God bless you. This book is a compilation of edited expository articles centered in and around the tabernacle of Moses which is an exact type of the body of Christ Jesus. These articles are chronologically ordered as written and published that their evolution may be discerned. Thank you. God bless you.

*And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. (Luke 1:17)
 
 

For an example of our limited comprehension, let us look to the words of Jesus Christ regarding John the Baptist. What understanding do you have of the meaning in the following verses?

*But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and MORE THAN [Gk: more superabundant; more abundant, greater (much) more, overmuch] a prophet. (Matt 11:9)

*But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and MUCH MORE THAN a prophet. (Luke 7:26)

An excellent parallel example is the logos word and the rhema word. The logos word (John 1:14) was made visible and assembled within the finite parameters which delineate mankind; whereas, the rhema word (John 6:63) is invisible and infinite. However, both the logos word and the rhema word exist in the intimate relationship of Oneness. They are One. The logos word is a type, or shadow, of the rhema word. The rhema word is more than, much more than, the logos word. Thus, Word is multidimensional.

The understanding of these thoughts is very difficult because His ways and thoughts are higher than our ways and thoughts. Therefore, for the purpose of our knowing Him, Jehovah Jireh has compacted (Psa 122:3; Eph 4:16) rhema of Himself (John 4:24; 6:63) down into logos, and provided Himself (Gen 22:8) as edible food for His children in the form of biblical types (models) which can be fitly joined together into a single multidimensional pattern. The original subset type within each multidimensional pattern continually evolves into a more advanced type, appearing repeatedly as an ever expanded and ascended type or appearing as a fulfillment, depending upon the eye of the beholder.

Logos is a humanly discernible form of compacted (encoded) rhema. Each individual biblical type (model) stems out of compacted logos seed. This fact is expressly illustrated in "The sower soweth the word [Gk: logos]" parable (Mark 4:14), wherein we find existent in all three Gospel versions only the logos word. Jesus prefaced the latter verse with this verse: "Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know ALL parables?" (Mark 4:13). That is an extraordinary statement bearing profound implications regarding our walk Godward. In verses 13 and 14 of Mark chapter 4, Jesus Christ has clearly provided for us a key to the understanding all of scripture.

When the compacted logos seed is watered, absorbs the moisture of the Holy Spirit, the seed expands, grows, and otherwise evolves into or returns back into rhema. (Ecc 12:7). Each pattern has a discernible type origin within the parameters of human (logos) perception. Seed is a type. Each fulfillment of a type in a particular pattern thread or stem is in itself a prophetic type yet to be fulfilled, i.e. the tabernacle of Moses evolved into the tabernacle of David (Amos 9:11; Acts 15:16; Isa 16:5) which is evolving into the tabernacle of God (Rev 21:3). Seed, growth, fruit. The sown seed of the tabernacle is evolving from the visible tabernacle of Moses, through the partly visible (ark), partly invisible (priest-boards), tabernacle of David into the invisible tabernacle of God. (The appearance to men of angels is another example of rhema compacted down into discernible logos).

Farmer God planted His seeds in the Genesis. Those seeds can be seen visibly only by His servants as they become manifested (Matt 13:26,27) in multidimensional patterns, stems of wheat, growing and evolving progressively upward throughout the Bible (Matt 13:31,32) into the invisibility of heaven. As they approach and enter into the third heaven of the Most Holy God, the biblical stems converge into The Revelation of Jesus Christ who is seated atop the first covenant (Law) of the Mount of Sinai. Mount Sinai is being transformed (Mount of Transfiguration = the process) through the new covenant (Grace) into Mount Zion. Therein is portrayed in macrocosm our personal transfiguration, transformation (Rom 12:2), from logos law into rhema grace. Thereupon is the Mercy Seat, the Throne of God.

Evangelization is synonymous with spiritual warfare. An unsaved man's body is like a hotel; all the rooms are occupied by demons. Demons do not willfully leave the tabernacle body of their dwelling place. The conventional phrase, "Leading someone to the Lord," is a euphemism for casting out demons. (Mark 16:17). Receiving personal salvation signifies that some thing (one or more, i.e. Legion) of darkness is being evicted from the soulical stronghold of its hotel room inside that particular tabernacle-temple by the expurgating entrance of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is performing the eviction as the authorized agent of the agreeing hotel owner. Thereafter, the deposit (earnest) Light of the Holy Spirit may then take up residence in the evicted's room (place).

God did dwell in the tabernacle of Moses; now dwells in the tabernacle of David (Acts 15:16); shall dwell in the tabernacle of God (Rev 21:3). Biblical Egypt surrounds the tabernacle. Individual members of the bundle of tares which identifies itself as the "Gays" forum undeniably own a host of hotels in Egypt. Egypt is the land of the unsaved; hence, our evangelical witness there.

*And their dead bodies [of the two witnesses] shall lie in the street of the great city, which SPIRITUALLY is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. (Rev 11:8)

Our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified outside Jerusalem, outside the tabernacle. The great city of the world which exists outside of and surrounds the true church of Jerusalem is called Babylon The Great. (Rev 14:8; 16:19; 17:5; 18:2,10,21). Spiritually speaking: Sodom = no fruit, and Egypt = unsaved.

A certain man quoted my previous message in this Egyptian "Gays" forum, which message was in response to an earlier message received from him. He was quite obviously not very happy with my use of the word "lair" in reference to his residence which is fully occupied by his pro-homosexual doctrinal interpretations. He had, at that time, further described his beliefs and himself as being a "non-fundamental, non-evangelical, Christian minister." (I still shake my head at that oxymoronic self-description). Thank you for providing me the opportunity to explain my "lair" comment.

That reference use of "lair" was spoken from Inside the Tabernacle. In Hebrew, tabernacle means among other things, "a residence," including "A SHEPHERD'S HUT" and "THE LAIR OF ANIMALS." Although there are additional truths hidden in the full Hebrew definition, please let us focus upon these two that are directly pertinent to our present discussion, which two also appear to be paradoxical opposites. The exact same single thing can be both a blessing to some, and a curse to others. Two notable examples of this duality in application are Jesus Christ and Joel 2:2.

1. THE BLESSING:
The tabernacle is "a shepherd's hut." Christians are God's spiritual shepherds, undershepherds and sheep all. Thus, God has provided for the spiritual man a shepherd's hut, a sheepfold. The shepherd's hut is a spiritual refuge. (Psa 91; Rev 12:5,6,14). Inside our shepherd's hut, God has provided bread to eat (table of shewbread) and light that we may see (golden candlestick). "For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness." (Psa 18:28). This is the secret place of the Most High for He dwells with us and in us. For these Christian inhabitants, Jesus Christ is a blessing. There is great joy here.

2. THE CURSE:
The same tabernacle can also be "the lair of animals." The animal in us is the natural man. The natural man is unrepentant, unregenerate, soulical, and not born again. He is the beast nature in us. (Ecc 3:19-21; Rev 13:1). The lair of animals is a stone cave. The cave is cold and in darkness. "Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness." (Luke 11:35). God does not dwell here. For these natural inhabitants, Jesus Christ is a curse. There is great fear here.

If you think that this latter definition is bad, you should research the dual Hebrew meanings of "ark" as in Covenant that exists "within" every man saved or unsaved in one respective form or the other. (Luke 17:21). The dual definitions are "chest" as in treasure (Matt 6:21), and "coffin" as in dead.

*I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore CHOOSE LIFE, that both thou and thy seed may live: (Deut 30:19)

That certain man who falsely presents himself to be a Christian minister, "whose end shall be according to their works" (2 Cor 11:13-15) dwells in the "lair" of his own tabernacle as do all other natural men. Please understand me, he has the choice. He has made his own bed. He is his own worse enemy. At any time, except he die first and become thereby eternally sealed, he may repent and ask God for enlightenment (salvation). However, he refuses to ask God. He dwells within the stony confines of his own lair by his own choice. My role in this situation is merely to bring to the light who and what he is for the illumination of those lurking in cyberspace who may be seduced by this man's own self-deceptions. He knows the truth. All men know the truth: "so that they are without excuse." (Rom 1:20). He is unwilling to obey the Truth. Are you?

God bless you. In substantiation of God's declaration concerning Moses in the latter verse, we see Moses as a type of God in the experiential relationship that Moses had with Aaron. Aaron, as the High Priest, is a type of Jesus Christ. In the relationship of Moses and Aaron we see the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit not yet given (John 7:39) in this particular visible Old Testament dimension. Moses represents God.

Moses also represents the Law. (Luke 2:22; 24:44; John 1:17, 45; 7:19,23; 8:5, etc., etc.). And, the Law represents God. We see the Law representing God illustrated in the symbols of the contents of the ark of covenant, which ark is a type of us. Inside the ark of covenant are found the two tables of testimony (the law = God), the golden pot of manna (I am the bread = Jesus Christ), and Aaron's rod that budded (miracles = Holy Spirit). God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. These three are inside us as saved children of God. When the shittim wood of us becomes (Rom 12:2) completely burned away by the fire of God's Holiness, these Three shall be all of us. Praise God.

An edifying suggestion would be to read the New Testament while mentally substituting the word "Law" for "Moses." Very enlightening things will occur. If we shall seek the face of God, He will be there for His name is Jehovah Shammah. Moses represents God. Moses represents the Law.

God bless you. Thank you for your response. The reason that I adopt a military stance is because I am in the military. So are you. God's military. We are at war. We need all to know that. We need to understand who we are in Christ. (Hos 4:6). I agree with the theme of your message that "we are to concentrate upon our love relationship with Jesus and let him do what he will," but I do not at all agree with its passive connotations. We are supposed to do something too.

"If therefore thine eye be single [focused on Jesus], thine whole body shall be full of light." (Matt 6:22). Jesus said "I am the light of the world." (John 8:12). Consequently, if therefore thine eye be single-mindedly focused (concentrated) on Jesus Christ, thy whole body shall be full of the love of Him. Praise God. This is the promise of the glorious grace of Christ Jesus.

However, we are also admonished to do something else as well. "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." (James 1:23). "Faith without works is dead." (James 2:20,26). Among other works, the word of God directly orders us to "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15). The apostle Paul summarizes one aspect of the intent of the latter statements insofar as that intent can best be manifested by our being good soldiers in God's army.

*Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a GOOD SOLDIER of Jesus Christ. No man that WARRETH [an action] entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a SOLDIER. (2 Tim 2:1-4)

Please note that of the 32,000 warriors who initially responded to the call of God through Gideon, only 10,000 believed God. All of that 10,000 who believed God were thereby saved. 300 soldiers were the front-line combat troops (firstfruits company, shepherds) who first engaged the enemy, and the remaining 9,700 soldiers were the support troops (Jud 7:8, harvest company, sheep). All the 10,000 saved soldiers which includes the support troops eventually fought. (Jud 7:23). That happenstance was clearly prophetic. I believe God. Therein is cast the breadth of my present and my future, and yours if you believe God.

We Christians are all soldiers. We each have volunteered to serve in God's army and therefore to obey Him. The covenant agreement of our voluntary enlistment was spoken out loud in words by us (Matt 12:37; Rom 10:9) and then immediately sealed by God with the blood of Jesus Christ. It is a blood covenant. Our words, His blood. God is our commander-in-chief. The Holy Spirit is our field general. Jesus Christ dwells inside our tabernacles (Heb: tents).

As soldiers of various rankings (undershepherds) in God's army we are prepared and being prepared (Rom 12:2) for spiritual warfare, both defensive (Eph 6:10-18) and offensive (Joel 2:1-11). Our weapon is "the sword of the spirit, which is the word (rhema) of God." (Eph 6:17). The cross of Jesus Christ (logos word: Heb 4:12) and the sword of the Spirit (rhema word: Eph 6:17) are the exact same instrument. They are the logos word and the rhema word respectively. In a multiple dimension of understanding, they also are One, and thus two-edged. As One, in the logos (sight) of that rhema (faith), the appearance of the cross shape and the appearance of the sword shape are identical. Their function is identical. Their function is to pierce.

Up to this point in time as obedient soldiers in the army of God, we have been ordered to "stand" in a defensive posture. The present weapon of our spiritual warfare is the cross. The cross is a weapon of forgiveness. The cross pierces the heart of the earth (Heb 4:12; Matt 13:19; Mark 4:15; Luke 8:12,15) and draws blood. I presently wield the cross. I shall soon wield the sword.

Very soon, we shall be ordered to "run" on the offensive. Then, that wooden cross of forgiveness shall have become completely transformed into the iron sword of judgment. (Rev 2:27; 19:15). The transformation from wood to iron is a presently ongoing process. There exists a biblical parallel to the wooden cross and the iron sword. Moses (a type of God) gave Aaron (a type of Jesus Christ) the rod of wood (a type of the Holy Spirit). The rod of wood (Ex 4:2) is a rod of miracles. (Ex 7-14; Num 17:8; Heb 9:4). The Overcomers (a type of us, Gideon's 300) will receive, are receiving, this same wooden rod now metamorphosed into "a rod of iron" and therein "power over the nations." (Rev 2:26,27). He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

*And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah: not knowing what he said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared AS THEY ENTERED INTO THE CLOUD. (Luke 9:33,34)

God has the ability to take any sanctified form, and He has. (Ruminate upon that one for a while). Experiential sanctification is a process symbolized by the external rituals at the brasen laver in the Old Testament and the internal "washing of water by the word" of the New Testament. The purpose of the work that He is working in us is to inhabit us when we are finally and completely and wholly sanctified. (Rev 21:3).

We have seen a type of God in Moses. (Ex 4:16). God appears as Moses upon the mount of transfiguration. God appears in Moses, and, in the image of Moses. Why? Because Moses and God are One. Moses is dead. Elijah was there too. Elijah is alive. Elijah was translated to God alive in the fiery chariot of the holy church of Israel. Elijah was there upon the prophetic mount of transfiguration because God and Elijah are One. Moses is a saved child of God but dead. Elijah is a saved child of God but alive. What was God prophetically telling us as we "entered into the [descending] cloud" upon the mount of transfiguration, change, transformation?

*For the Lord himself shall DESCEND from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the DEAD IN CHRIST [Moses company] shall rise first: Then we which are ALIVE AND REMAIN [Elijah company] shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thess 4:16,17)

A declaration of position with military connotations can be meaningful or meaningless, depending upon the results of the test. God tested the warriors who responded to the call of Gideon twice. The first test was to separate the wheat from the tares. (Jud 7:3). The second test was to separate the shepherds from the sheep (Jud 7:7), the stronger from the strong, the honey from the lion (Jud 14:18).

As to the intent of your query regarding exactly where I am coming from in my messages, I am coming from the inerrant Word of God.

*For the word [Gk: logos] of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Heb 4:12)

*And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word [Gk: rhema] of God: (Eph 6:17)

Therefore, if the Promise Keepers doctrine and the Toronto Experience deviate from or contravene in any way the truth of the logos word and rhema word, then they are not of God. If they are not of God, then they are of Satan. That is pretty simple. We are each to exercise our spiritual discernment. That which follows may or may not be directly relevant to this discussion, depending upon your discernment of Promise Keepers and the Toronto Experience.

Regarding what type of experiential present and immediate future that the elect of God are to expect, may we state that Revelation chapter 12 and the participants identified therein is a "spiritual chapter." Revelation chapter 12 deals with the invisible. When we directly compare Revelation 12 to Revelation 13, we discern that Revelation 13 and the participants identified therein is a "natural chapter." Revelation 13 deals with the visible. That is, Revelation 13 is a "sight" chapter. The natural walk by sight. The carnally deceived walk by sight. A careful reading of Revelation 13 will reveal many references to "sight." Those things "seen" in this end-time chapter are manifested in the "sight" realm rather than in the spirit (faith) realm. This is God's measure for measure.

The logos word is visible. (John 1:14). The rhema word is invisible. (Eph 6:17). For the last 6000 years God has gone to an awful lot of trouble and aggravation for all parties concerned, both Him and us, to progressively lead His people away from the visible "sight" realm and into the invisible "faith" realm. From logos into rhema. It is therefore extremely doubtful, and beyond my personal belief, that He would at the end of this wilderness trek, lead His people back into the realm of "sight" experiences. However, in spite of His efforts, professing Christians still walk exclusively by sight. (Matt 7:21-23). Therefore, measure for measure, God shall return unto them; they shall be judged in the sight realm.

*He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words [Gk: rhema: Grace], hath one that judgeth him: the word [Gk: logos: Law] that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (John 12:48)

This is that judgment. We are seeing the beginnings of that judgment now.

*For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1 Pet 4:17)

The question then simply becomes: Do they choose to walk by sight, or do they choose to walk by faith? Are the Promise Keepers and/or the Toronto Experience walking in the sight realm or are they walking in the faith realm? By their fruit ye shall know them. (Matt 7:17-19). Within what realm is their fruit manifested?

*I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live. (Deut 30:19)

Thank you for the query. Please understand that I speak in truth with love. There is nothing past the scriptural quotes. That is all that I am and all that I am becoming. Thank you Lord Jesus. In this, I am becoming the simplest of men.

The rhema mind of Christ is alive and is the life within His logos flesh body. (John 1:14). The body of Christ (the Bible) is now set forth before you that you may take daily communion of bread and wine. The bread is the body of the Old Testament and all the other words in black (logos). (John 6:35,48,51). The wine is the blood of the New Testament consisting of all the words in red (rhema). (Matt 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; 1 Cor 11:25).

An anguished soul whose own sin has blinded his eyes to the door (Gen 19:11) has recently accused me of speaking in a non-understandable language, and I do, to them, for they are not of us (Matt 13:11-15), for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us. (1 John 2:18,19). Neither do they desire to be of us. If they were of us (Rom 8:18,19), they would understand the mind of Christ which is in us. We minister the word of Righteousness to all as they are willing to receive. (2 Cor 8:12).

You asked "What is God saying to you now?" Three things. (The word of God is a tongue).

1. Inside the Tabernacle, God is saying that the Feast of Trumpets, the calling to assembly, is about to conclude. "Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the Lord, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the Lord your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you." (2 Chron 30:8). God wants all His people Inside the sanctuary of the Tabernacle because the Feast of Atonement is about to be celebrated. Praise God.
2. In the courtyard of the Tabernacle "I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her [the Babylonian Church], my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." (Rev 18:4).
3. In the courtyard of the Tabernacle and outside the Tabernacle compound, God is saying "Verily, verily, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3).

There is nothing, in all truth, past the scriptural quotes. Thank you and God bless you.

Let us, this one last time, begin at the beginning. "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth." (Gen 1:28). This was the first blessing bestowed upon man, and these were the first words that God spoke to man. At the time of this blessing, woman was still in man. Who did God bless? He blessed man and woman while they were in the relationship of Oneness. He did not bless man and man, nor did He bless woman and woman. God blessed man and woman when they were One. Why? Because only when man and woman are in unified Oneness can they obey God's first commandment to them which is to "Be fruitful, and multiply." How important is it to be willing to comply with the prime directive of "Be fruitful, and multiply?" God is His Word. Obey or die. There are no wild animals in heaven.

*And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know ALL PARABLES? The sower soweth the word. (Mark 4:13,14)

The Bible is a parable. The Bible is a tree of life. The fruit of a tree are seeds. The seeds of the life of the kingdom of heaven are sown in the book of Genesis. Genesis means the origin, the production, the creation. These sown seeds have grown and evolved throughout the Bible into a great tree. (Matt 13:31,32). The maturing and matured fruit of these seeds of God, and also those seeds that Satan has sown, in this beginning of the day of the harvest are now appearing in the sight realm to the servants of the householder; they appear only to His servants. (Matt 13:26,27). The invisible spiritual fruit is becoming visible to those that have eyes to see. Praise God. This is indeed miraculous. You personally are coming to fruition. You are either of the wheat or you are of the tares.

The single most important foundational and guiding principal of the entire Bible is the prime directive given by God to man while woman was still in "them" which is "Be fruitful, and multiply." The seed is sown in Genesis. The seed is harvested in Revelation. We are now entering into Revelation. How do we know that? Because the tares are being visibly bound into bundles in preparation for their burning. (Matt 13:30). The bundles of tares are groups of people bound together by common manifested beliefs antithetical to God's proclamations. Homosexuals are a bundle. Abortionists are a bundle. Feminists are a bundle. These all contravene God's clear and divine intent for man. Our God is a consuming fire. His Holiness is fire. These bundles shall all be cast "into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." (Matt 13:42).

A homosexual relationship is death. It is a relationship which cannot possibly bare fruit. It is a dead-end. Homosexuals are a walking talking manifested in the sight realm symbol of death. They are one enormously huge bundle of tares. If all people were homosexuals, the human race would end. Is this God's intent? Jesus Christ is Life. (John 14:6). The Holy Spirit is Life. (John 6:63). It is not possible for a practicing homosexual to have the Life of God inside him. "What communion hath light with darkness?" (2 Cor 6:14). A practicing homosexual claiming to have the Life of Jesus Christ inside him negates and puts to no effect the cross. He claims that Life (Light) has communion with the darkness inside him. He claims that Life and death are One inside him.

*For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Rom 8:29).

The homosexual does not conform to the image of Jesus Christ. The homosexual conforms Jesus Christ to his own image. The homosexual professing Christ inside him proclaims to all creation that Jesus Christ is a homosexual.

*Neither shall he [corporate antichrist] regard the God of his fathers, NOR THE DESIRE OF WOMEN, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. (Dan 11:37).

This is abomination. The elect of God (Psa 91) are to expect and observe that this abomination will continue to ascend (Isa 14:13,14) and be magnified in worldly power until the whole is leavened. (Matt 13:33). Then we shall see manifested in the day of the harvest the truth of the spiritual description of that great whore of the Babylonian church which is defined as Sodom and Egypt, i.e. dominant homosexuality in the land of the unsaved. Our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified outside Jerusalem, outside the true church of Jerusalem, outside the Tabernacle, and in the Babylonian church of the world. Brethren, they greatly desire to crucify us as well. Expect it. It is happening now.

*And their dead bodies [of the two witnesses of God] shall lie in the street of the great city, which SPIRITUALLY is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. (Rev 11:8).

Unrepentant homosexuals are blinded by their own willful transgression of God's prime directive and will never find the door. (Gen 19:11; John 10:9).

*Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The Lord hath forsaken the earth, and the Lord seeth not. And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head. (Ezek 9:9,10).

*He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Rev 3:22).

The Bible is the body of Christ. The spiritual man in us perceives the Bible to be vertical. That is, the books of the Bible are rooted in Genesis and are stacked or ascend one upon another as the shewbread into the Revelation. The resurrected body of Jesus Christ is standing before us and ascending into heaven. We are in Christ. We too are of that body. Our Head is in heaven. If our Head is in heaven and our body is here, are we in a horizontal posture or a vertical posture? This occurrence was prophesied in Ezekiel 37:1-14. This is the rhema word that only born again children of God can receive. Praise God.

The tabernacle of Moses is the body of Christ. The tabernacle of Moses was laid out horizontal in the Old Testament. We are that walking, talking tabernacle in the New Testament. We are alive and vertical, ascending into heaven.

The Bible is a great tree ascending up into heaven. (Matt 13:31,32). The Bible is the body of Christ. Jesus Christ is a tree. (Luke 23:31). The seed of the Tree of Life (the Bible) was sown in the garden of Eden in the Genesis by God. (Gen 2:9). That seed is watered by God and continually grows and ascends throughout the books of the Bible. That maturing seed, now a great tree, shall be harvested in the Revelation by God. (Rev 2:7;22:2,14). We are entering the Revelation. The Tree of Life (the Bible), produces fruit. Ye are the fruit!

