in hope for My arm” (Isaiah 51:5).

In the place of the removed transgression is the perfected righteousness.

         5.  Seal up vision and prophecy which is sealed when it is laid under a seal, so that it can no longer actively show itself.

“Prophecies and prophets are sealed, when by the full realization of all prophecies, prophecy ceases, no prophets any more appear… When the sins are sealed, the prophecy is also sealed, for prophecy is needed in the war against sin; when sin is thus so placed that it can no longer operate, then prophecy also may come to a state of rest; when sin comes to an end in its place, prophecy can come to an end also by its fulfilment, there being no place for it after the setting aside of sin. And when the apostasy is shut up, so that it can no more spread about, then righteousness will be brought, that it may possess the earth, now freed from sin, shut up in its own place” (Kliefoth, Keil and Delitzsch https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/kdo/daniel-9.html).

          6.  Anoint the most holy is a divine anointing of a new sanctuary, prior to God coming and filling it with His glory.

“The reference is to the anointing of a new sanctuary, temple, or most holy place.  The anointing is the act by which the place is consecrated to be a holy place of the gracious presence and revelation of God. If thus the anointing of a most holy is here announced, then by it there is given the promise, not of the renewal of the place already existing from of old, but of the appointment of a new place of God's gracious presence among His people, a new sanctuary.” (Keil and Delitzsch https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/kdo/daniel-9.html)

Recorded by the Apostle John in Revelation 21:22, the New Jerusalem comprises of eternal righteousness. “I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp… Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

God’s work is completed when all creation has made their choice. The wicked are destroyed and only the righteous remain. The New Jerusalem will be constructed of layers upon layers of righteous God fearing and serving people. “Therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord” (Ephesians 2:19-21).

The people grouped and identified as the church in Philadelphia are the pillars of this great temple. “Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name” (Revelation 3:12).

Planet Earth will become the temple of God and righteous mankind will serve as royal priests in His holy kingdom. “You [the Lamb] are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation you have made them to be a kingdom of priests to serve our God” (Revelation 5:9).

The greatest work is yet to be done! Who will do the work? When will the finishing take place?

FIRST: APPOINTED TO PREPARE THE WAY BEFORE GOD’S DAY OF GREAT WRATH:The Preparer is made known as Elijah.

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet BEFORE the coming of the great and dreadful Day of the LORD” (Malachi 4:5).

Elijah was taken in a whirlwind before he could fulfill the task of turning the hearts of the fathers to the children and children to the fathers. This is the process of preaching God’s word, exposing falsehood, bringing people into repentance, baptising and teaching them how to humbly walk with God and live His ways.

Elijah, the Tishbite came from Gilead, the location renowned for their healing balms. It is by no accident that Elijah came from that area. God puts people in places to add greater meaning to the stories He preserves. Elijah lived during a time when he saw all of the house of Israel (the ten tribes) worship rogue gods. He thought he was alone in worshipping the Almighty God, but he was mistaken. Seven thousand unknown to Elijah were blameless before God. Elijah did great miracles displaying God’s superiority before the house of Israel and to the people he said, 

“‘How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.’ But the people said nothing” (I Kings 18:21).

A time resting on our near horizon will shake the people of the 21st century house of Israel, the ten tribes, the Christians and they will be confronted again.

"Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives. His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse" (Malachi 4:5-6, NLT).

Before the time of God’s great wrath, Elijah the prophet or an Elijah-type will do as John the Baptist did prior to Jesus’ ministry. He will bring many people to see God’s truth and turn them away from wickedness. They will be baptised and open their heart to obey God and live in peace, during a time when the whole world is controlled by the harlot of Revelation, Satan and the beast.

John the Baptist prepared the way for the ministry of Jesus. He preached God’s word, uncovered the false teachings of the Jewish priesthood, taught about God’s salvation for mankind, brought people to repent and baptised them onto the path of righteousness.

The disciples understood the mission given to John the Baptist. “Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:16-17).

“And you, my child [John, the Baptist], will be called a prophet of the Most High; to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun [Jesus] will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace” (Luke 1:76-79).

“And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come” (Matthew 11:14). If John the Baptist was sent to fulfill the work of Elijah and turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and children to the fathers preparing the way for Jesus’ ministry, then another Elijah-type prophet or Elijah himself will come to prepare the way before the wrath of God. “For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Revelation 6:17). This great day of wrath is scheduled to begin when the Lamb opens the sixth seal.

