It
first will begin
with Israel and
later on be
experienced by the
Gentile nations
A
Brief Review of
Previous Writings
—
To
enable us to get a
better picture in
mind of what I am
writing this time,
it seems necessary
that I review some
of what I have
already written.
Immediately
upon setting foot
on the Mount of
Olives, Jesus
Christ and His new
Family Members
will begin the
process by making
the needed
dramatic changes
that will shape
this coming world
in full accordance
with the
millennial
prophecies.
God’s
holy and righteous
laws will envelop
it all in every
way and in
everything.
The
gigantic
earth-wide
earthquake will
begin the process.
The epi-center of
the earthquake
will undoubtedly
be in Jerusalem
and begin as
Christ sets His
foot on the Mount
of Olives, just as
the same occurred
when Christ came
down on Mount
Sinai during the
exodus:
Now
Mount Sinai was
completely in
smoke, because the
LORD descended
upon it in fire.
Its smoke ascended
like the smoke of
a furnace, AND THE
WHOLE MOUNTAIN
QUAKED GREATLY
(Exodus 19:18;
Psalm 68:8).
After
the battle in the
valley of
Jehoshaphat
(Armageddon) is
over, Christ will
begin dealing
severely with the
enemy nations of
Israel for their
brutality and
mistreatment of
His people.
He
and His new Family
Members will then
begin the
liberation of the
millions of
Israeli captives
who will have been
slaves within
those nations for
three long, long,
years.
Under
the guidance and
direction of the
God-Family Members
these liberated
Israelis will then
begin making their
journey to
Jerusalem..
Though
some processing of
these people may
very well be done
in-route, the
major part of it
will be done in
Jerusalem.
When
we consider the
time involved
after their
liberation from
near and far
distant lands to
the completion of
their travel to
Jerusalem will of
itself require
perhaps weeks or
months in some
cases. In addition
a lot of time will
be involved in the
complete
processing of them
after reaching
.Jerusalem.
All
this put together
could require from
one to possibly 6
months or so
depending on how
long it takes all
of them to finally
reach this
destination.
Due
to the steady flow
of numbers coming
from near and far
there will
probably be a
steady stream of
people coming and
going during this
processing. Some
will only have to
travel a
relatively short
distance whereas
others will come
from distant
nations. There
will also be the
in-between.
The
logistics involved
clearly make known
this will continue
for many weeks, if
not months.
Tribal
Locations in the
Land of Israel —
Part
of their
processing will
involve
determining in
what part of the
land of Israel all
of these people
are to be settled.
To which one of
the 12 tribes does
each one belong?
This problem will
be time consuming in
itself as well.
Christ
undoubtedly will
be involved for
only He will
really know which
tribe of Israel
each one belongs.
Very probably He
will use His
Family Members to
guide the physical
leadership who
will be chosen to
make those
determinations.
Guidelines
to be followed
will include the
stronger and more
dominant tribal
strain that will
be seen in the
facial features of
the people.
Surnames
will also be part
of the determining
factor, but not
completely!
Through the slow
but continued
migration of the
10 tribes of
Israel from where
they were carried
away in captivity
by Assyria to
where they are
today, Gentile
names sometimes
replaced the
original ones.
As
an example, think
about Daniel,
Shadrach and
Abednego. Their
Hebrew names were
changed while in
captivity to
Babylonian names
(Daniel 1:6-7).
With
the exception of
the Jewish people,
who have as a
whole remained
faithful to their
national heritage
by marrying within
their own race,
all of the other
tribes have
intermarried
within the other
tribes of Israel
over the
centuries, many
marrying Gentiles;
some have crossed
the color lines.
This
is especially true
within the house
of Joseph, and
continuing at an
accelerated pace
in this end-time,
just as it did
before the Flood
of Noah’s time.
With
these things in
mind, it would
appear that the
predominant
characteristics of
each person and
family will pretty
much be the
determining
factor, though sur-names
will also be a
factor.