God bless you. The answer to your question is emphatically and joyfully "yes." The brasen altar of sacrifice is the Old Testament type of the cross. This is where we offer up our sacrifice to the Lord Jesus Christ. We are the sacrifice. (Rom 12:1). The brasen laver is a type of the Holy Spirit. This is where we are cleansed and sanctified by the washing of water by the word. (Eph 5:26). John refers to the functions of both the brasen altar of sacrifice and the brasen laver in the following verse:

*If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins [brasen altar: cross: Jesus Christ], and to cleanse us [brasen laver: water: Holy Spirit] from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9).

God dwells in the Most Holy Place above the mercy seat on the ark of covenant which location is the most westward of all the furniture of the tabernacle. We enter from the east, as did the other wise men (Matt 2:1), and approach ever closer to God as we continue to mature. The closer we get, the more He reveals of Himself to us (and vice versa). Parallels to the progressive essence of the revelations of God are perceived in our approach to a physical object such as a mountain, or a tree. The closer, higher we get to the object of our focused attention, the more we see and understand of the essence of that object.

As we obediently proceed ever deeper into the kingdom of God, the ordained spiritual order of our pilgrimage is experientially depicted in the sequential arrangement of the physical pieces of the tabernacle furniture. That spiritual order is always 1. confession, 2. forgiveness, 3. cleansing. To sacrifice is to confess. Please note the following progression: "If we confess our sins" kneeling before the brasen altar (the cross), "he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins" as we present our bodies a living sacrifice (Rom 12:1) in the brasen altar our sins are burned away, "and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" at the brasen laver with the washing of water by the rhema word of the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:26). (Also: brasen altar = logos word = justification; brasen laver = rhema word = sanctification).

We are soul (natural) being transformed into spirit (supernatural). (Rom 12:2). We are pilgrims, not of this world. The courtyard of the tabernacle compound is our wilderness trek (Deut 8:2) wherein we are influenced by natural things and information, in addition to Jesus Christ (brasen altar) and the Holy Spirit (brasen laver). These natural influences are symbolized by the sun, moon, stars, wind, sand, rain, mud, etc., etc. The natural elements that interact with us on our trek symbolize worldly encounters. The more these things of the natural afflict us, the more we multiply and grow. (Ex 1:12; James 1:2,3). While we are each on our individual wilderness trek through the courtyard of the tabernacle compound, we interact with and are influenced by natural elements as well as spiritual elements.

If we are willing and obedient (Isa 1:19; 2 Cor 8:12; Matt 13:11,12) we may enter inside the tabernacle. There are no windows inside the tabernacle to suffer entrance of natural light. The light of the tabernacle is provided by the golden candlestick which is a type of the Holy Spirit, and the Shekinah glory of God above the mercy seat. This is pure Light. This is Godly Light. There is only Spiritual Light inside the tabernacle. This Spiritual Light shines upon and illuminates the table of shewbread upon which are seated the twelve loaves of unleavened bread. (John 16:13). The table of shewbread is Jesus Christ: "I am the bread" (John 6:35), unleavened (John 14:30).

That is enough for now as an introduction. Have to restrain my enthusiasm. Supportive in-depth evidence and scriptural references of the symbolism of the articles of furniture and the entire tabernacle is readily available. Please forgive me if we seem to get too "heavy." The tabernacle of Moses is, ultimately, the body of Christ. Ours is a traveling ministry wherein we teach the tabernacle and evangelize from it. (2 Chron 15:3). This brief note is merely an introduction to the tabernacle, a beginning. There is so much, much more. God bless you.

The seventh feast is that of Tabernacles or Booths wherein we enter into God's rest of the seventh day millennium. We have celebrated Passover (Matt 27:50) and Pentecost (Acts 2:4). We are presently hearing the sound of the fifth feast of Trumpets calling to those believers still in the Babylonian church: "Come out of her, my people." (Rev 18:4). It is not possible to enter into the seventh feast of rest without first experiencing the sixth feast of purification. We all shall soon enter into either the "joy of thy Lord" (Matt 25:23; Joel 2:2) or the "wroth" of His displeasure (Matt 22:7; Joel 2:2). If you will not receive the experience of His atonement as the paid price for your sins, then you shall yourself pay the price of your own sins by "suddenly" experiencing the atonement of your sins for yourself.

The sons of Levi are a type of all Christians for we all have been "taken" by the Lord. (Num 3:12). Our God is a consuming fire. (Deut 4:24; 9:3; Heb 12:29). Shall we be less? Our Lord God will refine, purify and purge the imperfections of the temple of the sons of Levi with the fire of His presence that we may become perfect vessels. (Dan 11:35; 12:10). Fire does not burn fire. Holy does not burn holy. How terrible then shall it be for those souls who are not Christians and are therefore "without excuse" (Rom 1:20) when they shall be bathed in this holy fire?

*Behold, I will send my messenger [firstfruits: the Elijah, John the Baptist company: Isa 3:1-3; Rev 12:5; Rev 14:1], and he shall prepare the way before me: and 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, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' [cleaners'] soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering [of their selves: Rom 12:1] in righteousness. (Mal 3:1-3)

Experientially, our sin is now covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. Our sin has not been removed. Wood is a biblical type of sin. The wood of the ark of covenant, which is us, is covered by the pure gold of God, which is the blood of Jesus Christ. The wood has not been removed; however, the wood is being removed. (Rom 12:2). Very soon, the presence of sin in His/our temple shall be wholly burned away by holy fire. The pure gold shall remain and God shall wholly tabernacle within. (Rev 21:3). Then we will be restored to that complete man in whom God saw that "it was very good." (Gen 1:31). God bless you.

*I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as [desire to] be perfect, BE THUS MINDED: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. (Phil 3:14,15)

The temple of God is the sheepfold. The blessing of salvation is to "go in and out, and find pasture." (John 10:9). How may one "go no more out" and also "go in and out?" In this dimension of understanding, one is either shepherd or sheep, Zion or Jerusalem, fire or furnace, Judah or Ephraim. In all these latter examples, the second corporate individual compasses and supports the first corporate individual.

In another dimension of understanding, all these examples, as the two individual sticks of Judah and Ephraim (Ezek 37:17), shall be joined together as groom and bridegroom consummated into eternal Oneness at the marriage supper of the Lamb of God. "For the Lord hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man." (Jer 31:22).

The pillars of the temple of God relate perfectly to the 48 boards which support the tabernacle. The 48 boards represent the 48 cities of the Levitical priesthood, even to the point of three cities of refuge being west of Jordan and three cities of refuge being east of Jordan. The cities of refuge (Psa 91) are represented by the "two sides westward" of the tabernacle. (Ex 26:22,27). Who ever heard of "the two sides westward?" How can there be TWO sides westward when they appear in our sight as one side?

A Hebrew meaning of the "two sides westward" is THIGHS. There were 20 boards to the north side of the tabernacle and 20 boards to the south side of the tabernacle. In Hebrew, a meaning of these sides is RIBS. Each side of the gate of the tabernacle compound has the meaning of SHOULDER. A horizontal conception of the tabernacle is logos. The rhema dimension is to discern the tabernacle as He is standing vertical upon His "thighs." The revelation then revealed is a body consisting of two thighs, two sides of ribs, and two shoulders. We lack only the head that this visible experiential picture may be completed. As can now plainly be ascertained, the invisible Head is in Heaven. The Head is seated at the right hand of God, and is about to be experientially, visibly, united with the body. (Ezek 37:1-14). This is the body of Christ that we are, and are becoming. (Rom 8:18,19). The invisible is about to become visible. "Then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord." (Ezek 37:14)

Neither. When I dream about God, I dream about the Godly manifestations of God. Your bed-robe is a manifestation of you. Were I to dream about your bed-robe, I would be dreaming about you. The manifestations that I dreamt about are His garment. Therefore, I see His garment.

"Moses breaks the tablets due to the sin of Israel, showing that man can't keep the law. Then the second unbroken tablets are put in the Ark indicating to me that the Law could only be unbroken inside of Jesus, who is the Ark."

You then responded with the following: "There was an ark made by Bezeleel Ex.37:1 into which the first broken law was placed. There was an ark made by Moses in Duet 10:1-5, into which the unbroken law was placed. Scripture is very specific about both arks being made. I will call the first ark that Bezaleel made the Son's ark. I will call the ark that Moses made the Father's ark."

We now note that you have differentiated between the ark made by Bezeleel Ex 37:1, and the ark that Moses made in Deut 10:1-5. It seems to me that these scriptures both refer to the identical same ark. We refer to Dake's Annotated Reference Bible and his preface to Deut 10: "Second tables of stone retold." In his notes Dake states: "This is no doubt the same ark mentioned in Ex. 25:10-22."

As we read the text of Deut 10:1-5 to take in the overall sense, we have to agree with Dake that these verses are a capsulated story retold, and that Moses, in effect, did make the first ark, but he made it from the pattern received from God on the mount and not personally. Deut 10:1-5 can be a difficult to impossible passage to mesh with other scripture if it is interpreted literally. That literal interpretation does not conform to the overwhelming evidence of there being only one ark. His name is Jesus Christ.

The jeopardy one encounters if one follows the misleading path of a two arks theory is that the Father and the Son are then separated, each to His own ark. And, the ark of the Father is not the ark of the Son. This separate ark theory has then certain similarities in common to the same type of perception that Peter manifested on the mount of transfiguration when he suggested to Jesus "and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah: not knowing what he said." (Luke 9:33).

In the example of the mount of transfiguration, we literally see Moses, Jesus, and Elijah. However, the invisible typology is very interesting. Moses is a type of God. (Ex 4:16). Jesus Christ is Himself. Elijah, a man of miracles, is a type of the Holy Spirit.

There is, we will all agree, only one tabernacle within which the triune presence of God the father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit dwell, then, now, and eternally. Peter, "not knowing what he said" wanted to build three separate tabernacles. In the lower visible dimension of the literal logos sight realm, Peter was suggesting to separate Moses, Jesus, and Elijah. His suggestion was perfectly reasonable from one walking by sight, which Peter was at that point, "for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified." (John 7:39). Therefore, it was not yet possible for Peter to perceive the rhema that stood before him. In the higher invisible dimension of rhema, Peter, "not knowing what he said," was suggesting to separate the Triune Oneness of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

In other mentioned matters, am in agreement with you insofar as the order of the tribes when encamped was with the tabernacle in the center. (Num 2). However, if you draw the order of encampment out yourself as you read it, there is great rhema in the offing. The tabernacle was in the center. Start the easterly direction vertically toward your feet on the paper and position the tribes as given one after another in an extending easterly direction. Likewise for the south, north and west. The positions of the tribes will form a gigantic cross extending east, south, north and west from the center (God) tabernacle. Assign the biblically given numbers of each tribe and it even becomes more proportionate with the easterly direction being the longest (the foot of the cross). From an eagle's point of view, this is rhema. Our Lord shall return from the east. He shall be "revealed in us." (Rom 8:18,19).

The given order of the journeying of the tribes according to their armies when they set forward was much different than when encamped. (Num 10:14-28). They proceeded in a single file line, army by army, and the tabernacle was not then located in the center of the march. Enjoying your discussions, please continue. God bless you.

OUR ANSWER:
Our walk with the Lord Jesus Christ, ascending ever closer to the Father.

For you and I, and millions like us, our walk with the Lord is a horizontal trek through the logos wilderness of the courtyard of the tabernacle. (Deut 8:2). In a carnal dimension (mingled sight and faith), the wilderness is a jungle through which we each are separately hacking our way with our machete (sword). Our sword is the rhema word of God. (Eph 6:17). We see each other occasionally, through the twisted vines, as we parallel paths always in a westwardly direction. Sometimes we completely lose sight of one another as one gets caught up and entangled in worldly snares. Then we can only hear you, making loud and rather crude noises in the stress of your battle. Eventually, inevitably, you free yourself with the sword and proceed onward toward the Shekinah glory of God.

In a spiritual (faith) dimension we are all mountain climbers. You and I, and millions like us, are vertically climbing the rhema mount of Sinai toward the peak where the Shekinah glory of God dwells. Occasionally we backslide and fall; but we are caught from falling completely back down the mountain by the safety line which is the golden chain of agape love anchored in our heart that binds us each individually and eternally to God. After we jerk and dangle and make loud noises for a bit, we grab hold and resume our climb.

We are separated, climbing in parallel fashion upwards on different parts of the mountain. From your vantage point on another part of the mountain of God, you see things that I don't, and I see things that you don't. You periodically yell out things of interest to me to watch for and to look out for, and I to you. The circumference of the mount lessens the higher we attain. Therefore, our paths are continually converging, and we are seeing more and more of the revelations of God in common. Eventually, at the peak, we shall see exactly the same thing, Father God, and have the fullness of the mind of Christ, and be One.

This ministry periodically distributes a teaching publication to approximately 5,000 seminary professors and pastors in the USA and Canada. The two latest publications of this teaching ministry are titled "Words Exercise Power" and "The False Prophet: Sight." They can be located in the Christianity Library, Section 2 of CompuServe.

We are evangelical, believe the King James Version to be the inerrant Word of God, and are responding in obedience to the sounds of God's fifth feast trumpet call of solemn assembly (Joel 2:1,15) that we may be prepared for our Lord's return. (Rom 8:18,19). The Feast of Trumpets immediately precedes the Feast of Atonement, which is the return of our Lord Jesus Christ to rule and reign on this earth, in judgment.

This ministry can best be described as standing upon the following four pillars of truth: John 3:3, Hosea 4:6, Mark 4:13, and 2 Chronicles 15:3. That is not to say that these are the only pillars of truth in the Bible, but these particular pillars delineate our particular position as one member among many other members in the body of Christ. This ministry is empowered in the spirit and power of Elijah. (Luke 1:17). To that end, we teach and preach throughout the country on an invitation basis. To those outside the tabernacle, we preach the logos word. (Heb 4:12). To those Inside the Tabernacle, we teach the rhema word. (Eph 6:17).

We hear and heed the words of Paul (2 Tim 4:1-5), and continually evangelize in word, deed, and crosses. That is, we hand out small aluminum crosses to anyone and everyone as the Lord leads. The crosses say "Jesus Christ is Lord" on them, and are suitable for comfortably carrying in pocket or purse. The cross ministry is growing tremendously. Sown seed grows. Praise God. Just received another 1000 crosses so they are and always shall be available for your labor. A few hundred years ago the legendary Johnny Appleseed sowed appleseeds all across the United States. In like fashion, we are sowing the seed of Christ in the form of a cross all across the United States. There is in this a spiritual fruit that is far sweeter than the taste of a ripe red apple. We sow (Mark 4:14), another waters (Eph 5:26), and God gives the increase (1 Cor 3:7). As a recent letter received into this ministry so eloquently stated: "How can you go wrong?"

I am a man, just like you. No more, no less. I eat, sleep, dream, study, teach, preach, pray, praise, worship, and sin. Each man is his own worse enemy. It is the beast nature still dwelling within me that we battle. Thank you Lord that my "I" is becoming "we." Trust that this message will give you a better idea of who we are and where we are coming from. Dear brother, "Ye are the light of the world." (Matt 5:14). May I leave you with this most important admonition in these last days of famine and great darkness:

*But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, and make full proof of thy ministry. (2 Tim 4:5)

Words are symbols. Words symbolize something other than what they literally are. A word is a vessel containing thoughts. Each saint receives the thoughts of a word according to his willingness (Isa 1:19; 2 Cor 8:12; Matt 13:12), and capability. The Bible is a book of encoded words. (Prov 1:1-6; Matt 13:11; Mark 4:13). We have personally noted that for the purposes of our salvation, edification, and glorification, God utilizes every conceivable type of code that His Word will become crystal clear to each person at his or her own individual level of comprehension.

Another type of code utilized by God is geography. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament [earth] sheweth his handiwork." (Psa 19:1 and Rom 1:20). "Sheweth" in Hebrew means: to stand boldly out, to manifest, to announce, declare, expose, messenger, tell, utter. God uses the geography of the earth as a code for communicating to we who need a visible, physical, experiential message. (Reckon that includes all of us).

There is a message from God in the geography of the Jordan river. Would you like to receive the message that God is speaking to you? It is a very simple message, and, also very complex at the same time. The message is: "Heaven, Earth, and Hell." Let us first examine the visible, physical, measurable, descriptive facts of the Jordan river.

Visible facts (logos): The Jordan river runs from north to south. This river is the general eastern border of the land of Israel. It is very helpful to turn to a topographic map in the back of any Bible. God purposefully drew us a physical picture and in obedience we ought to look at it. In Hebrew, Jordan means: descending, the descender, flowing river, river of judgment, that rejects judgment, their descent. The river Jordan flows through part of a continental rift valley that runs north to south into Africa. This rift valley or geological fault contains the lowest body of water on earth. Three bodies of water are connected by the Jordan river. The Waters of Merom, the Sea of Galilee, and the Dead Sea.

In Hebrew, Merom means: high place, the lifting up, eminences, elevations. The Waters of Merom, sometimes referred to as Lake Huleh, are the headwaters of the Jordan river. Merom is about three miles in diameter and is the northern most point and beginning from which the Jordan river descends. Merom is 230 feet above sea level. From Merom the Jordan rapidly descends 10 miles into the Sea of Galilee at 700 feet below sea level, and then descends 70 miles more as the eagle flies into the Dead Sea which is 1290 feet below sea level. The Jordan issues forth from the "high place" (Merom), passes through the Sea of Galilee, and descends to the low place (Dead Sea).

In Hebrew, Galilee means: circuit, wheel, revolution, heap, the circle. The Sea of Galilee is approximately 9 miles at its widest point by 13 miles long. Other names for this sea are the Sea of Chinnereth, or Chinneroth which means "harp-shaped" in Hebrew, the Lake of Gennesaret, and the Sea of Tiberias. A fishing industry thrived on this sea 2000 years ago. On and around the Sea of Galilee, Jesus performed 18 of His recorded 33 miracles.

The Dead Sea or Salt Sea is approximately 10 miles wide by 50 miles long. The surface of the Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth. That is very interesting! The water is extremely salty because of continual evaporation which separates the water from the hard minerals. The Dead Sea is also fed by sulfurous springs. It has no outlet. The salt and mineral content of the Dead Sea compose about twenty-five percent of its water as compared to six percent in the ocean. Because of the extraordinarily high salt and mineral content, the Dead Sea is virtually dead. Although Jesus lived His whole life within relatively a few miles of the Dead Sea, He never went to it nor visited it on any occasion. Neither did He ever refer to it. Isn't that interesting?

Invisible facts (rhema): all things emanate from God. Water is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. From Him all waters flow. His is the "high place," the headwaters from which the waters of life descend to us. His place is Merom. The waters of the Jordan descend from God to the abode, the habitation of men which is the Sea of Galilee. It was on and around the Sea of Galilee that Jesus preached and taught. Men are likened unto fish in the Bible. We are to become fishers of men. But before we can become fishers, we are first the fish and must ourselves be caught. Lots and lots of fish want to be caught, because they all dwell under the convicting water pressure of the Holy Spirit. He totally permeates their environment inside them and outside them. In exact analogy the air which we breathe is a thinner water, a vaporized water, that totally permeates our environment.

Great multitudes of fish came to Jesus through the nets of Peter, James, and John on the Sea of Galilee (Luke 5:1-10). So many fish came that both ships began to sink with the astonishing draught of fishes taken up. Those fish were eager to be caught up. This fact was illustrated later in the ministry of Jesus when He sent Peter to the Sea of Galilee: "go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that FIRST cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee." (Matt 17:27). (Take up, Peter, the fish that is first in line, the one most eager among those desiring to be caught. That fish shall bear thee a gift. That gift is his self.). (Rom 12:1).

However, not all fish are as eager to be caught. Some fish intentionally avoid the nets and swim up near the brightness of the surface just to take a look at the Fisherman, and then they swim back down into the dark depths hidden from the light. Jesus Christ opened His earthly ministry in Luke chapter 5 by taking up fish out of the depths of the Sea of Galilee. He closed His earthly ministry in John chapter 21 by taking up fish out of the depths of the Sea of Galilee. These two occurrences are the bookends of His earthly ministry.

This is what happens to a fish that is caught. The fish decides to eat the bait and becomes hooked. What bait? There are many types of bait that will attract fish, but the worldwide universal common denominator bait is bread. It seems almost all fish are attracted to bread. "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:51). A fish eats the "bread... flesh" of Jesus Christ (John 6:52-57), and is "caught up" out of its natural realm into another higher realm, the spiritual realm. Did you ever see a caught fish flopping on the dock? The fish uncontrollably flips and flaps and flops around in his new spiritual realm. He is desperately attempting to conform this new spiritual realm to his old natural realm. Then slowly but surely, he dies to his old natural realm. (Rom 12:2). Once dead, he cannot ever return. Does any of that remind you of someone? It reminds me of me. I made quite a racket banging around on the dock as babe in Christ.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." (John 12:24). Fish that are dead to the natural realm world are used by God for God's purposes. They are eaten, ingested, consumed by the fisherman. (Heb 12:29). Caught fish support (Jud 7:8) the fisherman (Jud 7:16,17) that he may catch more fish. They become One with the fisherman. The consumed fish becomes incorporated into the Corporate Fisherman. The Corporate Fisherman is also described as the corporate body of Christ. Obedient sheep sacrificially support the shepherd that he may shepherd more sheep. We must die to live. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." (Rom 12:1). That is the sacrifice.

What happens to a fish that is not caught up into the rhema realm? It too eventually dies, but in the natural lower logos realm where it has chosen to remain, and it is therein judged. (John 12:48). This is the judgment: the carcass bloats and becomes puffed up (Matt 13:33), and is inexorably borne to the surface of the sea. In this action, the carcass has been spued out from the water of the Holy Spirit (Rev 3:16). Without the encompassing protection of the Holy Spirit, the carcass is picked at by the birds of the air, and carried away down the current.

From the Sea of Galilee, the river Jordan continues His flow down 70 miles as the eagle flies and into the Dead Sea from which there is no outlet or escape. However, the fish is not a flying eagle, but dead flesh, and will therefore be carried 200 miles ever more swiftly downward by "the river of judgment" in a winding, serpentine path over rushing rapids, through curving sandbars, and into the Sea of the Dead. The Waters of Merom (heaven), the Sea of Galilee (earth), the Dead Sea (hell): life and death for the fishes. (Deut 30:19)

THE MAILMAN: God gives the mailman (the preacher) a letter (His Word) addressed to Stanley. The mailman delivers the letter to Stanley. Stanley opens the mail from God and receives the message. Stanley gets saved. Who did the saving? God's Word did the saving. Did the mailman have to be saved to deliver the letter? No. His salvation status was irrelevant. The mailman was just the delivery boy. The mailman does not have to be a banker to deliver the bank statement, nor an electrician to deliver the electric statement. The mailman does not have to understand the message, he just delivers it. The mailman is used by God to affect the work of the cross. However, the mailman must look to his own heart for his personal salvation regardless of how many thousands or millions of messages he has delivered which have borne the fruit of salvation. Jesus answered our question in this manner:

*Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied [preached] in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils [saved souls]? and in thy name done many wonderful works [ministered and taught]? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matt 7:21-23)

We know that the will of the Father is that all men be saved (1 Tim 2:4), including the mailman. We learn that these woeful unsaved souls have even "prophesied," or preached and spoken in the name of Jesus. But it was the Word, in the name of Jesus (John 14:13) that produced any edification received and not the preachers themselves. They also will cry that they have "cast out devils" for justification of their entrance into heaven. But again it was the Word of God in the name of Jesus that actually did the casting out, and not the protesters. They plead of the "many wonderful works" done once again in the name of Jesus, but the Word and the Name are the power thereof, and not the protesters themselves. The mailman has to get saved, too. Jesus says "I never knew you." This "knew" is an intimate loving knowing, a personal relationship that they lacked for they had never received Him into their heart. Of themselves, they were workers of iniquity because they had never received the sin covering of the blood of Jesus Christ. Thus, they will stand before the Father naked. (Matt 22:12).

