Isaiah 1:23
Your rulers are rogues
And cronies of thieves,
Every one avid for presents
And greedy for gifts.

The majority of ‘people’ ‘take no thought’ and the leaders are rogues; the typical realities at the end of an age. (references from the new translation of the Tanakh)

Isaiah 2:2
In the days to come,
The Mount of the Lord’s House
Shall stand firm above the mountains.
And tower above the hills’
And all the nations
Shall gaze upon it with joy.
And the many peoples shall go and say:
"Come, let us go up to the Mount of the Lord,
To the House of God of Jacob;
That He may instruct us in His ways,
And that we may walk in His paths."
For instruction shall come forth from Zion
The word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
Then he will judge among the nations
And arbitrate for the many peoples,
And they shall beat their swords into plowshares
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation shall not take up
Sword against nation;
They shall never again know war.

     War will cease forever when Melchizedek takes sovereignty. The "mount of the Lord’s house" is the present temple mount of modern Israel on which the 3rd Temple will be built and in which "the presence of the Lord" (Melchizedek’s semi-material form) will dwell once again. The nations will be judged and the world’s corrupt leadership will be deposed and replaced by those of true merit. Melchizedek will personally instruct, judge, arbitrate and do away with war on this world. If not for divine intervention, the world as we know it would have perished.The Lord continues to speak through Isaiah to the leaders:

Isaiah 4:2
In that day,
The radiance of the Lord
Will lend beauty and glory,
And the splendor of the land
Will give dignity and majesty
To the survivors of Israel
And those who remain in Zion. (the remnant)

Isaiah 5:20
Ah,
those who call evil good
And good evil;
Who present darkness as light
And light as darkness;
Ah,
Those who are so wise—
In their own opinion;
So clever—
In their own judgment!

Isaiah 10:20-22
And in that day,
The remnant of Israel
And the escaped of the House of Jacob
Shall lean no more upon him
That beats it,
But shall lean sincerely
On the Lord, the Holy One of Israel
Only a remnant shall return,
Only a remnant of Jacob,
To mighty God.
Even if your people, O Israel,
Should be as the sands of the sea,
Only a remnant shall return.

Note here again, there returns two remnants: "The Israel remnant," the remnant of the Northern Ten Tribes who lost their identity and have never returned; and the remnant of the "House of Jacob" probably referring to the remnant of the Jews/Judah, those who will escape the future destruction of modern Israel. Also note again the phrase "sand of the sea " to refer to the multitudes of the Lost Ten Tribes. Remember, "Israel" (the Northern Tribes) is composed mainly of the "myriads" of Joseph’s chosen son Ephraim and the "multitudes" of his other son Manasseh. We will identify this large group of people soon. Both Ephraim and Manasseh were to be abundantly blessed; past, present and future. God and Melchizedek have temporarily allowed the land of Canaan to be taken from Jacob (Judah and Israel) in consequence to their backsliding; but they never take away their love for them or the promises they gave Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These promises will be made good in the years directly ahead of us. Now we next have:

He (the Lord Melchizedek) will hold up a signal to the nations
And assemble the banished of Israel (northern ten lost tribes)
And gather the dispersed of Judah (the Jewish remnant)
From the four corners of the earth. (my parentheses)

Isaiah 12:5
Hymn the Lord,
For He has done gloriously;
Let this be known
In all the world!
Oh, shout for joy,
You who dwell in Zion!
For great in your midst
Is the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 24:14
These shall lift up their voices,
Exult in the majesty of the Lord.
They shall shout from the sea:
Therefore honor the Lord with lights
In the coastlands of the sea—…
From the end of the earth
We hear singing.
Glory to the righteous!

Isaiah 24:18
For sluices are opened on high,
And earth’s foundations tremble.
The earth is breaking, breaking;
The earth is crumbling, crumbling.
The earth is tottering, tottering;
The earth is swaying like a drunkard;
It is rocking to and fro like a hut.
Its iniquity shall weigh it down …
In that day, the Lord will punish
The host of heaven in heaven
And the kings of the earth on earth.

This stanza indicates large-scale motions and disruptions in the earth at the time when "the Lord" arrives to establish peace. This may represent large scale tectonic activity or possibly even shifting of the poles as discussed in the chapter on Emily Dickinson. In that day confirms that this passage refers to the end of the age. The "hosts of heaven" are the rebellious spirit beings involved in the Lucifer rebellion. Also notice that the "kings of the earth" will be singled out for their mis-leadership. This is because these "leaders of nations" will cause the peoples of the earth to war with one another, as well as many other problems. These leaders, including our own, will be held responsible for the reprehensible conditions the world will be in. I believe these conditions refer to the environmental degradation, war, famine, disease, oppression of the weak, social strife, political chaos, and religious persecution that will exist. God expects that leaders given power will act as wise shepherds over His children. To those who have been given much, much will be expected.

The "multitude of nations" is similar to another phrase; ie: "all the nations" that will bring a final war against Jerusalem and modern Israel. Recently, the United States has abandoned its long-standing support of modern Israel and has now joined the rest of the world’s nations in currying favor with the Arab contingent. NATO, a previously defensive organization, has now become the United Nations’ "world police force." If and when this police force is used against modern Israel, the prophecy of "all the nations" coming against Israel will have been fulfilled. The political activity in the Middle East is a clock for the fulfillment of prophecy; for when the hour of this war strikes, Melchizedek will sometime thereafter make his entry and all the world will know it. Also the Lord through Isaiah says to these leaders:

Isaiah 29:9
Act stupid and be stupefied!
Act blind and be blinded!
(They are drunk, but not from wine,
They stagger, but not from liquor.)
For the Lord has spread over you
A spirit of deep sleep,
And has shut your eyes, the (false) prophets,
And covered your heads, the seers;
So that all prophecy has been to you
Like the words of a sealed document.

Isaiah 29:11
If it is handed to one who can read and he is asked to read it,
he will say, "I can’t, because it is sealed;" and if the document
is handed to one who cannot read and he is asked to read it, he
will say, "I can’t read."
My (Isaiah’s) Lord said:
Because that people has approached [Me] with its mouth
And honored Me with its lips,
But has kept its heart far from Me,
And its worship of Me has been
A commandment of men, learned by rote—
Truly, I shall further baffle that people
With bafflement upon bafflement;
And the wisdom of its wise shall fail,
And the prudence of its prudent shall vanish.

Isaiah 29:17-20
Surely, in a little while,
Lebanon will be transformed into farmland,
And farmland accounted as mere brush.|
In that day, the deaf shall hear even written words,
And the eyes of the blind shall see
Even in darkness and obscurity.
Then the humble shall have
Increasing joy through the Lord.
And the neediest of men will exult
In the Holy One of Israel.
For the tyrant shall be no more.
The scoffer shall cease to be;
And those diligent for evil shall be wiped out.

This truly will be a transformed world when Melchizedek takes sovereignty. Yet what will the majority of people think and say when they hear these prophecies? Isaiah answers:

Many of us will not be willing to let go of our cherished secular worldviews. We would rather not hear the truths of our failings and deceptions. But before very long, in the coming days of justice, every one of us will stand alone in the light of truth on the "Day of the Lord." But we know that God’s justice is always tempered with mercy, therefore:

Isaiah 30:18
Truly, the Lord is waiting to show you grace,
Truly, He will arise to pardon you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;|
Happy are all who wait for Him.

Indeed, O people in Zion, dwellers of Jerusalem, you shall not have cause to
weep. He will grant you His favor at the sound of your cry; He will respond as
soon as He hears it. My Lord will provide for you meager bread and scant water.
Then your Guide will no more be ignored, but your eyes will watch your Guide;
and, whenever you deviate to the right or to the left, your ears will heed the
command from behind you: "This is the road; follow it!"

Here the Lord is addressing the faithful and true remnants, as well as the downtrodden and humble. This passage applies to the future, the end of this age, because "the Lord" has not yet arisen to "pardon" Israel and Judah for their transgressions. However, He has started the process of gathering some of "his peoples" back to Israel. The pardon will follow when Melchizedek returns to heal the long-open wounds of "his people." The amazing statement regarding our "Guide" is exactly the teaching of the Urantia Book, i.e., that the Kingdom of Heaven is within us, in the form of the indwelling spirit of God, which "guides" us from within our consciousness and keeps us from "deviating to the right or the left" from God’s Will straight ahead. The true way, the kingdom of heaven within, is an ancient way although it seems new to our modern world. Now, back to the "Day of the Lord" when Melchizedek arises.

Isaiah 30:25
And on every high mountain and on every lofty hill, there
shall appear brooks and watercourses—on a day of heavy
slaughter, when towers topple. And the light of the moon shall
become like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall
become sevenfold, like the light of the seven days, when the
Lord binds up His people’s wounds and heals the injuries it
has suffered.

Isaiah 31:4-5
So the Lord of Hosts will descend to make war
Against the mount and the hill of Zion.
Like the birds that fly, even so will
The Lord of Hosts shield Jerusalem,
Shielding and saving, protecting and rescuing.

Melchizedek enters at a time of great trouble, but peace is destined to reign. Also, we now know that a remnant of Jerusalem and modern Israel (Judah) survive, probably due to the protection provided them by Melchizedek. We are also told here that the "Lord of Hosts" "descends" and "shields" like "the birds that fly." We recall how previously the Lord’s presence was said to reside in a pillar of cloud overhead the exodus community. "The Lord" led the peoples by day and provided light at night from this "pillar of cloud." Now we are told that he will "descend like a bird" and shield Jerusalem upon his arrival. What could this mean? What might we see that could descend in the literal sky. Next, we have some other cloud references describing events during the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.

Psalms 78:14
In the daytime also He (the Lord) led them (the Israelites) with a cloud,
and all the night with a light of fire.

Psalms 99:7
He (the Lord) spake unto them in the cloudy pillar;
They kept His testimonies, and the ordinance that He gave them.

Nehemiah 9:19
Yet Thou (the Lord) in Thy manifold mercies forsook them not in the
Wilderness, and the pillar of the cloud departed not from them
Day by day, to lead them in the way. . .

There are dozens of these cloud references, and they are among many diverse books in the Old Testament. If it were only one line in one book, one could easily discredit this description. God wants us to understand His plan. He doesn’t hide it from us. Emily Dickinson writes that:

Isaiah 32:1
Behold, a King shall reign in righteousness,
And ministers shall govern with Justice;

The name Melchizedek literally means King of Righteousness. Presently, the world has little or no justice therefore this line describes a world not yet come, but when it does:

Isaiah 32:3
Then the eyes of those who have sight shall not be sealed,
And the ears of those who have hearing shall listen;
And the minds of the thoughtless shall attend and note . . .

Isaiah 32:5
No more shall a villain be called noble,
At last, the upside down world is set upright on its axis:

Revelations 16:19
And the great city (Jerusalem) was divided unto three parts,
(by tectonic activity)
And the cities of the nations fell.

Psalms 9:6 The enemy has been cut off and has
Vanished in everlasting ruins,
You (Lord) have plucked up and
Overthrown their cities;
The very memory of them
Has perished and vanished
But the Lord shall remain
And continue forever.
And he will judge the world
In righteousness.
Arise, O Lord! Let not man
Prevail; lest the nations be judged before You.

The time period of the above scripture is the Messianic end of the age because ‘The Lord shall remain and continue forever’ in reference to Melchizedek’s sovereign presence. How many cities will ‘perish and vanish?’

Isaiah 35:8
A highway shall appear there,
Which shall be called the Sacred Way . . .

Isaiah 35:9 
The redeemed shall walk it;
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,
And come with shouting to Zion,
Crowned with joy everlasting.

Zion refers to the highest of the mountain eminences on which Jerusalem was built. It is surrounded on all sides by deep valleys except to the north where the temple mount lies. Zion is sometimes used in the Old Testament to denote Jerusalem in general. It literally means ‘sunny’ and ‘height’. It is just south of the temple mount and is also called the City of David. Note the grand celebration below of a joyous reunion between Melchizedek and his estranged children, the remnants of "lost Israel" and "Judah."

Psalms 53:7
O that the deliverance of Israel
Might come from Zion!
When God restores the fortunes of His people,
Jacob will exult; Israel (lost northern tribes) will rejoice.

The Psalms writer discloses this happy ending, an ending that was disclosed to him by their one time instructor and collaborator, Melchizedek. Again, important events are mentioned throughout the Psalms, prophets, as well as other Old Testament scripture. These statements are all consistent with each other despite their diverse locations in the body of scripture.