“There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sack cloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth… Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!’” (Revelation 6:12-16)

Why do all these people run and hide crying out to the mountains and the rocks to fall on them, but that they refused to heed the message of Christ’s return and salvation through his sacrifice. These people were those who decided when Satan was thrown down to earth with his rogue and rebellious angels to surrender and worship him and the beast because they will say, “Who is like the beast and who can make war against him?” (Revelation 13:4) They will not choose to risk their safety under the rule of the beast and Satan to call out to the Almighty God for help.

These same people will enjoy living under Satan’s rule. It will be as in the days of Noah when people were eating, drinking, giving in marriage and worshipping Satan. These people were oblivious to the upcoming flood that took their lives, so too, the return of Christ will be a great surprise for the wicked worshipping Satan. They will recognize the Lamb of God and they will be terrified because they will have received the witness and rejected it.

At Christ’s return, the first resurrection will include all of the prophets of old, the apostles, and all of the saints into the 21st century. It appears some of the wicked will also be brought back to life into their former physical bodies to witness Christ’s return. “The high priest said to him, ‘I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.’ ‘Yes, it is as you say,’ Jesus replied. ‘But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven’” (Matthew 26:63-64).

Now, at Christ’s return the unfinished work of the prophets will explode into action!

SECOND: THE RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST AS KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

God Almighty is the Great Potter molding people into priests as He creates a holy kingdom of royal priests on earth. This kingdom will be His new temple that will cover the earth through the leadership of the “tested stone”—His Son. “But of the Son He says, ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom’” (Hebrews 1:8).

God works in stages and through processes. Righteousness on earth will not be instantaneous. Christ’s rule over the nations will progressively bring all nations into servitude to Almighty God.

“In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever” (Daniel 2:44).

God’s righteous government will increase and eventually through the rulership of Jesus Christ cover the whole earth.

“Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were shattered and became like chaff on the threshing floor in summer. The wind carried them away, and not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that had struck the statue became a great mountain [government] and filled the whole earth” (Daniel 2:35).

The crushing and putting and end to opposition will take work. God has pre-appointed prophets to work with Him and Jesus Christ to bring opposition to an end and establish righteous rulership.

THIRD: APPOINTED OVER NATIONS AND KINGDOMS: The judge of the nations is made known to be Jeremiah. 

Jeremiah: “See today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:10).

Resurrected Jeremiah working under the leadership of God Almighty and Jesus Christ, will lead the operation to humble nations, destroy completely unrepentant nations, and bring into submission repenting nations.

• To tear down: make low/reduce their power
• To destroy: completely annihilate nations refusing to repent
• To overthrow: bring into submission and under the authority of the conqueror

Then,

• To build: existing repentant nations will be strengthened
• To plant: humble peoples, families will be established to grow into nations

The repentant 21st century nations of Israel will be called into battle and strengthened by God after He rescues them from captivity and the ten tribes under the overall leadership of Ephraim “will become like mighty men, and their hearts will be glad as with wine [ecstatic that God heard their cry for help and is leading them into battle against their oppressors” (Zechariah 10:7). 

God will use both houses of Israel to fight. “I will bend Judah as I bend my bow and fill it with Ephraim. I will rouse your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and make you like a warrior’s sword” (Zechariah 9:13).

The Satan-worshipping nations will feel the great wrath of Almighty God as He leads His remnant exiles against them. God’s remnant will not be afraid; they will have witnessed the power of their God and learned to trust Him. “Then the LORD will appear over them; his arrow will flash like lightning. The Sovereign LORD will sound the trumpet; He will march in the storms of the south, and the LORD Almighty will shield them. They will destroy and overcome with slingstones. They will drink and roar as with wine… The LORD their God will save them on that day as the flock of his people” (Zechariah 9:14-16).

When the battles are fought and dust settled, Jeremiah will lead the work in building and strengthening the repentant nations and bringing together humble peoples and families calling out to God and establish them in peace and safety so that they can grow spiritually and come to know their loving Creator.

FOURTH: APPOINTED TO RAISE UP THE TRIBES OF JACOB (12), RESTORE THE PROTECTED ONES OF ISRAEL, MAKE YOU A LIGHT FOR THE NATIONS TO BRING GOD’S SALVATION TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: The servant of Almighty God is Isaiah who will lead the raising up of his people—the whole kingdom of Israel as a holy kingdom of royal priests to minister to the world God’s gift of grace.

“And now says the LORD, who formed Me [Isaiah] from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, that Israel might be gathered to Him—for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and My God is My strength— He says: ‘It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth’” (Isaiah 49:5-6).