PROFESS VS. CONFESS: The Holy Spirit has done another remarkable work in Matthew 7:21-23 that we shall not neglect. Let us examine that remarkable work in the light of our favorite Bible verse which is in Romans:

*That if thou shalt CONFESS with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Rom 10:9)

The Greek word for "confess" is #3670 meaning "to assent, i.e. covenant, acknowledge:-- con-(pro-)fess, confession is made, give thanks, promise." The dictionary agrees that "confess" is to "acknowledge, avow, plead guilty." All that is moderately interesting, however, #3670 is also used by Jesus in Matt 7:23 but in this instance the Holy Spirit has chosen to translate it into the English: "PROFESS." The Greek meaning in both instances remains the same, for it is the same exact Greek word.

The dictionary provides some additional insight into "profess." It means to "lay claim to, often insincerely; pretend to." When Jesus said in Matt 7:23 "And then will I PROFESS unto them, I never knew you," the Holy Spirit was telling us something. These people are professing believers. Jesus is directly returning "measure for measure." (John 12:48). They are professing to know him, and they do not. By selecting the English "profess" rather than "confess" the Holy Spirit has labeled these people as insincere pretenders, forever.

You were correct in that I am a warrior. So too are you. (2 Tim 2:1-4). David is to be our millennial king. (Jer 30:9; Ezek 34:23,24; 37:24,25; Hos 3:4,5). Please note that DAVID IS A WARRIOR KING. David will eternally be an undershepherd of our Lord Jesus Christ who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We are now, and are becoming more fully, that David Company. (Isa 3:1-3; Rev 12:5; 14:1). We are being birthed.

We are warriors. Now, we are commanded to "stand." (Eph 6:10-18). Now, the wooden cross of forgiveness is in our hand. That same wooden cross of forgiveness is being rapidly transformed into the iron sword of judgment. They both "pierce" the heart of the earth. Very soon, we shall be commanded to "run." (Joel 2). Very soon, the iron sword of judgment shall be fully in our hand.

Men are biblically typified as trees. (1 Chron 16:33; Psa 96:12; Song 2:3; Isa 7:2; 55:12). Jesus Christ typified Himself as a tree. (Luke 23:31). The tree typification by Jesus of Himself specifically denotes the human aspect of Jesus Christ. Jesus = the man, Christ = the anointing. Jesus Christ was man-God; Christ Jesus is God-man

Christ is the axe and Jesus is the carpenter. We (little Jesus') are the trees. Christ is the axe which literally separates the tree from the world. (Matt 3:10). Jesus is the carpenter who wields the axe, cuts down, forms, and erects (exalts) the wood to His (Christ's) purpose. (1 Pet 5:6). Shittim wood is derived from a hewn shittim tree. The ark of covenant or ark of testimony was made of shittim wood completely covered inside and outside with gold. Gold typifies the shed covering blood of Jesus Christ.

Another ark: Even as the wrath of God was being poured out upon the ungodly through the flood, there was an ark of wood and safety which was, at the same time, being supported and lifted up above the mountains of earthly pride by the water of the Holy Spirit. Jehovah Jireh has always provided a secure ark for "just" men who have found grace and walk with God. (Gen 6:8,9).

Out of wood, God made the boards of the ark of Noah, the boards of the ark of the tabernacle of Moses, and the boards of the ark of the barn of Jesus the Christ (Matt 13:30). The inward parts of these three arks, and the inward parts of the ark of covenant (us), are a hidden mystery. Albeit, they are a mystery hidden from the sight of natural men, and, from the sight of the as yet untransformed soulical natural man of wood who remains inside each of we who are saints. (Rom 12:2). The inward parts of these arks are to the spiritual man in us, a secret place of the Most High. (Psa 91).

Each of these arks is a spiritual positional reality, miraculously manifested in the experiential sight realm of that exact same refuge and fortress who is God, for us, in us; because, each is us. (Psa 82:6; John 10:34). "Behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:21). And, you who are saved dwell within the kingdom of God. We are in Christ and He is in us. We dwell with God inside this present ark which is now the barn, and, we are the barn. God dwells inside the ark, inside the tabernacle, inside the barn, inside the covenant, inside us; and, with us. (Rev 21:3).

God is "the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Rom 8:18; Jud 7:18-22), when the natural wood of us is completely purged and burned away in God's final baptism of fire. Then, only the gold shall remain unshaken. "For our God is a consuming fire." (Heb 12:29). Fire does not burn fire. Beloved, soon we shall be made entirely like Him, for the duration of the millennium. (1 John 3:2). Man-God. (Joel 2: 1-11)

All baptisms of God are ordered parallel to the feasts of God, are typified in the feasts, and are cumulative. (We shall deal herein only with the three primary baptisms). In Noah's day the Holy Spirit covered the ground of the earth with water and cleansed the sin. (Gen 7:23). This was the first cleansing and a primary baptism. At Calvary the Holy Spirit covered the ground of the earth with the blood of Jesus Christ and cleansed the sin. (John 19:34; 1 John 5:6 [cumulative baptisms]). That is why we now stand on Holy ground. This was the second cleansing and a primary baptism. On the Day of Atonement the Holy Spirit will cover the ground of the earth with fire and cleanse the sin. (1 John 5:8 [cumulative baptisms: Spirit = God = fire]). This will be the third cleansing and a primary baptism: the final purging.

Let us put the meaning into different words: the water of the Holy Spirit covered the earth; the blood of Jesus Christ covered the earth; the fire of God will cover the earth. We note that each of these is a covering, a cleansing, and a purging. Now let us launch out into the deep. With Noah, the water baptism of the Holy Spirit covered the OUTSIDE of the wooden vessel (ark). With Jesus Christ, the blood baptism covered the OUTSIDE AND INSIDE of the wooden vessel (ark of the covenant). With God, the fire baptism will thoroughly CONSUME ALL THE WOOD of the vessel (ark of the body) with unquenchable fire. (Matt 3:12). Hallelujah!!

*For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the DAY [OF ATONEMENT] shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by FIRE; and the FIRE shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be BURNED, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by FIRE. (I Cor 3:11-15)

We understand the water baptism for repentance up to Calvary, and the blood baptism into the body of Christ after Calvary. But the third primary baptism, that of fire as exemplified in Acts chapter 2 is not as clearly understood. It is not clear to us now because it is emphatically prophetic.

*And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of FIRE, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all FILLED with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:3,4)

Much has been said in regard to this experience. The prophetic nature of Acts chapter 2 can lend itself to broad interpretations and may easily become a snare to the prideful, exactly as can the book of Revelation. Please note that this company were each "filled" with the Holy Ghost at that time. They were not always thereafter filled, but at that particular time they were filled. Had they been filled forever, they would never have died. Please pause now and think about that. Had they been filled forever, they would have gone about eternally in that same peaked condition, speaking in "tongues," and manifesting miraculous works, some of which they did do. However, the power of the fullness gradually diminished with passing time in each individual. Through the years and days as the power was passed on and on by the "laying on of hands," the residue remaining of the original filling, like a sipped glass of water, became less and less. The fullness experience was temporary. It was prophetic of the third and final baptism, and NOT FOR ALL MEN AT THAT TIME, "God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." (Heb 11:40).

God frequently uses physical and geographical codes to indicate spiritual things. The farming season in Israel is one of those physical code "messages." Annually, after the rain (former rain) of the Feast of Pentecost in the late spring, the land of Israel goes into gradual drought which lasts over a period of about four months until the rainy season (latter rain) of the Feast of Tabernacles. Drought and dry spiritually mean little to no Holy Spirit. Read Joel 1:8-20 looking for "dryness." Then read chapters 2, 3 and hang on! We, as the "generation" of Christ (Matt 1:17; Psalm 22:30) gradually entered into this manifested Holy Ghost "drought" after Pentecost and just short of 2000 years ago. The good news is that we are coming out of "the dry" and are entering into the rainy season which ushers in the Feast of Tabernacles. At the end of Tabernacles, the angels will reap and gather in the full harvest (Matt 13:47-50). Remember though, that we first must celebrate the Feast of Atonement.

This present drought approaching 2000 years from Pentecost is "a famine in the land... of hearing the words of the Lord" (Amos 8:11), in preparation for the fire. Dry burns. Praise God!!

*In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. (Matt 3:1-3)

*For all the prophets and the law prophesied until JOHN. And if ye will receive it, THIS IS ELIJAH, which was for to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Matt 11:13-15)

*Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet BEFORE the coming of the great [for us] and dreadful [for them] day of the Lord [second advent: Day of Atonement: Joel 2:2]: And he shall TURN [Gk: convert] THE HEART of the fathers [in] to the children, and the heart of the children [in] to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. (Mal 4:5,6)

*Luke 1:17 And he shall go before him [prophetically our Lord's second advent] in the SPIRIT and POWER of Elijah to TURN THE HEARTS of the fathers to the children, AND THE DISOBEDIENT to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people PREPARED for the Lord.

All Christians are a spiritual fulfillment of that prophetic type of John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of this world, east of the river Jordan. Our message is "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." We are preparing our Lord's people for His second advent. In His first advent, Jesus Christ came as the Lamb of God, and rode the path of forgiveness into Jerusalem.

*Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek [Gk: mild, humble], and sitting upon an ass [Gk: donkey], and a colt [Gk: young ass] the foal [Gk: huios: son] of an ass [Gk: an animal under the yoke]. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes [Gk: garment, raiment, robe, vesture], and they set him thereon. (Matt 21:5-7)

The ass is the church, the female mother of the overcoming son. Bride and bridegroom are both obediently under the yoke of Jesus Christ, bearing Jesus Christ in this world. However, His entrance into Jerusalem was also prophetic of His second advent.

At His second advent, Christ Jesus is pictured coming as the Lion of God mounted upon a white horse, treading the path of judgment into Jerusalem. Horses were used for war. He shall command and judge. This Christ Jesus is corporate, the body of Christ, us. This image is consistent with the image of David as our millennial king. David was a warrior king.

Corporately, we are now the John the Baptist Company, whose Head was experientially separated from his body. Where is John's head? Our Head is seated at the right hand of God. Positionally, we are the One holy and wholly completed body of Christ. Experientially, we are yet separated from our Head. Prepare ye the way of the lord; our Head is coming to be experientially united with His body. This unification is a process, a transformation (Rom 12:2), a transfiguration (Mark 9:2). The experiential is becoming positional. It is happening now.

"John did no miracle." (John 10:41). Why? Because he could not. If he could have, he would have. Why could he not? Because John had an "earnest" or deposit of the indwelling Holy Spirit, exactly as do we. (2 Cor 1:22; 5:5; Eph 1:14). All brethren now receive an "earnest" of the Holy Spirit sealed in our hearts. That is, "all now" rather than "some now." The earnest is defined in Strong's as a pledge, i.e. part of the purchase-money or property given in advance as security for the rest. This earnest of the Holy Spirit is a deposit, a part-payment, a pledge, and therefore a part-filling. The filling in Acts 2 was a temporary condition that some received, not all, which therefore subsided with time into a permanent part-filling "that they without us should not be made perfect." (Heb 11:40). However, that filling was prophetic for "all" brethren.

Jesus said of John the Baptist, "This is Elijah." How can that be? In what way was John Elijah? Let us compare the two men. Elijah was a man of miracles. John did no miracles. Elijah functioned from the fullness of the Holy Spirit. John functioned from an earnest of the Holy Spirit. One could do miracles, the other could not. What do you surmise from that? From what amount of the Holy Spirit do you function? Who are you? Are you Elijah, or are you John? I am now John and all that John was (earnest); I am becoming Elijah and all that Elijah is (for he still lives: fullness). When that great advent of which I prophesy shall come to pass, then I shall be made perfect, completely Elijah, and all that Elijah is. When Jesus said of John "This is Elijah," Jesus was prophesying, over you.

Jesus also said "AND IF YE WILL RECEIVE IT, this is Elijah." That is a very interesting statement. It is a pivotal biblical phrase spoken by our Lord. This phrase exemplifies the working principal of receiving all scripture. Please allow us to paraphrase this preeminent, abiding biblical principal: If you are willing to receive it, it is yours.

Our Lord's entire statement is balanced upon the fulcrum: "if ye will." The "if" testifies of balance and counterbalance. The "ye will" clearly indicates that we have a choice. We are empowered to exercise our freewill. We are asked to declare either yea or nay. The item to which we are asked to respond is placed before us upon the dinner table of shewbread. It is a morsel of Himself, freely offered from God. As kings and priests of God, we each decide to receive it or not to receive it. To eat it or not to eat it. You are what you eat. Jesus said in that same verse "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."

Yes!!!

*A Song of degrees for Solomon. EXCEPT THE LORD BUILD THE HOUSE, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. (Psa 127:1)

*In that day will I raise up the TABERNACLE of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old. (Amos 9:11)

*After this I will return, and will build again the TABERNACLE of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up. (Acts 15:16)

*For WE ARE LABOURERS TOGETHER WITH GOD: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's BUILDING. (1 Cor 3:9)

*And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the TABERNACLE of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. (Rev 21:3)

Hallelujah!

Men are typified as trees throughout scripture. Jesus is indeed the two-edged axe that is used as an instrument by God to fell the tree, to separate the tree from its attachment to this world. Jesus is the spiritual instrument that brings the natural tree down. Jesus is the axe, and, Jesus is the carpenter.

A natural tree is dependent upon its natural root for support. When a tree is cut down, it is separated from its natural root. The root remains in the earth and goes the way of the world. The root decomposes, dies, and returns to the dust from whence it came. What happens to the tree? The tree is no longer dependent upon the root for support. The tree has become super-natural, that is, separated from the natural. The tree has become spirit. "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." (Ecc 12:7).

All trees (typified spirits) are used of God. From God's point of view there are only two kinds of trees: obedient trees or disobedient trees. Obedience is voluntary. Obedient trees are voluntarily separated from this world by the work of the axe. Disobedient trees refuse to be separated from this world, and thus refuse to be ministered to by the axe. Disobedient trees, bad trees, are used as fuel and "cast into the fire" (Matt 3:10) of the brasen altar. Obedient trees, good trees, allow themselves to be shaped and formed by the carpenter into the wooden boards of the tabernacle.

Men are also typified as wood. Boards of wood are good men who have been separated from this world, but are still in this world. Once separated, they are then used by the master builder to build a place of spiritual habitation, a heavenly house. "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain who build it." (Psa 127:1).

The Levitical priests were holy men who supported God. They were made "separate" for the service of the tabernacle. (Num 8:14). There were 48 cities established for the Levitical priesthood. The tabernacle of Moses (God's house then) was supported by 48 boards of shittim wood covered with gold. Gold symbolizes the purity of God, the blood of Jesus Christ. Each of the 48 boards stood upon two sockets of silver, one covering for each foot. Silver symbolizes redemption. Each board was separated from the world by the silver of redemption. Thus, each board was separated from the world by Jesus Christ. The sockets of silver, and the covering of gold, are what made the priest-boards holy.

The garden of Eden was formed of trees encompassing the tree of life. Discerned wholly, the garden of Eden is an ark of unfelled trees. The garden of Eden is in itself the seed and original archetypical pattern of all biblical arks. Arks are made of wood. After the fall, all arks are made of the wood of felled (fallen) trees. From the fall, the original ark type of trees now felled and the wood thereof is repeated in a continuously evolving upward progression throughout the Bible.

In another parallel dimension of understanding, the evolution process is as if the entire Bible were a single gigantic growing tree seeded in Genesis, maturing, and harvested in Revelation. The ascending evolution began after the fall from grace (two felled trees). It began from the then experiential sight realm (visible) transcending upward into the positional faith realm (invisible). Five other biblical arks which stem from the garden of Eden are: ark of Noah; tabernacle of Moses; tabernacle of David; barn of Jesus (Matt 13:30); tabernacle of God (Rev 21:3). They each are progressive.

In this progression, the evolving wood board construction of the maturing us eventually arrived at the point of possessing the capability for transformation (Rom 12:2), transfiguration (Mark 9:2), from visible into invisible, i.e. natural into spiritual. This achievement was first experientially manifested in the tabernacle of David, which had no visible priest-boards. Hence, the Lord our God speaks these words regarding this particular tabernacle: "After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up." (Acts 15:16). The tabernacle of David has evolved into the barn of Jesus. We are now the invisible priest-boards of the barn of Jesus.

The result and glorious ending of this divine evolutional progression is the Ark, Temple, House, or Tabernacle of God (Rev 21:3), wherein we shall be eternal "kings and priests" (Rev 1:6; 5:10). According to the words of Jesus Christ, some of us shall "go no more go out" and be kings (Rev 3:12), and some of us shall "go in and out" and be priests (John 10:9). Where does our transformation from earthly trees into heavenly kings and priests begin? It begins with the axe.

*And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner [Gk: barn]; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. (Matt 3:10-12)

Actually, Redfield has included in his book just about every conceivable supernatural occurrence of an occultic nature. Guess he wanted to make certain that there was a little something for everyone. He has since started some type of monthly newsletter centered around "The Celestine Prophecy" with a large and rapidly growing number of paying subscribers. He also has written a book on astrology, among other writings, and will do your reading should you be interested, for a fee. Truth. Nice guy.

In "The Celestine Prophecy," one self-actualizes from the first level upward (Scientology style) into the epitome of self-god-awareness which is the ninth level by "clearing" of the previous levels. Having achieved the ninth level, you are in harmonious interaction with the universe, and you support yourself by charging other people fees to share the knowledge that you have accumulated.

Have recently heard at the bookstore that Redfield has surpassed his own ninth level pinnacle of awareness, and has written yet another book having to do with the newly existent tenth level. He does know how to make a buck... book I mean.

There is also a type of "pass this book on and you will receive a blessing" deal that Redfield has created and wisely included in his book, "for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light." (Luke 16:8). In fact, the only reason in the world that I ever read this book is because a very close unsaved (at that time) friend of mine traveled all the way from New York State to my home in here in Florida to tell me about the book. He was way way under the "pass this book on and you will receive a blessing" spell.

Please understand that I have related my opinions of this book to you from the point of view of an evangelical minister. If you are really looking for something meaningful, dynamic, and positively edifying to read, my best advice is to read the Gospel of John. God bless you.

*And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye. And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go. So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. But as one was felling a beam, the ax head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he showed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim. Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it. (2 Kings 6:1-7)

The place or house of the school of prophets, of which Elisha was head, was too small to comfortably house all the prophets who were living and studying with Elisha. Therefore the students suggested to Elisha that they all move to the river Jordan and build a larger school house nearer to the water. Elisha agreed, so he went with them.

"But as one [student] was felling a beam [tree], the ax fell into the water: and he cried [to Elisha], and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he showed him the place. And he [Elisha] cut down a stick [branch of a living tree], and cast it in thither; and the iron [ax] did swim [up from the depths of the river to the stick, and attached itself to the stick]. Therefore said he, Take it [the cross] up to thee. And he [the student] put out his hand, and took it [picked up his cross]."

We are collectively, as were they, a school of prophets. A prophet's stock in trade are the words that come out of his mouth. A woodsman's axe head is "two-edged," as is the Word of God. A woodsman's ax has the shape of a cross.

As a student was felling a tree, the iron axe head separated from the shaft, and fell into the water. The water of the river Jordan is a type of the Holy Spirit. The ax head was borrowed, on loan, destined to be returned. Borrowed from whom? Perhaps, we shall see after we identify who the axe head is. Bet you already know.

Elisha cut down a stick, meaning a branch of a living tree. That living Branch is Jesus Christ. Elisha, who is a type of God, "cast," sent forth the "stick" of Jesus Christ into the Holy Spirit. "And the iron did swim." How can an iron axe head swim? In the natural, an iron axe head sinks immediately to the bottom of the river. Only living things can swim. What was our Lord God telling us?

The iron axe head of Jesus Christ, being lifted up by the Holy Spirit, swam to the wooden stick of the cross, and attached Himself to the cross. In obedience, we who are students and the sons of the prophets kneel down at the water's edge, put out our hand, and take up our cross. The cross is the woodsman's axe. We are the woodsmen who obediently apply the axe to the trees that we may build a greater House of God. To this heavenly purpose, the iron axe head of the cross which we wield, fells and separates the trees of men from the world. Praise God.

The Lord permitting, if I may minister here with some small degree of Godly wisdom, and "if ye will receive it," I feel in no way inclined to read the Satanic Bible just to see what it says. We are unavoidably what we eat.

In sincere courtesy, I know nothing at all about using Crossan, Borg, Brown and Meier as a reference point. However, using Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John as a reference point, Redfield is an antichrist.

I did not intend for this reply to be offensive in any way. Please do not take it as such. You asked, and I explained my response in the truth as I see it, as best I can.

Frequently address messages to particular people with whom is discerned the affinity of the same Spirit, but with a generic focus. The underlying, and heretofore unspoken purpose is to teach the rhema word of God from Inside the Tabernacle.

In my two months of activity Inside the Tabernacle on CompuServe, have discerned six or seven full brothers and sisters hanging around the door and Inside, including you. That is six or seven individuals out of a potential 2.5 million subscribers to CompuServe. These six or seven are overcomer warriors of God.

Of the 10,000 saved warriors who obediently answered the call of God through Gideon, only 300 did not bow down the knee to the evil spirits across the water, and thus proved themselves to God to be "vigilant." (1 Pet 5:8). The 300 were deemed overcomers by God, strong enough to enter Inside the Tabernacle and engage in battle with the occupying Midianite host. The proportion of overcomers, i.e. shepherds, to the general population, and also to the 9,700 sheep saved in Christ speaks for itself.

Willingness is the principal characteristic of an overcomer. Willingness (wisdom) is the principal thing. Willingness is generated from a personal decision. Some decide to be willing. Others decide not to. Hello. Who are you? (Yes, I'm doing it again).

Do any of you who are listening now and have ears to hear, desire to be used of God? Yes, certainly, you respond, absolutely, of course... but how willing are you? Really. Exactly how willing are you to sacrifice all of you, for Him?

*For if there FIRST be a willing mind, it is accepted according to [God] that a man hath [understanding], and not according to [God] that he hath not [understanding]. (2 Cor 8:12).

*Because it is given unto you [who hath a willing mind] to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath [a willing mind], to him shall be given [understanding], and he shall have more abundance [of understanding]: but whosoever hath not [a willing mind], from him shall be taken away even that [understanding that] he hath [by Satan]. (Matt 13:11,12)

*And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim. (2 Kings 6:6)

"And he [Elisha] cut down a stick [branch of a living tree], and cast it in thither; and the iron [ax] did [WILLINGLY] swim [up from the depths of the water of the Holy Spirt to the stick, and WILLINGLY attached Himself to the stick]. Therefore said he [Elisha], Take it [the cross] up to thee. And he [the student] put out his hand, and took it [picked up his cross]." (2 Kings 6:6)

Our Lord Jesus Christ willingly allowed Himself to be attached to the cross; He thereby crucified Himself upon cross. No man had the power to crucify Jesus Christ except Jesus the Christ. In crucifying Himself, He BECAME the cross that He might BE our cross. That was His sacrifice. If we are to become born again Christians and the assembled body of which Jesus Christ is the head and therefore firstfruits, we must willingly crucify ourselves upon the cross, then we shall become the cross. That is our sacrifice. If we follow, imitate, and otherwise emulate our forerunner in the way, the truth, and the life of God as depicted in and through the life of Jesus Christ, we will BECOME Jesus Christ; He will BECOME us, and His glorious light will shine forth eternally from us.