Isaiah 40:3
A voice rings out:
‘Clear in the desert
A road for the Lord!
Level in the wilderness
A highway for our God…
The Presence of the Lord shall appear
And all flesh shall behold –,
For the Lord Himself has spoken. …
A voice rings out ‘Proclaim!’ …
Ascend a lofty mountain,
O herald of joy to Zion;
Raise your voice to with power, …
Raise it have no fear;
Announce to the cities of Judah:
Behold your God (Melchizedek)

John the Baptist took the first stanza above for his own and used it to announce Jesus. The Final Prophet to come will also use these lines to announce another Lord who comes, Lord Melchizedek. The Final Prophet is specifically identified here as ‘the herald of joy to Zion’ who proclaims to Zion ‘Behold your God!’ ‘Behold your God’ is the same as ‘Your divine being reigns’ cited in 11Q13 of the Dead Sea Scrolls which identifies this messenger as the interpreter of the law (Final Prophet) and the divine being as Melchizedek. ‘The Presence’ recalls the ‘Lord in the bush’ and the ‘Presence of the Lord’ dwelling in Zion and within the cloud during exodus. All of these presences are the semi-material presence of Lord Melchizedek as described in the Urantia Book. The statement ‘that all flesh will behold’ also conjures up the Lord Messiah who is described in scripture to come in a very visible display, in contrast to no display with regard to Jesus. And so we have one scripture passage, which pertains to two different ending ages with two different Lords and prophets. Next, the Lord addresses the coastlands:

Isaiah 41:1
Stand silent before Me, coastlands,
And let the nations renew their strength.
Let them approach to state their case;
Let us come together for argument.

There seems to be a drought in the time and place of this reference. The time in reference is the messianic end of the age because only then are "streams opened on bare hills and fountains amid valleys." To be sure, when men turn their backs on God they move out from under the gentle rain/reign of His mercy. The impersonal universe of law knows only that there is an imbalance present and that it needs to restore that balance by any means possible, including the elimination of the inciting agent, which in this case is mankind. If my timing is correct, I would expect the drought that is now developing in the Middle East and elsewhere to continue to get worse right up until the imbalance is set right by Melchizedek. This is also applicable to the other sundry ecological and environmental imbalances, which continue to worsen. Should it really come as a surprise to us that physical processes are affected by spiritual determinants? After all, the Urantia Book teaches us that at higher levels of reality the seemingly diverse realms of matter, mind and spirit are unified into a seamless whole. The rays of reality converge in the Source and Center of All Things. The physical and spiritual are intertwined on higher levels of reality and therefore interact and affect one another. Next the Lord turns his attention to His servant:

Isaiah 42:1 (Tanakh)
This is My servant, whom I uphold,
My chosen one, in whom I delight.
I have put My spirit upon him,
He shall teach the true way to the nations.
He shall not cry out or shout aloud,
Or make his voice heard in the streets.
He shall not break even a dim wick.
He shall bring forth the true way.
He shall not grow dim or be bruised
Till he has established the true way on earth;
And the coastlands shall await his teaching.

Who is this servant? He teaches the true way (or true religion, mishpat in Hebrew) to the gentile nations. The true way is the Kingdom of Heaven within, Jesus’ true message, and the main subject of the Urantia Book.

UB  1107
True religion consists in the experience that "the Spirit
itself hears witness with our spirit that we are the children of
God. (Also see chapter True Religion 1104 UB
and Jesus’ Discourse on True Religion 1728, UB)

True religion, the true way, is a way that has never yet been taught "to the nations". Elsewhere in scripture we are told that before the end of the age the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven will be proclaimed to all the world. Who in the present world knows about the Kingdom of Heaven? Certainly not the popular scholars. Read their work! Certainly not those who espouse the gospel about Jesus Christ. Then, just who might this be? It would appear that the servant in Isaiah 42 is an individual that will teach about the Kingdom of Heaven within.

Note that God ‘puts his spirit’ on the servant, therefore God ‘anoints’ the servant! Anointment is what happens to make someone a messiah. This is why the Dead Sea Scrolls speak of more than one messiah. The Messiah is Melchizedek a divine being, another messiah is God’s servant, the Final Prophet whom God has ‘put His spirit upon’ (anointed).

Also note that God calls His servant My chosen one. This provides a link to a Dead Sea Scroll fragment, which describes a chosen one who reveals God’s truths and wisdom at the end of the age. The fragment gives us physical characteristics, education, life history and purpose. I believe this Scroll fragment describes the end of the age, final prophet to come:

Isaiah 42:10
You coastlands and their inhabitants! . . .

Isaiah 42:11
Call out from the peaks of the mountains.
Let them do honor to the Lord,
And tell His glory in the coastlands . . .

Isaiah 42:16
I will lead the blind
By a road they did not know,
And I will make them walk
By paths they never knew.
I will turn darkness before them to light,
Rough places into level ground.
These are the promises—
I will keep them without fail.

First, God tells us that he is announcing something new. Since the described events have not yet happened, we can be sure that they will happen in the future. (The near future, in my estimation). The Lord tells us that He will lead those who live in the coastlands by roads and paths they never knew, turning darkness into light, and rough places into level ground. These promises will definitely be kept. Now, if we are falling asleep while reading this, God says:

Isaiah 42:18
Listen, you who are deaf;
You blind ones, look up and see!
Who is so blind as My servant,
So deaf as the messenger I send?
Who is so blind as the chosen one,
So blind as the servant of the Lord?
Seeing many things, you give no heed;
With ears open, he hears nothing.
The Lord desires His servant’s vindication,
That he may magnify and glorify His teaching.

Here we have a comical account of the servant—who is as blind or more so than the rest. He needs God’s vindication as he stumbles along. We are also told here that this servant in the coastlands is a messenger as well as a servant, thus linking the servant of Isaiah to the "messenger" and "interpreter of the law," both of which are terms used to describe the final prophet in the Scrolls. Only God could love such a foolish sounding person. God loves to bring his truth through the lowly and humble. (Out of the mouths of babes comes wisdom.) Some may be disappointed if they have unrealistic expectations regarding this servant. God now reassures those who love Him:

Isaiah 43:1
Fear not, for I will redeem you;
I have singled you out by name,
You are Mine.
When you pass through water,
I will be with you;
Through streams,
They shall not overwhelm you.
When you walk through fire,
You shall not be scorched.
Through flame,
It shall not burn you.

Isaiah 43:4
Because you are precious to Me,
And honored, and I love you,
I give men in exchange for you
And peoples in your stead . . .
Bring My sons from afar,
And My daughters from the end of the earth—

The intellectual elite of our world appears daily in newspapers and on our televisions. They are the "experts" who write the books about marriage, although they are divorced three times. They tell us how to bring up our children, and yet their own children rebel against them. They know everything about anything, and there is no doubt about it. Ask if they believe in God and somber tones cover the smirk and smile. And yet, the question of God is the essential question of all philosophy, all ideologies, and all human understanding. If this most essential question were on a test, it would count for ninety-nine percent of the grade and the remaining one percent of the test would directly depend on the answer to the first. If you are wrong about God, then you are wrong about very much else as well. Yet the intellectual and political elite are all confirmed in the opinion that "religion is the opiate of the masses." Those who won’t say this in public believe it in private, as their very actions and behavior betray them.

And so our Father tends his children, most often without recognition and without thanks. Yet, His commitment never wavers, never hesitates, and never sleeps.

Notice how similar that time is to ours. Ends of ages have highly similar circumstances and types of people. Human history is monotonously similar, repeating cycles of sameness. But there is evolutionary progress; the remnant groups have a survival advantage that results from biologic factors that modify the capacity for spiritual receptivity. The Adamic genes should therefore become increasingly prevalent over long periods of time. The comment of 47:10 on science as the cause of our going astray is well taken. True religion and true science are complementary and never contradictory, however man’s error exists in forming a religion about science that denies or ignores God and true religion. This religion of science believes that science has all the answers for man’s every problem, that science is the only true knowledge, that man doesn’t need the axiom of God, that man can completely understand his world through science, and that science offers proof and certainty. All of these beliefs are false, but they go unrecognized and unchallenged. As the Urantia Book states, we overreacted to the superstitions and tyranny of the Middle Ages and threw out the baby with the bath. (The baby being God and the bath being knowledge based on superstition). Balance is what we have lacked, and balance is what we are given in the Fifth Epochal Revelation, the Urantia Book. Further, God reads our thoughts to us and comments:

UB  2081
The father of secularism was the narrow minded and godless
attitude of . . . atheistic science. Secularism had its inception as a rising
protest against the domination . . . by the institutionalized Christian
church. The majority of professed Christians . . . are unwittingly
actual secularists. Secularism . . . sells man into slavish bondage to the
totalitarian state . . . the tyranny of political and economic
slavery. Secularism can never bring peace to mankind. Nothing
can take the place of God in human society . . . Secularism
simply ignores God. More recently, secularism has assumed
a more militant attitude, assuming to take the place of the
religion whose totalitarian bondage it one time resisted. But Beware:
this godless philosophy will lead only to unrest, animosity, unhappiness,
war, and worldwide disaster. Complete secularization . . . can lead only to disaster.

UB  2086
Christianity unwittingly seems to sponsor a society, which
staggers under the guilt of tolerating science without idealism,
politics without principles, wealth without work, pleasure
without restraint, knowledge without character, power
without conscience, and industry without morality.
Selfish men and women simply will not pay such a price for
even the greatest spiritual treasure ever offered mortal man.
Only when man has become sufficiently disillusioned by the
sorrowful disappointment attendant upon the foolish and
deceptive pursuits of selfishness . . . will he be disposed to
turn . . . to the religion of Jesus of Nazareth. (Man is not yet
so disillusioned)

UB 1487
War on Urantia will never end so long as nations cling to
the illusive notions of unlimited national sovereignty.

UB p.1489
Another world war (WWII) will teach the so-called sovereign
nations to form some sort of federation, thus creating the
machinery for preventing small wars . . .(but not large ones)
An international police force will prevent many minor wars,
but it will not be effective in preventing major wars.
Worldwide confederations of nations . . . will not prevent
world wars nor control the three, four or five most powerful
governments. (Is this applicable to today?)

UB  2082
Times of great testing and threatened defeat are always times of great revelation.

UB  1087
Institutional religion cannot afford inspiration and provide
leadership in this impending, worldwide social reconstruction
and economic reorganization because it has unfortunately
become more or less of an organic part of the social order and
the economic system, which is destined to undergo reconstruction.
(Doesn’t reconstruction imply deconstruction first?)

UB  2082
A new and fuller revelation of the religion of Jesus is destined
to conquer an empire of materialistic secularism . . .(our world empire of today)

UB  2087
The hour is striking for a rediscovery of the true and original
foundation of present-day distorted and compromised Christianity—
the real life and teachings of Jesus. (The Kingdom of Heaven within)

UB  2087
The spiritual renaissance must await the coming of these new
teachers of Jesus’ religion who will be exclusively devoted to the
spiritual regeneration of men. And then will these spirit-born souls
quickly supply the leadership and inspiration requisite for the social,
moral, economic and political reorganization of the world.

And why does secularism fail?

UB 2075
A lasting social system without morality predicated on
spiritual realities can no more be maintained than can a solar system without gravity.

Secularism fails because it is inherently faulty. Man is dependent on God whether he likes it or not. Man cannot find his way without God. This dependence is built into the very nature of the Father-Son relationship. And this relationship is the rock that we must build on and the star that we must hope upon.

UB 1747
. . . by the insight of the spirit of my Father which dwells
within you, I am led to declare that upon this foundation (the
indwelling spirit) will I build the brotherhood of the Kingdom
of Heaven. Upon this rock of spiritual reality . . .

DSC, Vs. 7
The way of man is not established except by the
spirit of God which created him . . .

The Community Rule, DSC
Mankind has no way, and man is unable to establish his
steps since justification is with God and perfection of way is
from His hand. All things come to pass by His knowledge;

Finally, I would note that secular humanism gives birth to all the present reigning ideologies: communism, socialism, and capitalism too. "Isims" are systems of human thought that have become so highly revered that they become the intellectual equivalent of the ancient physical idols that were worshipped in vain. Capitalists consider profit and capital first, last, and always. Spiritual values, social values, and environmental values are usually not part of the equation. Capitalism and other ideologies should be made to serve people rather than people being made, as now, to serve the ideology. People are the purpose and meaning of life. The Fatherhood of God forever establishes the transcendent value of His sons and daughters. People must come before profit. People will come before profit. God has established it. We live in His Universe. At this point in time however, we collectively, choose and have chosen profit over people, and humanity languishes in the cold, dark night of the inevitable results. Let’s now look at some quotes from Humanist Manifestos I and II, which are the declarations of belief proposed by secular humanists.

Humanist Manifesto I was the first major document (1933) of the modern Humanist
Movement. Consider the following quotes from this document.
"Religious humanists regard the universe as self-existing and not created."

Here science is used to exclude the possibility of any "supernaturally" established values. First of all, science can have nothing to say about the domain of intangible value, only religion can answer the question why? Science attends only to the questions how, when and where. Ultimate causes, origins, and destiny are questions of religion. Second of all, humanists have already declared that the universe merely is and is not created. This statement itself, as shown above, lies outside the natural world of causes. It is itself a "supernatural" explanation.

