Ship of the West

Today much of the western world attempts to live in a classless society. America in particular, has become the “city on the hill” and many nations attempt to emulate its values. The preamble to its constitution begins with the statement “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights...”

Western society currently operates without a King and without Priests to govern its people. If you do not like the leaders who govern your country, you can vote them out. Of course there are rules and laws, but they are made by elected officials who can also strike out or amend them. This all sounds like a good situation for all men. And for over the past two centuries it has worked well. 

But a time is coming when another society will emerge that claims it will surpass the supremacy of the governments of past and present. Its laws that govern the people will never change. “It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever”(Daniel 2:44). It is called the “an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him” (Daniel 7:27). 

According to the prophecy of Daniel 2 the beginnings of this Kingdom will be small, like a stone, yet will grow to become a Mountain that expands throughout the earth (see Daniel 2:35). The wonderful thing about this Kingdom is that will grows because people of all nations will see the wisdom and practicality of its laws. They will abandon the corrupt nations who have ruled over them and will voluntary join themselves to the Everlasting Kingdom. 

These are the final acts that precede the coming of Christ in the Last days. The emergence of this Kingdom was not prophesied by Yeshua, nor by Daniel the prophet. The first revelations of the Kingdom were collected and written by Moses 3500 years ago who said “The nations, who will hear about all these decrees (given to Israel) and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people… what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today” (Deuteronomy 4:6-8)? Since the time of the Exodus until today, this prophecy remains unfulfilled. It is certainly a last day’s prophecy and as I mentioned, its fulfillment immediately precedes the second coming of Christ. “All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed" (Revelation 15:4). The acts of Righteousness will be revealed through His people Israel.

How will this Kingdom begin? The evidence of scripture strongly suggests that it will be a repetition of the first Exodus. Like a small and insignificant stone, Moses quietly and humbly appeared on to the world scene. He along with the presence of the Elohim of Israel, came to Egypt (the most powerful military and economic nation at the time) under the command of the Most High. But the message was not received by the Pharaoh and his Priests and the common people. 

But as relentless judgments were pronounced upon the land of Egypt throughout the course of months, the stone became more prominent and the tide of public opinion changed. Moses “was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh's officials and by the people” (Exodus 11:3). The stone was transforming into a superior structure and began to tower above the nation of Egypt. And from its little beginnings a nation called Israel was born in a day. “And on that very day the YHWH brought the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions” (Exodus 12:51).

But curiously, it is recorded that as Israel left Egypt “A mixed multitude went up also with them” (Exodus 12:38). Who were these of the “mixed multitude”? This group of people are defined in the same chapter as the “Foreigner” and the “Alien”. What many have failed to notice in the Exodus story is that the great works of YHWH were designed to influence a multitude of Gentiles to leave Egyptian society and join Israel as citizens. This, in a small way, became a microcosm of the everlasting kingdom when the people of Israel finally fulfill the promise to become a blessing to all nations. 

Why do I bring this up? It is because when this blessing occurs, mankind will need to get used to new customs and practices within a new social structure. These customs are not new, they have been written long ago and are vital to the makeup of the Everlasting Kingdom. Therefore it behooves us to come to terms with them before the everlasting Kingdom appears. This was the hardest things for the Israelites and the mixed multitude to come to terms with when they left Egypt. Remember that the people of Israel had been "Egyptianized" for centuries and had difficulties returning to their ancient customs when YHWH brought them into the wilderness.

Likewise, the church is presently under many styles of Government and unique national customs today. It is going to be difficult for us to come to terms with living under the ancient Laws and customs of ancient Israel. As gracious as YHWH will be to deliver us from the reaches of the Beast, many who will come into this Kingdom will fail to see that the God who ordered the community of Israel in the past is the same God who will administer the Everlasting Community in the future. In His mercy, He will lay many to rest prior to the conclusion of the Last days so that the Everlasting Kingdom will fulfill His will to succeed.

Let us put away any glamorous thought that you and I are have a perfect understanding of how to live in such a community. We have been corrupted by society. We may be precious stones in His eyes, but we must be chiseled and many portions which we may consider beautiful must be cut in order to glitter and shine in His presence. Those who shine in the last days will be humble and repentant; recognizing that they fell short of YHWH’s will for the arrangement of His Kingdom. Such a person will take heed to His Laws and will obey them.

So, in the words of Paul, let us take heed to the following warning “Now all these things happened unto them (of the Exodus) for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:11-12).

Will you be able to adapt to such a Kingdom? Are you willing to search the scriptures and prepare to become a humble citizen within the community of Israel?