It
only seems logical
such decisions as
these will have to
be made in the
assembling area in
Jerusalem where
all of the
surviving
Israelites will
come. It will also
be necessary to
prepare them in
other needed ways.
As
we can well
imagine, this will
be no easy task to
separate the
people into the
tribal lands.
Under the guidance
of Jesus Christ,
and those He
designates to work
with these
problems, the
difficult task
will be
accomplished, and
in time, if not
sooner, the people
will be very happy
with those
decisions.
Question:
To which tribe do
you think you
belong? The same
question can be
asked if you are
of another
heritage? While
considering this
of ourselves,
perhaps we can
well understand
this will be no
simple task for
the most part.
In
This Writing —
In
this writing I
will focus on the
settlement of
these people as
they begin to
settle in their
new home-land that
was originally the
Promised Land for
the children of
Israel.
As
they view their
allotted land they
will probably be
somewhat
discouraged seeing
all the work that
will have to be
done to build
houses, barns, and
other building to
meet the needs of
family, animals,
and machinery.
What they will see
at the time will
be a land that is
desolate. No
houses, or other
buildings can be
seen for there
will be none. The
mammoth earthquake
will have leveled
them.. Just plain
desolate land!
TOMORROW
... WHAT IT WILL
BE LIKE,
pages 40-59, Mr.
Armstrong
"...
Another tremendous
project on the
worldwide
international
level will be that
of rebuilding the
waste places, and
the construction
of whatever really
great and large
buildings or
structures Christ
will require for
the world He will
create. And
they shall build
the old waste
places, they shall
raise up the
former
desolations, and
they shall repair
the waste cities,
the desolations of
many generations (Isaiah
61:4). ...
Indication is
strong, therefore,
that Job will be
director of
worldwide urban
renewal,
rebuilding the
waste places and
the destroyed
cities, not as
they are now, but
according to
God’s pattern;
vast engineering
projects, such as
dams and power
plants – or
whatever the
ruling Christ
shall
decree."
The
Israelites will
begin being
involved in great
construction
projects, such as:
building new
houses, cities
(buildings,
factories,
plumbing, electric
plants, sewer
systems, etc.),
buildings for
Church services,
schools, colleges,
highways, and also
the building of
the new Temple
that will
represent the
permanent
residence of Jesus
Christ and His
Family Members.
In
all of these
endeavors there
will be the
continued need of
Jesus Christ and
His Family Members
overseeing and
guiding all that
is done to make
sure it will be
indeed become the
Wonderful World
Tomorrow.
The
Reconstruction
—
During
this
reconstruction
process there will
be the immediate
pressing need for
houses to live in
along with large
buildings to meet
other needs, such
as places to
congregate on the
Sabbaths and Holy
Days.
Though
all will be
quickly built by
carpenters and
craftsman of all
kinds for family
dwellings and
large buildings
for weekly Sabbath
services in all of
the sites of the
cities, hamlets,
and villages, it
won’t be fast
enough. In the
interim period of
time it will
probably be a land
of tents.
Sabbath
services will of
necessity be held
out in open areas.
Due to the
blessing of rain
and warm sunshine
there will be a
carpet of green
grass for the
people to sit on.
This
should not be
difficult to
understand for
Jesus Christ
taught many
thousands of
people when He was
here in areas such
as this. And the
congregating will
be well organized
just as Christ
commanded it to be
when feeding the
multitudes:
Then
He commanded them
(His disciples) to
make them all sit
down in groups, on
the green grass.
So they sat down
in ranks, in
hundreds and in
fifties (Mark
6:39-40).
There
will also be the
need for very
large special
buildings for the
observance of
God’s Feast Days
when a few of the
local
Congregations will
combine services.
And over time
there will be
other buildings
needed for the
arts and other
needs as well.
We
can well imagine
this will be a
combined community
effort in all of
these areas for
even with the
houses to be
constructed many
families will lack
the skills that
will be necessary.