"Man is at last becoming aware that he alone is responsible for the
realization of the world of his dreams, that he has within himself the
power for its achievement. He must set intelligence and will to the task."

Now we go to Humanist Manifesto II written in 1973. (select passages)
"As in 1933, humanists still believe that traditional theism, especially
faith in the prayer-hearing God, assumed to live and care for persons, to
hear and understand their prayers, and to be able to do something about
them, is an unproved and outmoded faith. Salvationism, based on mere
affirmation, still appears as harmful, diverting people with false hopes of
heaven hereafter. Reasonable minds look to other means for survival."

We now learn that faith is unproved, ineffective, and outmoded. How many studies have we ever done to actually find out if there are any differences in the lives of believers vs. non-believers? The answer is zero. I would bet that you would find dramatic differences if such a study were done without bias. In fact, a few recent medical studies have shown strong correlations between faith and positive health outcomes. The humanist dogma is succumbing to truth. Lastly, to say that faith is unproved is the equivalent of saying nothing because there would be no faith necessary if proof were possible. Similarly, one can prove anything in mathematics if one allows dividing by zero as this statement does.

This reveals the grand scope (planetary) that this vision is being applied to. The United Nations charter is a direct outgrowth of these planetary Humanist Manifestos. Will it work?

The aspirations appear noble at times. Give credit where credit is due. Success requires more than good intentions though. It requires wisdom and truth.

"At the present juncture of history, commitment to all humankind is
the highest commitment of which we are capable; it transcends the
narrow allegiances of church, state, party, class, or race in moving toward
a wider vision of human potentiality. What more daring a goal for human-kind
than for each person to become, in ideal as well as practice, a citizen
of a world community. It is a classical vision; we can now give it new
vitality. Humanism thus interpreted is a moral force that has time on its
side. We believe that humankind has the potential, intelligence, goodwill,
and cooperative skill to implement this commitment in the decades ahead."

This is the end of Humanist Manifesto II. It proclaims the establishment of the brotherhood of humankind. Unfortunately, they do not know that "you cannot establish the brotherhood of man without the Fatherhood of God." (UB) Simple, basic, everyday truth, unappreciated by the closed minds of man. Truth is so very valuable because it can be lived successfully. (UB)

UB  1916
Even you, Thomas, fail to comprehend what I have been
saying. Have I not taught you that your connection with the
Kingdom of Heaven is spiritual and individual, wholly a matter
of personal experience in the spirit by the faith-realization that
you are a son of God? What more shall I say? The downfall
of nations, the crash of empires, the destruction of unbelieving
Jews, the end of an age, even the end of the world, what have
these things to do with one who believes this gospel and who
has led his life in the surety of the eternal kingdom?

Daniel 13:10
Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white,
and be refined; but the wicked will do wickedly; and none of
the wicked will understand; but those who are wise shall understand.

Isaiah 48:17
I the Lord am your God
Instructing you for your own benefit,
Guiding you in the way you should go.
If only you would heed My commands!
Then your prosperity would be like a river,
Your triumph like the waves of the sea.

Isaiah 49:1
Listen, O coastlands, to me,
And give heed, O nations afar:
The Lord appointed me before I was born,
He named me while I was in my mother’s womb.
He made my mouth like a sharpened blade,
He hid me in the shadow of His hand,
And He made me like a polished arrow;
He concealed me in His quiver
And He said to me, "You are my servant
Israel, in whom I glory."

The servant’s "mouth is a sharpened blade" to pierce deeply the enemies of God. The servant must be the final prophet because he is charged with ‘bringing back Jacob’ (Lost Israel and faithful Jews) to God, which only happens at the Messianic end of the age. Therefore, the messianic, final prophet is also God’s servant of Isaiah. The Jews are already re-gathering to modern Israel, but Lost Israel needs to be identified and brought back still. "Bring back Jacob," means reconstituting original Israel, the two tribes of the South and the lost ten tribes of the North. This time around they together will make right the wrongs of the past. Love reigns over judgment and wisdom reigns over ignorance. Also note the phrase "you are my servant Israel." The servant is an individual by the context of the passage and it makes no sense for the nation Israel to be the servant here. Perhaps this is an error or an addition to the original text? In Jeremiah the Lord gives further instruction.

Jeremiah 31:7
For thus said the Lord:
Cry out in Joy for Jacob,
Shout at the head of nations!
Sing aloud in praise and say:
Save, O Lord, your people,
The remnant of Israel . . .
Gather them from the ends of the earth— . . .

Here again, the Lord instructs His servant to gather the Israel remnant (Lost Ten Tribes) from: "the ends of the earth," the "head of nations," and the "coastlands afar." The remnant will return in a "throng," weeping and in need of compassion and guidance from the Lord. This "vast throng" recalls to us the great numbers of Abraham’s future offspring who are "as the sand of the sea" and the "stars in the heavens." In fact, the numerous people of "Lost Israel" are the fulfillment of this promise from Melchizedek to Abraham made so long ago. In Jeremiah, the Lord Melchizedek sets the record straight:

Jeremiah 31:10
Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,
And tell it in the coastlands afar.
Say:
He who scattered Israel will gather them,
And will guard them like a shepherd his flock.

Jeremiah 50:41 
But you have no fear, My servant Jacob,
Be not dismayed, O Israel!
I will deliver you from far away . . .
And Jacob again shall have calm.

Isaiah 49:4
I thought, "I have labored in Vain,
I have spent my strength for empty breath."
But my case rested with the Lord,
My recompense was in the hands of my God.
And now the Lord has resolved –
He who formed me in the womb to be His servant –
To bring back Jacob to Himself,
That Israel may be restored to Him!
And I have been honored in the sight of the Lord,
My God has been my strength.
For He has said:

Isaiah 49:6
"It is too little that you should be My servant
In that I raise up the tribes of Jacob
And restore the survivors of Israel:
I will also make you a light of nations
That my salvation reach the ends of the earth."

At first the servant feels that his efforts are "in vain" but notice his total reliance on the Lord. He cares nothing about human opinions, only God’s. God is the source of his strength and he is ultimately honored by God with an even greater service to the nations of the world, in addition to his service in ‘bringing back Jacob’. The servant experiences an initial, seeming failure in his mission (I have labored in vain) and this is why "the Lord desires His servant’s vindication" in Isaiah 42:21. Notice carefully that the servant of this verse has a specific job to do and that is to "bring back Jacob to Himself (God), that Israel may be restored to Him!" To do this the servant must "raise up the tribes to Jacob and restore the survivors of Israel." This equates to the re-gathering and re-unification of the original tribes of Israel; the northern Lost Ten Tribes (Israel) plus the southern tribes (Judah, Jews). This event occurs at the end of the age before and during the coming of the Messiah. In fact, it has already started, the Jews are gathering in modern Israel. The Lost Ten Tribes remain to be identified, re-gathered, and re-united with the Jews, eventually reconstituting the original whole House of Israel, as in the beginning. Since the servant is given this task in Isaiah 49:4, the servant of this passage must be an individual living at the end of our age which lies shortly ahead of us. Very likely this servant is one and the same as Malachi’s "Elijah to come" of the messianic period, the final prophet. Now we have:

Zion is the city of David, within Jerusalem, right next to the Temple Mount, where the Lord has and will dwell again. Those who "ravage and ruin" leave the city and Melchizedek gathers Jacob, those who love God, back to Zion. Zion symbolizes the faithful and true peoples of God. Those ‘who are assembled’ are the remnants of Lost Israel and the Jews. Also, in Isaiah 49:14 ‘Zion (Jews) says that the Lord (God) has forgotten them.’ God answers that he ‘could never forget’ and says: ‘see I have engraved you on the palms of My hands’ alluding to the crucifixion marks acquired by His Son Jesus. What a tragic irony, even as the Jews are feeling forsaken 2000 years ago, God’s presence in the form of His Son is amongst them, dying in his attempt to bring them back to God. O, if only we had eyes that could see. And yet God goes right on attempting to make His people recognize His love for them by predicting and then bringing about the return of His people to Canaan after modern Israel is ruined and ravaged in the future yet to come. Note that the allusion to Jesus' crucifixion marks is made over 600 years prior to his coming.

Isaiah 49:20
And all mankind shall know.
That I the Lord am your Savior.
The Mighty One of Jacob, your Redeemer.

Next, the Lord emphasizes that there is no obstacle to the restoration of Israel and Judah. The covenant remains unbroken, merely temporarily interrupted. The promises made to Abraham will all be fulfilled.

Isaiah 50:5
The Lord opened my ears.
And I did not disobey,
I did not run away…

God Himself has prepared His servant and trained him. His servant stands fast against his many opponents. He stands fast against ridicule and personal attacks. He recommends to those who "revere the Lord" trust and reliance on God alone during the period of darkness to come. And this reliance on God’s inner guidance is the very "religion of Jesus" that is to come, the "true religion" which the servant brings forth in Isaiah 42:1-4. Once again, "necessity is the mother of invention." We must trust Him to be led by His spirit during the trial period. Now back to Isaiah:

Isaiah 51:1 
Listen to Me, you who pursue justice,
You who seek the Lord:
Look to the rock you were hewn from
Look back to Abraham your father
And to Sarah who brought you forth.
For he was only one when I called him,
But I blessed him and made him many.
We are reminded of Melchizedek’s blessing of Abraham:

Genesis 26:4 
and in Thy (Abraham’s) seed shall
all the nations be blessed.
and let them (offspring of Abraham)
grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

Genesis 17:4 
You (Abraham) shall be the Father
of a multitude of nations.

Joel 3:2 
I (Lord) will also gather all nations, and will bring them
down into the Valley of Jehoshapat, and will plead with them
there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they
have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

Isaiah 51:4
Hearken to Me, My people,
And give ear to Me, O My nation,
For teaching shall go forth from Me,
My way for the light of peoples.
In a moment I will bring it:
The triumph I grant is near,
The success I give has gone forth.
My arms shall provide for the peoples;
The coastlands shall trust in Me,
They shall look to My arm.

The Lord Melchizedek is addressing "Israel" and the coastlands (neither know him yet) who will learn to trust him and look to him for assistance. Among other things, Melchizedek shall teach the world and the earth shall be:

Isaiah 51:7
Listen to Me, you who care for the right,
O people who lay My instruction to heart!
Fear not the insults of men,
And be not dismayed at their jeers;
For the moth will eat them up like a garment,
The worm shall eat them up like wool.
But My triumph shall endure forever,
My salvation through all the ages.

Those who stand up for "the right" will be persecuted, ridiculed and harassed. There is no doubt that this verse refers to a future world where the Lord triumphs forever:

Isaiah 55:11 
So let the ransomed of the Lord return,
And come shouting to Zion,
Crowned with joy everlasting.
Let them attain joy and gladness,
While sorrow and sighing flee.

Isaiah 52:7
 How welcome on the mountains
Are the footsteps of the herald
Announcing happiness,
Heralding good fortune,
Announcing victory,
Telling Zion, "Your God is King!"

The Dead Sea Scrolls fragment, 11Q13, the Coming of Melchizedek, interprets this verse (Isaiah 52:7) in the following way. The herald is the final prophet who announces and "prepares the way of" Melchizedek, just as John the Baptist announced and "prepared the way of" Jesus. The mountains are interpreted to be a symbol of the Old Testament Prophets. The final prophet thus stands on the shoulders of the olden prophets, meaning that the final prophet bases his message on his interpretation of Old Testament prophecy. This is why the Teacher of Righteousness, the leader of the Qumran community of the Dead Sea Scrolls, refers to this final prophet as the "interpreter of the Law." The "Law" here being the Old Testament including the prophets. We can now also understand why the Urantia Book refers to this coming prophet as "another and greater John the Baptist," because the final prophet, like John, will announce and "prepare the way of the Lord," this time the Lord Melchizedek. The prophet proclaims to Zion (all those faithful to the One God), "your God is King," or rather; "The Lord Melchizedek is King," as interpreted by the Teacher of Righteousness in 11Q13 of the Scrolls. 11Q13 is thus an extremely important document that binds together the Urantia Book and Old Testament prophecy. It will be discussed again later in the Dead Sea Scrolls chapter. Continuing with this subject we also have:

Psalms 102:14 
You will surely arise and take pity on Zion,
For it is time to be gracious to her;
The appointed time has come.
For the Lord has built Zion;|
He has appeared in all His glory.
May this be written down for a coming generation,
That people yet to be created may praise the Lord.