In the darkness of night, each of the 300 warriors of Gideon stood round about the Midianite encampment with their arms outstretched. Each man was prepared, at the trumpet call of Gideon, to break an earthen pitcher held in his outstretched left hand. A lamp (torch) of flame was concealed (hidden) inside the earthen pitcher. In their outstretched right hand was held a trumpet. The trumpet was the breaking instrument. In this posture, each man formed a cross. The trumpet is the voice of God, the word of God. His name is Jesus Christ. The earthen pitcher is the baked clay of our body. The lamp of flame within the pitcher is the Holy Spirit. When you are completely broken by the voice, you will have become flame.

When Gideon signaled with the sound of his trumpet call, all the 300 mighty men of valour each broke their earthen pitcher to "shivers" (Rev 2:27), and cried "The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon." (Jud 7:20). In this posture, each man willingly BECAME a flaming cross. In this posture, the glory of the Lord was revealed in them; "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Rom 8:18)

*He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words [Gk: rhema], hath one that judgeth him: the word [Gk: logos] that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (John 12:48)

Dear brethren, please observe from these verses that our Lord Jesus Christ draws a clear distinction between the logos word and the rhema word. The logos word (Heb 4:12) and the rhema word (Eph 6:17) are either side of the same two-edged sword. The logos word is Law. The rhema word is Grace. Thus, two things are one. Jesus (Law) Christ (Grace). The parallel that springs immediately to mind is a man and a woman. They are two distinct things. When a man and a woman enter into the sanctified relationship of marriage, they are unified into one body in the sight of God. They become one physically as well as spiritually, and, they become the two-edged sword of the Lord. Jesus Christ is the two-edged sword of the Lord.

What is the logos word? "And the Word [Gk: logos] was made flesh, and dwelt among us." (John 1:14). The only word then existent prior to and at the birth of Jesus was the Old Testament. Thus, at the birth of Jesus, the Old Testament logos word was miraculously made into the flesh body of Jesus. The logos word is the bread of God come down from heaven, made into the flesh body of Jesus. (John 6:51). The Old Testament is composed of the law and the prophets. The Old Testament is repeatedly referred to by the writers of the New Testament as "the law of Moses." Bearing these things in mind, let us again examine these verses with the understanding that God Himself is doing the talking:

*And if any man hear my words [Gk: rhema (of God spoken through Jesus)], and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. (John 12:47)

*He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words [Gk: rhema], hath one that judgeth him: the word [Gk: logos (of God spoken through Moses)] that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (John 12:48)

What is the law of Moses, or, more accurately stated, what is the law of God spoken through Moses? The law is not sin. The law is holy judgment. (The brasen [typifying judgment] of the brasen altar and the brasen laver). The law is holy, separate from sin. The law is (1) God's judgment, of (2) sin. The phrase, "the law of Moses," and similar New Testament descriptions speak of two different things which are in common practice described together in this one phrase. These two things are sin and judgment. The law of Moses is not sin; it is the holy judgment of sin. Precisely stated, the law of Moses is the law or judgment of God concerning sin as spoken through the prophet Moses: If you sin, you die. That's it. God is eternal. The law of God is eternal. Please carefully examine the direct declaration of the following New Testament scripture:

*Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses [the law], in whom ye trust. (John 5:45)

To whom is Jesus speaking that they are to be judged by the logos law? To all those at that time, now, and future, who have "received not my words [Gk: rhema]." The logos word is the law made flesh, made visible as the holy body of Jesus. What is the rhema word?

*It is the spirit that quickeneth [Gk: makes alive, gives life]; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words [Gk: rhema] that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63)

By God's own definition, the rhema words of God spoken through Jesus Christ "are spirit, and they are life." The rhema words are the Holy Spirit. This is the blood of the body. (Matt 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; 1 Cor 11:25).

*And if any man hear my words [Gk: rhema: Holy Spirit], and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. (John 12:47)

*He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words [Gk: rhema: Holy Spirit], hath one that judgeth him: the word [Gk: logos: the Law] that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (John 12:48)

I agree with your assessment. In the final analysis, unrepentant homosexuals are unwilling to sacrifice their ungodly lifestyle (no fruit) to God, so that they may dwell eternally with Father God. The biblical evidence against homosexuality is both literal and overwhelming. Active homosexuals tuned in to this Religion Section of CompuServe have heard the same biblical verses again and again. I am frankly astonished that homosexual dialogue has occupied between 30 to 65 per cent of all the messages in this entire Religion Section. They just don't want to receive it; so that they are without excuse. They know what the Bible says. Why then, do they persist in tuning into and activating these discussions in the Christianity Section? The answer is very simple, and very apparent. They persist because they are trying to get saved. I persist in responding because I am trying to save them.

In light of their knowledge of the pertinent scriptures, and their frequent vehement dialogue in and around those same very clear scriptures, my conclusion is that they all very definitely want to be saved. Else, why bother? But, they are blinded by their own sin, and are therefore rather desperately seeking to conform Jesus into their own image, wearying themselves, rather than allowing themselves to be transformed into His Mind; in like manner so does the entire corporate antichrist body. "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent [seek] to take it by force." (Matt 11:12).

However, they shall be unsuccessful. How do we know that? Because the Lord our God has given us a prophetic example: "And they [the angels] smote the [unrepentant homosexual] men that were at the door [Jesus Christ, the House of God] with blindness, both small and great: so that they WEARIED themselves to find the door." (Gen 19:11). These all, every single last one, were put to a fiery death. (Gen 19:25). This is the condemnation of God.

Personally, I would in my soul that all men be saved, including homosexuals, liars, whoremongers, thieves, idolators, etc., etc. If God had said that homosexuality was okay, then it would be okay with me. If God had said that fornication was okay, then it would be okay with me. That is the truth. Even though fornication may be often times a strong personal desire, it is not my Lord's. His desire is that I obey Him, for I learn obedience through the things which I suffer. How may I learn obedience to Him if I suffer not for Him? If I suffer little, shall I not learn little? Therefore, I am obediently celibate. In the proper everlasting spiritual focus, it is in comparison such a small and tiny temporal thing given, sacrificed, for the glory of the Lord my God which shall soon be revealed in me.

May I also note another consideration existent in any ungodly sexual relationship, be it fornication or homosexuality. There are in either relationship two victims made by the soulical man, both falling into sin within the sight of God and the angels. Two victims, not one. The perpetrator is made himself into a victim, and the acquiescing partner is also made into a victim. Both lose. Would you want to make your dear intimate friend a loser, a lost soul, in the sight of God? How much do you really care about that person? Please examine yourself. Do you demonstrably care more about yourself and having your own sexual desires gratified, than you care about the eternal well-being of the friend, male or female, that you may be deeply attracted to and even profess to love? What kind of love is that? I get satisfied; you die.

I would that no man, any man, suffer eternal hell and damnation in the lake of fire. Would you? Would you want someone to suffer that? To really suffer the reality of that, eternally, regardless of what they have done? The unforgiving unforgiven. Is that you? I think not. I am a human, a man, and cannot but have compassion upon my fellow man. However, by God's own Word we know that all men will not be saved, and that some men will suffer that eternal fiery death, burning always, where their worm dieth not. God's ways and thoughts are higher than my ways and thoughts. His Will will be done. I believe that. I cannot reason the why of it. I no longer try. Did I make the Lord God whom I serve, that I might correct Him? No. He made me, and I am transformed into His mind by following Him. I may of my own will hear Him in Spirit, and willfully obey.

Before I got saved, I counted active homosexuals as friends. Before I got saved, I believed that a woman had the right to choose whether to get an abortion or not. Before I got saved, I swore at least once within every single sentence. Before I got saved, I had intimate relations with many women. Before I got saved, I lied when it was convenient. Before I got saved, I was the walking dead, a zombie, dead to the Life of God. But now I live; Praise God, my abundant joy.

I thank God, that in heaven I shall have no remembrance at all of the unsaved. Thank you Lord. The pain and anguish of looking down, as did Father Abraham, to see across a great gulf, fixed, the sinner eternally dwelling in the reward of his sin, would generate grief intolerable within me, well beyond any conceivable frame of endurance. And he, the sinner sealed in his sin looking up, forever pleading, "And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip [only] the [tiniest] tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." (Luke 16:24). That circumstance, although I were in heaven a child of God, would be total, absolute, all consuming hell for me.

May God bless you all with His saving Grace. That blessed occurrence is, of course, entirely up to you. God is willing. Are you?

"But when that which is perfect [the Melchizedek Priesthood] is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." (1 Cor 13:10). The corporate body of Melchizedek is an eternal, everlasting priesthood. In Him, we shall be kings and we shall be priests. (Rev 1:6; 5:10)

Thank you for your efforts. You did indeed fulfill the requested need. In the manuscript that I had previously read, thought I discerned that Margaret MacDonald had obliquely made inference to two raptures, though I don't see it here. You seem to be more familiar with these materials. Having already read MacPherson's book, and I would gather others, perhaps you might again help. Does anyone speak to or entertain the theory of two raptures in any way? That would be analogous to a firstfruits company, and a following harvest. Such a circumstance is entirely consistent, in fact typical, in God's economy.

May we hereafter speak rhetorically? For the purposes of this discussion, let us disregard the conventional definition of "rapture" as being essentially synonymous with "escape," for a more spiritual definition connoting the ecstasy of receiving the full mind of Christ. The full mind of Christ is an artesian well of living waters. The living waters are God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. We are the vessel well. The living waters of eternal life abide deep within the well of us. To the ecstatic joy of those members of the firstfruits company, the living waters are now springing up, ascending, as the first mighty surge, and beginning to flow with supernatural power (Luke 1:17) out of the well, that His glory may be revealed to all creation, in us.

We have been hearing and sounding the trumpet call of the fifth feast, and are participating in the assembling of the firstfruits company, now. (Isa 3:1-3; Rev 12:5; 14:1-4). Dear brethren, and friends, be warned! There is an overlap in the feasts. The sixth feast of atonement is about to be completely celebrated. It is occurring now, and its conclusion is imminent. "For the day of the Lord is great [for us] and very terrible [for them]; and who can abide it?" (Joel 2:11). Be prepared.

*Behold, I will send my messenger [firstfruits: John the Baptist-Elijah company], and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come [up from within] to [fully inhabit] his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire [on the inside], and like fullers' soap [on the outside]: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver [our redemption]: and he shall purify the sons of Levi [us: all saints], and purge them as gold [holiness] and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering [of themselves] in righteousness. (Mal 3:1-3)

Our Lord Christ Jesus: His coming up as a consuming fire from the fire now kindled within, to fully possess His Tabernacle, is our greatest joy, for fire does not burn fire.

*[The two angels] Which also said, Ye men of Galilee [Judas Iscariot, the tare of Judaea having been already picked out of the wheat], why stand ye GAZING UP [by sight] into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come [again from within a body] in like manner [by sight] as ye have seen him [by sight] go into heaven. (Acts 1:11)

Don't look up ye men of Galilee. Look within. Even the two angels asked: "Hey guys, why are you out there wasting valuable feeding time staring up at the clouds?" Why is this so difficult? Is it the biblical cloud references? Well don't you rhema by now that men are the clouds? (2 Pet 2:17; Jude 12). Clouds are a type, and shadow, of men. (Psa 19:1). We are the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night (Ex 13:21; Isa 4:5), and "a pillar in the temple of my God." (Rev 3:12). As cloud, each of us is a tiny speck of dust surrounded by a larger drop of moisture (water, Holy Spirit) in the company of millions of other drops of water. We corporately are the vessel called cloud. From within us comes the rain, the former rain and the latter rain which is being increasingly poured out. (Joel 2:21-32).

Peter and the other disciples experienced this prophecy as a type of firstfruits harvest on the day of Pentecost. Peter stood up with the eleven and addressed not just the multitude of "devout men" then present but all Christian men, i.e. "Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words [Gk: rhema]." (Acts 2:14). Peter said rhema, not logos. He did not say "hearken to my logos." (To "hear" in the sense of these verses is to "receive.").

This was tremendous prophecy. All men can hear logos for it has been made visible. (John 1:14). However, only the gathering multitude of "devout men" that "came together" (Acts 2:5,6), assembled, as a type of corporate body of Christ can also hear the rhema (John 6:63; 12:48). Why? Because rhema is invisible. These true believing Christians hear rhema while the unhearing others are "mocking." (Acts 2:13). Would that all men would hear the rhema. Peter then repeated this prophecy that we might know that the experience will be repeated again and that the permanent fullness was yet to come. (Acts 2:16-21). The tongues-words (rain) came out of (from within) the twelve and were absorbed, i.e. heard and received, by and into the "devout men, out of every nation [prophetic] under heaven." (Acts 2:5). You don't believe me? Well, that's okay friend. Please be very careful that you do not receive a permanent crick in your neck while you waste your allotted time (Eph 5:15-17) passively standing around "gazing up" waiting for Him. While you are gazing up, you are not actively grazing down. Be ye doers of the Word; bow down your heads, and feed. (2 Tim 2:15).

Please note that Spiritual Invisible God repeatedly manifests in the sight realm in a vessel-body for His progressive purpose. In like manner shall He be revealed and manifested in us. (Rom 8:18,19). The time of our Lord's second advent is a spiritual reality manifesting now in part in this present physical sight realm. Noah preached for 120 years the exact same end-time message as do we while the ark of salvation was "a preparing." (1 Pet 3:20).

Our Lord God said that the days of man (sight) shall be 120 years. (Gen 6:3). He did not say what kind of years. A Jubilee year is a very special kind of year. It is a year of complete restoration to "proclaim liberty throughout all the land." (Lev 25:8-55). A Jubilee year is celebrated every 50 chronological years, on the Day of Atonement. There have been 119 Jubilee years. 119x50=5950. We are about to celebrate the 120th Jubilee year of 6000 chronological years. Israel was restored to the Jews in 1948. In 1998 Israel will celebrate a Jubilee year. Depending upon the Lord our God and historical calendar inaccuracies, this may or may not be "the big one."

That which saves is salvation. The ark-vessel was salvation. We preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is the ark. While Noah was assembling the boards of the ark of salvation, the ark was manifesting in the physical sight realm. The ark was manifesting in the sight realm from in part into a complete whole exactly like a house or barn that is constructed board upon board from nothing (0), to in part (1-119), to whole (120), i.e. completion. Through the building of it, the invisible (positional whole) becomes visible (experientially whole). The multitude of people surrounding Noah could literally see the instrument of their potential salvation and hear the message of Noah but they chose to laugh, and ignore it. They "mocked."

Biblically, trees and wood represent men. The 48 wooden boards supporting the ark-tabernacle of Moses represent the 48 Levitical cities, i.e. the priests of God. The boards of the ark of Noah and the boards of the tabernacle of Moses in the Old Testament and the boards of the barn of Christ in the New Testament each fitly joined together form a type of the true spiritual church, the house of God. The barn into which the wheat is gathered is a New Testament type of ark. The barn is composed of wooden priest-boards. It is the house of God. This barn was "broken down" in the Old Testament. (Joel 1:17). Amos prophesied that the Lord God "will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old." (Amos 9:11). James repeats this prophecy that we may know that it is not fulfilled but yet to come. (Acts 15:16). Those who enter into the ark-tabernacle-barn are "in Christ." All are invited to enter in. (Heb 4:16; 10:19). The salvation of the sheep is attained by hearing the faith message of the shepherd-priests of God and entering into the sheepfold-ark. The sheep and the goats then and now can see the shepherd as well as hear the shepherd. The first ark-vessel (Noah) was moved by water. The second ark-tabernacle (Moses) was moved by men. The third ark-barn (Christ) is moving men.

As in the days of Noah, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Now, while the ark of the barn-body of the Christ is being assembled (Matt 13:30: gather = Gk: assemble) board upon board for the exact same purpose of salvation, it is manifesting in the physical realm. Those willfully blinded in spirit choose not to hear nor to see the physical corporate body of walking talking priest-boards of God who are now in part manifesting Christ Jesus. These boards are you and I. Very soon these priest-boards who are being assembled into the many-membered ark-barn of Christ will manifest the fullness of Christ Jesus. That fullness will appear when He is fully "revealed in us." (Rom 8:18,19).

When the ark of Noah was completed, then the hand of "the Lord shut him in." (Gen 7:16). Noah and his family were shut inside the ark and the unbelieving multitude were shut outside the ark. The "door" was closed. (John 10:7,9). The flood came immediately. (Matt 24:29). Those without remained without, doomed to eternal separation from God.

God is eternal and everlasting. We are eternal and everlasting. God is eternal fire. If you will not allow the purifying fire of God's presence to enter within, then the burning fire of God's presence will remain without. Inevitably however, you will still be in His Holy Presence. Much pain. Much joy. Fuel or fire. Your choice.

*And the light of Israel [the true church, a city that is set on an hill, Jerusalem] shall be for a fire, and his Holy One [Sons (Gk: huios) of God, Mt. Zion] for a flame: and it [they] shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers [Matt 13:7,22: unclean spirits, soulical self] in one day; [the sixth feast: the Day of Atonement] (Isa 10:17)

*Blow ye the trumpet in Zion [Heb: a monumental or guiding pillar (of corporate men: Isa 3:1-3; Heb 11; Rev 14:1)], and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the [unsaved] inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness [Ex 14:19,20: to those unsaved walking by sight], as the morning [daylight] spread upon the mountains [so will appear the morning star: Rev 2:28; as the rising Sun of righteousness: Mal 4:2]: a great people and a strong [who are the ark tabernacle barn priest-boards overcomer body of Christ Jesus]; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth [for our God fully manifested and revealed in us to the unsaved is a thick dark cloud of consuming fire: Ezek 1:4,5]: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. (Joel 2:1-3)

*And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Gen 5:32)

The contextual purpose of this particular latter verse seems to be to chronicle a genealogy. We may then understand the verse to mean that when Noah was 500 years old, he already had three existent sons. We know that the meaning is not that he fathered these three in his 500th year, else they would be triplets of the same age, and not differing ages as scripture later shows. Therefore, Noah could have been already building the ark, which is spiritually synonymous with preaching righteousness, for the twenty years preceding his 500th year. We too have been commissioned to build the ark. (Mark 16:15).

*And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. (Gen 7:6,7)

Noah did indeed preach righteousness for 120 years while the ark was a-preparing; for, it was an ark of righteousness. The floods came in his 600th year. Therefore, he began to build the ark in his 480th year. That is very interesting. May we look at another ark type?

*And it came to pass in the FOUR HUNDRED AND EIGHTIETH YEAR after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he [Solomon] BEGAN TO BUILD THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. (1 Kings 6:1)

If we may we repeat part of a recent message: Please note that Spiritual God repeatedly manifests in the sight realm in a vessel-body for His progressive purpose. In like manner shall He be revealed and manifested in us. (Rom 8:18,19). The time of our Lord's second advent is a spiritual reality manifesting now in part in this present physical sight realm. Noah preached for 120 years the exact same end-time message as do we while the ark of salvation was "a preparing." (1 Pet 3:20).

Our Lord God said that the days of man (sight) shall be 120 years. (Gen 6:3). He did not say what kind of years. A Jubilee year is a very special kind of year. It is a year of complete restoration to "proclaim liberty throughout all the land." (Lev 25:8-55). A Jubilee year is celebrated every 50 chronological years on the Day of Atonement. There have been 119 Jubilee years. 119x50=5950. We are about to celebrate the 120th Jubilee year of 6000 chronological years. Israel was restored to the Jews in 1948. In 1998 Israel will celebrate a Jubilee year. Depending upon the Lord our God and historical calendar inaccuracies, this may or may not be "the big one."

That is the difference between the saved and unsaved. We asked for the Light from God. The three "heavens" (plural 127 times) are within the all encompassing kingdom of God. (2 Cor 12:2). Christ Jesus is, in literal fact, bubbling up from within you. Don't you feel Him? He is that well of living water springing up from the seed of the Holy Spirit deposited deep in the heart of the earth inside you. (John 4:14). You are giving birth as did Mary in type. Out of the belly of your body broken to shivers shall flow rivers of living water. (John 7:38). In the millennial reign of Christ on earth you shall give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. (Rev 21:6). Yes, you! Dear brethren, wait not in the company of professing Christians and other unbelievers for His appearance in the clouds which all men will see. Be not joined to those walking by sight who look for His coming outside themselves. Do you not yet understand? He is "within you," i.e. inside you. He shall be revealed from inside you. (Rom 8:18). He shall be manifested from inside you. (Rom 8:19).

He is planted a spiritual seed inside you coming to fruition. Fruition is a type of birth. A spiritual seed produces a spiritual generation. John the Baptist preached in the wilderness east of the river Jordan, i.e. in the courtyard of the tabernacle, to prepare the way for Jesus. (Matt 3:1; Luke 3:2). Jesus was born in Bethlehem which is in "the promised land," i.e. in the Holy Place of the tabernacle. Jerusalem is the Most Holy Place encompassing Mt. Zion. Mt. Zion is the future tabernacle throne and mercy seat of David who shall be our millennial king. (Jer 30:9; Ezek 34:23,24; 37:24,25; Hos 3:4,5). Christ Jesus is and always shall be King of Kings.

By the water and blood of the birth of Jesus we are sanctified and justified (1 Cor 6:11; 1 John 5:6), and thereby enabled to enter into the Holy Place that we may hear from God and live. (Ex 20:19). Jesus is the firstborn son of God and the firstborn son of Mary. Jesus "openeth the matrix [Heb: womb]" (Num 3:11-13) of the tabernacle of God spiritually (positionally) and the tabernacle of Mary physically (experientially). He is the head. In birth the head enters into the new environment first, the body follows. We now stand on Holy Ground. Jesus Christ "openeth the matrix" of the tabernacle veil of the Most Holy Place which is the third heaven (2 Cor 12:2; Rev 1:10; 4:1,2) by His death. By His blood and water we are justified and sanctified. (1 Cor 6:11; John 19:34). Fruition is a type of death. (John 12:24). To die in one environment is to be born into another.

Jesus was the forty-first generation from Abraham and the thirteenth generation from "the carrying away into Babylon." (Matt 1:1-17). Please count them. You are the Christ which is the seed of Jesus the Christ. You are the forty-second generation from Abraham and the fourteenth generation from the carrying away into Babylon. The Christ is a spiritual generation. Chronological time is a temporary parameter for temporary men and not the same as spiritual time. (Rev 10:6).

This fourteenth generation of spiritual time spans the 2000 cubic cubits of the Holy Place which is 10 cubits in width x 10 cubits in height x 20 cubits in length, i.e. this present second heaven. Another example: this fourteenth generation of spiritual time spans the 2000 cubits of space between the ark of covenant and the children of Israel. (Josh 3:3,4). This present spiritual generation spans 2000 chronological years.

*A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for A GENERATION. They [the seed of Jesus Christ (us)] shall come, and shall declare [Heb: manifest, announce, expound fully, messenger, rehearse, report, speak, tell, utter] his righteousness [during the millennium] unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this. (Psa 22:30,31)

Please allow me to offer further evidence that seems to circumstantially substantiate the cumulation of this present Age of Sight in the 6000th year of our earthly, chronological, soulical time. The soulical, beast nature, sight realm has had limited dominion over this world for almost 6000 years, subject always to the Creator. In that limited sense, Satan has reigned since the fall. This 6000 year period extends from the fall of Adam and Eve, and concludes at the end of the Feast of Atonement, which is the sixth of seven feasts that encompass in total 7000 years. The Feast of Tabernacles is the seventh feast ushering in the 1000 year millennium. The Feast of Tabernacles celebrates the beginning of man's reinstatement into the paradise of the garden of Eden.

For the 6000 years preceding the Feast of Tabernacles, the soulical beast nature will reign under the dominion of Satan. Satan is the god of sight. All beasts, animals, have a soul consisting of mind, will and emotions; but beasts do not have a spirit. Consequently, beasts walk by sight. Beasts walk by the light reflected off the things that they can see and touch, and not by the invisible light and substance of faith. Therefore, without equivocation, a man not having the indwelling Holy Spirit, an unsaved man, is a beast. The natural soulical beast man reigns in this present world order.