Due to God’s
Holy Spirit being
within them, the
combined effort
will be happily
and cheerfully
given. As the
result a bond of
real love will
develop between
and among them;
one that will
never cease.
Those
of us who are
older will
remember how the
people coped in
the 1930s when
there were real
needs due to the
terrible drought
experienced by all
in this country.
Neighbor helped
neighbor as much
as they could.
They had no
problem about
going to another
neighbor asking to
borrow whatever
the need might be;
women asking to
borrow a cup of
flour or sugar,
etc.
Think
how much better it
will be during the
beginning year of
that new world
when needs will be
met by neighbors
who have the love
of God poured out
in their hearts by
the Holy Spirit.
The
reconstruction
will begin in
Israel and after
some years go by
the Master
Building Plan of
God will reach out
and include all
the nations of the
earth.
A
Master Building
Plan —
God
will put in place
His Master Plan
for the
reconstruction of
all buildings.
Just as we read in
the quote above by
Mr. Armstrong, the
rebuilding of the
waste places and
the destroyed
cities, the really
great large
buildings or
structures Christ
will require for
the world He will
create, will not
be as they are
now.
The
reconstruction
program that will
take place in
Jerusalem and
Israel will be so
artistically
designed by Christ
that it will SET A
PATTERN for all
nations to follow
in regard to the
needs of all
peoples as they
come to repentance
and begin obeying
God.
Realizing
that God loves
diversity,
undoubtedly the
architectural
design of homes
and buildings will
vary greatly, yet
will be within the
design and laws of
God.
Considering
what they will
have experienced
while in captivity
and slavery the
temporary living
conditions will be
no real problem
for these people.
They will be
strengthened and
encouraged by the
vision of that
Master Plan in
their minds.
An
Example —
One
of the
minister’s wives
told a few of us
about her coming
to Ambassador
College in Big
Sandy, Texas
during its early
years. She was
assigned to a
booth. As she
looked about Booth
City, while
feeling the hot
summer sun, seeing
no green grass, no
shade trees
nearby, just a
desolate area, she
thought to
herself,
"Surely there
has to be
something better
than this!"
She
was viewing it
with her home area
in mind from where
she had lived.
(She did stick it
out and later
graduated.)
Perhaps this will
give a feeling for
what the exiles
will be viewing.
But just as things
began to improve
greatly over some
time in Booth
City, so will it
in that new world,
only far better.
The
exiles have lived
through the bad
and will know that
God will bless and
guide their
efforts while
teaching them to
build a new and
godly
civilization. And
the houses they
will build will be
as beautiful as
the ones they had
lived in prior to
the destruction of
Israel as nations,
if not far better.
NOTE:
Once again, I
remind the reader
that what I am
writing will have
to do with the
broad areas of
every day life.
However it should
at the same time
enable us to begin
getting a picture
in mind of what
will begin taking
place during that
first year just
inside the
millennium.
It
undoubtedly will
take a few months
before the Israeli
exiles will begin
moving from their
tents into and
settling in their
new homes.
This
will be a real
pioneering effort
and accomplishment
on the part of
each one of the
millions who will
have been brought
to this new land
from where they
have served in
slavery for the
past three years.
Except
for the Jewish
people who will
yet live there, it
will be a totally
new land for all
the others.
And
they will come to
love this ancient
land that has
played such a
prominent part in
the history of
mankind from his
very creation. It
is believed, and
undoubtedly true,
the garden in Eden
was in the land of
ancient Israel,
probably in the
very area of
Jerusalem.
This
was the land that
God chose above
all other places
on earth to become
His permanent
residence. In the
early history we
find Melchizedek
Headquartered in
Salem (city of
peace, Jerusalem,
Genesis 14:18).
Soon Jesus Christ
will return and
will again
establish His
presence in His
beloved city never
to forsake it
again.
Even
God the Father
will come down to
this city and
dwell there in
time to come (I
Corinthians
15:24-28).
The
First Settlers in
America —
To
get a feel for
what the families
will experience in
the beginning of
the settlement in
Israel, think of
the similarity of
the first pilgrims
who came to this
country and began to
make their new
homes here. Families
who came here from
England on the
Mayflower and
other ships as
well.