Psalms 48:5
The kings (leaders of nations) joined forces;
they advanced together. (toward Jerusalem)
At the mere sight of it they were stunned,

They were terrified, they panicked;
They were seized there with a trembling. (my parentheses)

"Recent rulings handed down from the Most Highs of Edentia, and later confirmed by the Ancient of Days of Uversa, strongly suggest that this bestowal Melchizedek is destined to take the place of the fallen Planetary Prince, Caligastia. If our conjectures in this respect are correct, it is altogether possible that Melchizedek may again appear in person on Urantia and in some modified manner resuming the role of the dethroned Planetary Prince Caligastia." (UB  1025) "It appears to certain of our associates that at some time in the near future the plan of sending one of the twenty-four counselors to Urantia to act as governors general will be superseded by the formal arrival of Melchizedek with the vicegerent mandate of the sovereignty Chapter 7 Isaiah 76.of Urantia…Still others, including this narrator, look for Melchizedek’s appearance any day or hour." (UB  1251). Continuing:

Isaiah 52:8 
Hark, your watchmen raise their voices,
As one they shout for joy;
For every eye shall behold
The Lord’s return to Zion.
Raise a shout together,
O ruins of Jerusalem!
For the Lord will have His Holy arm
In the sight of all the nations,
And the very ends of earth shall see
The victory of our God.

The watchmen are the prophets looking for Melchizedek’s arrival. Note that this is a very visible display in "sight of all the nations to the ends of the earth." What kind of display could be so visible? The last line again displays the confusion about the Lord Melchizedek and God. More on the servant now:

Isaiah 52:13 
Indeed, My servant shall prosper,…
Just so he will startle many nations.
Kings shall be silenced because of him,
For they shall see what has not been told them,
Shall behold what they never have heard.

The servant will startle many nations and silence Kings by revealing to them what is in store for them. There is hardly a decent leader in the whole world today. Almost all are out for their own gain. As a group they are the most depraved and ruthless people on the entire planet. The world is full of wonderful people, but hardly any of them are in positions of real power. The ruthless crave power and seek it. They are willing to crush anything or anyone that gets in their way. The meek are passive and are not willing to trade their soul for power. But there is a long line of those that will. As in ancient Israel, the "leaders are misleaders," who lead so many so far astray. God expects leaders to be the shepherds of His children. What will happen when judgment comes to the nations and their leaders. The answer is the same as the one given by Jesus, when he concluded the parable of the absent landlord (UB  1893) and asked, "what will the lord of the vineyard do to those ungrateful and wicked tenants (in our example shepherds)?" The present world is based on the principal Might makes Right. In the world of Melchizedek, King of Righteousness, the world will be based on Right makes Might. Next we have a prophecy regarding Jesus:

Isaiah 53:3 
He was despised, shunned by men,
A man of suffering, familiar with disease,
As one who hid his face from us,
He was despised we held him of no account.
Yet it was our sickness that he was bearing
Our suffering that he endured.
We accounted him plagued.
Smitten and afflicted by God:
But he was wounded because of our sins,
Crushed because of our iniquities.
He bore the chastisement that made us whole.
And by his bruises we are healed.
We all went astray like sheep.

Isaiah 53:7 
He was maltreated, yet he was submissive,
He did not open his mouth;
Like a sheep being led to slaughter,…
For he was cut off from the land of the living…
And his grave was set among the wicked,
And with the rich, in his death –
Though he had done no injustice
And had spoken no falsehood…
He exposed himself to death
And was numbered among the sinners,
Whereas he bore the guilt of the many
And made intercession for sinners.

We would all agree, that this is a remarkably accurate prophecy. Notice how it just appears out from within the organic nature of the text. It is right at home in the text and yet it is the vehicle of a profound distant future prophesy. The prophetic vision seems to waver in and out of time; juxtaposing future, past, and present; yet somehow weaving the strands into a real tapestry in the present of the prophet. Just a subtle shift in the focus of that "spiritized imagination" of the poet-prophet and entirely different images go in and out of view. It would be a little easier if all the good parts were underlined in red. Also, we notice that perhaps this prophecy is not completely applicable to Jesus, for instance we know from the Urantia Book that Jesus was more often of good cheer rather than suffering and that he was not "familiar with disease" as far as we know. Perhaps these are attributes of another suffering servant such as the servant that "brings back Jacob" to the Lord (Melchizedek). And so, we need to be a little flexible in our work with prophecy because separate strands can be mixed together. Now to Isaiah:

Isaiah 54:4 
Fear not, you shall not be shamed;
Do not cringe, you shall not be disgraced.
For you shall forget
The reproach of your youth.
And remember no more
The shame of your widowhood.
For He who made you will espouse you—
His name is "Lord of Hosts;"
The Holy one of Israel will redeem you,
Who is called "God of all the Earth."

Restored, future Israel’s youth, is ancient Israel. Its ‘disgrace’ and ‘reproach’ are its going astray and its subsequent destruction and dispersion. I think ‘widowhood’ refers to Israel’s loss of her symbolic spouse, God, and His agent Melchizedek. However, the fall from God’s grace is only temporary (2500 years) and "He who made you (Israel) will espouse you" again. Notice the play on the word spouse in ‘espouse’. Now, the Lord will restore the people to its land and to its proper place among mankind. Note the last phrase ‘who is called God of the Earth.’ This is fairly close to the meaning of a World Messiah or Planetary Prince. And so:

Isaiah 54:11 
Unhappy, storm-tossed one, uncomforted!
I will set your stones in fair colors
And make your foundations of sapphires.
I will make your battlements of rubies,
Your gates of precious stones,
The whole encircling wall of gems.
And all your children shall be disciples of the Lord,
And great shall be the happiness of your children;
You shall be established through righteousness.
You shall be safe from oppression,
And shall have no fear;
From ruin, and it shall not come near you.
Surely no harm can be done
Without My consent:
Whoever would harm you
Shall fall because of you.

Here, God assures His people, ‘storm tossed one (Israel)’ that they will be safe once and for all time. Perhaps God will direct through Melchizedek the making of a new temple on the temple mount; made with gems, rubies and sapphires. Further:

Isaiah 55:1 
Ho, all who are thirsty,
Come for water,
Even if you have no money;
Come, buy food and eat:
Buy food without money,
Wine and milk without cost.
Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
Your earnings for what does not satisfy?

Here, we get a glimpse of the bounty and blessings that will ensue with restoration. Again, people are thirsty because of drought in the latter days.

Isaiah 55:3 
Incline your ear and come to Me;
Hearken, and you shall be revived.
And I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
So you shall summon a nation you did not know,
And a nation that did not know you
Shall come running to you –
For the sake of the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel who has glorified you.

This is a wide open offer from God – He forever hopes that we will come to Him so that we can become all that He means for us to become. ‘He becomes what we are to make us what He is (UB)’ Why is it so hard for God to give His children the greatest gift they could ever receive – The Kingdom of Heaven within and the Grand Universe throughout. If God were a door-to-door salesman, on this planet He would probably have lost his job long ago for lack of subscribers.

The second half of this stanza introduces a nation that will ‘come running’ to assist Israel ‘for the sake of the Lord our God.’ We will see that this nation and this people will assist in the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem:

Zechariah 6:12 
Thus says the Lord of Hosts: You Joshua behold
the Messiah whose name is the Branch, for He shall
grow up in His place and He shall build the true temple of the Lord.

Zechariah 6:13 
Yes, (Joshua you are building a temple of the Lord,
but) it is He (the Lord, the Messiah) who shall build
the true temple of the Lord, and He shall bear the honor
and glory and shall sit and rule upon His throne. And
He shall be a Priest upon His throne, and the council of
peace shall be between the two.

Zechariah 6:14 
And they that are afar off shall come and build the
temple of the Lord, and ye shall know that the Lord of
Amplified Hosts hath sent me unto you. And this will come to pass,
Bible if ye will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.

Zechariah 6:15
And those who are far off shall come and help build the temple.

Joshua was the leader who presided over the building of the second Temple after the seventy-year exile of the Judahites in Babylon. This scripture explicitly identifies the true Temple as being built by the Lord Messiah. This temple will be the third and last, as it will endure throughout time. Another Messiah is also called the Branch, the anointed human being from the branch of David. However, the Urantia Book tells us that David’s legacy is mostly a fabrication of the exiled Jewish priests in Babylon during the Babylonian captivity. Therefore, I feel comfortable downgrading statements referring to David. The Messiah is also identified as a Priest that sits and rules upon his throne as a King. This would fit Melchizedek perfectly as he is both the "Priest of the Most High" in Genesis and the "King of Righteousness," the "King of Righteousness" being the literal translation of Melchizedek in Hebrew.

Genesis 14:18
Melchizedek King of Salem (later
Jerusalem) brought out bread and
wine; he was the priest of God Most High.

It is important to remember that Jesus knew and stated that he was not the Messiah of Jewish expectation (Urantia Book). ‘My Kingdom is not of this world.’ More about this later. We also note that these lines of Zechariah also attest to the presence of ‘those who are far off’ coming to assist in the building of the true Temple. These people are probably from the ‘nation that did not know you’ who ‘shall come running to you’ (Isaiah 55:5) and will be identified later.

Tobit 14:1
And that again (after the Babylonian exile) God will
have mercy on them, and bring them into the land, where
they shall build a temple (the second temple), but not like the
first, until the time of that age be fulfilled (AD 70); and
afterward they shall return from all the places of their
captivity, and build up Jerusalem gloriously (the third true
temple) and the bust of God shall be built in it for ever
with a glorious building, as the prophets have spoke thereof.

The information in the parentheses is my own. The major point here is the consistent description of this event across a multitude of scriptural sources. I have tried to find information that is attested to in a cross section of multiple scriptural sources. By doing this, I hope to avoid errors due to erroneous material. The amazing thing that I have found is the high degree of consistency that is present within such a diverse body of scriptural sources. This consistency is also a feature of the Urantia Book’s "ring of truth." Finally, regarding the-- Temple

Ezekiel 47:1
He led me back to the entrance of the Temple and I found
that water was issuing from below the Temple
Mount…The water was running out at the south of the
altar, under the south wall of the Temple…it was a stream
that could not be crossed except by swimming…everything
will live wherever this stream goes, the fish will be abundant,
all kinds of trees for food will grow on both banks, their
leaves will not wither or their fruit fail; they will yield new
fruit every month, because the water for them flows from
the Temple. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.

"On May 15th , 1999, the Israeli newspaper, Hatsofer, reported that water had started flowing from beneath the Temple Mount…The Arab leaders have done everything possible to stop the flow of water, including special pumps they brought in for the purpose. The Arab leaders have been busy with intensive excavations on the Temple Mount, the purpose of which is to destroy the last remains of the First and Second Temples and in this way deny the Jewish identity of the Temple Mount. According to one account, during these diggings they broke into one of the many water sources under the Temple Mount." (Prophecy Flash magazine, Triumph Prophetic Ministries)

Here, those acting in defiance of God’s plan are the very ones who help bring it about. We can take part in God’s plans willingly and knowingly, or unwillingly and unknowingly, have it as we may. The choice of role is ours, the script is His. Isaiah then says:

This is the bottom line. In the time of trials ahead seek God and learn to choose his will. Our physical well-being is truly trivial in importance compared to matters of the soul. We will come closer to God as we learn to rely on Him and trust Him. It is not God’s desire that anyone be lost from the kingdom, His family. He will not tolerate sin and/or iniquity but His way is always open to anyone who sincerely seeks it.

Isaiah 55:8
For My plans are not your plans,
Nor are My ways your ways
-declares the Lord.
But as the heavens are high above the earth,
So are My ways high above your ways
And My plans above your plans.
For as the rain or snow drops from heaven
And returns not there,
But soaks the earth
And makes it bring forth vegetation,
Yielding seed for sowing and bread for eating,
So is the word that issues from My mouth:
It does not come back to Me unfulfilled,
But performs what I purpose,
Achieves what I sent it to do.
Yea, you shall leave in joy and be led home secure.
Before you, mount and hill shall shout aloud,
And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Instead of the briar, a cypress shall rise;
Instead of the nettle, a myrtle shall rise.
These shall stand as a testimony to the Lord,
As an everlasting sign that shall not perish.

This is one of my favorite passages in Isaiah. God’s ways are often 180 degrees opposite man’s ways. When man learns to seek His perspective on issues he becomes wise and when man learns to choose God’s choices he becomes transformed by the realization of his now living relationship with God. Also, in this passage, God is showing us the majesty and complete mastery that flows from His will. God is the source of all reality and reality is the garden growing from the seeds of God’s words. But in God’s reality, freedom to choose reigns supreme, for without freedom there can be no love and without love there can be no purpose. As a result, God’s omnipotence aside, seeds other than good are sometimes sown and since God’s sun shines on the good and the bad, the harvest is not always good. But everything is given its season, and at the harvest’s end, the weeds are bundled up and thrown into the fire and the wheat is stored away. And so, God self-limits His omnipotence to allow for love, for Chapter 7 Isaiah 84.without love there would be no sons and no daughters, and no reason to have a universe.

Isaiah 56:3
Let not the foreigner say,
Who has attached himself to the Lord,
"The lord will keep me apart from His people;"
And let not the eunuch say,
"I am a withered tree."
I will give them, in My House
And within My walls,
A monument and a name
Better than sons or daughters.
I will give them an everlasting name
Which shall not perish.

