Amos and Obadiah
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It is important that the reader not be able to miss the Bible’s constant emphasis about the coming, world-ruling SUPERGOVERNMENT to be established over all nations, under the reigning leadership of the FAMILY— or the KINGDOM— of God. I repeat, it is worth the time taken to lay this foundation early in the book.
Now let’s look at what the prophet Amos recorded: “In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by My name, says the LORDthat does this. Behold, the days come, says the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. And I will bring again the [back from] captivity [a later chapter will look closely at passages that reference this event] of My people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, says theLORD your God” (Amos 9:11-15).
One of the most inspiring passages in the entire Bible about the kingdom of God is also one of the shortest on the subject, and is also found in one of the Bible’s shortest books—Obadiah. It explains what God’s people once knew to be a part of their future as they worked with people around the world, beginning in the Millennium: “And SAVIORS shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the KINGDOM shall be the LORD’ s” (Obadiah 1:21).
This passage references “saviors” (the newly-resurrected saints in the God Family) who “come up” at a certain point within God’s government in Jerusalem. The meaning here is unmistakable—this is at the time when “thekingdom shall be the LORD’ s.” Any kingdom that is “the LORD’ s” would have to be the KINGDOM OF GOD.
Micah and Habakkuk
Let’s now look at what two more prophets recorded. The following familiar passage in Micah was also read for decades at WCG Feast sites (it is repeated almost verbatim in Isaiah 2:1-4):
“But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain [kingdom] of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills [small countries]; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of theLORD of hosts has spoken it. For all people will walk every one in the name of his god [the now divine saints ruling with Christ], and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever” (Micah 4:1-5).
The prophet Micah also recorded this about both Christ’s nativity and perhaps greatest future role: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, You be little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2). Matthew 2:6quotes this same verse in a parallel form that offers an even clearer meaning: “For out of you [Judah] shall come a governor, that shall rule My people Israel.”
There is no question about the topic in these two passages.
Considering the state of spiritual ignorance in the world today, Habakkuk also carries one of the most inspiring passages in the entire Bible—this one for the world and not just for the saints: “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14).
Of course, the fulfillment of this passage could only be possible if one central government were ruling all nations. This verse perhaps best illustrates how the kingdom of God can be described in terms helpful in a variety of ways.
Zephaniah
The next passage, from Zephaniah, highlights what must be considered one of the inspiring portions of Scripture about the future of the twelve tribes of Israel. Shattered by the Great Tribulation and her resultant captivity around the world, Israel will soon hear these words:
“Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. TheLORD has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of you: you shall not see evil any more. In that day [when Israel’s captivity ends] it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear you not: and to Zion, Let not your hands be slack. The LORD your God in the midst of you is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over you with singing. I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of you, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict you: and I will save her that halts, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back [bring to an end] your captivity before your eyes, says the LORD” (Zephaniah 3:14-20).
Again, later, in one of the book’s most inspiring chapters, you will see in a much, much grander way the events talked about in this passage. A seed has been planted here about the Work of God remaining for this age that is beyond what you can envision or even imagine.
Remember these words!
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