55.4 All Will Be Included In The New Jerusalem

(Psalm 87)

The Lord built his city on the sacred hill;
more than any other place in Israel
he loves the city of Jerusalem.
Listen, city of God, to the wonderful
things he says about you.:

"I will include Egypt and Babylonia
when I list the nations that obey me;
the people of Philistia, Tyre, and Sudan
I will number among the inhabitants of Jerusalem."

Of Zion it will be said that all nations belong there
and that the Almighty will make her strong.
The Lord will write a list of the peoples
and include them all as citizens of Jerusalem.
They dance and sing.
"In Zion is the source of all our blessings."

55.3 The Fulfillment of What Exists: Everything is Restored Under Christ's Leadership

(Ephesians 1:7-10)

For by the death of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven.  How great is the grace of God, which he gave to us in such large measure!

In all his wisdom and insight God did what he had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan he had already decided to complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head.

55.2 It Is Like A Wedding Feast

(Matthew 22:1-14)

Jesus again used parables in talking to the people,, "The Kingdom of heaven is like this.  Once there was a king who prepared a  wedding feast for his son. He sent his servants to tell the invited guests to come to the feast, but they did not want to come.  So he sent other servants with this message for the guests: "My feast is ready now; my steers and prize calves have been butchered, and everything is ready.  Come to the wedding feast! But the invited guests paid no attention and went about their business: one went to his farm, another to his store, while others grabbed the servants, beat them, and killed them.  The king was very angry; so he sent his soldiers, who killed those murderers and burned down their city.  Then he called his servants and said to them, "My wedding feast is ready, but the people I invited did not deserve it. Now go to the main streets and invite to the feast as many people as you find.' So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, good and bad alike; and the wedding hall was filled with people.

The king went it to look at the guests and saw a man who was not wearing wedding clothes. 'Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes? the king asked him. But the man said nothing.  Then the king told the servants, 'Tie him up hand and foot, and throw him outside in the dark. There he will cry and gnash his teeth.'"

And Jesus concluded, "Many are invited, but few are chosen."

55.1 It Is A Hidden Treasure Or A Pearl For Which We Sell Everything

(Matthew 13:44-46)

"The Kingdom of heaven is like this. A man happens to find a treasure hidden in a field.  He covers it up again, and is so happy that he goes and sells everything he has, and then goes back and buys that field."

"Also, the Kingdom of heaven is like this.  A man is looking for fine pearls, and when he finds one that is unusually fine, he goes and sells everything he has, and buys that pearl."

54.5 The Kingdom Of The Messiah

(Psalm 72)

Teach the king to judge with your righteousness, O God;
share with him your own justice, so that he will rule over your people with justice and govern the oppressed with righteousness.
May the land enjoy prosperity; may it experience righteousness.
May the king judge the poor fairly; may he help the needy and defeat their oppressors.
May your people worship you as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon gives light, for ages to come.

May the king be like rain on the fields, like showers falling on the land.
May righteousness flourish in his lifetime, and may prosperity last as long as the moon gives light.

His kingdom will reach from sea to sea, from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.
The peoples of the desert will bow down before him; his enemies will throw themselves to the ground.
The kings of Spain and of the islands will offer him gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Ethiopia will bring him offerings.
All kings will bow down before him; all nations will serve him.

He rescues the poor who call to him, and those who are needy and neglected.
He has pity on the weak and poor; he saves the lives of those in need.
He rescues them from oppression and violence; their lives are precious to him.

Long live the king!
May he be given gold from Arabia; may prayers be said for him at all times;
may God's blessings be on him always!
May there be plenty of grain in the land; may the hills be covered with crops, as fruitful as those of Lebanon.
May the cities be filled with people, like fields full of grass.
May the king's name never be forgotten; may his fame last as long as the sun.
May all nations ask God to bless them as he has blessed the king.

Praise the Lord, the God of Israel!
He alone does these wonderful things.
Praise his glorious name forever!
May his glory fill the whole world.

Amen! Amen!