Isaiah 56:7
I will bring them (foreigners) to My sacred mount
And let them rejoice in My house of prayer.
For My House shall be called
A house of prayer for all peoples.
Thus declares the Lord God,
Who gathers the dispersed of Israel:
"I will gather still more to those already gathered."

Note again the universality of God’s love. There is also another reference to the dispersed of Israel. Most importantly, God’s kingdom or family is for all peoples, all races, all religions, and for all time. Let’s pause here and consider that mysterious word ‘Israel.’

With the single word "Israel" one can discuss the entire past and future history of the world. We remember that Jacob, Abraham’s grandson, gave rise to the twelve tribes of Israel by virtue of his twelve sons. Moses, their great leader, led these twelve tribes through the desert from Egypt to the Land of Canaan. During their forty year desert journey scripture describes this group of Israelites as a rebellious group in the main. In fact, no sooner had Moses gone up the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments, than the people down below had begun to sacrifice to pagan gods. At the entrance to the Promised Land Moses died before entering, leaving his people in the hands of Joshua. After entrance into the Promised Land, Israel gradually coalesced into a united monarchy for several generations, before dividing up into northern and southern factions; Israel and Judah. Blessed by God’s bounty and fruitfulness the community thrived. But as their hunger was satisfied and their lives became secure, they walked away from the moral strictures of their covenant with God. The prophets tell us that they turned away from truth, became arrogant and full of pride, and ceased to practice justice. They knowingly ignored God’s commandments and worshipped false gods, becoming sexually promiscuous and deceitful. The weak and powerless went without protection, while knowledge and mercy disappeared. The Northern Israelites went astray before the Southern Judahites. The Northern Israelites were composed of the northern ten tribes. Ephraim and Manasseh were the two foremost tribes among the ten northern tribes for reasons discussed previously. Ephraim, the most blessed, led the way to destruction. These northern ten tribes, having separated themselves from God, were also separated from His guidance. They walked away from God and into disaster called the Assyrians, despite being warned and pleaded with by their prophets. At first, many of the Northern Israelites went into captivity in Assyria. Afterward they migrated north losing their identify and origins never to return. However, prophetic scripture continues to speak about a future, re-identified Lost Israel that plays an important role in events still to come at the end of our age. By looking at the various characteristics of this group of people described in scripture, we can glean something of this group’s identity. Let’s start by looking at where they go upon dispersion and where they come from in their future re-gathering to give us some hints as to who they may be. Ephraim is often used in scripture to refer to Israel because they make up the great majority of the population of the Lost Ten Tribes. First consider where the Northern Tribes are dispersed to:

Amos 9:9
I (God) will give the order
And shake the House of Israel –
Through all the nations –
As one shakes a sieve.

Ezekiel 5:10
I will scatter your survivors
in every direction.

Ezekiel 5:14
I will make you a ruin
and a mockery among the nations.

Micah 5:7
The remnant of Jacob shall be,
In the midst of many peoples
Like dew from the Lord.

Jeremiah 31:10
Hear the word of the Lord, O Nations,
And tell it in the coastlands afar.
Say:
He who scattered Israel will gather them.

Jeremiah 46:27
Be not dismayed, O Israel!
I will deliver you from afar.

Ezekiel 6:8
I will leave a remnant
of you that shall escape
from the sword among
the nations and be scattered
through the land.

Ezekiel 4:13
The people shall eat
their bread, unclean,
among the nations I will
banish them to.

Ezekiel 11:17
I have scattered them
among the countries.

Again, we have a generalized scattering of Lost Israel among all the nations, and also in the coastlands, among gentiles who eat unclean bread more specifically. Let’s see further where they are gathered from now:

Isaiah 11:12
He (the Lord) will hold up a signal to the nations
and assemble the banished of Israel
and gather the dispersed of Judah
from the four corners of the earth.

Jeremiah 23:3 
And I Myself (Melchizedek) will gather the remnant of My flock
from all the lands that I banished them.

Isaiah 24:14
Therefore, honor the Lord with lights
In the coastlands of the sea…
From the ends of the earth
We hear singing:
Glory to the Righteous One (Melchizedek)

Isaiah 42:1
This is My servant, whom I uphold,…
He shall bring forth the true way…
And the coastlands shall await his teaching.

Jeremiah 3l:7
For thus said the Lord:
Cry out in joy for Jacob,
Shout at the Chief of the Nations!
Sing aloud in praise and say:
The Lord has saved His people
The remnant of Israel.

Jeremiah 31:10 
Hear the word of the Lord, O Nations

Isaiah 43:3 Bring my sons from afar,
And my daughters from the end of the earth –

Isaiah 60:9
To bring your sons from afar,
And their silver and gold as well –

Afar is repeated often enough to note. Afar and ends of the earth would seem to mean just that. The Chief of Nations is the leading nation at the time of the ending of the age, which I believe is now approaching. Afar, of course, is far from Canaan the point of reference. Next consider:

Isaiah 49:1
Listen, O coastlands, to me,
And give head, O Nations afar.

Isaiah 60:9
Surely, the isles and distant coastlands
shall wait for and expect Me;
and the ships of Tarshish (large ships) will come first
to bring your sons from afar.

Isaiah 24:13
For thus it will be among the peoples
In the midst of the earth…

Isaiah 24:14
These shall lift up their voices,
Exult in the Majesty of the Lord
They shall shout from the sea:

Again these nations are far away from geographic Israel, across a sea, have coasts, and are inhabited by gentiles (non-Jewish) and their major faction lives in the Chief of Nations. These are fairly specific characteristics when taken together. Let’s also consider "Israel’s" general spiritual characteristics.

In general this is a large multitude of people who are scattered all over the world with a main concentration in the Chief of Nations, a coastland across the sea. The remnant self-selects themselves by being receptive to the inner leading and guidance of God amidst the trials of the latter days, shortly to begin. "Israel" in the broadest sense is any and all of these persons who choose to follow God’s inner and outer guidance, and who refuse to sink into the chaos and depravity of those around them. God chooses all people! Only some people choose God. "God’s people" are not an elite, or racially defined group, they are simply those who have chosen to do His will. This is not to say, that there are no genetic or environmental factors that condition the individuals’ responsiveness and receptivity to God’s inner and outer leadings. There are, but they are never the sole determinants or most important factors involved.

Jeremiah 3l:10 And tell it in the coastlands afar.
Say:
He who scattered Israel will gather them,

Now we have a nation that is far away from Canaan, across the sea that has coasts and is addressed as the chief of nations. The United States certainly could be this nation. This nation seems to have a major contingent of these called "Israel." Another, frequent term, isles of the sea, could be the British Isles. Lets not forget about other locations as well for this people "Israel":

Jeremiah 3l:8
I (the Lord) will bring them from the northland,
Gather them from the ends of the earth.
The blind and the lame among them…
In a vast throng they will return here (Canaan…)

The most important factor is always the individual’s willingness or unwillingness to give precedence to God’s will, ways, laws and leadings (to the best of each individual’s capacity to understand these). Now, let’s look at some other descriptive terms related to our mystery entity "Israel:"

Isaiah 10:22
Even if your people, O Israel,
Should be as the sands of the sea,
Only a remnant shall return.

Hosea 2:1
The number of people of Israel shall be
like the sands of the sea, which cannot
be measured or counted.

Genesis 22:17 
The angel of the Lord (Melchizedek) called to Abraham…
I will bestow my blessings on you and make
your descendants as numerous as the stars
of heaven and the sands on the seashore.

Deuteronomy 33:17
Like a firstling bull Joseph’s majesty is,…
And these are the myriads of Ephraim and
those are the thousands of Manasseh.
(Joseph’s blessings transmitted to his two sons
Ephraim and Manasseh)
Ephraim double fruitfulness, 2nd son of Joseph.
"for God has made him (Joseph)
Easton’s Bible fruitful in the land of his affliction." (Egypt) Dictionary

What I’ve tried to show here is that the blessing from the "Lord" (Melchizedek) to Abraham for numerous descendants, as the "sands of the sea," passes from Abraham, through Isaac, through Jacob, and through Joseph to Ephraim and to a lesser extent Manasseh. The great majority of distant future descendants are from Ephraim (the most blessed and fruitful). This is why Ephraim is used at times to designate the "lost ten tribes of Israel." Therefore, "Ephraim" and "Joseph" used in a prophetic sense refer to the same entity as "Israel." Also note, that it is a small remnant of "Israel" which returns to Canaan in the latter days. For now, suffice it to say that "Israel" is a far-flung group of people who are very numerous, some of which live in the coastlands afar and the isles of the sea. Further:

Deuteronomy 33:13
And of Joseph it is said:…
On the crown of the elect of his brothers…
He has thorns like the horns of the wild-ox;

Genesis 22:17
The Angel of the Lord called to Abraham…
and said;…your seed will possess the
gates of His enemies.

America is the land founded on God’s great blessings and strength. "God Bless America," "in God we Trust," "America the Beautiful" were frequently used phrases. Also:

O Beautiful for Spacious Skies
For Amber Waves of Grain
For Purple Mountain Majesty
Above the Fruited Plain
America, America God Shed His Grace on Thee
And Crown Thy Good with Brotherhood…

The fruitfulness, bounty, and blessings of America are unparalleled in the history of the world. Could the prophets have been addressing us; here, today and now? Are we the inheritors of Joseph’s and Ephraim’s God given bounty, fruitfulness, and military power? Are we the distant coastlands, across the sea from whence the servant will speak? Are we the "Chief of Nations?" Are we the latter days Ephraim of prophetic scripture? Now, let’s try to trace the physical path of "Israel" after they are conquered by the Assyrians.

4Ezra 13:39
And as for your seeing him (the "Lord") gather to
himself another multitude that was peaceable, these
are the ten tribes, which were led away from their own
land into captivity in the days of King Hosea, when
Shalmanesser, the king of the Assyrians led captive;
he took them across a river, and they were taken into
another land. But they formed this plan for themselves,
that they would leave the multitude of nations and go to
a more distant region, where mankind had never lived,
that there they at least might keep their statutes which
they had not kept in their own land. And they went up
the narrow passages

4Ezra 13:43 of the Euphrates river…through that region there was
a long way to go, a journey for a year and a half.

Jeremiah 3l:18 
I (the Lord) can hear Ephraim (Israel) lamenting:
‘You have chastised me, and I am chastised’…
Truly Ephraim is a dear son to Me,
A child that is dandled!
Whenever I have spoken against him,
My thoughts would dwell on him still.
That is why my heart yearns for him;
I will receive him back in love.
declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 3l:4
Erect markers,
Set up way marks,
Keep in mind the highway,
the road that you traveled.
Return maiden Israel!
Return to these towns of yours!

In these passages the Northern Tribes, "Israel" leave Canaan to Assyria and then later go north up the Euphrates River for a one and a half year journey. Where did they go? They are told to leave "markers and way marks" as they go so that they can later return by the same route (during the messianic regathering). Let’s pick up this story in the evidences of recorded history. Here are some quotes from a leading researcher on the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel, Yair Davidy:

"The word translated above (Jeremiah 31:4) as "way marks" in the original
Hebrew is "Tzionim" which strictly speaking means "signs"
but in spoken Hebrew is usually used to denote a stone
erection, marking a grave or event." (Yair Davidy, Ephraim)
"Amongst the Classical Authoritative Rabbinical Commentators
the most literal explanation of this verse is that given by the
"Radak." (Rabbi David Kimchi, 1157-1236 A.D.) of Marbonne,
France. (Yair Davidy, Ephraim)

"Set yourself up way marks" –
"This was directed to the community of Israel, that in the
generation when they would be exiled, they should set up
way marks such as piled up stones or stone monuments to
recognize the path of migration, meaning to say that even
though you will be exiled hope is not lost and you are still
destined to return to these your cities." (Radak on Jeremiah 31)
(Yair Davidy, Ephraim)

"The ancient Hebrews are recorded setting up stones as
monuments. Jacob set up a pillar and anointed it. Heaps
of stones, or one stone upon another are collectively
referred to as "dolmens" and are found in Israel and
Western Europe. The intentions of these monuments
was to commemorate some event. (Yair Davidy, Ephraim)

‘The megalithic dolmens found in the Golan and Galilee
are table like structures composed of two vertical basalt
blocks roofed by large rock horizontal slabs.’
(Mazar, A. "Archeology of the Land of the Bible, 10,000 –
586 BCE", 1990) (Yair Davidy, Ephraim)

"Dolmens and related monuments are found in the land of
Israel, Jordan, Caucasus, Spain, France, Britain and Scandinavia."
(Yair Davidy, Ephraim)

"There are several types of dolmens and examples have also
been reported from Ethiopia, Japan, India, and North Africa.
The type of dolmen found in ancient Israel is the same as that
found in Western Europe." (Yair Davidy’s, Ephraim ).