However, a change is coming. His name is Jesus the Christ. This change is happening now and soon shall become a completed transformation, a completed transfiguration. During the 1000 year millennial Kingdom of Heaven on this earth, the spiritual man shall reign by faith under our Lord of Lords and King of Kings, Christ Jesus. 6000 years = sight; 1000 years = faith. The false prophet is sight. He speaks from our soul. The true prophet is faith. He speaks from our spirit.

The originating chronological date of the start of the 6000 year reign of sight is not given by our Lord. Remaining unmeasurable, it must therefore be received by faith. All that we do know by scripture is that the spiritual starting date of the Age of Sight corresponds to the fall of Adam and Eve from fellowship with God. However, the Lord our God did provide us a measurable, identifiable, time segment within this 6000 year period. That measurable time segment is the almost 2000 years that have passed since the birth of Jesus. Please allow us to identify that 2000 year segment as it is discerned in scripture.

The Holy Place of the tabernacle measured 10 cubits in width x 20 cubits in length x 10 cubits in height = 2000 cubic cubits. Let us interpret cubits symbolically to mean years. Thus we have 2000 years. Jesus was born about 4 BC, which is approaching exactly 2000 years ago. Jesus is the "door." (John 10:7,9). The "door" of the tabernacle (Ex 26:36) is located 2000 cubic cubits away from and east of the rent veil of the Most Holy Place, within which is the ark of the covenant and above which dwells the Shekinah glory of God. The birth of Jesus corresponds to the "door" of the tabernacle, i.e. being born in the promised land. Tabernacle = promised land. His birth at the door was the beginning of His walk (and a type of ours) through the Holy Place of the tabernacle and into the presence of God.

Spiritual time is not the same as chronological time. The earthly life of Jesus Christ is rhema (invisible = faith) compacted down into a logos (visible = sight) presentation by God. (John 1:14). His life is a type of our lives, both individually and corporately as the body of Christ from beginning to ending. His evolutional life in compressed, compacted, encoded form represents 2000 chronological years of our evolution. His life on earth is depicted in the 2000 cubic cubits of compacted space between the door and the veil of the tabernacle.

*Jerusalem is builded as a city that is COMPACT together. (Psa 122:3).

Tabernacle = Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, the tabernacle, we discern the whole body of Christ compacted together, which is the church. Thus, tabernacle = church.

*But speaking the truth in love, [we] may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and COMPACTED by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (Eph 4:15,16)

A veil is a covering. The tabernacle veil was an Old Testament wall of protection, and in that sense, a type of covering and shelter. The veil protected and covered from God's sight and consequent wrath those men who were then without the atoning blood covering of Jesus Christ. Prior to the crucifixion death of Jesus Christ, only the Aaronic High Priest family, a type of the family of Jesus Christ, were allowed to enter into the Holy Place. Only the High Priest himself, a type of Jesus Christ, entered into the Most Holy Place, and not without a type of the blood.

After the death of Jesus Christ, all children of God, priests and congregation, may enter into not only the Holy Place, but also the Most Holy Place. Both places have now been made One by the breaking down of the middle wall of partition which separated and protected sinful man from the wrath of God's holy presence. We still have sin, but the covering blood of Jesus Christ substitutes for the covering shelter of the veil. Entry has been made possible into the One Place of God through the prophetic rending, or "dividing asunder" (Heb 4:12) of the veil of flesh from the spirit, in effect "revealing" the Spirit (Rom 8:18; 2 Thess 1:10) by freeing the Spirit from an earthy prison. The act of rending or dividing asunder our flesh from our spirit reveals the blood of Christ.

At the conclusion of this second advent of our Lord Christ Jesus, we shall be made completely dead to the fleshly soulical self, completely rendered, separated soulical flesh from Spirit, that the revealed Spirit may return to God who gave it, above the ark of the covenant. Praise God.

*And they commanded THE PEOPLE, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about TWO THOUSAND CUBITS by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: FOR YE HAVE NOT PASSED THIS WAY HERETOFORE. (Josh 3:3,4)

The ark of the covenant, above which God dwells in Shekinah glory, is 2000 cubits ahead of and beyond the door of the tabernacle. In substantiation of our thesis, Joshua commanded the people (congregation) who were about to enter into the promised land (tabernacle) that they were to remain behind the ark of the covenant for a space of 2000 cubits, which represents the Holy Place of the tabernacle, which in turn represents the earthly lifetime of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament people were separated from God's presence by the 2000 cubits yet to be fulfilled by Jesus Christ. They were at that time not allowed to enter into God's presence. Now, through the birth of Jesus as the door, the 2000 cubic cubit walk and life of Jesus through the Holy Place, and the covering blood death of Jesus Christ as the veil, all the children of God may enter boldly into the loving presence and fellowship of Father God. His walk was from door to veil and the Shekinah glory of God; our walk is from gate to door (Deut 8:1-3) and the Shekinah glory of God.

*And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Gen 5:32)

QUERY: "In the case of Noah, following, he was 500 hundred years old when he bore his son Shem, followed by Ham and Japheth."

That this particular conclusion is incorrect is confirmed by the following verse:

*Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth THE ELDER, even to him were children born. (Gen 10:21)

*To Shem also, THE YOUNGER BROTHER of Japheth and the ancestor of all the children of Eber [including the Hebrews], children were born. (Gen 10:21: Amplified Bible)

As we stated in a previous post, the contextual purpose of Genesis 5:32 would seem to be, at first sight, to generally chronicle a genealogy. By that statement we mean that the verse appears to be a very general comment about a very specific thing. That in itself is perplexing. Why should it be so? Perhaps there is more here than what meets the eye. The conventional genealogical method is to mention the eldest first. In this instance Shem, not being the eldest, is mentioned first here (Gen 5:32) and also in Genesis 6:10; 7:13; etc. Why? Because of the three sons, only Shem is in the direct ancestral lineage of Jesus Christ. The red ribbon of precious blood takes precedence.

Indeed, we now discern a deeper spiritual truth of Genesis 5:32 to the effect that Shem shall be "[FOLLOWED BY] Ham, and Japheth." Chronologically, Shem is the middle son, Ham is the youngest son (Gen 9:24), and Japheth the eldest. In light of this new understanding, there are some other verses that we should now consider in conjunction with Genesis 5:32.

*In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. (Gen 7:11)

*And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year [of Noah], in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry. And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried. (Gen 8:13,14)

*These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood. (Gen 11:10)

The flood very specifically began when Noah was 600 years, 2 months, and 17 days old. (Gen 7:11). The flood very specifically ended when Noah was 601 years, 2 months, and 27 days old. (Gen 8:13,14). Arphaxad was begat two years (a general vs. specific designation) after the flood, or when Noah was either approximately 603 years old, or exactly 603 years old. Thus, if Shem was 100 years old when he begat Arphaxad (Gen 11:10), then Shem was born when Noah was 503 years old.

This chronological fact indicates that Genesis 5:32 is without doubt a general statement analogous to a genealogical summation in essence saying, among other things, that when Noah was around 500 years old, he begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Let us continue our examination of the next proof verse that you set forth which is Genesis 6:18, and your accompanying commentary.

QUERY: "Next, consider that the Lord said to Noah: But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee. (Gen 6:18). This shows that at the time of this promise, Noah not only had sons, but they had grown and married - they all had wives! We know there were eight who entered the ark, Noah, his three sons, Noah's wife, and his three daughters-in-law."

We agree with your statement, and cannot in any way discern how this verse can possibly be construed to contradict the 120 year thesis in question. Please note that the flood did not begin until Noah's 600th year. Shem was born in Noah's 503rd year, Japheth before, and Ham after. What's the problem?

Noah did indeed preach righteousness for 120 years while the ark was a-preparing; for, it was an ark of righteousness. The ark of itself, by its very own logos presence in the sight realm, preached righteousness to those who saw, knew, and heard its building. Thus, they were without excuse. The floods came in Noah's 600th year. If we are willing to receive the 120 year preparation period as fact, then Noah began to build the ark in his 480th year. This deduction is consonant with other scriptures dealing with a certain 480 year period, and very very interesting. May we peer closely at yet another ark type having to do with 480 years? Incidentally, there are others. What do you suppose they mean?

*And it came to pass in the FOUR HUNDRED AND EIGHTIETH year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he [Solomon] BEGAN TO BUILD THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. (1 Kings 6:1)

Why is knowing all this information pertinent to our discussion of whether or not Noah literally preached righteousness for 120 years, and whether or not Noah was literally occupied in building the ark for 120 years? It is vitally important because incorrect genealogical determinations and incorrect applications of the verses they are found in have been used as proof verses to discredit the thesis that Noah did indeed preach righteousness for the 120 years that he built the ark. The 120 year period of Noah's preaching and building (preparation: Eph 6:15) is the foundation upon which the thesis is structured of there being 120 Jubilee years allocated to the man of flesh before his end. "Yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years." (Gen 6:3). Fifty chronological years equals one Jubilee year. Therefore, 120 Jubilee years converts, not coincidentally, into 6000 chronological years, which encompasses from beginning to ending, the Age of Sight. The ending is virtually upon us, certainly within us.

Dear brethren, what have we been doing for almost 6000 years, if not preaching and building the ark??

EXTERNAL RESPONSE: "Sorry, but David was only a king."

Please allow me to enter into your dialog. Believe that the correct statement is that David was a king, a priest, and a prophet over Jerusalem. David shall be our millennial king as well. Actually, all of the present shadows of the Melchizedek priesthood are kings and priests and prophets, as was our forerunner, Jesus Christ. Another name for Melchizedek is Jesus Christ.

Am in accord with all parties that there is no doubt that David was a king. That he was a prophet is undeniably certain, for this fact is abundantly testified to by the multitude of prophetic psalms that he wrote. How about a priest? David, with his men, fled from Saul's persecution and went to the High Priest Ahimelech at Nob. David asked Ahimelech for five of the loaves of bread that were in the charge of Ahimelech.

*And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is HALLOWED BREAD; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women [Rev 14:4]. And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men ARE HOLY, and the bread is in a manner [of speaking, or, in another dimension of understanding] common [Heb: unholy], yea, though [Heb: except] it were SANCTIFIED THIS DAY in the [holy] vessel [of these young men]. So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the Lord, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away. (1 Sam 21:4-6)

Please note that David received five loaves of holy shewbread from the High Priest, which was not lawful to receive for any but members of the Aaronic priesthood, upon pain of death. The fact that Ahimelech complied with the request of David indicates that Ahimelech spiritually recognized David and his company of young men to be priestly brothers of the Aaronic family. Only the Aaronic priesthood were allowed, and in fact commanded, to eat the shewbread.

The five loaves of bread (John 10:7,9) are a mark of what we have conventionally labeled to be the Hand Ministry which consists of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher. (Eph 4:11). The Hand Ministry is the right hand of God that was left here on this earth for the work of God, as Jesus ascended to the Father. The Hand Ministry is an empowerment. Another member of the Hand Ministry is Benjamin [Heb: son of the right hand] who received five messes, and five changes of raiment from Joseph. Joseph is a type of Jesus Christ. The five changes of raiment were coverings for each of the five offices of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher. The five messes were provision for each of those five offices.

*And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him? How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? (Mark 2:25,26)

We shall not neglect to mention that not only did David eat of the shewbread, but also his accompanying band of men, all of whom in total typifying the right hand of God in the Old Testament, the Hand Ministry. Five loaves equals sustenance for five men: David as the thumb, the apostle, and the four fingers of prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher. Praise God. Thank you Lord. David is clearly designated a member of the high priesthood because, if for no other reason, he lived after eating the bread. The Pharisees, in their linear perceptions, could not discern anyone other than one of the line of Levi as being a priest. David is of the line of Judah, as is Jesus Christ. Is Jesus Christ a priest?

My response to the above message: God bless you. Thank you for the most excellent candlestick message. Am in complete accord with your presentation. That was new illumination and good news to me. Perhaps you could share with our brethren Inside the Tabernacle.

We are born Egyptians in Egypt in natural light, not having the parental benefit of the Holy Spirit. We are "born again" as Israel, as we voluntarily Cross the Red Sea with the parental benefit of an "earnest" of the Holy Spirit. We then enter into our personal and corporate wilderness pilgrimage throughout the Sinai peninsula.

At any given time, there are millions of saints making this exodus from the Red Sea toward the Jordan river. It is a continuously moving surge, a sea of humanity flowing across the dry desert. God's purpose in this pilgrimage is to purify and cleanse us that we may be humbled and proven. (Deut 8:2). Many never make it through the wilderness all the way and into the promised land. The desert wilderness relentlessly sucks at and saps those in the current flowing above, drawing them down into the dry sand.

Some get across the Red Sea and hastily camp out in the wilderness at the first mountain of power that they see. Unwilling to move on with the surge, they get left behind. Others also choose to exit the flow and stop to rest around the base of another mountain or another or another, closer to Jordan. But the crest flows on and soon there is no water to empower the mountain that rose out of it. All around the mountain now is barren desert and the mountain a searing stone: Saul without the anointing for the anointing moved on; the tabernacle at Gibeon without the ark for the ark moved on.

SHORTCUTS: There are no "shortcuts" to this wilderness experience. No man can be "born again" at the Red Sea, skip the wilderness pilgrimage, and immediately cross the Jordan river into the tabernacle, the promised land, the light and "fullness" of the Spirit. The Israelites did not do it. Joshua and Caleb did not do it. Jesus did not do it in type. So how can you? To do so would nullify, set to no effect, the work of the brasen altar of sacrifice, and the work of the brasen laver of cleansing, and the entire work of the wilderness trek. (Deut 8:2).

No man can cross the Red Sea and the Jordan river at the same time. Every man must first travel through his wilderness pilgrimage of trials and testing as ordained by God before he is received into the tabernacle experientially "holy, acceptable unto God." (Rom 12:1). The priests were sanctified and cleansed at the brasen laver before they entered into the tabernacle, lest they die.

The practice of delivering a man's soul with encouragement and expectation that he will immediately give "evidence" of the light and "fullness" of the Holy Spirit is not of God. This practice is a vain attempt by men to define, measure, and evaluate the presence of the Holy Spirit. It is an attempt by men walking by sight to see a "sign" from God. (John 6:30). This is a worldly practice by carnal Christians who have elected to remain encamped about a barren mountain, for the anointing crest has flown on. These men are deceived and in this regard they walk by sight and not by faith.

At one moment a man's soul is "born again," and at the very next moment his "born again" soul is instantly leavened: "I will kiss you and slap you at the same time because I love you." The consequence of this experience is confusion. A spirit of confusion enters into the baby Christian. The first thing he sees and hears is "tongues." Satan cometh immediately. This is neonatal bonding. The newborn babe is instantly bonded to or "in bondage to" the spirit of confusion. This spirit is manifested as a perversion of true "tongues." In innocent trusting submission, the neonate receives and gives utterance to the spirit of confusion, an indwelling demon, rather than the Holy Spirit. These babes, having just crossed the Red Sea and thus been delivered from Egypt, need now to be delivered from the spirit of confusion that was waiting for them on the eastern shore of the wilderness. Tricky little devils aren't they?

Many of these baby Christians so bonded early in their walk with the Lord will not ever be delivered from this demon. Those who are placed in bondage to this demon at an early spiritual age will usually have great difficulty overcoming and being delivered from it because it is foundational in their belief system. This is idolatry. These bow down before and blindly worship a false god. Thus Satan will have been successful in blocking their entrance into the tabernacle of God.

In Judges chapters 6-8, 32,000 responded to the call of God through Gideon and volunteered for His army. 22,000 did not believe God for the victory at the cross of Mount Gilead and went home. (Ezek 7:14). The remaining 10,000 that believed God went forward from the cross of the brasen altar to the water of the brasen laver. 9,700 of these believing Christians literally blinded themselves as they "bowed down upon their knees to drink water" (Jud 7:6) in front of the evil spirits across the water. They had not allowed the Holy Spirit to completely break their yoke of bondage to evil spirits.

Although true Christians, these 9,700 were not called of God to cross the water of the Jordan and enter into the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The 9,700 were not called to do spiritual warfare with the Midianite host in the Holy Place because they had themselves been overcome on the thorny ground of the wilderness. They had submitted themselves to evil spirits. The 9,700 believing Christians were not overcomers in this higher dimension of understanding. Satan had managed to block their entrance into the tabernacle by retaining a stronghold within them. In some way, Satan's yoke of control was still upon them. However, these 9,700 were the essential supply and support troops (Jud 7:8,23) of God's overcomer body.

The 300 overcomers who had vigilantly lapped water out of the palm of their "hand" (Jud 7:6, Hand Ministry) entered into the tabernacle "as one man." (Jud 6:16). These 300 overcomers, plus one, totally routed the enemy army of invading spirits "and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts." (Zech 14:21). Hallelujah!

What and whom does the fourth cup of wine represent? Is this Elijah's cup? It remains undrunken during the Passover Service. There is also a table setting served with food at which no one sits. Recall that this seat is called Elijah's seat. Believe that I see, now dimly, who and what the fourth cup of wine and Elijah's empty seat at the dinner table represent: us, when we have become into fullness.

Standard explanations of Seder do not explain nor usually even mention these two obviously significant enigmas. Need additional traditional information as to the fourth cup and the empty seat, and expanded information on the first three cups. Help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Logos is the seed. Rhema is the harvest. The Bible is the visible logos Word seed of God. All the words written in black in the Bible are the logos seed body of Jesus Christ, Himself made visible. At the moment of His birth, the logos word then existent that was "made flesh" consisted entirely of the law and the prophets, i.e. the Old Testament. Thus, the words of the law and the prophets were made flesh in Jesus Christ. Through the means of and subsequent to His death (Heb 9:15-17), Christ Jesus supplied agape (Matt 22:36-40; Eph 4:15,16), which is the Rhema Spirit of God, into the logos body of Jesus Christ.

God is multidimensional, i.e. spatial vs. linear. One dimension or kind of "divers kinds of tongues" is parables. (1 Cor 12:10). The tongue of Matthew 13:3-9 is interpreted in Matthew 13:18-23. The tongue of Matthew 13:24-30 is interpreted in Matthew 13:37-43. For confirmation, the tongue and the interpretation are given together in Matthew 13:47-50. "Blessed art thou" (Matt 16:17) dear brethren, for if you are willing to receive these pearls, they are yours. (Matt 11:14,15). That is, you will become that which they (He) are. God is a Spirit. God is Rhema.

*And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know ALL PARABLES? The sower soweth the word [Gr: logos]. (Mark 4:13,14).

*Now the parable is this: The seed is the word [Gk: logos] of God. (Luke 8:11)

*And the Word [Gk: logos] was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14).

After digesting the latter verses, does it not therefore follow that the Bible is a parable? If the whole be a parable, what then of the parts? Can the parts be other than the whole? The Bible is the body of Jesus Christ. Everything in the Bible is a parable. A tongue is a parable; a tongue is multidimensional.

*All these things SPAKE Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable SPAKE he not unto them. (Matt 13:34).

*And with many such parables SPAKE he the word [Gr: logos] unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable SPAKE he not unto them: and when they were alone, he EXPOUNDED [interpreted] all things to his disciples. (Mark 4:33,34).

Jesus Christ spoke in tongues, and interpreted tongues. He gave us His Spirit that we too can be as He is and do as He did. He manifested all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, for He was our perfect example. The entire Bible, Word, Body of Jesus Christ, is a tongue and "foolishness" to the natural man. (1 Cor 2:11-14). The Word of God is a tongue. When we quote the word of God to an unsaved natural man, he perceives that we are speaking to him as would a foreigner in a stammering, unintelligible tongue. When we quote the word of God to a brother, he perceives with understanding through the same mind of Christ, that we are speaking to him in the tongue of the Lord. The brother understands the language, because, we are spiritually both from that same far country. Brethren, we do well to understand that we all speak in tongues every day.

It is only through the Spirit of God that the "rhema" things of God are spiritually revealed. The rhema light of the golden candlestick (the Holy Spirit) shines upon the logos shewbread (Jesus Christ) and enlightens our understanding. The Holy Spirit leads and guides us in the interpretation of the tongue of the Lord. Jesus Christ is the tongue of the Lord. Yes??

*It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words [Gk: rhema] that I speak unto you [that proceed forth from out of My Logos Body], THEY ARE SPIRIT, AND THEY ARE LIFE. (John 6:63).

The book body of the Bible is the logos Word made flesh, i.e. visible. The Bible is logos. Out of the Bible proceeds rhema. Open the book body of the Bible, and you have opened the mouth of the Word of God. Out of that open mouth of the Word of God proceeds the rhema tongue of God. His name is Jesus Christ. He is the husbandman who speaks through each of us who are His visible servants. The Bible is His visible servant in the field of the world. Jesus Christ is in all ways, the tongue of the Lord. Praise God. Thank you Lord.

God bless you. Read your post in the "Pentecostals Respond!!!" forum. Although I have not participated in this forum, I am led for reasons presently unknown to me, to respond to the disillusionment, or perhaps enlightenment, in your statement.

You always have a choice. Our Lord God would have you and others "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." (Rev 18:4). God is herein referring to the world Babylonian (confusion) church to which the vast majority of Christians unwittingly belong. God would that His people come out of her. She is a whore and defiled with the blood of the saints. Whether, or more precisely, how much of that appellation applies to your particular church is a matter for your discernment.

Mainstream churches are in deepening apostasy, rapidly slipping and backsliding, downward into darkness toward the waiting depths of the fullness of apostasy. It was ordained to be so for the purpose that prophetic scripture might be fulfilled: that "saviours" (Obad 21), as a corporate "firstfruits" company (Rev 14:1-4), shall appear upon Mt. Zion to judge the mount of soulical flesh.

This will happen when the leaven that the "woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened" (Matt 13:33) has completely puffed up the meal. Meal is seed, winnowed by the wind, with water added to it. "The seed is the word of God." (Luke 8:11). The baking furnace is the Bible. The three measures of meal, i.e. the word of God, are God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. When this God given holy meal is fully leavened with false doctrine, the false traditions of men, then the fullness at the ending of that leavening process shall signal, as sudden lightning from the east, a new beginning for us. Then the glory of Christ Jesus shall be "revealed in us" (Rom 8:18) and Obadiah 21 shall come to pass, along with Joel 2 and a number of other distinctly fiery prophecies.

However, there is a church that I can recommend for those who have come out of her or are coming out of her, and are overcomers in the Lord, i.e. Gideon's 300. That church is located "Inside the Tabernacle." Our Lord would have all men to enter into His tabernacle. Services are held 24 hours a day "for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." (Eph 4:12). If you are called out of her for this, you will know it, and you shall find it. God bless you.

*Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the Lord, and ENTER INTO HIS SANCTUARY, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the Lord your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. (2 Chron 30:8)

I attempted to type it out for a couple of days (in spite of feeling not led to do so), and it doesn't translate. Apparently, it must be heard. Therefore this ministry is offering the audio tape of "The Lord's Supper" free to any and all who might care to ask for it. Please request the tape, and we shall immediately (virtually) mail it to your address. Jehovah Jireh is a wonderful provider. Thank you.

Absolutely without equivocation, every single one of Father God's saved children are each and all called by God, and commanded to be evangelists in these last days. Commanded? Yes, commanded! What was the apostle Paul's intent, as witnessed before God and the Lord Jesus Christ in the following verses?

