CAPSTONE GRACE
“And he shall
bring forth the capstone with shouts of ‘Grace, grace,’ to it”
Zechariah 4:7
This prophecy
was spoken by the Prophet Zechariah to Zerubbabel who, along with Joshua the
High Priest, led the first contingent of exiles from captivity back to
Jerusalem.
Zerubbabel was
of the kingly line and is a Type of Jesus in that they both undertake to build
a temple. As with prophecy generally, this prophecy had an immediate application
concerning Zerubbabel’s Temple, and also a future application concerning the
Temple Jesus is building. It is a prophecy which even now is being fulfilled.
The exiles
set to work with a will; constructing first an altar, then beginning their most
important task - the reconstruction of the Temple. Zerubbabel as Governor had
ultimate responsibility for the building. The workers became discouraged
because of the fierce opposition of the Samaritans in the surrounding villages
who eventually managed to get an order to stop the building from the Persian
government (Israel’s overlords ).
Into this
situation God sent the prophets Zechariah and Haggai to bring His Words of
encouragement.
“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit
Says the Lord of hosts.” Zech. 4:6
The work would be accomplished, not
by trusting in human resources, but in the Spirit of God who would instruct,
provide and facilitate the work. It would not be a triumph of human
achievement, but of the grace of God.
“Who are you great mountain?
Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!” Zech. 4:7
No obstacle would be able to prevent
God’s work.
“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple,
His hands shall also finish it.”Zech. 4:9
The one who
began the work, would be the one to finish it.
“And he shall bring forth the capstone
With shouts of ‘Grace,
grace to it!’” Zech
4:7
This would
indeed be a work of Grace, founded on Grace and triumphantly finished by Grace.
The Temple in Jerusalem was finished in spite of all the difficulties and it
stood, as did the first Temple and the Tabernacle before it, as prophetic witnesses to the ultimate Temple
‘not made with hands.’ (Acts 17:24).
Jesus is
building a Temple – a Living Temple made with ‘living stones’; (1 Peter 2; 4,5) Jesus Christ being the ‘chief cornerstone.’(1 Peter 2:6, 7;
Ephesians 2:20). It is a ‘habitation of
God in the Spirit.’ (Ephesians 2:22). It is still under construction but
will soon be finished. If you belong to Jesus, you are a living stone in this
Temple. What a privilege! You need to be yielded to the Builder to be shaped
and molded and ‘built together’ with other living stones.
Not the “might
nor power” of Man can build this Temple, – but by My Spirit says the Lord of hosts.” It is founded on Grace and every living stone
is lovingly placed by the power of God’s amazing Grace.
Though the
opposition of the enemy sometimes seems overwhelming, nothing will prevent
Jesus from finishing this great work. Jesus’ has laid the foundation of this temple and His hands shall also finish it’. Every obstacle to the work, the
‘great mountains…shall become a plain.” Jesus
said “I will build My Church and the
gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18). This Temple
is to be the powerhouse of the Kingdom and the ‘gates of hell’ shall fall
before it.
The Temple
built under Zerubbabel was eventually completed. It is said that some things which the First
Temple [Solomon’s temple] had contained, were missing from the Second Temple, -
The Ark and the Shekinah [Glory Presence], the Holy Fire, the Urim and Thummim
[special stones of revelation] and the spirit of prophecy. These were to be
restored in the Living Temple. They will be experienced in their full
manifestation when the Living Temple is finished.
When the
foundation of Zerubbabel’s Temple was laid, some of the old men wept,
remembering the glory of Solomon’s Temple. The prophet Haggai assured that God
was with them – this was all part of His plan; that, though this Temple was ‘as
nothing’ compared to the former in their eyes, yet the glory of the latter
house would be greater than the former. All nations would come to the ‘Desire
of Nations’ and God would fill this Temple with glory. (Haggai 2:3-9)The Temple
would be finished! Even so, the Temple Jesus is building will be completed and
filled with the glory of God.
“And he shall bring forth the capstone
With shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”
The end time
revelation which brings the Living Temple to completion is a deeper revelation
of Grace which comes with the understanding the finished work of Christ. There
are those today whom God has raised up to preach these truths, essential to the
Church in these challenging days. As has always been, there are those who
oppose this new revelation, calling it ‘Hyper Grace’ and condemning those who
preach it. They charge the Grace preachers with ‘giving people a license to
sin.’ As someone quipped, “They can sin without a license.”
There is
really no cause for concern. Those who have had a genuine revelation of the Grace
of God have no wish to sin. Revelation changes people,
But we all with unveiled face, beholding, as in a mirror the glory of
the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just
as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
Revelation accomplishes in the
seeker, that which it reveals. This is the amazing principle of the Spirit of Grace. Seeing the great
love of God, His holiness, His utter goodness, is what transforms us. It is
seeing this by revelation of the Spirit of God, that leads us to repentance.
(Romans 2:4) Those who claim to be
Christians who still have a desire to go on sinning, need to re-examine their
experience. {2 Corinthians 13:5}. Teachers and preachers need to aim to bring
revelation rather than major on ‘do’s’ and don’ts’. “The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6).
The
revelation of the finished work of Christ - of all that Grace has accomplished,
will be the downfall of the enemy.
‘What gives the enemy authority and power in
the Earth? It is sin. The finished work of Christ with its immeasurable Grace
shows that the sin of every person who ever lived has been paid for by the
Cross. Jesus tasted death for everyone. (Hebrews 2:9). That doesn’t mean that
they are automatically saved; they still have to ‘repent and believe’ but their
sins have been paid for and are now a
matter between them and God, not the Devil.
The enemy has no more legal authority
in the Earth and no right to accuse anyone. He has no legal right to keep the people
of the world in his grip. (1 John 5:19)The dominion that Man lost at the Fall
has now been restored to redeemed Man. Satan is called the ‘Accuser of the
Brethren’ (Revelation 12:10). In Revelation 12 we see him cast down from the
authority which he exercises illegally. The Manchild of Revelation 12 is a
generation of the ‘Seed of the Woman’ (Genesis 3:15). They are the end time
Overcomers who have come into the revelation of the finished work of Christ and
are thereby able to exercise Kingdom authority over the Accuser.
The finishing
stone – the Capstone of Grace is being prepared for the Living Temple. When it
is finished the Shekinah will flood out from the Most Holy Place. The Veil
which represents all the sin that has separated Man and God is gone along with
the revelation that there is nothing between God and His people. The Holy Fire
of the Spirit will ignite the hearts of God’s people and the spirit of prophecy
will bring unprecedented revelation. The Holy Spirit will do His work of
convicting and convincing and healing love will flow. It will be known and seen
that God is in His Holy Temple. This is the Temple before which the ‘gates of
hell’ will fall. It will soon be
finished. - ..’the church, which is His
body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.’ Eph. 1:22.23 “The measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ…”.Ephesians
4:13