In addition there are volumes of research and facts that support the close relationship between ancient Israel and Northwestern Europe. This research comes from Talmudic scholarship, archeology, linguistics, recorded history, and folklore. The Northern Ten Tribes, the Israelites, were dispersed first to Assyria and then traveled northward to populate Northern and Western Europe and then later on came to America. These Lost Ten Tribes of Israel have carried with them, wherever they have gone, their ancient blessings from God. These blessings went from God, to Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob, to Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, to Northern Israel, to the Lost Ten Tribes, to Northwestern Europe and finally to America. But just as in the beginning, blessings have not been recognized and appreciated, and have not kept those who are blessed from going astray. It was Ephraim of ancient Israel, the most blessed, who went first and farthest astray. It is Ephraim again who goes astray. Ephraim is America. The end is like the beginning. American history is repeating Northern Israel’s ancient history.

I think one can make a strong case that "Israel" has large populations in North America, Great Britain, Northern and Western Europe, and the off shoots of the prior British Empire, i.e. Australia and New Zealand among others. In addition, "like the dew of the Lord," smaller populations are located among many if not all the other nations. One might reasonably consider that "Israel" is closely related to Christendom itself. The total population of this "Israel" is probably in the billions. Biblical references to offspring as numerous as "the stars in the sky" and the "sands of the sea" are now comprehensible. God’s promises to Abraham have been, are being, and will be fulfilled. Now we appreciate the immensity of "Ephraim’s myriads." Suddenly, the Bible is no longer just an "old fashioned book" about meaningless events in the distant past that involve other people. "Israel" is Christendom today and "Judah" is modern, geographic Israel of re-gathering Jews. Future "Israel" will be all those who desire to do God’s will. Future "Israel" will be composed of the faithful remnants of Christians and Jews and all others who desire to do God’s will. God has been announcing his plans from long ago. The history of "Israel" is in fact the history of the world; past, present and future. And God’s history of the world is a strange history. It is told before, not after, the historical events occur. This does not mean that our lives and history are predetermined. We freely choose all of our own actions, but God transcends time and space and his infinite mind foreknows how we will freely choose. We are free to choose and God is free to foreknow our choices. This is similar to a parent who can predict in advance what his children will do in various situations. The immensity, absoluteness, and infinitude of God’s mind are far beyond human imagination. We are left in awe of this Infinite Being who turns to us the face of a loving Father and knows the number of hairs on our individual heads. Lets now return to the Isaiah narrative:

Isaiah 56:6 
As for the foreigners
Who attach themselves to the Lord,
To minister to Him
And to love the name of the Lord,
To be his servants –

Isaiah 56:7 
I will bring them to My sacred mount
And let them rejoice in My house of prayer,
"For My house shall be called
A house of prayer for all peoples."
Thus says the Lord God,
Who gathers the dispersed of Israel:
"I will gather still more to those already gathered."

God himself is being quoted here by the prophet. Isaiah presents his inspired collaboration with Melchizedek with a certainty of mind beyond mere human assurance. God is clear: anyone who would, can come. He is a loving father, actively pursuing the embrace of every mortal being in the world. The eternal covenant is open to all who have faith and who would follow God’s Ways and Will. Man is not absolved of suffering, but he is lifted up over it, in the "peace that surpasses all understanding." And this is the "kingdom of heaven" that is "within" as spoken of by the Son of Man. What are God’s Ways? What would God have us do? Here is God’s answer through His inspired prophets. We will first review the Old Covenant with its external commands and then the New Covenant with its internal guidance. Together they are the Way of God.

Genesis 17 
God (Melchizedek) spoke to Abraham, "This is my
Covenant with you: You shall be the father of a
multitude of nations…I assign…all the land of Canaan,
as an everlasting holding (to Abraham and his offspring.)"

Genesis 26 
The Lord (Melchizedek) appeared to him (Abraham) and said,
"…I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven…"

Exodus 19 
Moses went up (Mount Sinai) to God (Melchizedek).
The Lord called to him "Say to the House of Jacob…
If you will obey Me faithfully and keep My covenant,
you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples."

Exodus 20 
"You shall not swear falsely by the name of the Lord
your God…Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy…
honor your father and mother…You shall not murder…
commit adultery…steal…bear false witness…covet your
neighbor’s house…or covet your neighbor’s wife."

Deuteronomy 30:15 
Behold, I have set before thee this day life and death,
good and evil. If thou wilt hearken to the commands of
the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to
love the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to
keep his ordinances, and his judgments; then ye shall
live, and shall be many in number, and the Lord thy God
shall bless thee in all the land into which thou goest to
inherit. But if thy heart change, and thou wilt not hearken,
and thou shalt go astray and worship other gods, and serve
them, I declare to you this day, that ye shall utterly perish,
and ye shall by no means live long upon the land, into which
ye go over Jordan to inherit it.

Notice above that it is God's covenant. Melchizedek, the Son of God, brings it to Abraham. This is why Melchizedek is referred to as "the messenger of the covenant" in Malachi.

Malachi 3:1 KJV
Behold…the Lord whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to
his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye
delight in: behold he shall come.

This verse in Malachi is a prophecy written 2500 years ago of Melchizedek’s return in the "latter days," now just ahead. "The Lord whom you seek" is the messenger of the covenant, who in turn is Melchizedek. Once again, by a different route, we show that "the Lord" can be identified as Melchizedek in scripture. Once again, the Urantia Book opens up scripture for us, supplying the critical clue as above. The Urantia Book confirms this everlasting covenant with Abraham and Abraham’s offspring "Israel." The Jewish people have not been abandoned by God, they are still a vital part of God’s unfolding plan.

UB  1020 This covenant of Melchizedek and Abraham represents the
great Urantian agreement between divinity and humanity whereby
God agrees to do everything; man only agrees to believe God’s
promises and follow his instructions.

Hosea 6 I 
desire goodness – not sacrifice
Obedience to God, not burnt offerings

Hosea l0:l2 
Sow righteousness for yourselves;
Reap the fruits of goodness:"…
You have plowed wickedness,
You have reaped iniquity –
And you shall eat the fruits of treachery –
Because you relied on your way

Amos 6: 
Spare me the sound of your hymns.
But let justice well up like water and
Righteousness like an unfailing stream.

Micah 6 
He has told you, O man, what is good…
Only to do justice
And to love goodness
And to walk humbly with your God.

Zechariah 8: 
Speak truth to one another
Render true and perfect justice in your gates…
Love honesty and integrity

Deuteronomy l8:l3 
You must be wholehearted with the Lord your God.

Isaiah 58:6 
This is the fast that I desire:
To unlock the fetters of wickedness,
And untie the cords of the yoke
To let the oppressed go Free;
To break off every yoke…
To share your bread with the hungry,
And to take the wretched poor into your home;
When you see the naked, clothe him…
Then your light will burst through like the dawn
And your healing will spring up quickly…
Then when you call, the Lord will answer;
When you cry, He will say: Here I am.

Jeremiah 9:23 
For I the Lord act with kindness,
Justice and equity in the world;
For in these I delight

Hosea l2:7 
You must return to your God!
Practice goodness and justice,
And constantly trust in your God.

Continuing the theme of God’s Way; i.e. God’s Will, His people shall:

Damascus Document They shall love each man as his brother;
They shall succor the poor, the needy, and the stranger…

Dead Sea Scrolls They shall bear no rancor from one day to the next…

Deuteronomy l0:l2 
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God, require of you,
but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to love
Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul, to keep the commandments of the Lord, and His statutes,
which I command you this day for your good. (Moses to Israelites)

And so, God tells us through his prophets what He wants of us; very simply and very clearly. But for most of mankind these instructions are unappealing! After all, aren’t we free? Sovereigns of our own destiny? Aren’t we able to choose our own paths without any assistance from anyone, including the infinite and loving Being we call God? Little do we realize that we throw away infinity for an illusion, never suspecting the treasure buried within, encased in fear and subverted by pride. Only by paradox, can the infinite be alluded to because true freedom is "slavery" to God’s will, for such slavery is a slavery of love, that unshackles every yoke of human limitation. The very intention of God’s Will is love. We have considered the old covenant between God and man. Now lets turn to the new covenant. We move from external, negative commands to internal, positive guidance. Kingdom of Heaven Within, the New Covenant, Internal Guidance, the true way, the gospel and message of Jesus

Jeremiah 3l:3
But such is the covenant I will make
With the House of Israel after these days –
Declares the Lord: I will put My Teaching
Into their inmost being and inscribe it
Upon their hearts. Then I will be their God, and
They shall be My people.

Isaiah 30:l8 
Then your Guide will no more be ignored, and your
Eyes will watch your Guide; and, whenever you
Deviate to the right or to the left, your ears
Will heed the command from behind (within) you:
"This is the road; follow it!"

Proverbs l:23
…behold, I will put my spirit unto you. I
Will make known my words unto you.

Matthew 7:21-23
Not every one that saith unto me (Jesus), "Lord, Lord,"
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but rather he
that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

Luke 17:20-21
The Kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither
shall they say, Lo here! Or, Lo there! For, behold,
the Kingdom of God is within you.

1 Corinthians3
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and
that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?…
which ye have of God, and ye are not your own.

4Q400
… priests of the inner temple, ministers of
Dead Sea the presence in his glorious innermost Temple
Scrolls chambers.

4Q405
Praise the God of… wonder, and exalt Him… As
Dead Sea they rise, a whispered divine voice is heard…
Scrolls

And so, we see the evolution of God’s relationship with man. We begin with the fear of God and his external commandments and we end with the love of God and the pouring out of His spirit upon us, and within us. We’ve heard from the prophets about the Kingdom within. Now hear the poets:

Emily Dickinson #679
Conscious am I in my Chamber,
Of a shapeless friend –
Presence – is His furthest license –
Instinct esteems Him
Immortality –

Emily Dickinson#670
One need not be a Chamber – to be Haunted –
One need not be a House –
The Brain has Corridors – surpassing
Material place –
Far safer, of a midnight meeting
External Ghost
Than its interior Confronting –
That Cooler Host.

Here, Emily is expressing her consciousness of the inner spirit within – the "shapeless friend" and "Cooler Host" of "immortality." Unlike the external spirits and Ghosts; the internal spirit inhabits our mind – the "corridors of the brain." Let’s take a look at a few more:

Realization of God’s spirit within, "the bolder One," liberates one from all perceived human limitations, i.e. one’s "captivity." Now consider:

Emily Dickinson #980
Purple – is fashionable twice –
This season of the year,
And when a soul perceives itself
To be an Emperor.

Emily Dickinson #674
The soul that hath a guest
Doth seldom go abroad -Diviner
Crowd at Home
Obliterate the need –
And Courtesy forbid
A Host’s departure when
Upon Himself be visiting
The Emperor of Men –

Walt Whitman Song of the Open Road
Each is not for its own sake,
I say the whole earth and all the stars in the sky
Are for religions sake.
I say no man has ever yet been half devout enough,
None has ever yet adored or worshipped enough,
None has begun to think how divine he himself is, and
How certain the future is.
Song of Myself O, I could sing such glories and grandeurs about you!
You have not known what you are,
You have slumber’d upon yourself all your life,
Your eyelids have been the same as closed most of
The time.

We are unaware of the presence of the spirit within and so "we have not known what we are" and haven’t begun to realize "how divine" we ourselves can become. The voice within points the way, if we but listen. Follow the guide within and experience the reality of the divine indwelling. Behold, "all things are becoming new"-- once we experience and are aware of God’s spirit within; that "little voice" that speaks silently. And now, back to Isaiah. He turns 180 degrees and addresses our elite and illustrious leaders:

Isaiah 56:10
The watchmen are blind, all of them,
They perceive nothing.
That cannot bark;
They lie sprawling,
They love to drowse.
Moreover, the dogs are greedy;
They never know satiety.
As for the shepherds, they know not
What it is to give heed.
Everyone has turned to his own way,
Every last one seeks his own advantage.
"Come, I’ll buy some wine;
Let us swill liquor.
And tomorrow will be just the same,
Or even much grander!"
The righteous man perishes,
And no one considers;
Pious men are taken away,
And no one gives thought
That because of evil…
The righteous was taken away.
Yet he shall come to peace,
He shall have rest on his couch
Who walked straightforward.
But as for you, come closer,…
On a high and lofty hill
You have set your couch;
Behind the door and doorpost
You have directed your thoughts;
Abandoning Me, you have gone up

You found gratification for your lust,
And so you never cared.
Whom do you dread and fear,
That you tell lies?
But you gave no thought of Me,
You paid no heed!
It is because I have stood idly by for so long
That you have no fear of Me
I hereby pronounce judgment on your deeds:

Here the watchmen (56:10) are our "experts", the erudite prognosticators of conventional wisdom. Their refrain is always the same, everything is fine – just another bright sunny day. Meanwhile justice has gone out from the land and truth out from our hearts. Our leaders are misleaders; their only interest is self-interest. Gone are the statesmen. Gone are the noblemen. Gone are the wise men. There is no one home. Our shepherds (leaders) are wolves feeding off the flock. Entrusted with much, these misleaders will be answerable for much. The consequences of this blind leadership will shortly rear their ugly heads. And then the cry: "if only we knew." But we close our eyes, and cover our ears, and bury our heads – co-conspirators against truth and justice. "We hear no evil, speak no evil, and see no evil. And we love it to have it so." Now, back to the main narrative of Isaiah:

Isaiah 60:17
Arise, and shine, for your light has dawned.
The presence of the Lord has shone upon you.
Behold! Darkness shall cover the earth,
And thick clouds the peoples
But upon you the Lord will shine,
And His Presence be seen over you.
And nations will walk by your light.
Raise your eyes and look about:
They have all gathered and come to you (the Lord)
Your sons shall be brought from afar,
Your daughters like babes on shoulders.
As you behold, you will glow:

Isaiah 60:8
Who are these that float like a cloud,
Like doves to their windows?

