July 31, 2016

7 Since no one knows the future, who can tell someone else what is to come? Ecclesiastes 8:7 Only God knows what the future holds.

Micah presents three pictures. Ch. 1-3 – Lack of Godliness Ch. 4-5 – The One who is Godlike Ch. 6-7 – God pleading to the nation

Ch. 4-5 – The One Who Is Godlike Ch. 4 – The Last Days Ch. 5 – The Incarnate Christ

Timeline of Old Testament Prophets

12 Because of you, Mount Zion will be ploughed like an open field;     Jerusalem will be reduced to ruins! A thicket will grow on the heights     where the Temple now stands.

1[But] in the last days…

…there will be great distress, unequalled from the beginning of the world until now – and never to be equalled again. Matthew 24:21

NT-44 A Period of Tribulation

the Tribulation (all seven years) The last days embrace: the Tribulation (all seven years) the return of Christ to the earth and the millennial kingdom of Christ NT-44 A Period of Tribulation

the most important place on earth. 1[But] in the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house will be the highest of all— the most important place on earth.

the most important place on earth. 1[But] in the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house will be the highest of all— the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills…

LITERALLY Jerusalem is located on a hill Christ’s millennial kingdom will be established in Jerusalem Jerusalem will be the capital of the earth

34While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. FIGURATIVELY – Daniel 2 34While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them.

FIGURATIVELY 35The the iron, clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer.

and filled the whole earth. FIGURATIVELY The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.

1[But] in the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house will be the highest of all—the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship.

…2 People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There He will teach us His ways,     and we will walk in His paths.” For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion;     His word will go out from Jerusalem.

“The wonderful prophecies in this chapter will be fulfilled during the millennial kingdom when Christ Himself is reigning in Jerusalem. Then the heads of the capitals of the world – Ottawa, Peking, Berlin, London, Washington – will be going to Jerusalem to be taught by Christ Himself of His ways.” J.V. McGee

strong nations far away. 3 The Lord will mediate between [judge among] peoples and will settle disputes between strong nations far away.

They will hammer their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore.

This verse is not being fulfilled by the United Nations! This verse will only be fulfilled when Christ establishes His millennial kingdom! We shall hammer our swords into ploughshares.

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies 4 Everyone will live in peace and prosperity,     enjoying their own grapevines and fig trees,     for there will be nothing to fear. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has made this promise!

5 Though the nations around us follow their idols, [past]

we will follow the Lord our God forever and ever. [future]

Then I, the Lord, will rule from Jerusalem as their king forever.” 7 Those who are weak will survive as a remnant;     those who were exiles will become a strong nation. Then I, the Lord, will rule from Jerusalem     as their king forever.”

God always preserved(s) a remnant: It was a remnant of those who left Egypt that entered the promised land In Elijah’s day, God had a faithful remnant There was a remnant of believers at the first coming of Christ

God always preserved(s) a remnant: At Pentecost it was a remnant that turned to Christ It is a remnant within the church who hold true to His word There is a remnant of believers among the people of Israel

The kingship will be restored to my precious Jerusalem. 8 As for you, Jerusalem, the citadel of God’s people, your royal might and power     will come back to you again. The kingship will be restored     to my precious Jerusalem.

9 But why are you now screaming in terror? Have you no king to lead you? Have your wise people all died?     Pain has gripped you like a woman in childbirth.

10 Writhe and groan like a woman in labor,     you people of Jerusalem, for now you must leave this city to live in the open country.*

When Nebuchadnezzar captured the city [over one hundred years later], the remaining inhabitants fled and tried to live in the fields. Eventually they were taken captive to Babylon. History

You will soon be sent in exile to distant Babylon.

Timeline of Old Testament Prophets

You will soon be sent in exile to distant Babylon. But the Lord will rescue you there; He will redeem you from the grip of your enemies.

11 Now many nations have gathered against you 11 Now many nations have gathered against you. “Let her be desecrated,” they say. “Let us see the destruction of Jerusalem.”

12 But they do not know the Lord’s thoughts or understand His plan. These nations don’t know that He is gathering them together to be beaten and trampled     like sheaves of grain on a threshing floor.

13 “Rise up and crush the nations, O Jerusalem!” says the Lord. “For I will give you iron horns [power] and bronze hooves [speed], so you can trample many nations to pieces. You will present their stolen riches to the Lord, their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.”

every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and …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

Who gave Himself for me, And paid the price of all my sin My hope is in the Lord Who gave Himself for me, And paid the price of all my sin at Calvary.

For me He lives, And everlasting life and light For me He died, For me He lives, And everlasting life and light He freely gives.

His anger to suppress. My only hope is found in Jesus' righteousness. No merit of my own His anger to suppress. My only hope is found in Jesus' righteousness.

Before the Father's throne. He shows His wounded hands And now for me He stands Before the Father's throne. He shows His wounded hands and names me as His own.

His grace has planned it all, 'Tis mine but to believe, And recognize His work of love and Christ receive.

For me He died, For me He lives, And everlasting life and light He freely gives.