"I, the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations” (Isaiah 42:6).

1. Raise up the 12 tribes is to authenticate and give authority to the Kingdom of Israel, to become internationally renown as a holy kingdom of royal priests under God.
2. Restore the protected ones of Israel is to acknowledge and restore respect and honor to a special group of people, who throughout time, were totally dedicated to God and following Christ wherever he goes, but were persecuted by their own people.
3. Enlighten the nations about the truth—God’s word and His way of love—God’s grace and salvation plan for them.

FIFTH: APPOINTED TO RESURRECT ANCIENT FALLEN ISRAEL: The honor to give life and the chance of repentance to a fallen, lost and ancient people, is given to Ezekiel by God and through His power to resurrect ancient Israel into the 21st century at the beginning of Christ’s millennial reign.

God said to Ezekiel, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD’” (Ezekiel 37:4-6).

“So, I prophesied as I was commanded. And… there was a noise, a rattling sound and the bones came together, bone to bone…” (Ezekiel 37:7).

God will give them His Holy Spirit and they will live (Ezekiel 37:14).

SIXTH: APPOINTED TO REUNITE THE TWO HOUSES OF ISRAEL INTO ONE KINGDOM: This blessed prophet, Ezekiel will also reunite the kingdom of Israel. ALL of Israel, both houses, will be rejoined as one. A double blessing will be revealed when the ancient and new also come together at the same time, into this newly re-united kingdom.

“The word of the LORD came to me [Ezekiel]: ‘Son of man, take a stick of wood and write on it, ‘Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another stick of wood, and write on it, ‘Ephraim’s stick, belonging to Joseph and all the house of Israel associated with him.’ Join them together into one stick so that they will become one in your hand…Hold them before their eyes… I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains [government] of Israel. There will be one king over them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms” Ezekiel 37:15-17.

Early in the Millennium, the nations will see the work of God Almighty through His Son—the King of kings and Lord of lords. They will see the reunification of two houses divided for thousands of years come into ONE loving and peaceful union. They will witness a great resurrection back into physical bodies of an ancient people and the welcome into their 21st century covenant family kingdom of Israel. The excitement and wonder of this resurrection and unification will dazzle the world and the awe of Almighty God dwelling among them will bring fearful respect as they come to understand the unique role this kingdom holds. 

SEVENTH: APPOINTED KING OVER ALL ISRAEL: The man after God’s heart will rule as King of Israel—King David and he will establish and enforce God’s law and order over the whole kingdom of Israel

The king over all of the 12 tribes of Israel in ancient times, will again rule over them during the Millennium and throughout eternity. “My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees” (Ezekiel 37:24). Law and order will be followed, justice will be enforced and truth and honesty will be respected.

EIGHTH: APPOINTED GOVERNOR TO ENSURE THE BUILDING OF THE NEW TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM COMPRISES OF ONLY THE RIGHTEOUS: The guard against wickedness is Zerubbabel.

He is like a signet ring, God said. He will have the authority to make official everything needed to ensure the building of the New Jerusalem comprises only of the righteous. He will scrutinize everyone before allowing them to take on critical roles and offices within the NEW temple. 

In Haggai 2:23 we read, “‘On that day,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you.’”

Ancient kings used signet rings to officiate a command. “A signet contained an emblem unique to the king. Official documents were sealed with a dollop of soft wax impressed with the king’s signet, usually kept on a ring on his finger. Such a seal certified the document as genuine, much like a notary public’s stamp today.

It is important to understand who Zerubbabel is. He is the governor of the rebuilt Jerusalem and is himself of royal blood, being a descendant of David and the grandson of Judah’s King Jehoiachin. Years earlier, Jehoiachin had lost his throne when he was deported to Babylon; in fact, God pictured Jehoiachin as a signet ring being removed from God’s finger (Jeremiah 22:24). Now, God calls Zerubbabel the “signet ring,” but this time it won’t be removed.

In Haggai’s prophecy, God is giving Zerubbabel encouragement and hope. The governor is “chosen” for a unique and noble purpose. As God’s signet ring, Zerubbabel is given a place of honor and authority. God is reinstating the Davidic line and renewing His covenant with David.”

https://www.gotquestions.org/Zerubbabel-signet-ring.html

NINTH: OFFERED THE POSITION IN THE NEW JERUSALEM TO GOVERN GOD’S HOUSE/TEMPLE AND EXERCISE AUTHORITY IN GOD’S COURTS: A high priest in his time, Joshua will be offered governorship in God’s temple and charge in God’s legal system.