CLOUDS/CHARIOTS/SKY

Psalms 78:14
In the daytime also he (the Lord) led them with a cloud, and all The night with a light of fire

Psalms 99:7
He (the Lord) spoke unto them in the cloudy pillar.

Exodus 33:9 And it came to pass, as Moses entered the
Tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended…
And the Lord talked with Moses. (Moses, untroubled
by this, was well schooled in the traditions regarding
Melchizedek; as discussed in the UB).

His chariots shall be as a whirlwind:

Deuteronomy 33:26
There is none like God (probably Melchizedek), O Israel,
Who rides through the heavens to your help and
In his majestic glory through the skies.

2Kings 2:1
Behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and
horses of fire, and it parted them (Elijah & Elisha) both
asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind
into heaven. (see above similarity in Jeremiah 4:13)

Psalms 68:17
The chariots of God are twenty thousands of angels
The Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in The Holy Place.

1Enoch 55:1-3
After this I beheld an army of chariots with men riding in them.
And they came upon the wind from the east, from the west, and
from the south. The sound of the noise of their chariots was heard.

Chariots then, are vehicles of transportation, on the ground or in the air, depending on the context of its usage.

Daniel 7:13
One like a human being (one like a son of man/ RSV.)
Came with the clouds of heaven;
He reached the Ancient of Days
And was presented to Him;

Remember that Jesus took his title Son of Man from the Book of Enoch (UB.p.l390). Here the Messianic figure is referred to as "one like a son of man," who is not Jesus because:

UB  1749
Jesus endeavored to lead his followers into the spiritual
kingdom… but they would not have it so. He well knew that
his earth mission could not possibly fulfill Messianic expectations
of the Jewish people; the older prophets portrayed a Messiah, which he could never be.

Therefore, Jesus tells us repeatedly that "his kingdom is not of this world", but rather an inner spiritual kingdom which he has come to reveal. "One like a son of man" is not Jesus. Who is I early history of Israel. We also know that "the Lord" sometimes refers to Melchizedek. If the Messiah is Melchizedek and he "comes with the clouds of heaven: this would fit with our previous associations between "the Lord" and the "pillar of cloud" that leads the Israelites. Remember that Melchizedek was on earth in a "semi material form" as well as a material form previously, and that a Melchizedek can take on a wide variety of forms; spiritual, material, and semi material. Also notice the key word like, in "one like a son of man." Jesus was a son of man because he was born of woman. Melchizedek incarnated in an adult human form and was not born of woman. Therefore he is not a son of man but rather is like a son of man. So the "cloud" reference and the "one like a son of man" reference both point to Melchizedek as the Lord/Messiah. Now consider the rest of this passage:

Daniel 7:14
And to him (one like a son of man) was
Given dominion, and glory and kingdom,
That all peoples, nations, and languages
Should serve him;
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And his kingdom is one
That shall not be destroyed

This is not a spiritual Messiah, he comes in power and glory to judge the earth and take dominion (sovereignty) of the nations and peoples of the world. Why does he come and take sovereignty? Melchizedek is our Planetary Prince in waiting. All normal planets have a Planetary Prince and we are about to be restored to normalcy. Also, the present world leaders are misleaders; they spend no time truly addressing our global problems such as overpopulation, pollution, environmental degradation, rapid loss of biologic species, ongoing ozone depletion, global social and political unrest, and increasing nuclear weapons proliferation. They talk a lot but actually do very little, after all it may ruffle the feathers of some powerful corporation. This planet is being and has been, raped by the wealthy and powerful. Nary a thought is given to putting back what we take out. The sole motivation is to get as much wealth and power as fast as possible. Because of this, when Melchizedek steps in, we will be in the middle of many major problems. But God is not going to let the many good people of the world be destroyed by the strong and powerful. Sovereignty will be taken away from the present leadership elite and given to those who live according to God’s ways:

Revelations 11:15
Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet…
Saying, "the power to rule over the
World belongs now to our Lord and His
Messiah, and he will rule forever and ever.

The word Messiah is Christos in Greek. Christ means Messiah. Unfortunately, Jesus was surnamed for just what he was not. Also notice that "our Lord" and "his Messiah" are two different personages in this verse. "Our Lord" is God and "his Messiah" is God’s chosen representative for our world, Melchizedek. The fact that this is a Messiah of this physical world and that he rules forever – indicates a divine being. This divine being is on a cloud just as before in Daniel:

Revelations 14:14
Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and sitting on
The cloud was what looked like a human being (one like a son of man/RSV.)
With a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.

Again, "one like a son of man" is the reaper. Why is there a sickle in his hand? The prophets have asked God for thousands of years over and over; "How long Lord? How long?" meaning how long will the strong trample the weak? How long will the arrogant govern the meek? God’s answer is that everything has a season to grow and yield its full fruit; we then reap what we sow. The sun is made to shine on the good and the evil. Remember the parable when the good man sows good seed, but while he is sleeping, an evil one sows weeds in the same field. And, when the weeds grow up with the good crop, the parable tells us that both good and bad will be allowed to reach harvest together. Then the field will be harvested and the good crop stored away and the weeds bound up and thrown into the fire. This is done because pulling the weeds up early would damage the good as well as the bad. The end of an age is a harvest time when everything is harvested and accounted for. The one on the cloud has a "sickle in his hand" to harvest the crop at the end of the age. This "one like a son of man" is Melchizedek who comes to save the world from itself, give restitution to "God’s people," and begin a new and glorious age of promise. The prophecy, "The meek shall inherit the earth" will finally become reality. Also, remember Jesus’ parable about the good landowner of the vineyard. The landowner leaves his beautiful vineyard in the hands of workmen who ransack his property and ruin his vineyard. The landowner sends his best servants, and then even his very own son to check on its progress. The son they kill, so as to deprive him of his inheritance, and Jesus then looks to the listening audience and asks, "What do you think the landowner will do?" In unison they answer, "he will destroy those men…" (UB.p.l893). This story is not only a parable. It is also a prophecy of Jesus’ (the son in the parable) subsequent death at the hands of the leaders of Jerusalem who are playing the role of the workmen left in charge. Israel is the vineyard and God is the landowner who sends his son Jesus to set right the spiritual affairs of Israel. But Jesus is killed by the very ones causing the trouble in the first place, the workmen left in charge, i.e. the leaders of Israel. But wait! The parable prophecy hasn’t ended yet because God has not yet sent anyone to bring justice to the vineyard workers, i.e. the leaders. The parable will end, when God’s Agent of Justice arrives and sets the affairs of His "vineyard" aright, just as at the ending of the parable. This is exactly the function of the "Messiah" described in Old Testament prophecy. Not only was Jesus aware of his upcoming death, but he also was aware that the complete story would someday end like his parable ended. The word messiah is used only twice in the Bible, both times in Daniel (chp.9) embedded in some passages regarding the seventy weeks prophecy. The word messiah is also used several times in 1Enoch in association with a divine being who brings peace and victory to those who "elect" God’s will during the end of the Age. This Messiah figure in 1Enoch is called the Elect One, the Concealed One, the Mighty One, and God of the World. Notice that the God of the World designation well describes the function of a Planetary Prince/Sovereign. The word messiah means anointed in spirit, and when capitalized, Messiah means the Anointed One over all other anointed ones. Prophets and servants are also anointed ones, lower case. The word "Christ" simply is the Greek translation of the word "Messiah." Essentially, we have named Jesus "Christ" for precisely what he is not, i.e. "Messiah." When Jesus came, people were looking for the World Messiah and mostly missed recognizing the Spiritual Savior. This time around Christians are looking for the Spiritual Savior and alas – the World Messiah comes. Humanity gets it wrong both times. No one can say that we’re not consistent. Now, please consider:

Psalm 2:1 Septuagint
Wherefore do the heathen rage,
and the nations imagine vain things?
The kings of the earth stood up, and
The rulers gathered themselves together,
Against the Lord, and against His Christ;

This reminds us of the other Psalm where my Lord (God) tells my Lord (Messiah) that He will make the earth his footstool. God is telling His Son (Melchizedek) that he will put him in charge of our planet and that he (Melchizedek) will dwell in Zion. The heathen are all non-believers, or better, non-knowers of God. And so, since we know Jesus is not the World Messiah; there is only one other divine being, in the lineage of the Sons of God, that this could be, i.e. Melchizedek, who just happens to be revealed as the shortly forthcoming Planetary Prince of Urantia in the Urantia Book. Also recall that 11Q13 of the Dead Sea Scrolls identifies this Messiah figure directly as Melchizedek by replacing the word "Lord" in the original verse with the word Melchizedek in a passage describing the end of The Age This reverses the very error in the Old Testament identified by the Urantia Book i.e. the use of the word "Lord or angel of the Lord" in place of Melchizedek. Thus the Urantia Book corroborates the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Scrolls corroborate the Urantia Book about this issue. "Melchizedek" is back in, "Lord" is out! Thus, scriptural evidence is strongly consistent with Melchizedek as the "Messiah" figure. Could the Prophets of the Old Testament be wrong about its prophecy of a "Messiah?" Since these prophecies about a "Messiah" occupy a large portion of scriptural prophecy, if wrong, then one would expect most of this scripture to also be wrong. But the more one studies this scripture, the more one is impressed with its accuracy, consistency (both internal and across multiple sources), and co-ordination. By co-ordination I mean that different sources fill in different parts of the overall puzzle. The unified interpretation of the entire corpus of Judeo-Christian scripture throughout the ages, will one day be a gleaming monument to God’s omniscient over control. Remarkably, God knows every thought that will pass through our heads during our entire existence. And even more remarkably, He knows it before the universe itself was even yet created. And yet, our free will to choose our own course is operative throughout. We are free to choose and God is free to foreknow our choice. The following poem expresses this seeming paradox well.

Zechariah 2:14
For lo, I come; and I will dwell in your
Midst – declares the Lord. In that day many
Nations will attach themselves to the Lord
And become His people and He will dwell in
Your midst. Then you will know that I
Was sent to you by the Lord of Hosts.

Again, what are they seeing that so confounds the nations? Could it be just an accident that all the world’s peoples are looking simultaneously for their version of the Messiah? Would God only prepare Jews and Christians? Has Melchizedek’s involvement been solely with the Judaic tradition? We learn from John Hogue in his book, Millennium Prophecy, of a very long list of expected Messiah figures all of which are expected to set things aright. Here he states: "Prophecy shares a collective vision of a Second Coming of a Christ figure. All of our soothsayers say his ‘cloud’ is due to land from heaven during our time." (Millennium Prophecy pg. 333). This is what the Kabala (a text of Jewish mysticism) says about the number 21, that is, the 21st Century:

The World Ascension to leadership, Temporal and Spiritual.
Prosperity Cycle in Mundane Affairs. Advancement of Backward
People. Adept Proper use of talents in arts, science, and commerce.
The power of Peace. The Hebrew Letter Schin, Planetary Ruler!
The Luminous One, The Sun. (Millennium Prophecy p. 299).

Sri Aurobindo
(1950- ) "O Force-compelled, Fate-driven, Earth-Born race
Bengali Mystic O petty adventurers in an infinite world
And prisoners of a dwarf humanity,
How long will you tread the circling tracts of mind
Around your little self and petty things?
But not for a changeless littleness were you meant,
Not for vain repetition were you built
.. Almighty powers are shut in nature’s cells.
A greater destiny awaits you in your front
… The life you lead conceals the light you are
(John Hogue, Millennium Prophecy p. 292)

Sri Aurobindo is a Bengali mystic and visionary, born in Calcutta, India and educated in
England. The petty lives we lead conceal the divine potentials that lie untapped within us.
"The coming spiritual rebellion in human consciousness is one of
the largest collective forecasts in the minority prophetic vote for
human survival" (Millennium Prophecy p. 294.)

