(Clip) God's Dealings with Israel and His Theocratic Rule
Art Katz emphasizes that Israel's future restoration and God's theocratic rule are central to God's righteous redemptive plan for the nations, requiring a faithful remnant to return to Zion.
This sermon emphasizes the future restoration of Israel as a pivotal part of God's redemptive plan for all nations. It highlights the necessity for the redeemed of the Lord to return to Zion for God's theocratic rule to be established, purging out rebels and constituting a remnant that will survive through God's mercy. The message stresses the importance of recognizing God's righteous judgment and the ultimate need for redemption through Him.
Full Transcript
We need to recognize that what is being described is not something of Israel's past, but something of Israel's future. How do you know what? Because it says, and you shall know that I am the Lord. This is what is required for that knowing.
Nothing less. It's not God being arbitrary, God being cruel, it's God being righteous. And meeting out what is exactly necessary, knowing the condition of this people and judging them for their sin, and yet meeting them in the judgment and revealing himself to them that they might constitute the redeemed of the Lord that return to Zion.
I tell you, if the redeemed of the Lord do not return to Zion, the Lord himself will not be their king on the holy hill of Zion, and we will still have to contend with lousy human governments and warfare and vexation in the nations. They'll not study war no more until he rules. The issue of Israel's restoration is the issue of the theocratic rule of God.
We're not talking only about the fate of an ethnic group, we're talking about the conclusion of God's redemptive cosmic plan for the nations, in which he insists that this one nation be the pivot and the locus of his government over all nations. I will rule over you, and over them. I will purge out the rebels from among you that transgress against me.
By the way, are you hearing okay in the back? Is there enough volume? Yeah? I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel. You should know that I am the Lord. I suspect that the rebels will constitute the greater part of world Jewry, and will not survive the process of attrition of those last days.
It will be a remnant that constitute the restored nation. And here's the point for you. There'll be no remnant at all that could survive at all, except for the mercy received through you in the wilderness of the nations.
You say, what part of New Zealand are you talking about? Some little known remote section? Well, as I said earlier today in my last visit to New Zealand, as I was speaking on this subject, the Lord impressed me to say to the hearers, the whole of New Zealand is a wilderness among the nations. You're different.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Future of Israel
- Israel's restoration is not past but future
- God's righteous judgment on Israel's sin
- The necessity of knowing the Lord
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II. The Theocratic Rule of God
- God's government over all nations through Israel
- The purging of rebels from among Israel
- The significance of Zion as God's holy hill
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III. The Remnant and the Wilderness
- A faithful remnant will return to Zion
- The role of mercy in preserving the remnant
- The wilderness of the nations as a place of testing
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IV. Practical Implications
- Human governments will fail without God's rule
- The importance of spiritual readiness
- God's cosmic redemptive plan hinges on Israel
Key Quotes
“I tell you, if the redeemed of the Lord do not return to Zion, the Lord himself will not be their king on the holy hill of Zion.” — Art Katz
“We're not talking only about the fate of an ethnic group, we're talking about the conclusion of God's redemptive cosmic plan for the nations.” — Art Katz
“There'll be no remnant at all that could survive at all, except for the mercy received through you in the wilderness of the nations.” — Art Katz
Application Points
- Trust in God's righteous judgment as part of His redemptive plan.
- Commit to being part of the faithful remnant that supports Israel's spiritual restoration.
- Recognize the importance of God's rule over human governments and seek His kingdom first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main focus of this sermon?
The sermon focuses on Israel's future restoration and God's theocratic rule as key to His redemptive plan for the nations.
Why is the return to Zion important?
Because God's rule as king on the holy hill of Zion depends on the redeemed of the Lord returning there.
Who will constitute the restored nation of Israel?
A faithful remnant, preserved by God's mercy, will constitute the restored nation.
What is meant by the wilderness of the nations?
It refers to the places where God's people are scattered and tested before restoration.
How does this sermon view human governments?
Human governments are insufficient and will continue to cause conflict until God rules.