Though
the land will
filled with wild
game and virgin
soil, they
experienced real
hardship, very bad
winter weather,
disease, and other
problems. Many of
them died and were
replaced by
others.
Had
they had not help
from friendly
Indians probably
all of the first
colonists would
have died.
It
is realized what
they did in coming
to this country
was directed by
God. However there
was a lack of a
real relationship
with God and
therefore failure
to obey His
laws. Over time
and the continued
flow of people
coming to this
country, they did
fulfill the
promises of God to
Abraham. Promises
that were passed
down from Abraham
to finally come to
fruition in
Manesseh.
Ephraim
had already been
established true
to God’s promise
to him.
The
Difference —
There
will be a major
difference with
these early
pioneers of the
second exodus for
they will be
blessed by God in
all their efforts
because of their
repentance and
beginning
obedience to all
of His laws.
Even
so, we should
realize it will
not be easy for
all of these
people during that
first year
realizing the
complete upheaval
brought about by
the gigantic
earthquake that
will take place at
the coming of
Jesus Christ. So
massive and
extensive will be
the damage from it
there will be
total destruction
of all the
buildings in the
land, leaving it
barren and
desolate.
However
those will come to
be happy times for
they will begin
experiencing real
happiness and
satisfaction due
to real
achievement of
their continued
labor. Once again
the happy sound of
whistling and
singing will be
heard while they
work.
Songs
that will be
filled with
praise, honor, and
thanksgiving to
Jesus Christ who
will be richly
blessing them.
There will not be
the kind of
singing, rap,
rock, and mournful
songs, that make
up so much of what
is heard today
in all areas of
what is called
music and song.
Though
it will be real
labor due to
everything having
to be built from
the ground up, it
will be productive
labor. Jesus
Christ will have
paved the way
though the
earthquake that
will bring about
His blessings on
the soil that over
some little time
will begin growing
food crops that
will be filled
with abundant
nutritious
minerals and
vitamins.
Through
right education
there will come to
be a true
understanding of
the soil and how
it was designed to
work and maintain
its productivity
indefinitely.
A
very necessary
addition will be
the rain in due
season. The lovely
sight of the
brooks and creeks
of running water
will be greatly
appreciated. There
will also be
springs of water
in all the right
places. A person
will be able to
drink cool crystal
clear water almost
anywhere. What a
delight it will
be!
The
people will begin
to experience real
health due to the
beginning of
eating the kinds
of foods that will
supply the needs
for good health.
This will require
some time because
of their emaciated
bodies from the
years of famine
followed by harsh
slavery and the
small amount of
food that will
have been given to
them. Foods
lacking in the
vital nutrition
the human body
needs to promote
and maintain good
health.
A
Personal Example:
While in the
convalescent
hospital in
Verdun, France, in
May, 1945, one man
stands out in my
mind who had been
in captivity by
the Germans. He
was skin and
bones. It took
some time to begin
putting the right
kind of flesh back
on him.
I
dare say most of
us have also seen
film footage of
the Jewish people
who were liberated
from the
concentration
camps run and
guarded by German
soldiers. Think
about this in
connection with
what all of these
people will look
like when they are
liberated.
Restaurants
and Fast Food
Places —
Restaurants
undoubtedly will
be built and will
do a good business
for people enjoy
eating out now and
then. Possibly
even fast food
places will be
established for
people in the
cities who like to
eat in such places
during the lunch
hour.
However
it seems worthy to
note that there
will be a dramatic
change in both the
menus and the
foods they will
serve to the
public.
They
will learn the
laws of health and
will only sell
food that will be
nutritious and
health-building,
using all
wholesome food
products.
In
contrast, it was
interesting for me
to find an
admission of guilt
by restaurants in
the morning
newspaper of
August 6, 03,
regarding the
foods that are
sold to their
customers:
The
Stockton,
California RECORD,
Page D3, "The
restaurant
industry opposes
efforts to force
restaurants to
change menus or
disclose
nutritional
information.