The future always comes in through the minority. The last battle won, "conventional wisdom" is one step from the scrap heap. We fear and resist change, no matter what its content. Nearly all-conventional wisdom today is wrong! Wrong about science, wrong about politics, wrong about people, wrong about philosophy, wrong about religion and wrong about most anything else we can think of. Our leaders, our intellectuals and our so-called elite will have the same constant refrain right up to the hour when they are removed from their power and prestige. The refrain is "everything is fine, going just as we expected." This is why they are so "confounded" in Micah 7:16 (above) when the World Messiah steps into the fray. It’s time we started thinking for ourselves and stop buying the illusions, which are cast up in front of us by the "leadership class" and the media; one working hand in hand with the other.

There is a Sufi metaphor about identification. Misery doesn’t come
to us; we unconsciously seek it out and hold on to it, like flinging our
arms around a pillar. We squeeze tighter and yell, "Oh if I could only
be rid of this misery and pain!"…We "do" misery we "do" expectation.
Hell is not a place, we "do" it, as American mystic Adi DaSantoshia
once remarked…We make prophecy work because we are so damned
predictable… We have repeated again and again the behaviors that make
it easy for the seers to prophesy us unto doomsday. (John Hogue,
Millennium Prophecy, Pg. 305).

In other words, we have seen the enemy and it is us. This is why the Urantia Book gives Caligastia (the devil) little credit for the evil around us and places the blame squarely where it belongs – on ourselves. And the silence of "the good people" is deafening as we stand back and watch the destruction of our country and our families. And so it is, in part, ourselves, those "faithful servants" who will be held accountable for the "talents" we have been given to use for increase:

Our spiritual path is not complex, it is quite simple…it is not a
romantic sacrifice to look at oneself, to be able to celebrate life. Yet,
with this comes a feeling of joy, a sense of being, and a connection
with the Flow of the universe. (Good Horse Nation (1985) Visayan
Medicine Man from John Hogue, Millennial Prophecy.)

I absolutely believe that no one wants to choose suicide. Up to now
man has been surviving without transformation because there was no
urgency for change. (Osho, 1984, Millennial Prophecy)

I would disagree with the sentence about suicide. There are some who are so filled with anger and hatred that they repeatedly choose destruction for themselves and those around them. These love to control others and impose their will. Because of their passion to control and to make subservient, they are seekers of power and prestige. Find any place of true power, in any organization, and it is very likely you will find someone with this type of behavior. We haven’t noticed, but such as these are running everything now-a days – our government, our educational institutions, our corporations, our banks and everything else of any consequence regarding wealth and power. Therefore, we are all taking a one-way trip to chaos. But out of chaos comes the burning embers of a new start for human civilization and its transformed peoples. Walt Whitman gives us a glimpse of this personal transformation:

But I know that they go toward the best,
toward something great.
Whoever you are, come forth!…
Out of dark confinement!
Out from behind the screen!…
Alons the road is before us!
It is safe – I have tried it – my own feet have tried it well
– be not detained!
(Excerpts Song of the Open Road, Walt Whitman,
Leaves of Grass, 1855)

Isaiah 60:9 
Behold, the coastlands await me,…
To bring your sons from afar,…
Aliens shall rebuild your (Jerusalem’s) walls,…
Their Kings shall wait on you (Jerusalem) – …
Your gates shall always stay open –
Day and night they shall never be shut – …
And you shall be called "City of the Lord."

Isaiah 63:1
Who is coming from Edom,
In crimsoned garments from Bozrah –
Who is this, majestic in attire,
Pressing forward in His great might?
"It is I, who contend victoriously,
Powerful to give triumph."

This is the large-scale equivalent of Jesus’ righteous anger that he exhibited when he turned over the tables of the moneylenders in the temple. Melchizedek and Jesus are angry for the sake of God’s abrogated laws and the oppression of His children. However, Jesus and probably Melchizedek "revile no man," (UB) for personal judgment rests safely with God alone. Melchizedek enters as a warrior. Warriors enter a city on horseback, not riding an ass as Jesus did. Melchizedek comes in power and glory to put out the fires of evil ravaging the world – perhaps the red (crimsoned garments) symbolizes bloodshed. The Hopi Indian Messiah is expected to wear a red cap and cloak. Jesus entered Jerusalem on the foal of an ass; warriors enter a city on horseback, a symbol of power:

Revelations 19:11 
And I saw heaven opened,
And behold a white horse;
And he that sat on him
Was called Faithful and True;
And in righteousness he doth judge and make war

Revelations 6:2
And I saw, and behold a white horse;
And he that sat on him had a bow;
And a crown was given unto him;
And he went forth conquering and to conquer.

White symbolizes cleanliness, righteousness, and holiness. A horse is symbolic of a warrior. The crown symbolizes sovereignty. The one on horseback is Melchizedek, the Faithful and True, Son of God, who rapidly subdues the world’s leaders (kings) that are bringing war to the peoples. Also, remember that Joseph, the chosen (elect) son of Jacob, wore a crown and was a strong archer with a bow. Melchizedek is God’s chosen Son, and just as Joseph, he is given a crown and a bow, as well as sovereignty of our world. This is why 1Enoch calls Melchizedek the Elect One. The crown follows the elect; those who stand up and elect God’s will.

Revelations 11:15
Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet,…
And loud voices in heaven, were saying "The
Kingdom of the World has become the Kingdom
Of our Lord (God) and his Christ (Messiah Melchizedek)

Notice carefully that this kingdom is of the world and is not the inner spiritual kingdom of heaven spoken of by Jesus, for he said on many occasions, "my kingdom is not of this world." The Book of Revelation is stated in the Urantia Book to be a much deleted and edited version of John’s original vision, which is stated to have been a profound and far reaching prophecy. It should be noted however that the Urantia Book freely quotes many passages of Revelation and explains their true meanings. Therefore, I use Revelation sparingly and carefully in situations where it adds to or expands the meaning of Old Testament prophesy, already previously developed. Scripture is an organic whole, like a growing tree with many branchings off the main trunk. Here are a few samples of Urantia Book quotes regarding Revelation.

UB  599
It was at the conclusion of the terminal mission of the Teacher
Sons (at least that would be the chronology on a normal world)
that John wrote: "I saw a new heaven, a new earth and the new
Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as
a princess adorned for the prince."

The comment in the Urantia Book regarding this new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem leaves open the possibility of this event occurring on our world at any time, even the upcoming time of our presently ending age as our world is out of the usual order. Consider:

UB  599 The Trinity Teacher Sons may return many times to the
same world. But sooner or later, in connection with the
termination of one of their missions, the Planetary Prince is
elevated to the position of Planetary Sovereign, and the
System Sovereign appears to proclaim the entrance of
such a world upon the era of light and life.

Do we dare speculate that since Melchizedek is described in scripture as receiving sovereignty (crown) as our Planetary Prince that our world may also enter the era of light and life at the end of this age, when Melchizedek is elevated to the position of Planetary Sovereign. One more example of the use of Revelation in the UB:

UB  538
John the Revelator saw a vision of the arrival of a class of
advancing mortals from the seventh mansion world to their
first heaven, the glories of Jerusem. He recorded; "And I saw
as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire; and those who gained
the victory over the beast that was originally in them, and over
the image that persisted through the mansion worlds and finally
over the last mark and trace, standing on the sea of glass, having
the harps of God, and singing the song of deliverance from mortal
fear and death."

Notice, that the Urantia Book adds quite a bit of information to the actual passage in scripture:

In the UB passage the "mark of the Beast" refers to the animalistic, biologic, and environmentally induced imperfections within man as opposed to the external "mark of the beast" suggested by the actual text of "Revelation". There are over a hundred places in the Urantia Book where imagery from Revelation is discussed, as listed in Duane Faw’s Paramony of the Urantia Book and the Bible. Perhaps some of the original meanings of John’s vision could be reconstructed by using the information provided in the Urantia Book. Now to Isaiah once more:

Isaiah 65:1
I (the Lord) responded to those who did not ask,
I was at hand to those who did not seek Me;
I said, "Here I am, here I am,"
To a nation that did not invoke My name.
I constantly held out My hands
To a disloyal people,
Who walk in the way that is not good,
Following their own designs.

Here, the Lord Melchizedek explains why he departed from his dwelling place in ancient Zion. He tried everything possible to get the people to listen, but they persistently turned away from Him to choose their own way.

And so, the Lord preserves his "servants" who are mindful of him and will give them the land to dwell on. What’s more His "chosen ones" are given actual possession of the earth. This means that when the present world leadership is removed that sovereignty will pass to Melchizedek and Melchizedek will give it to "his chosen ones," elsewhere called the elect. The elect are those who understand, elect, and do God’s will. Consider:

1Enoch 1:1
(This is) The word of the blessing of Enoch, how he blessed the elect and the
righteous who are to exist in the time of trouble;…

1Enoch 1:2
that which will not take place in this generation; but in a generation, which is to
succeed at a distant period, on account of the elect.

Matthew 24:22
And except those days be shortened, there should no flesh be saved; but for the
elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

Isaiah 65
For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy
name: I have surnamed thee, though thou has not known me.

Isaiah 43:1
Fear not, for I will redeem you,
I have singled you out by name,
You are mine.
When you pass through water,
I will be with you;
Through streams,
Thy shall not overwhelm you
When you walk through fire
You shall not be scorched…
Because you are precious to Me
And honored, and I love you.

From 1Enoch we see that this people who love God, i.e. the "elect," is a group that exists during the trial period, that "distant period" of time referred to by 1Enoch at the end of the age. Also, we notice, that God’s entire plan for salvation during this period is enacted for the sake of those people who love God and live according to His Will; those who elect Him. Matthew confirms 1Enoch, or derives from 1Enoch, this same sentiment. Isaiah gives clues to the identify of the elect and emphasizes the divine protection and support they will receive in their attempts to stand up to the evils of "those days," through which those people will be further refined and "made white" in the fires of adversity. Further:

1Enoch 104:10
To the righteous and wise shall be given books of joy, of integrity,
and of great wisdom. To them shall books be given, in which they shall believe;

104A:1
In those days, saith the Lord, they (the elect) shall call to the
children of the earth and make them listen to their wisdom.
Show them that you are their leaders…Rejoice, children of integrity, in the truth.

Rejoice indeed. It would appear that through some remarkable books, a certain group or groups of people will be brought into a whole knowledge of "every upright path." These people become leaders in teaching other people, the "children of the earth," the ways of truth. Perhaps this teaching may relate to other scriptural statements that "before the end (of the age) the gospel of the kingdom of heaven will be proclaimed to all the world." Notice that this gospel is about the kingdom of heaven, the true gospel of Jesus. Now, all we need to do is find those people who have been taught, by books, about this mysterious subject, the kingdom of heaven, and wake them up to their task ahead. Lets turn now to see what the Dead Sea Scrolls have to say about the elect.

Interpreted, this saying concerns the kings of nations who shall
rage up against the elect of Israel in the last days. (Interpretation by the
Teacher of Righteousness, leader of the Qumran community)

4Q174
‘But the wicked shall do wickedly and shall not understand,
but the righteous shall purify themselves and make themselves
white (Daniel 12: 10)’ ...the people who know God shall be strong.
They are the masters who understand…(Interpretation by Teacher
of Righteousness; dotted lines represent missing original text)

Isaiah 65:17
Behold! I am creating
A new heaven and a new earth;
The former things shall not be remembered,
They shall never come to mind.
Be glad then and rejoice forever…
Never again shall be heard there
The sounds of weeping and wailing…
He who dies a hundred years
Shall be reckoned a youth…
They shall plant vineyards and enjoy their fruit…
For the days of My people shall be
As long as the days of a tree,…
They shall not bear children for terror,
But they shall be a people blessed by the Lord.
Before they pray I will answer Them;
While they are still speaking, I will respond.
The wolf and lamb shall graze together…
In all My sacred mount…

UB  622
…when the "holy temple comes down upon earth." (Book of Revelation)
This event signalizing the dawn of the era of light and life, is alwayshonored by the personal presence of the Paradise Bestowal Son of
that planet…this Bestowal Son proclaims the long-time Planetary
Prince as the new Planetary Sovereign and invests such a faithful
Lanondeck Son with new powers and extended authority over planetary affairs.

UB  820
The pouring out of the Spirit of Truth provides the Spiritual
Foundation for the realization of great achievements…Urantia is
therefore far better prepared (than the world discussed in the Urantia Book
chapter: Government on a Neighboring Planet) for the more immediate
realization of a planetary government…(and) to the establishment
of world peace under law that could lead to the dawning of a real
age of spiritual striving; and such an age is the planetary threshold
to the utopian ages of light and life.

Isaiah 66:18 
The time has come to gather all nations and tongues; they
shall come and behold My glory. I will set a sign among them
and send from them survivors to the nations: to Tarsish, Pul, and
Lud – that draw the bow – to Tubal, Javan, and the distant
coastlands, that have never heard My fame or beheld My glory.

This verse tells us that some radical event will occur, such that all flesh shall come to worship God, within the short period of time between one new moon to the next (one month). This sudden event is the arrival of Melchizedek on the scene.