“Then I said, ‘Let them put a clean turban on his head.’ So a clean turban was placed on his head, and they clothed him, as the angel of the LORD stood by. Then the angel of the LORD gave this charge to Joshua: ‘This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘If you walk in My ways and keep My instructions, then you will govern My house and will also have charge of My courts; and I will give you a place among these who are standing here’” (Zechariah 3: 5-7).

The Joshua of Zechariah 3 was a Levite and descendant of Aaron in post-exilic Jerusalem in approximately 538 B.C. The prophet Haggai also refers to the high priest Joshua: “In the second year of Darius the king [537 B.C.], in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest” (Haggai 1:1).

Joshua would soon help rebuild the temple (Ezra 5:1-2). God used the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to communicate His command to rebuild the temple and encourage the people in their work. Joshua served as the spiritual leader and high priest who supported the effort, and Zerubbabel was the governor of Judah, also involved in the work.

As the first high priest in the rebuilt Jerusalem, Joshua played a significant historical role and was a precursor to Ezra, who came to Jerusalem during the second wave of returning exiles.

God told the prophet Zechariah to place a crown on Joshua’s head: “Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak” (Zechariah 6:11). Joshua was already the high priest, and the prophet was to symbolically crown him king. The coronation was to serve as an encouragement to Joshua in his work of rebuilding the temple. Also, it was a visual prophecy of the future Messiah—who would be both high priest (Hebrews 6:20) and king (Matthew 27:11). Significantly, the name “Joshua” is the Hebrew equivalent of the Greek name “Jesus.” Thus, the priest-king Joshua was a foreshadowing of the coming Messiah, and the similarity extended even to his name.”

https://www.gotquestions.org/Joshua-in-Zechariah.html

Joshua, after his resurrection will be appointed governor of God’s house and in-charge of God’s court where grievances will be resolved, justice enforced and sentencing executed. RIGHTEOUS rulership will be respected and honoured.

TENTH: GIFTED WITH THE WISDOM OF INTERPRETING DREAMS/VISIONS: Two men interpreted dreams and visions—Daniel of the House of Judah and Joseph of the House of Israel.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (Romans 1:16).

Daniel a Jew, of the tribe of Judah was first to be given the interpretation of dreams and visions. He was given rulership over the entire province of Babylon and in-charge of the wise men, the priests in Babylon. This special gift is given by God to those intimately close to Him. He places them in a powerful and unique role to see and understand God’s wisdom. Upon his resurrection, he will again reveal God’s mysteries to the world.

Joseph, prince among his brothers was given the birthright blessing, hence the double-portion. His two sons: Manasseh and Ephraim were adopted by Jacob and brought into the family as equal members. The younger son, Ephraim was given the leadership over the ten tribes of Israel. This house was first to relentlessly and arrogantly rebel against Almighty God and He eventually divorced them and they became known as Gentiles—simply meaning “of the nations” –not of the covenant family. Joseph was second to be given the interpretation of dreams and visions as the Apostle Paul understood, “first to the Jews(for they protected the oracles of God )and then to the Gentiles (for they departed and in God’s great joy, they returned and were grafted back in). Joseph’s rulership covered all of Egypt and during the great famine, he fed the WHOLE world and brought them into servitude to Pharaoh. He mirrored Jesus Christ feeding the whole world and bringing the whole world into servitude to Almighty God. This vast task will be given to him again as Christ’s rule during the Millennium grows to cover the whole earth.

The twelve apostles will work with both Daniel and Joseph. For this is what the Lord has commanded us: 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth'" (Acts 13:47). Their job is not finished.

The mysteries of God will be revealed to everyone and all will come to know Almighty God intimately. “And many peoples will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.’ For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:3).

“And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD to minister to Him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be His servants—all who keep the Sabbath without profaning it and who hold fast to My covenant—I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for MY HOUSE WILL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS” (Isaiah 56:6-7).

FINALLY, JUDGEMENT WILL BE MADE.

When all of God’s creation in heaven and earth have made their choices final, judgement will be made by God Almighty, Jesus Christ and the saints.

“Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!” (I Corinthians 6:2-3)

“Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel’” (Matthew 19:28).

“Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge” (Revelation 20:4).

God Almighty will complete His great work through His servants from old all the way into the 21st century. A glorious work is being done and the grand crescendo rests on our near horizon eagerly waiting for the cue.