*I CHARGE THEE [that's you] therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, DO THE WORK OF AN EVANGELIST, make full proof of thy ministry. (2 Tim 4:1-5)

That is pretty strong stuff. How does it sound to you? To me, it is as beautiful and clear as the deep resonant knelling of a golden bell. It is not possible to misconstrue the crystal clear message of those verses, unless one steadfastly insists upon wallowing in the miry pit of self-deception; or, of course, if one is not a saved, born again child of God. The plain fact is, that each of us is COMMANDED to "do the work of an evangelist."

If you are a saved child of God, you are a burning bush. The natural wood, soulical part of you is being transformed into spiritual fire, by burning. (Rom 12:1,2). Some of you who are now reading this epistle are genuine burning bushes, and will obey and follow this commandment. "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." (James 1:22). "Faith without works is dead." (James 2:20,26). Do ye the work of a burning bush. Some are not, and will not. Who are you?

*For the earth SHALL BE FILLED with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. (Hab 2:14)

*That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of WATER BY THE WORD. (Eph 5:26)

Our Lord God has abundantly blessed me in that He has called me to swim eternally in the Lake of the living water of the Word. I love to swim in the water. Don't you? Every time we read the Bible, we are commissioned to go swimming in the water of the Word. This Lake is universally available to all men for swimming because God is no respecter of persons. However, unsaved men don't like the water. That is quite understandable. To them, it is clearly a lake of burning fire, and swimming in it would be utter foolishness. To saved children of God, this Lake is a wonderful rest and recreational area. A secret place of the Most High.

Even so, some of our brothers and sisters are more fearful than others. Some tentatively wade in the shallow water, some just to their knees, and some only up to their waist. These unwilling brethren are self limited and do not yet desire to be fully immersed in the water of the Word. Whereas, others joyfully wholeheartedly dive in and swim.

While sitting in Peter's boat, Jesus taught the multitude of the congregation of both saved and unsaved men from the shallow water of the Lake of Gennesaret (Heb: harp-shaped; garden of riches), which is also called the Sea of Galilee. (Luke 5:1-11). Picture that. Don't you think that although most of the congregation remained on shore, on the dry land, that some of them ventured into ankle deep, knee deep, and perhaps even waist deep water to hear His Word? Those wetted souls were the saved. Then He told Peter to "Launch out into the deep [Gk: mystery]" of the water of the Word. What happened then? Peter, James, John, and also Andrew went out over their heads in water.

I have noticed while I am swimming in the water of the Word, that the myriad things which constantly vie for my attention, that continually enter into my consciousness from the world, decrease. The deeper I am in the Word, the less I am in the world. Hallelujah! I love the swimming, but the best part for me is when I dive deep down for the pearls. Where are the pearls? They are out in the depths of the Lake, hidden in the deepest part of the water. They are treasures, also called revelations, and, they are priceless, priceless.

QUERY: "The second purpose of the Laver was for the cleansing of the feet of the priests. The feet speak of a man's ways. 'Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.' (Psalm 119:9). Peter wanted Jesus to wash his whole body when Jesus started washing the disciples feet. 'Jesus answered him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit.' (John 13:10). Jesus told Peter that if he was already washed with the water of regeneration then it was only necessary to have his feet (his ways) washed. 'Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?' (Psalm 77:13)."

*Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. (John 13:8-11)

"He that is washed [Gk: to bathe] needeth not save [except] to wash [Gk: to cleanse] his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all." As disciples of Jesus Christ, what exactly are we washed or bathed in? "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood." (Rev 1:5). Thus Jesus teaches Peter and the disciples a positional truth: that Peter is "clean every whit." Why? Because Peter has been washed in the blood of the Lamb. Once you are washed in the blood of the Lamb, you are eternally permanently clean.

However, we do need again and again to cleanse our feet. Why? Because our feet are experientially defiled by their contact with the earth. You are a Christian. Therefore, you are holy. Go outside and stand on the ground. What part of your body is touching the earth? Your feet. Your feet represent your walk. We need to continually wash the defiling dirt and soil (sinful influences) of this world off our Christian walk. How do we do that? The Lord has provided for we brethren a verse with a promise, the purpose of which, if obeyed, is clearly to cleanse the worldly sin from our Christian walk.

*If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

To enable our Lord's purpose in my life, and my obedient advancement into the Kingdom, I cite that verse every evening before bed, and every morning while in the shower. The shower is a great place to pray. Water, Word, and cleansing. Praise God.

*That he might sanctify and cleanse it [Jerusalem, the church, the body of Christ, us] with the washing of water by the word. (Eph 5:26).

*Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord... (Jer 23:29).

*Wherefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this [unsaved] people wood, and it shall devour them. (Jer 5:14)

Biblically, I am a soul, and I am a spirit, and we both dwell in this earthly body. I am a natural man, and I am a spirit man. Psychologically, I am a conscious mind (man), and I am a subconscious mind (man), and we both dwell in this physical body. Metaphorically, my natural soulical conscious man is wood, and my supernatural spirit subconscious man is fire. I am, without doubt, a burning bush.

This earthly body wherein both my soul and my spirit dwell is merely one specific theater of action, one small battlefield, in the world-wide war which continually rages all about me. The internal battle within is an exact microcosm of the world-wide war without, between natural men and spiritual men. They are opposing forces. The combatants fight for supremacy. This battle is to the death.

We shall speak now of the Word's individual effect upon each of us. The Word of God is eternal, and shall never change. The Word is fire and the Word is water. That is God's truth. How can that be? That truth cannot be understood, until we focus upon our own perceptions. Each individual man perceives the same thing differently. One man may perceive a particular automobile to be exquisitely beautiful, whereas another man will perceive that same automobile to be the ugliest of vehicles. Quasimodo (a.k.a. the Elephant Man), was the ugliest of men from a physical point of view, yet he had great beauty from a spiritual point of view. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Natural men have only one set of eyes. Christians have two (sets of) eyes: natural eyes, and spiritual eyes. How we perceive the Word of God depends entirely upon whether the soulical man, or the spiritual man is in ascendancy, is dominant, at that particular moment. Why? Because it is through the eyes of the dominant aspect, either soulical or spiritual, that we perceive and receive our individual reality.

Jerusalem is a type of the true church. The primary Hebrew meaning of Jerusalem is "dual." As Christians, we are the church, and we are dual. Let us now focus our eyes, both pairs, upon the Word of God. The Word of God is perceived as fire through the eyes of the natural man aspect; because, that is it's effect upon him. It erases, blots out, his essence while burning him, causing his death. Therefore, the natural man perceives God's Word as wrath. The Word of God is perceived as water through the eyes of the spiritual man aspect; because, that is it's effect upon him. It adds to his essence while soothing him, producing more life. Therefore, the spiritual man perceives God's Word as love.

Who are you? If you are a born again Christian, you are dual. The natural wood soulical aspect of you is willingly (that's his sacrifice) being burned, transformed, converted, into smoke wafting upwards a sweet savor of sacrifice unto our Lord. Immediately, as the natural wood of you is burned, it is replaced with soothing spiritual water. You are experiencing the abundance of God's love.

If you are not a born again Christian, you are single, not dual, alone. You are natural wood, completely. Immediately, when the natural wood of you is burned, you die. There is no water for you. (Luke 16:24). You shall experience that which you correctly perceive to be God's wrath:

WRATH:

*Through the WRATH of the Lord of hosts is the land darkened, and the [unsaved] people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother. (Isa 9:19)

*Therefore thus saith the Lord God; As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the [unsaved] inhabitants of Jerusalem. And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I set my face against them. (Ezek 15:6,7)

*Thou [unsaved] shalt be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in the midst of the land; thou shalt be no more remembered: for I the Lord have spoken it. (Ezek 21:32)

DIFFERENT PERCEPTIONS (RECEPTIONS):

*And Moses [definitely saved] went up into the mount, and a cloud [of water] covered the mount. And the glory of the Lord abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud [of water] covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud [of water]. And the SIGHT [vs. faith] of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire [of wrath] on the top of the mount IN THE EYES of the [unsaved] children of Israel. And Moses went into the midst of the cloud [of water], and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights. (Ex 24:15-18)

GLORY:

*In that day [of Atonement] will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the [unsaved] people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. (Zech 12:6)

No. Metaphorically, an unbeliever is just a bush, a completely natural bush. The unbeliever is natural, completely of this world, versus, for example, the angels which are completely supernatural, i.e. spiritual, and not of this world. The unbeliever, as a natural bush, has never received a supernatural infusion of rhema in the form of an indwelling "earnest" or deposit of the Holy Spirit of God. (2 Cor 1:22; 5:5; Eph 1:14). Believers, being both natural and supernatural are metaphorically in-between natural men and the angels.

Our God is a consuming fire. His Spirit is fire. When a natural man asks to receive Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour, he asks for a literal miracle. He asks for the Lord Jesus Christ to supernaturally enter into his natural body tabernacle and become the Lord of his life. That request, when accomplished, is a miracle. The Spirit of Jesus Christ, which is the supernatural Comforter that He has provided for us by His shed blood, enters into the natural man. (In another dimension, His shed blood enters into the dead man, resurrecting him into Life). Now the man is both wood and fire. Natural and supernatural. Natural wood and supernatural fire. Soul and living spirit. And, he has become a burning bush.

What exactly is burning? The wooden soulical aspect of that man, which is of this world, natural, is being continually burned away by the indwelling fire of the supernatural Holy Spirit. Precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little and there a little, the soulical aspect of that man is being replaced, transformed, converted, from natural wood into supernatural fire. Sounds terrible doesn't it? Can that be good? According to the promises of God, very good. However, the transformation or burning process cannot even begin to occur unless that individual man is first willing to obey God.

Willingness (wisdom) is the principal thing. "For if there FIRST be a WILLING MIND, it is accepted [by God] according to that a man hath [understanding], and not according to that he hath not [understanding]." (2 Cor 8:12). Willing to do what? Willing to obey God. Willingness to obey God is the golden key which loosens us from the bindings of this world, and binds us into the kingdom of God. "For whosoever hath [a willing mind], to him shall be given [more of God], and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not [a willing mind], from him shall be taken away even that [revelation of God] that he hath [by Satan]." (Matt 13:12).

*Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, EXCEPT a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)

*That IF thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Rom 10:9).

Both the "except" of John 3:3, and the "if" of Romans 10:9 clearly denote the existence of choice. The process of choice is energized by our will. Is it our will to do this, or is it our will to do that? The result of that choice is manifested in the form of a decision. We choose to obey, or disobey. Obey what? In the case at hand, obey or disobey the will of God:

*Now be ye not stiffnecked [unwilling], as your fathers were, but YIELD YOURSELVES unto the Lord, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the Lord your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. (2 Chron 30:8)

*For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth [inside His sanctuary]. (1 Tim 2:3,4)

God accepts each man's individual decision, whether it be to obey Him, or disobey Him.

ARK OF COVENANT: The ark of covenant was a rectangular box made of shittim wood (man) completely overlaid inside and out with gold. In the Hebrew word definition, ark means: a box, chest, coffin. This ark was placed in the Most Holy Place of the tabernacle of Moses. The ark contained the two tables of testimony, the golden pot of manna, and Aaron's rod that budded. The covering of the ark was the mercy seat made of one piece of pure gold with two angelic cherubim on either end of the ark facing down toward the seat and each other. God spoke to Moses from between these two cherubim above the ark.

We are taught by Jesus Christ that "where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matt 6:21). What is your treasure? God spoke from the mercy seat above the ark of covenant. He had caused to be placed three things inside this ark: the two tables of testimony, the golden pot of manna, and Aaron's rod that budded. This is treasure. The two tables of testimony is a picture of God the lawgiver on mount Sinai. The golden pot of manna is a picture of Jesus Christ, the bread of life come down from heaven. Aaron's rod that miraculously budded is a picture of life empowered by the Holy Spirit. Seed, growth, fruit. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, are inside the ark of covenant: inside us. This ark is a Treasure Chest and the treasure is Life. Praise God.

However, by the same Hebrew word definition, this treasure "chest" can also be a "coffin." How can that be? Well, the pattern or blueprint of the tabernacle of Moses is in all men. Every single person has a blueprint of the tabernacle of Moses inside them. Saved or unsaved, Christian or Pharisee, Jew or Gentile, they all have it. All men also have all the furniture of the tabernacle inside them. The difference between the tabernacle of the saved and the tabernacle of the unsaved is that there are no accouterments in the tabernacle of the unsaved. All the furniture is there in position, but, there is no fire in the brasen altar, no water in the brasen laver, no shewbread upon the table, no oil in the candlestick, no incense in the golden altar, no tables of testimony or golden pot of manna or Aaron's rod in the ark of covenant, and, there is no Shekinah glory upon the mercy seat. This tabernacle is a cold stony grave shrouding the ark in darkness. This ark is a coffin. This ark is a coffin for the dead.

*But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. (John 20:11,12)

May you receive a rhema picture of the Old Testament ark of covenant inside the Most Holy Place in New Testament scripture. The ark of covenant is typified as the resting place within the sepulcher of stone wherein the dead body of our Lord Jesus Christ was laid. The ark of covenant is manifested in this world as both a treasure chest, and a coffin. Depending entirely upon whether you perceive with saved eyes or unsaved eyes: the ark contains either life or death. Please note the pictured position of the two angels in the sepulcher as it relates to the cherubim and the ark of covenant.

TABERNACLE: In the Hebrew word definition, tabernacle means: a residence, including a shepherd's hut; the lair of animals, figuratively the grave; dwelling, habitation, tent. For Christians, the tabernacle is a residence, a dwelling place, a place of habitation, and a shepherd's hut. To dwell in the tabernacle of the promised land is all joy for a Christian ministering to the flock while walking in the light of Jesus Christ.

For non-Christians, antichrists, the same tabernacle is the lair of wild animals and a stony grave. These unsaved are dead to God, and walking in the darkness of this world. They have not been saved from out of the darkness of this world, into His marvelous light. Please note that a tabernacle can be a dark "grave" (sepulcher) and that a "coffin" (ark) is set deep in the heart of the earth of that grave.

Which kind of tabernacle do you dwell in? Jesus Christ spoke truth and life and the way to the unbelieving Pharisees in response to their question about when the kingdom of God should come. Jesus answered: "Behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:21). Theirs was the choice if it be light or darkness. "For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness" (Psalm 18:28), but only if we ask Him. "The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight... And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way." (Mark 10:51,52)

QUERY: "You may have explained your thoughts already so please forgive me if I'm asking you to repeat yourself. Considering the above post and since we make up His body it seems to follow that each of us has a specific role (s) to play today as a living tabernacle. Performing a similar (tabernacle) type of function I mean. I presently cannot identify my place but sure find this fascinating. What do you think?"

Do not know specifically about you or myself. However, I do believe that we are currently celebrating the Feast of Trumpets, which is a calling of the body of Christ to assembly. We shall be assembled to celebrate the Feast of Atonement, which is the return of our Lord Christ Jesus as He is revealed in us. Then we shall all know our positions in the body of Christ.

The difficulty we presently have in identifying our personal position within the body of Christ is that our experiential reality has not yet attained to our positional reality. We are experientially becoming that which has already been established as our positional reality.

Experiential reality is perceived through carnal eyes. Carnal perceptions are a courtyard mixture of natural and spiritual influences: wild influences and domesticating influences. We each are pilgrims, being transformed from natural into spiritual. This transformation is effected as we travel through the afflictions and persecutions of the wilderness of the courtyard of the tabernacle. As Pharaoh rightly observed, "But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew." (Ex 1:12). God has defined our present experiential reality in the following verses:

*And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove [Heb: test] thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. (Deut 8:2,3)

The courtyard of the tabernacle is not covered, and therefore is open to the world and subject to the natural elements (influences) of the world such as the sun, moon, wind, dirt, sand, etc., etc. However, also within the courtyard are the brasen altar of sacrifice representing Jesus Christ, and the brasen laver of water representing the Holy Spirit. Thus, in total, the courtyard pilgrim perceives a composite picture containing both natural and spiritual influences. The result of this duality of influence is a carnal (mingled natural and spiritual) Christian. All currently living Christians are carnal Christians. At least, all that I know, for we all have sin.

Positional reality is perceived through spiritual eyes. Spiritual perceptions are the revealed purity of God, and thus contain no natural elements. The Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, now made One, is completely covered by the tabernacle (Heb: tent) which has no windows. The interior of the tabernacle is therefore not subject to natural elements (influences). Inside the tabernacle are the table of shewbread representing Jesus Christ, the golden candlestick representing the Holy Spirit, the throne of the mercy seat representing God, and the golden altar of incense representing us.

The courtyard of the tabernacle is subject to the natural light of the sun. The inside of the tabernacle is subject to the unified triune spiritual light of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The Christian's goal is to enter sanctuary. Sanctuary is the body of the Christ. The tabernacle of God (Rev 21:3), of which the tabernacle of Moses is a type, is the sanctuary body of the Christ (Gk: the anointed). Our individual pilgrimage begins as babies at the Red Sea "gate" of the courtyard of the tabernacle sanctuary. The courtyard perimeter of white linen, and all that proceeds inward toward the tabernacle sanctuary describes and defines the garment, the church, of the body of Christ.

All Christians are priests, typified by the tribe of Levi. Christian priests are encouraged through Godly "edification, and exhortation, and comfort" (1 Cor 14:3) to proceed toward the Jordan river which is the "door" of the tabernacle sanctuary. As priests, we proceed through the wilderness of the courtyard by submitting, learning, growing, and consequently becoming as God. We are being transformed from natural into spiritual.

Approaching Spiritual God requires personal sacrifice of the natural self. The transformation process, our earthly pilgrimage, occurs for a variable period of time, dependent upon our individual willingness. Willingness for what? Willingness to submit, to yield our selves to the Lord. Willingness to sacrifice our natural soulical self. Willingness to put to death our soulical self, that it may be replaced with Spiritual God. Many Christian priests, who love much of their selves more than they love the Lord, proceed through the wilderness with great reluctance, and consequently in great tribulation.

*Now be ye not STIFFNECKED, as your fathers were, but YIELD YOURSELVES unto the Lord, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the Lord your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. (2 Chron 30:8)

Some Christians are the garment, and some Christians are the body. All are holy. Only overcomers may enter into the sanctuary body of Christ. Some of the more willing pilgrims, typified by the high priesthood of the Aaronic family, cross the threshold of the "door" of the tabernacle sanctuary. These are "young men" who "have overcome the wicked one." (1 John 2:14). The wicked one dwells in the natural light of the courtyard but he has no "place" inside the tabernacle. (Rev 12:8; Eph 4:27). The wicked one "hath nothing in me." (John 14:30).

Inside the body of the tabernacle sanctuary, the overcomer Aaronic priests continue to submit, learn, "and grow up as calves of the stall." (Mal 4:2). They continue to become as God. Now, however, their education is guided in the pure light of the candlestick and the Shekinah glory of God. We may safely surmise that at this point, their learning curve has become extremely accelerated. In due time, these young men shall become fathers, and the kings of the Melchizedek priesthood. They shall become completely matured Christians, matured sons (Gk: huios) of God, as is Jesus Christ.

Nowhere does the Bible say that believers shall become king-priests. However, the Bible does clearly say that believers shall become "kings and priests." That is, some Christians shall become kings, and, some Christians shall become priests. And, we all shall reign on the earth.

*And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Rev 1:6)

*And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Rev 5:10)

Who are you? Which would you like to be? The most important, and self illuminating question is: Why?

QUERY: "Excuse me Lionel, but don't these statements conflict?:

MY PREVIOUS STATEMENTS:

1. In due time, these young men shall become fathers, and the kings of the Melchizedek priesthood. They shall become completely matured Christians, matured sons (Gk: huios) of God, as is Jesus Christ.
2. Nowhere does the Bible say that believers shall become king-priests. However, the Bible does clearly say that believers shall become kings and priests. That is, some Christians shall become kings, and, some Christians shall become priests. And, we all shall reign on the earth.

There is a single distinct difference between the two priesthoods which relates to duration. The difference between the Aaronic priesthood and the Melchizedek priesthood is that the Aaronic priesthood was temporal, whereas the Melchizedek priesthood is eternal. The Aaronic priesthood "was temporal" in the past, and is now therefore dead. The Melchizedek priesthood "is eternal" in the past, present, and future, and now therefore lives.

There is also the question of empowerment. In application to both priesthoods, empowerment is not a matter of difference, but of degree. In the past, the Aaronic priesthood spiritually functioned on behalf of God through the workings of the external Holy Spirit. Presently, Christians of the Melchizedek priesthood spiritually function on behalf of God through the workings of an internal deposit of the Holy Spirit. In the future, when we have completed our education, Christians shall function on behalf of God through the workings of an internal fullness of the Holy Spirit. Thus, the spiritual empowerment of believing men increases by degree: from the past, to the present, toward the future.

The Hebrew word definition for Melchizedek is "king of right." We know that Melchizedek was the priest of the Most High, and the king of Salem. Yes. You are correct in the interpretation that all Christians are becoming kings and priests. However, my contention is that not all Christians will become "both." All believers are sheep, but, not all believers are shepherds. All Levites were priests, but, not all Levites were High Priests. There are two groups of believers. Jesus Christ spoke about the millennial future of the two groups of believers in this fashion:

*Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he SHALL GO NO MORE OUT. (Rev 3:12).

*I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and SHALL GO IN AND OUT, and find pasture. (John 10:9).

The heavenly pattern is: He that has overcome is the Good Shepherd; His sheep follow Him. Our earthly application of the heavenly pattern is: he that has overcome is the true shepherd; his sheep follow him. Thus we have pastors (Heb: to tend a flock, shepherd), and congregations (Heb: assemblage, company, multitude, people, swarm). The overcomer is the shepherd. Those who follow him are the sheep. The shepherd will become a pillar in the temple of God "and he shall go no more out." A pillar is stationary. A pillar supports the temple. The sheep "shall go in and out, and find pasture." Sheep are mobile. Sheep support the shepherd who, in turn, supports the temple. Makes sense to me.

The earliest clear reference to these two groups begins with father Jacob who said, "I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands." (Gen 32:10). All believers shall pass over this Jordan, which is the door of the tabernacle sanctuary, as two bands. Shepherds and sheep. Mount Zion and Jerusalem. Judah and Ephraim. The bridegroom and the bride. The body and the garment. The husband and the wife. Please note that in another dimension of understanding, each set of the aforementioned two groups is a unified One. Please also note that if we take the second group of each set, i.e. sheep, Jerusalem, Ephraim, the bride, the garment, and the wife, to each be translated as "church," that in a very definite sense, the second numerically larger church group encompasses the first and smaller. "For the Lord hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man." (Jer 31:22). Isn't that a Praise God?

An interesting thought: what is the function of a king? Melchizedek was the priest of the Most High. Therefore, all believers of the Most High were submitted to him. Melchizedek was also the king of Salem. Therefore, all non-believers of the Most High were submitted to him. Realize the limitations of this analogy, but let us look at it as a type. Why will we have a king during the millennium? To what purpose? Because there will still be millions of non-believers during the millennium. If all men were believers during the millennium, they would come under the authority of the priest of the Most High, and there would be no purpose for having a king.

Please excuse me for not responding to your questions in a direct and organized manner, but am still receiving as the Lord reveals, much about the Melchizedek priesthood. Thank you for your questions, because it is through the stimuli of your questions that I have received the rhema that present Christians are now of the Melchizedek priesthood, and have been since the resurrection of Christ Jesus. The Levitical priesthood of the law died and was buried with Jesus Christ. (John 1:14). The dead Levitical priesthood of the law was transformed by adding grace, His shed blood into the earth (John 19:34), and then resurrected as the Melchizedek priesthood. Am still meditating all this. Your response has helped. Thank you. God bless you.

QUERY: "Could you give a brief explanation as to why you relate those feasts to those periods?"