..."
If
we know anything
about healthful
living, we should
understand their
strong opposition
to making such
information known.
But at the same
time, I seriously
doubt it would
make a real
difference with
the customers.
Scripture
clearly implies
many of the health
problems that are
experienced today
are due to the
refined foods that
are eaten which
have had many of
the minerals and
vitamins removed
to make the foods
that are eaten
attractive and
tasty, therefore
sacrificing good
health, plus
adding
preservatives to
give them longer
shelf-life.
Consider the
following
Scripture in this
context::
"So
you shall serve
the LORD your God,
and He WILL BLESS
YOUR BREAD AND
YOUR WATER. And I
will TAKE SICKNESS
AWAY from the
midst of you. No
one shall suffer
miscarriages or be
barren in your
land; I will
fulfill the number
of your days"
(Exodus 23:25-26
The
Seven Laws of
Health, pages
42-43, 46-47, Mr.
Armstrong (The
Third Law):
"...
man IS just what
he eats. Some of
the most famous
physicians and
surgeons have said
that 90% to 95% of
all sickness and
disease comes from
faulty diet!
Most
people are in
utter ignorance of
the fact that it
does make a
difference what we
eat! Most people,
and the customs of
society, have
followed a regimen
of eating whatever
tastes good to the
palate. ...
Most
have grown up
eating just
whatever seems to
taste good – and
whatever they see
others eating.
There has been
little education
or even study
about WHAT we
ought – or ought
NOT – to eat.
...
The
average person has
never stopped to
realize that it
is not natural
to be sick.
Sickness and
disease come only
from violation
of nature’s laws
of body and
mind – the
physical LAWS of
health. Most
people have not
learned that
there are such
laws! They suppose
that occasional
illness or disease
is natural in the
course of life.
Nothing could be
further from the
truth!"
Obedience
To Both Physical
and Spiritual Laws
—
We
can well believe
these laws will be
taught in the
coming world and
will be obeyed.
People will come
to appreciate,
value, and enjoy
the real
mouth-watering
flavor of quality
foods. Eating
foods that will be
fresh, direct from
the gardens and
farms, along with
tree-ripened
delicious and
enjoyable fresh
fruits. No
preservatives in
anything, not even
in wine!
Women
will learn their
place is in the
home to care for
and teach their
children, as well
as taking care of
their husbands.
They will learn to
cook and bake
bread goods from
the flour ground
from whole grains.
They will also use
real butter and
olive oil. No
chemical filled
margarines or
harmful oils will
ever be used
again.
Women
will pattern their
lives after the
ideal woman and
wife as found in
Proverbs 31. No
more briefcases
and off to the
office leaving
their husbands to
take care of the
home and children.
Men
will begin to
fulfill their
God-given role in
being the right
kind of the leader
of the family
while caring for
and supplying the
needs of the
family through
love and
understanding.
They will find the
time needed for
family activities
that will promote
unity and harmony
within the family.
Houses
to be Built —
Based
on an indictment
against Israel by
God, it would
appear that houses
even in the cities
will be built with
ample yard space,
possibly up to a
half of an acre
for each one.
There will also be
no monopolies,
fewer and fewer
owning more and
more:
"Woe
to those who JOIN
house to house,
who ADD field to
field, till there
is NO PLACE where
they may dwell
alone in the midst
of the land"
(Isaiah 5:8).
Families
will have plenty
of room for
gardens and fruit
trees, a cow or a
goat for milk,
along with a few
chickens for the
laying and use of
fresh eggs:
"But
everyone shall sit
under his vine and
under his fig
tree." (Micah
4:4)
To
Be Continued —
I
hope to continue
next time with the
areas that fit in
with what we have
covered this time
as we continue to
consider what will
soon come to pass
in this brand-new
world.
Our
love and prayers
for each of you,
Don
Billingsley
Please
continue to
frequently view
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