God bless you. Thank you for your response. There are seven holy convocations or feasts of our Lord, which are annually celebrated during three subset calendar periods. (Lev 23). Our Lord has commanded a perpetual statute of attendance.

*Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year. (Ex 23:14)

*Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord God. (Ex 23:17)

The following seven feasts are given in their individual order by subset calendar period. In the first calendar period, the feasts are of 1. Passover 2. Unleavened Bread, and 3. Firstfruits (barley). They are celebrated during March-April. These feasts celebrate the sacrificial death of the Lamb, the purity of the Lamb, and the resurrection of the Lamb as the firstfruits (barley) unto God.

In the second subset calendar period, the 4. Feast of Pentecost (Gk: fifty) is celebrated. This feast is celebrated on the fiftieth day after the Feast of Firstfruits. Pentecost is also a firstfruits feast, but of wheat. This feast is also called The Day of Pentecost, The Feast of Harvest, The Feast of Weeks, and The Day of the Firstfruits. The bread offering of wheat was leavened (prophetic truth fulfilled).

The third subset calendar period occurs approximately four months later, in the months of September-October. This period is initiated by the 5. Feast of Trumpets, then the 6. Feast of Atonement, and 7. Feast of Tabernacles.

These seven feasts are dual in application. They each celebrate both triune Elohiym God, and we who are His people. The first calendar period celebrates Jesus Christ, and the process of our salvation. The second calendar period celebrates the Holy Spirit, and the process of our empowerment. The third calendar period celebrates Father God, and the process of our our work, purification, and rest.

We have already celebrated, participated in, the Feast of Passover, with the accompanying Feasts of Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits, as the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We have received that celebration. Thank you Lord.

We have already celebrated, participated in, the Feast of Pentecost. We have received the permanent firstfruits of the Holy Spirit in the form of an indwelling "earnest" or deposit of the Spirit of God. Thus, the first and second calendar periods have been celebrated, participated in, experienced, and there remains only the third calendar period.

The third calendar period is announced by the Feast of Trumpets. The Feast of Trumpets is a calling together, an assembling, of the body of Christ from out of the world. At the conclusion of the Feast of Trumpets, the Feast of Atonement begins. The Feast of Atonement is judgment day. This is the Day of the Lord, the Day of our Lord's return, the Day He shall be revealed in us. Depending upon each person's individual perspective, be they of spiritual eyes or natural eyes, this will be a Day of great joy, a Day of brightness, glory, and great beauty for some, and a Day of great sorrow, a Day of great darkness and gloominess and gnashing of teeth for many others. (Joel 2:2).

I believe that since 1948, we have been celebrating, participating in, experiencing, the Feast of Trumpets. In 1948, Israel, as a experiential type, began to return from the dispersion, out of the world and into the promised land given to her by God. She continues to do so. "And I heard another voice [trumpet] from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." (Rev 18:4). The Feast of Trumpets is celebrated, participated in, experienced, in anticipation of the Feast of Atonement.

Every fiftieth year is a Jubilee year. The trumpet of Jubilee is sounded on the Day of Atonement. A Jubilee year is a very special year to God, and therefore to men. A Jubilee year speaks of reconciliation and rest for God's people. The Day of Atonement speaks of judgment for all people. When the Jubilee trumpet sounds, on the Day of Atonement, that Day shall speak to the judgment of reconciliation and rest for some, and to the judgment of atonement for many others, depending upon each person's individual perspective, be it spiritual or natural.

*Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, IN THE DAY OF ATONEMENT shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and YE SHALL RETURN every man unto his possession, and YE SHALL RETURN every man unto his family. (Lev 25:9,10)

The melding together of the Day of Atonement celebration with the Jubilee year celebration, both celebrated on the same day, will occur in 1998. Israel will celebrate a Jubilee year of her return to the promised land. It may be the last celebration for many.

(The Holy Spirit manifests more woman than man. Her name is Grace. Thus is completed the triune portrayal of the divine family. And if ye will receive it, it is yours).

Noah's ark, the tabernacle of Moses, and the New testament barn of Jesus are each typical of the progressively evolving body of Christ which is the church of Jesus (the wood) Christ (the anointing), as He grows (ascends). Our God is a consuming fire. The anointing is God's holy fire. Smoke represents the converted soul become spirit ascending to our Lord, a sweet savor, separated, sanctified, from the burning wood. The earthly body of Jesus is being consumed by the fire of the Christ anointing. This is the third and final primary baptism. The body of Jesus Christ is the burning bush, now consuming. We are burning bushes. The natural has been becoming spiritual. The visible has been becoming invisible. Now, in these last days, the invisible is becoming visible. We ought to look up (in) now.

The Holy Place is inside the tabernacle of Moses; it is Holy ground. The tabernacle of Moses corresponds geographically to the land of Israel as follows:

The Red Sea is the "gate" of the tabernacle compound. Willing pilgrims are saved out of Egypt as they follow the fiery cloud through the baptismal waters of the Red Sea. They then enter the Sinaic wilderness which corresponds to the tabernacle courtyard "to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldst keep his commandments, or no." (Deut 8:1-3).

Pilgrims trekking through the uncovered courtyard of the tabernacle are subjected to the natural influences of light and earthly elements, as well as to the spiritual influences of the brasen altar (justification: the work of the cross of Jesus Christ) and the brasen laver (sanctification: the work of the washing of the Holy Spirit). Each pilgrim's journey is progressive and elevating, leading away from the Red Sea and toward the river Jordan. The river Jordan represents the "door" of the tabernacle. As the pilgrim crosses the baptismal waters of the Jordan, he enters into the Holy Land of Israel. This land is declared to be the Holy Land by God:

*And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion IN THE HOLY LAND, and shall choose Jerusalem again." (Zech 2:12).

The tabernacle of Moses, excluding the wilderness courtyard east of the river Jordan, is the Holy Land of God. Inside the Holy Land, as inside the tabernacle, is the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, now made One. The Holy Place extends westwardly from the river Jordan up to Jerusalem. Jerusalem (the church) is the Most Holy Place and Mt. Zion is the throne (mercy seat) of God. Only certain of the priesthood (consecrated servants of God) can enter into the Holy Place and live. Unconsecrated, all others shall die. Why? Because it is Holy ground.

Modern Israel has just permitted (diplomatic approval, i.e. blessed) the Palestinians standing presence and authority in the West Bank. The West Bank lies between the Jordan river and Jerusalem. The West Bank is the Holy Place of the tabernacle of Moses.

*When ye therefore shall SEE the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, STAND IN THE HOLY PLACE, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: (Matt 24:15,16)

With the acquiesce of a blinded Israel, the Palestinians think to stand in the presence of God.

*Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. (Rev 1:3)

*The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
 
 

May we note the prophetic occurrence of our present circumstances as they are discerned in the following types? When Jeroboam divided Israel and became king of the northern 10 tribes (Ephraim), all of whom eventually fell into total apostasy, he built (expanded) Shechem, establishing it as his capital in opposition to Jerusalem which was the capital of the southern kingdom then called Judah. We see depicted in this action the contradistinction between PROFESSING believers (Matt 7:21-23), who were then and now the numerical majority, as opposed to CONFESSING believers (Rom 10:9,10), i.e. nominal Christians as opposed to true Christians. Thirty-three kings of Israel "did evil" in the sight of the Lord, whereas, nine kings of Israel "did right" in the sight of the Lord. Not one king of the numerically superior population of the northern kingdom was godly.

*Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel [an ascending tower of stone]. And Jeroboam SAID IN HIS HEART [as did the Pharisee pray "with himself" Luke 18:11], Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah. Whereupon the king [Jeroboam] took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan. And he made an house of high places, and MADE PRIESTS of the LOWEST OF THE PEOPLE, which WERE NOT of the sons of Levi [were not the called and chosen of God]. (1 Kings 12:25-31)

Somewhat later in the reign of Jeroboam, God literally "dried up" the hand of Jeroboam's disobedience, and then miraculously "restored" this same hand in answer to the prayer of "the man of God." (1 Kings 13:3-6). Surprisingly, Jeroboam did not receive the import of this personal and very practical lesson from a displeased God (neither did Pharaoh). His response was to further harden his heart and persist "again" in his evil ways. Parenthetically here, I am well acquainted with some Christians (?) who set themselves directly against God. That mind-set is altogether befuddling to me. They apparently think they can win a contest of wills with God, and that God will submit to their will; thus shall they think to dominate God?

*After this thing Jeroboam RETURNED NOT from his evil way, but made AGAIN of the LOWEST OF THE PEOPLE PRIESTS of the high places: WHOSOEVER WOULD, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places. And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and TO DESTROY IT FROM OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH. (1 Kings 13:33,34)

Do you see what I mean? The thought processes of someone who, frequently in anger, defiantly stands against and blasphemes the will of God, those processes are beyond my comprehension. I am truly astonished. However, the perfect fulfillment of these types is almost upon us.

*Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven [false doctrine], which a woman took, and hid [deceit] in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. (Matt 13:33)

"The seed is the word of God." (Luke 8:11). Meal is ground up (bruised) seed with water (Holy Spirit) added to it. Leaven is the yeast (a foreign additive) of false doctrine which puffs up, causing the meal to appear to be something that it is not, thereby deceiving the viewer. (Matt 16:6-12; Mark 8:15; Luke 12:1). The three measures of meal fully meted out for all mankind are God the father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. The true servants of the householder are spiritually empowered to see these truths of the kingdom of heaven (Matt 13:26,27), and are enjoined to PATIENTLY WAIT (Matt 13:29,30) "till the whole was leavened." Then, immediately, the Lord shall return. (Matt 24:29).

*In your patience possess ye your souls. (Luke 21:19)

God is blessing those that willingly (2 Cor 8:12) have eyes to see and ears to hear Inside the Tabernacle, with more of Him.

*Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, EXCEPT a man be born again, HE CANNOT SEE the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)

Approximately four million Americans belong to the Masonic organization in addition to uncounted millions internationally. Freemasonry is very likely the most powerful organization in this world. Powerful by reason not of numerical superiority, but by sheer unmitigated authority "in high places." (Eph 6:12). By way of partial illustration of the latter statement, almost all presidents of the United States have been Masons. The curious may want to check out how many members of congress are Masons, and then how many judges, corporate executive officers, foreign dignitaries, etc. etc.

Freemasonry is a religion. Lodge meetings consist almost entirely of ritualized behavior with accompanying props and stage settings that are, in the United States, seemingly extracted from the Bible without being exactly from the Bible. Biblical names are usually the same or similar and biblical settings are definitely enhanced, but served mingled with a generous portion of leavening Egyptology. The biblical words and phrases sound familiar but are always slightly different, much like Satans misquote of Psalm 91:11 during the temptation of Jesus Christ in the wilderness. Close but not correct, counts only in horseshoes, but does not a saint make. Words exercise power.

The source of Masonic spiritual authority is the "Volume of the Sacred Law." (V.S.L.). This V.S.L. is a Bible in a Christian lodge, the Hebrew Pentateuch in a Hebrew lodge, the Koran in a Mohammedan lodge, the Vedas in a Brahmin lodge, etc., etc. They believe, in actual practice, in a universal god as does Hinduism, Christian Science, Unity, Rosicrucianism, New Age, and a multitude of others. Masons do not state publicly what they believe. They are a secret society, with accompanying signs and signals, both physical and spoken. They swear blood oaths to the death relating to mutual and organizational allegiance, which is, among other things, entering into bondage. Their god is commonly referred to as the "Great Architect of the Universe," with the acronym "G.A.O.T.U." I dont know what you see in that tricky little acronym but I see GOAT U, or U GOAT. The symbol in the center of a Masonic ring is the letter G. This G may mean God to some, but it also means Goat to many others.

There are three degrees or levels of experience in the Masonic Blue Lodge: Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason. Please note the Masonic utilization of the word "Entered" which connotes a spiritual experience to the discerning Christian mind: "And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things ENTERING IN, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful." (Mark 4:19). Please also note the biblical consequences of the latter spiritual "entering in."

The origin of the three levels of Blue Lodge experience is derived and counterfeited from the three levels of experience in the Tabernacle of Moses: the courtyard, the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place. At the door of each degree in the Blue Lodge the candidate for advancement is asked "What do you seek?" His initial response is "Light," and thereafter in each case "More light." Do we not perceive the godly parallel and respond in kind at each level of our Christian experience? A man is considered a full-fledged Mason upon having achieved the degree of Master Mason and can in that sense never become a higher Mason, although he can be initiated into one other degree. A Master Mason is a full-fledged Mason because he now dwells in their equivalent of the Most Holy Place. When a Christian enters into the Most Holy Place (now made One with the Holy Place), he is in the very presence of God Almighty. Conversely, having achieved what is their equivalent to this third level of supreme spiritual intercourse, in whose presence do you suppose the Master Mason to be?

*The LIGHT of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single [focused on God], thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil [focused on the world and therefore separated from God], thy body also is full of darkness. TAKE HEED THEREFORE THAT THE LIGHT WHICH IS IN THEE BE NOT DARKNESS. (Luke 11:34,35)

Am I picking on the Masons? No. Is the Masonic Blue Lodge any different than Hinduism, atheism, agnosticism, pantheism, or New Age? No, there is no difference, in the end. "Broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and MANY there be which go in thereat." (Matt 7:13). One reason that the way to destruction is broad is because it is crowded with so very many people traveling on it. All roads leading downward to hell are paved slick with deception; you just sort of slowly, imperceptibly, slide down. Any belief system that rejects Jesus Christ as being the way, the truth, and the life is well on their own slippery pathway to eternal destruction. These all have set their backs to God, and are sliding away from the true Light. These are antichrists.

The sad irony here is that the Masonic Blue Lodge employs the pattern of the Tabernacle of Moses throughout their rituals, which is an implicit witness to an understanding of the Tabernacle by their hierarchy. Whereas, most Christians do not have the vaguest idea of what the Tabernacle of Moses even looks like, much less that it is an exact type in all aspects of the body of Jesus Christ. "For the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light." (Luke 16:8).

Nevertheless, the Masonic tabernacle is shrouded in darkness. For Masons, the tabernacle is a grave (Hebrew: tabernacle) which contains their coffin (Hebrew: ark).

God help them. Amen

*And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water. And he put the breastplate upon him [Aaron]: also he put IN THE breastplate the Urim and the Thummim. (Lev 8:6,8)

*And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ASK COUNSEL for him AFTER THE JUDGMENT OF URIM before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation. (Num 27:21)

*And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one [High Priest], whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah; (Deut 33:1,8)

*These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood. And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things [of the brasen altar], till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim [to judge who was who]. (Ezra 2:62,63)

In Hebrew, Urim has the meaning of "Lights" and Thummim has the meaning of "Perfections." Both Urim and Thummim are always in the plural and capitalized. The Septuagint translates Urim as "the Manifestation" and Thummim as "the Truth." What are they? No-one really knows. What we do know is that they were placed in the inside pocket of the breastplate of judgment "upon" the heart of the High Priest who represented the children of Israel. In the Old Testament the tabernacle and its furniture were outside the congregation, that is, external physically to the people. The congregation entered into a physically manifested and external tabernacle of God. The Urim and the Thummim are consistent to that Old Testament external relationship. They were physical and external to the congregation but, significantly, located as close as possible to the Old Testament heart inside the breastplate of judgment. In the New Testament the tabernacle and its furniture are spiritual and internal to each person "for the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:21). We would therefore expect the Urim and the Thummim to be consistent with this New Testament internal relationship. Patterns.

The Urim and the Thummim were consulted for judgments. Most scholars believe them to have been cast as lots in response to a question. This conclusion seems to be borne out in scripture by implied applications of the Urim and the Thummim (Josh 7:14-18; Jud 20:27,28; 1 Sam 14:37-45; 2 Sam 5:23; 21:1; etc.). However, nowhere does the Bible specifically state that the Urim and the Thummim were cast as lots. Moses placed the Urim and the Thummim inside the breastplate of judgment worn by the High Priest but where did he get them from? They were not made by the hands of men as was the tabernacle or the pattern would have been given by God. No physical description or point of origin is ever given. They were just there, with no beginning or ending. They were a gift from God. They were undefinable and unmeasurable. What or Who does this suggest to you? The "Lights" and "Perfections" have characteristics in common with the brasen laver and the golden candlestick. All are undefinable and unmeasurable and perform the same function, i.e. they give perfect light.

We have already noted in a previous publication that these "wise men" were without number. To come from the east is to be like the sun. Where does the sun start from? They were without origin, without beginning or ending. They were undefinable and unmeasurable. They presented perfect gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the child Jesus.

Gold is one of the first metals known to man. It can be used in its pure state without smelting. It never tarnishes. Gold is the most often mentioned metal in the Bible: 479 times. Silver 316 times; brasen, brass and copper 154 times; iron 97 times. Gold is the symbol of the purity of God.

Frankincense is an aromatic gum resin obtained from the Boswellia tree native to India, Arabia and Africa. It is used on both altars of the tabernacle of the congregation. Frankincense is part of the burnt offering on the brasen altar of sacrifice: the altar outside the tabernacle where we confess our sins. Frankincense is also part of the incense of prayer, praise and worship that we offer up to God upon the golden altar inside the tabernacle.

Myrrh is an extract from another tree which is used in compound as anointing oil. Myrrh is used to anoint all the furniture of the tabernacle of the congregation, the tabernacle itself, and the priests and Levites who minister to the tabernacle.

These nine gifts of the Spirit seem to fall into three divisions of three. The gifts of revelation which are the mind gifts. The gifts of inspiration which are the vocal gifts. The gifts of power which are the working gifts.

 Some characteristics that these three mind gifts have in common is that they are initially manifested internally in our mind and are received from the mind of God. These gifts are received inside the tabernacle in the Holy Place and correlate with the internal receptor senses of sight, hearing and smell. The message of these gifts is initially received internally directly from God. The path is Spirit to spirit. Inside to inside. Gods Holy Spirit to our spirit. Both the giver and the receiver of the mind gifts dwell in the same body and are in one accord. God to inner man. Most Holy Place to Holy Place. This is a pure manifestation. This is the gold the wise men presented to the child Jesus. These three gifts are the Urim inside the body of Christ. These are the "Lights" of the mind in the body of Christ.

A gift is something that is received. The true gift is not the vocalization but the hearing. The vocalization initself provides no edification, exhortation or comfort unless received. The hearing, as in understanding (Rom 10:17), of the vocalization produces edification, exhortation and/or comfort and is therefore the gift. The speaker is the agent. The vocalization produces sounds. The hearing produces understanding. An unaccepted gift remains merely an unopened package until it is received. We have to open our mail to receive the contents.

These three vocal gifts have mutual characteristics. They are initially manifested without conscious thought, pre-meditation or understanding. They are unknowingly spoken that they may be first heard and then understood. The speaker himself has to hear the words he vocalizes before he can receive understanding. The speaker is the mailman. The words are spoken with an ignorant tongue and heard with a knowing ear. "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." (Mark 4:9).

The words enter the hearer from the outside. The message of these three gifts is vocalized and disseminated from the door of the tabernacle into the open court of the tabernacle. The message of these gifts is initially received externally from mailmen as agents of God. It is the Word of God relayed by men. This path is Spirit thru spirit to soul, transformed by the hearing of Spirit to soul. The Spirit, spirit, and soul all dwell in the same body and are in one accord. God to inner man to outer man, transformed by the hearing of the Word of God. This gift is the frankincense given by the wise men to the child Jesus. This is the frankincense of vocalized confession heard at the brasen altar and the frankincense of vocalized prayer, praise and worship heard at the golden altar. These three gifts are among the Thummim inside the body of Christ. These three are among the "Perfections" because they are for the perfection of the body of Christ.

This is the myrrh presented by the wise men to the child Jesus. This is the anointing oil touching the tabernacle body and the Priests and Levites as they minister to a natural body. This occurs in the court of the congregation. It is a visible demonstration of the anointing power of God. These three gifts are among the Thummim inside the body of Christ. These three are among the "Perfections" because they are for the perfection of the body of Christ.

The mind gifts having to do with thought are bestowed inside the tabernacle from the Most Holy Place to the Holy Place. The vocal gifts are bestowed from the door threshold of the Holy Place toward the court of the congregation rather like calling out or trumpeting a message across the river Jordan. Some are too far away to hear. The touch gifts are bestowed outside the tabernacle in the court of the congregation. We are first touched by God in the court of the congregation and then we hear from God as we approach the tabernacle and then we receive from God as we enter inside the tabernacle. The gifts of God merge and overlap without beginning or ending.

Although all the latter explanations may seem definitive, they are incorrect. The Holy Spirit remains undefinable and unmeasurable. These explanations are given merely as a guide for general thought and understanding that we may come closer to Him but admittedly still do not fully know Him.

In the Old Testament He is the Urim and the Thummim, the Lights and the Perfections, the Manifestation and the Truth. In the New Testament He is Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. He is the gold and the frankincense and the myrrh. He is the nine gifts of the Spirit. He is our Lord God Almighty.

Noah is a type of God. The raven is a type of Satan. The dove is a type of the Holy Spirit, and, the dove is a type of Jesus Christ inside whom the dove dwells. Jesus the Christ is the union or marriage of Jesus son of Mary (flesh) with Christ Son of God (Spirit) (Matt 26:63; John 20:31) fully immersed, wholly sanctified in the flowing waters of the river Jordan (Heb: descender). Snow (Isa 55:9-11) melts off the mountains of Lebanon in streams that converge into the Waters of Merom (Heb: elevated place, high place, far above, lofty place). Guess who figuratively lives there? The Jordan originates at Merom and swiftly descends through the Sea of Galilee where the fish dwell and then into the Dead Sea. Isn't that an awesome geographical depiction of the Gospel? Heaven, earth, hell. The dove is pictured white as the snow of Lebanon and thus pure in contrast to the black raven. The raven did not ever return to Noah. That is a fact. Raven and dove. Soulical and spiritual (1 Cor 15:46). Phileo and agape. "My soul cleaveth unto the dust." (Psa 119:25). My soul is one with the dust. The dove returned to Noah. "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." (Ecc 12:7). The dove is a type of the Jordan/Holy Spirit (descending: Matt 3:16; Mark 1:10; John 1:32; descended: Luke 3:22). The dove is also a type of Jesus Christ. That is a marvelously illuminating Hebrew definition of the word "dove." Read it again (Gen 8:8).

Please recall the first recorded miracle of Jesus (John 2:1-11). It occurred pointedly on a third day (consummation) marriage. Jesus transformed (Rom 12:2) the water of the word of the Old Testament into the fermented wine of the New Testament. Water and Spirit (John 3:5). Water and blood (1 John 5:6). The Spirit and the water and the blood (1 John 5:8). This was the marriage of the old and new at Cana of Galilee (Gk: the heathen circle). He changed the inner contents of six (symbol of man) waterpots of stone (definitely men) to serve as does the Church, the governor of the feast (God: Father), and to serve the bridegroom (Himself: Zion: Son), and to serve the bride (Holy Spirit: Jerusalem: Wife). He stands in the midst (Matt 18:20) and within (Luke 17:21) and is the agape binding.

Please also recall that Jesus Christ identified himself as a "winebibber" and thus as the dove of Genesis 8:8: "The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a WINEBIBBER, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children." (Matt 11:19). Please note that we share in agape with Father God the "warmth of their mating" in every marriage. That is, the resulting warmth and effervescence of the marriage of water and wine, of Zion and Jerusalem, of Himself and Holy Spirit, of Son and Wife. The resulting warmth of the marriage of Jesus (He) and the Dove (Her). Well Praise God for a while!! Hallelujah!

*But the dove found no rest for the sole of HER FOOT, and she returned [Heb: turned back] unto him [First Advent conclusion] into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark. (Gen 8:9)

We know indisputably that a dove has two feet. Why is this occurrence so related to us by the Holy Spirit in the singular sole of her "foot" (as in the brasen laver)? Glad you asked brother. Because this particular Dove is phase 1 corporate unification. This Dove is the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ. She "returned unto him" exactly as did Jesus Christ after His crucifixion at the conclusion of the First Advent (vertically). Please note that we have both a "her" that returned to Father God (Gen 8:12), and a "he" that returned to Father God (Acts 1:9). "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." (Gen 1:27). Father God "put forth his hand, and took her ("them" in corporate unification), and pulled her in unto him into the ark" of Himself. Then what happened, or is about to happen, or in my opinion is now happening?

*And he stayed yet other seven days [type of seven year tribulation]; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark [Second Advent of Christ Jesus: Day of Atonement: Rev 19:11]; And the dove CAME IN TO [Heb: abided in] him in the evening; and, lo, in her MOUTH [Heb: speech, mind, mouth, spoken, talk, two-edged, word] was an olive [Heb: an olive; as yielding illuminating oil] leaf [Heb: BRANCH, leaf] PLUCKED OFF: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. And he stayed yet other seven days [for completion: the millennium]; and sent forth the dove [THIRD SENDING: for the marriage of the Bridegroom Sons of God company to the completely prepared Bride of the Church; Zion to Jerusalem: Rev 21:1-3]; which returned [Heb: turned back] not again unto him any more [ever]. (Gen 8:10-12)

The "mouth" of the Dove is the logos and rhema Word of God which is typified as the trumpet voice of Jesus Christ: Jesus = logos, Christ = rhema. (Ex 19:19; Lev 25:9; Jud 7:16-22; Joel 2:1,15; Matt 24:31; Rev 1:10,11). Sadly, few will hear the rhema. The olive leaf is a branch of the olive tree (Isa 4:2; 11:1). Please recall our previous discussion when our Lord related that "it is not good that man should be alone" (Gen 2:18) and that a Hebrew meaning of "alone" is the "branch of a tree." We note that after the Second Advent (Gen 8:11) the Dove did not return unto Him vertically as in the First Advent (Gen 8:9; Acts 1:9), but "came in to him" horizontally ABIDING in Him. Hallelujah anyone? The Dove is then possessing encompassed in her mouth and issuing forth from her mouth the olive leaf which is a then matured branch of Christendom, "the stem of Jesse." (Isa 11:1). She is not in possession of the whole tree of Christendom, but a branch, a specific part of the body. The olive leaf was "plucked off" the tree of Christendom representing a "firstfruits" (Rev 14:4) company. "Plucked off" is a type of the New Testament "caught up" (Gk: harpazo: to seize; catch away, catch up, pluck, pull, take by force). The "firstfruits" company of Revelation 14:1-5 is "caught up" in Revelation 12:5. The "harvest" company of Revelation 21:2 is "caught up" in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17. In God's economy there is always a firstfruits company. Until the conclusion of the millennium there will be the undecided unsaved (Joel 3:11-14), and sheep and shepherds.

In the blinding sorrows of our birth pangs we have somehow allowed the secular invasion of a non Scriptural label with its accompanying soulical (what "I" want) definition to be affixed to the "plucked off...caught up" multi-dimensional experience and named it "the rapture." Many have interpreted this spiritual positional reality as other than a daily experiential becoming reality. They seek instant gratification. The "I" desire of our soul. There are no shortcuts to God. The result of mingling the secular with the Scriptural, the natural with the spiritual, is defilement and consequent misleading misunderstanding, a miss. Many things will not happen and are not now happening as you probably have been led to expect. Nevertheless, fear not dear brother. Regardless of your opinion or my opinion, these companies (all Christians) of shepherds and sheep, of firstfruits and harvest, will both be lifted up spiritually into corporate unification phase 1 eternal agape by the phase 1 Dove (Gen 8:10,11; Matt 3:16,17) no more to be alone.

The latter mentioned being the only woman; her presence brings forth mixed emotions on my part. Of sadness for lack of their numbers, and joy and indeed immense surprise as I discerned her manifested position Inside the Tabernacle (well in advance of myself I might add), and lastly of some confusion. There were no women members in either the Levitical or the Aaronic priesthood. Never in either of those now dead ministrations on any occasion was a woman permitted to enter inside the Tabernacle. Into this my tranquil light of foregone spiritual certainty, has been thrust suddenly and most surprisingly, Miss Ada Habershon. She stands Inside the Tabernacle, a lone witness in substantiation of the millennial restoration of woman's lost equality in spiritual authority (Gen 3:16), that happenstance being in her a visibly manifested harbinger of the Melchizedek priesthood. Praise God! Nevertheless, a very small company this, preaching logos in the courtyard and teaching rhema from the door Inside the Tabernacle. Few, very few indeed, and these dead.

After long pause and thoughtful consideration, it is apparent that the dead in Christ like dear Able do continually, and emphatically cry out to those who have ears to hear; to which elect company of criers belong also Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Moses, Gideon, Isaiah, Ruth, etc., etc. Nor would I think ever to neglect such illustrious fellowship of burning lights, fiery torches, assembled brightness in this present darkness, heavenly city of God exalted. Our experiential fellowship with both those dead in Christ, and those alive and remaining is moment by moment transforming us into the glory of positional reality. And you and I are fast approaching the end of our journey, the zenith of our exaltation: that this presently inhabited lowly worm now mysteriously hidden from sight within an earthly cocoon, as was Jesus, shall be miraculously transformed, transfigured, raised up, and exalted upon His return, revealed then arrayed in the glistening garment of all His glory to all the world, and manifested to be of Christ. In like manner did our forerunners Moses and Jesus Christ basking in their Father's glory, their face it shone bright as the sun.

Whew! That was quite a dive. Well actually Charles, I'm just a regular guy, a sinner being sanctified just like you and every other born-again Christian, and I don't mean to sound so lofty, but I just get carried away. Reckon I wanted to let you know where I came from and am going to. This is a real trip. Would be very interested in some of your other written works as per your suggestion. (Oops, going down again...)

We are in merging accord, climbing Mount Zion, the antitype to Mount Sinai. The mount of transfiguration is a practical purely descriptive representation of the pulsating action of the climbing process. Yes we are climbing upon this transforming mount. It seems indeed like riding upon a heavenly horse for we, not being able to apprehend nor perform the high calling of God for ourselves, are being carried by the Spirit. And we do not literally see, as in fully understand, each other yet for we are each products of our own past environmental bias and thus unavoidably projecting into our perceptions of God a legion of previously learned extraneous and therefore detrimental information. Consequently, Jesus said "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven," for blessed shall be he who enjoys the attribute of innocence found in a little child's mind.

Each climber perceives the representation of a slightly different face of the mountain before him, the dawning reality of which is that it is the exact same face of the same mountain, the face of God. However even now, possessing each the mind of Christ in part, we see many of the same things to the same depths, as exemplified by your exegesis of angels, clouds, etc., etc., and the marvelous revelation that He in all His Glory shall soon be revealed in us. (If we are willing and obedient, of course).

All men have the law written in their hearts, and are born under the law. Experientially, from the moment we become born-again under Grace, the Law of Sinai in us commences upon the path of transformation, to be transformed with us through the mount of transfiguration process by "the breath of life" (Gen 2:7) into the Grace of Zion in us. One may draw an imperfect but applicable analogy of polar opposites in that the Law of Sinai is experiential, and that the Grace of Zion is positional. The problem then presented to the born-again Christian is getting from the first to the second. How do we do that? We don't, for we cannot. The Holy Spirit leads and carries our Lord's own willing and obedient servants from the first mountain through the wilderness process of transformation (Deut 8:2) toward the farther mountain, the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus.

If we are good soldiers, we shall continue to advance through a vast hostile army of afflictions, trials, persecutions, and tribulations. Enroute, we should early recognize that the "process of transformation" is cumulative. Revelation is cumulative. We may then enter into the sense of Isaiah's millennial prophecy: "And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." (Isa 2:3, see also Mic 4:2). How is it possible in the near millennial future that "out of Zion shall go forth the law?" The meaning of this statement is immediately repeated and reinforced by employment of the Hebrew literary convention of parallelism: "and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." Where is the Law now?

Well, the whereabouts of the Law is certainly not hidden from the seeking of sanctified eyes; the Law has been transformed, transfigured, with Jesus Christ. The Law is in the ark of Christ Jesus as is the hidden manna (Rev 2:17), and Aaron's rod (Rev 2:27). His ark is typified by the New Testament barn (Matt 13:30) in combination with the tabernacle of David which is presently being built up again (Amos 9:11; Acts 15:16). The ark is being transformed from wood (a type of man) covered with gold, into pure gold. Gold is a type of the blood, and also a type of the glory of God. Let us follow some parallel threads of wood being transformed into metal. Aaron's rod that budded is also experiencing a transformation from the wooden rod of Moses (Ex 4:2) into the iron rod of judgment (Rev 2:27). The wooden cross of forgiveness is being transformed into the iron sword of judgment. (Rev 19:15). Same shapes. Notably, both pierce the heart of the earth. (That is why I love diving for pearls).

All that is holy is perfect. "The law is holy." (Rom 7:12). "The law of the Lord is perfect." (Psa 19:7). Jesus Christ was "made perfect." (Heb 5:9). Do we not most thankfully recall that the Law was made flesh, that the Law became Jesus? "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." (John 1:14). Therefore Isaiah says of the millennium "And the Word [Law] of the Lord [shall go forth] from Jerusalem." In this holy union of Word and flesh (a type of marriage) He took Law with Him unto death. That which is holy is eternal. Dear Lord please help us lest we think to believe that any holy thing may in any connotation be slain, and not be resurrected and restored into the glory of God. Ye are holy. Jesus Christ and Law were in inseparable eternal holy union from before His conception. He died on the cross and was raised bodily (flesh), resurrected by the Grace of God into Grace. Law has been transformed with Jesus Christ into Grace.

Blessing is inherent in elevation. Brethren, there are undecided men standing at the foot of this holy mountain who are keenly observing our climb. To them, we are hidden in the clouds; we are the clouds. The climbing saint proceeds in willing obedience heavenward higher and higher through the soaking, permeating mist of God. The circumference lessens until, near the summit, all remaining climbers find themselves molten metal lovingly flowing together, for our God is a consuming fire. Suddenly, they shall emerge atop mount Zion saviours (Obad 21), shining, as sun drenched brilliance.

And, I can hear you, now.

Dear brothers and sisters, God has drawn for our edification and great pleasure a loving picture of you and me within this verse from Psalm 68. We are winged doves covered with silver and gold, borne up gracefully by the wind in the blue heavens above the earth. What is God saying to us through the colorful symbols in this quietly beautiful picture?

The dove is a biblical symbol of peace, and a symbol of the Holy Spirit. When you have the Spirit, you have the peace of God. We have, every one of us, been ordained and sent forth by God to “preach the gospel of peace” (Rom 10:15) through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. He is inside and outside us and speaks through us. Both silver and gold are precious metals. Silver is a malleable (soft) metal biblically symbolic of redemption, our covering salvation. Gold is an even softer metal (akin to “a still small voice”) symbolic of God’s shimmering Shekinah glory. Gold also is the Old Testament type of the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, and thus gold is the only perfect covering, inside and outside, of the Ark of the Covenant - the blood Covenant between you and God.

Neither silver or gold were used to fashion weapons of destruction because they are too soft. Brass, bronze, and iron are hard metals and were therefore the metals used in the instruments of war. Because of their inherent hardness, brass, bronze, and iron are used by God throughout the Bible as symbols of judgment. Judgment is hard, grace is soft. God’s grace does not destroy, it covers, your sin and mine. Praise God.

Dear brothers and sisters, please apprehend that this Rescue Mission is truly a battle station deeply immersed in a shocking war of planetary proportions. A life and death struggle is being fought between God and His armies, and Satan and his armies. The staff and volunteers of our Rescue Mission are the front line troops, the combat soldiers numbered with Gideon’s 300 who trusted God and received the victory (for all Israel) over the invading Midianite host. However, warfare is not without cost. We daily minister to the appalling injuries of hundreds of wounded doves: men, women, and children who are in desperate need of your healing prayers and financial support. Please help us. Thank you. God bless you.

Question: Have you done any looking into the two witnesses in Revelation 11:1-14 and Zechariah 4? We have heard many teaching/discussions on it and they just do not seem proper.

God bless you. An excellent question. To my present awareness, there seems no definitive answer as to the identities of the two witnesses in Rev 11 and Zech 4 - olive trees being a symbol of men.

One may note that the two cherubs upon either side of the Ark of Covenant in Solomon's Temple were olivewood covered with gold (Heb: to shimmer [a connotation of glory]) - gold being symbolic of the purity of God. Gold is
also the Old Testament symbol for the covering (atoning) blood of Jesus Christ. The two cherubs upon either side of the Ark of Covenant in the Tabernacle of Moses, which preceded in type the Temple, were wholly of pure
gold - thus purely angelic and a representation of the Holy Spirit, excluding natural (tree) man completely. This picture perhaps entirely a graphic illustration of our Rom 12:1,2 metamorphosis from our fallen state of sin
(nothing - no participation in the Kingdom of God), into great glory. In this regard, an associated verse may well provide further light:

(Mat 20:23) And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand [side], and on my left [side], is not mine to give, but it shall be
given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. [Who is our Ark? And who is the Ark of Covenant?]

On an elementary level, Enoch and Elijah are prime candidates for the two witnesses because neither has as yet died - both having been biblically caught up to God alive, and Rev 11:7 states that the beast shall "kill them."
(Heb 9:27). Of Enoch we find no other perceivable reference. But the first portion of Rev 11:6 points directly toward the Elijah ministry in that "These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy."
We note in passing that "These" i.e. both of these entities, have this power rather than just one of them, and that they both "prophecy." However, the second portion of Rev 11:6 which reads "and have power over waters to turn
them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will" points directly toward Moses, and again includes empowerment on behalf of both entities through the phrase "as often as they will." So then, first
we have seen Enoch and Elijah clearly depicted as the two witnesses, which is indeed correct to a certain degree, and now the available evidence seems to point more toward Elijah and Moses. Perplexing isn't it?

At this secondary level, the problem we now face is that Moses is already dead. Moses is therefore disqualified (because he is a child of God) from dying again in Rev 11:7 and thereby suffering a "second death." In another
relevant picture, we who also are the children of God are represented in Peter, James and John, and do prophetically assemble together with Moses and Elijah, and with Jesus Christ upon the Mount of Transfiguration (location unknown) in the clouds from where God spoke. In this picture, Moses represents "the dead in Christ," and Elijah represents "we which are alive and remain" meeting the Lord in the air (1 Thess 4:16,17). A further
extension of this picture upon the Mount (Sinai = Zion) of Transfiguration is that Moses (the dead) represents the Old Testament Covenant, and Elijah (the living) represents the New Testament Covenant.

Therefore, our third and most extended metaphor, built upon and inclusive of all the preceding, is that the two witnesses are the Old Testament testimony and the New Testament testimony, which two are delivered by men, composite men, both dead (many referents), and alive (many referents).

What is the application? The two witnesses represent the cumulative pre Second-Coming testimony ("the golden oil" Zec 4:12) of all the saints, dead and alive. Pre Second-Coming because it is said of the saints that the beast
shall "kill them" (Rev 11:7), that they shall be "prevailed against" (Dan 7:21), that he "shall destroy the mighty and the holy people" (Dan 8:24), and "overcome them" (Rev 11:7; 13:7). Those actions, although particularly
gratifying to the present God of this world, will no longer be possible after our Lord Christ Jesus returns to reign with in the fullness of His "glory which shall be revealed in us" (Rom 8:18; et. al.). Praise God.

(Rev 11:5-7) And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth [Is not my word like as a fire? (Jer 23:29a)], and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

(Zec 4:11-14) Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed [Heb: ben; son (as a builder of the family name)] ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

We note in closing an unusual reading of the Hebrew word "ben" translated into the English word "anointed," when "ben" literally means "son" - as offspring or creation of the Father. Who builds the house? "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:" (Psa 127:1).

Thank you for your very interesting question. Greatly enjoyed the resulting edification as I pursued an imperfect but temporally suitable response. Thank you sincerely. :-)

Lionel

Who is Mystery Babylon in Revelation 18 ? (12-11-04)

Hi Xxxxxxx, God bless you.

Generally, in conjunction with Revelation 17, the present day Laodicean apostate church which is in collusion (whoredom) with the secular world. Specifically, Revelation 18 appears to describe New York City, and thereby the United States of America. Extrapolating from that scenario, New York City on the East coast is Gomorrah [Heb: a (ruined) heap /// bind sheaves, make merchandise of], and San Francisco on the West coast, which is the high place of the homosexuals, is Sodom [Heb: to scorch; burnt (i.e. volcanic or bituminous) district]. And everything in-between New York City and San Francisco is the wilderness, the plains of Sodom and Gomorrah, and doomed. Not a pretty picture.

Am currently doing a sermon series on "David and Goliath: the Spirit of faith and the spirit of fear" of which both the audio and typewritten notes are located and added to weekly on my website under the link: "David and Goliath" - which is definitely prophetic. Saul and the Israelites typify this present day apostate church. David typifies the true believers, and Goliath typifies the 666 man (antichrist) who is the "head" of the uncircumcised Philistine body.

God bless you Xxxxxxx, Lionel

Do Angels Have Volition? (04-08-05) 

Hi Hazel,

God bless you. Thank you for your question.

RE: “Have been enjoying David and Goliath. In the “Fighting Over The Body” message, you seem to be saying that angels do not operate on their own volition. How does this line up with Jude verse 6?”

(Jude 1:6)  And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

No one this side of Heaven can be definitive about these things, but in my opinion to this point in time, God is herein referring to the fallen angels that took themselves wives of the daughters of men in Genesis 6:1-6. The fallen angels quite dramatically illustrated volition in that they rebelled from God and followed Satan (Rev 12:4). Thereafter they co-mingled with the daughters of men and produced the “giants” which were mutations. This violated the rule of precedent of “kind after his kind” established by God in Genesis chapter one.

Two thirds of the angels remained in Heaven and true to God. They are God’s messengers, and they are 100% obedient to the command and will of God. Volition can be reckoned to exist only when there is a discernable, identifiable DIFFERENCE. The good angels are in complete total harmony with God; hence, no volition, i.e. no difference.

On a much deeper but related tract, the good angels are not only the messengers of God, but indeed, they are the message itself. They are the word of God – literally as well as figuratively (anthropomorphically). They, the words of God, enter into us through our eye gate (reading) and our ear gate (hearing), and dwell within our mind (memory). Of course, fallen angels also live in our mind (false doctrine, i.e. strongholds: 2 Cor 10:4), and consequently we experience the spiritual warfare of those two opposing forces. Where does this spiritual warfare occur? Inside us! However, praise God, we are becoming more and more angelic every day. How so? Well, you are what you eat (Dan 1:1-17; Mat 26:26-28). Eat and drink all of it (Exo 12:10; Mat 26:27: the Bible). That is a command.

Thank you Hazel for your donation to the Rescue Mission. It will be used to help feed thousands of hungry men, women, and little children. Have placed your address on our monthly newsletter list. We send yearly donation receipts in January of each year, unless you request to receive them sooner. Also, it would be more convenient to respond to any future questions that you may have via email, should you care to include your email address. Thank you Hazel. God bless you.

Rev. Lionel

The Blot Theology  (05-18-05)

As to the BLOT theology, thank you. Am now researching BLOT. (Love these little trails).

H4229. machah, maw-khaw'; a prim. root; prop. to stroke or rub; by impl. to erase; also to smooth (as if with oil), i.e. grease or make fat; also to touch, i.e. reach to:--abolish, blot out, destroy, full of marrow, put out, reach unto, X utterly, wipe (away, out).

Following the trail, BLOT (H4229) is used 10 times in OT and 1 time in the NT (G1813). Upon first glance, and after quickly reading the scriptures, it appears that the "Book of Life" includes all presumably human life, both saved and unsaved, and therefore is presently descriptive of our (wheat and tares) temporal life previous to the Judgment, rather than to eternal life. Although it is at the Judgment, that all sinners (past, present, and future) which have "not on a wedding garment" (Mat 22:11), i.e. remain uncovered by the blood, remain unsaved, will be blotted out of the Lamb's Book of Life - eternally.

"Book of Life" appears 8x, in the NT only, and is consistent with the above thesis.   


God bless you Myrl,

(Gen 17:17)  Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed [i.e. the first biblical mention of laugh – ter, ing, ed], and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

1.       Strong’s Concordance: laugh = Heb: 6711. tsachaq, tsaw-khak'; a prim. root; to laugh outright (in merriment or scorn); by impl. to sport:--laugh, mock, play, make sport.

2. Wilson's Old Testament Word Studies: laugh = to laugh; to play; to sport; to jest; to laugh may imply admiration and joy, or unbelief and mistrust: see Gen. 17:17 and Gen. 18:12.

3.       Commentary: In context this certainly seems to be a laughter of incredulity and disbelief versus a laughter of happiness and joy.

(Gen 18:11-15)  Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed [second biblical mention] within herself [why did she hide her laughter within herself?], saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? [another clear expression of incredulity and disbelief versus a laughter of happiness and joy] And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. Then Sarah denied [i.e. she lied to the LORD], saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

1.       Strong’s Concordance: laugh = Heb: 6711. tsachaq, tsaw-khak'; a prim. root; to laugh outright (in merriment or scorn); by impl. to sport:--laugh, mock, play, make sport.

(Gen 21:3)  And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

1.       Strong’s Concordance: Isaac = Heb: 3327. Yitschaq, yits-khawk'; from H6711; laughter (i.e. mockery); Jitschak (or Isaac), son of Abraham:--Isaac.

2.       The American College Dictionary: mockery = 1. ridicule or derision. 2. a derisive action or speech.

3.       Commentary: We may note that the son of Abraham and Sarah was not named H6711 tsachaq, which they both had in common, but H3327 Yitschaq which is derived from H6711. The addition of “mockery,” meaning ridicule or derision, best describes the actions and disbelief of Isaac’s parents.

(Gen 21:5,6)  And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh [H6712], so that all that hear will laugh [H6711] with me.

1.       Strong’s Concordance: laugh = Heb: 6712. tsechoq, tsekh-oke'; from H6711; laughter (in pleasure or derision):--laugh (-ed to scorn).

2.       The American College Dictionary: derision = 1. act of deriding; ridicule; mockery.

3.       Strong’s Concordance: laugh = Heb: 6711. tsachaq, tsaw-khak'; a prim. root; to laugh outright (in merriment or scorn); by impl. to sport:--laugh, mock, play, make sport.

4.       Commentary: Paraphrasing Sarah’s statement in Genesis 21:6, after Isaac is born she said “God hath made me to laugh in derision, so that all that now hear will laugh with me in merriment.” Extended paraphrase: “God is wonderful. He has transformed my unhappiness into joy, my disbelief into belief, my mockery into praise, thank you LORD.” What then is the intended Hebrew meaning of Isaac? “Laughter with great joy derived, born-again, from or out of unbelief and mockery.” It is a word picture of our salvation.

THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD (LUCIFER) AND EVIL (SATAN) (11-14-06)

Hi Myrl,

QUERY: based upon an extraction of Gen 2:9 of the 11-12-06 Sunday sermon:

"...midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good [Lucifer]"

the English word "good" comes from the root:  GOD  ...the PlattDeutsch is "GUD", pronounced "goooood" "good"  connotes  "GOD" , or "from GOD"  .........not "Lucifer"

"Why do you call ME "good"?  There is none "good" but GOD."

 When we say "goodbye", the expression is a contraction of  "GOD be with ye"                                                                                                "GODbe wi'ye" "gooooodbe wi'ye" "goooodbye"  (goooood-bee)

RESPONSE: