PROPHETIC FEASTS

Jesus’ brothers were preparing to go up to Jerusalem to the Feast of Tabernacles. They challenged Jesus to go up and “Show Yourself to the world.” Jesus replied:-

“My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. You go up to this feast, I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” John 7: 6-8

After His brothers had left, Jesus went up to the feast secretly and about the middle of the feast He went into the temple and taught. The Pharisee’s wanted to arrest Him but could not “for His time had not yet come.” On the last day, that great day of the feast, as water was poured out from a golden pitcher onto the altar to the rejoicing of the crowds, Jesus revealed Himself openly as the One who provides the living water of the Spirit.

Throughout His ministry, Jesus moved with a sense of purpose. He was obviously conscious that He was fulfilling prophecy as encrypted into the feasts of Israel. That’s why He rode into Jerusalem on the exact day of the choosing of the Passover Lamb and was acclaimed by the crowds. When told by the Pharisees to silence them He replied that if the people were silent the stones would cry out. This was the time for the Lamb of God to be chosen and to give His life for the world and nothing would stop it.

Jesus died at the time of the sacrifice of the Passover lamb up at the temple; His body went into the tomb as the Feast of Unleavened Bread began; and He rose on the Feast of Firstfruits to be ‘the firstfruits of them that slept.’ The Holy Spirit was poured out exactly on the Day of Pentecost – the anniversary of the giving of the Law and the plans for the tabernacle. This Feast was about equipping the people of God to fulfil their commission.

The one Feast that has never been fulfilled in the Church is the Feast of Tabernacles. This is the Feast of fullness, the final harvest when God will bring into manifestation all that the Cross has purchased. All the seeds that have been sown will come to harvest. The Church will rise to its full potential in Christ and there will be a mighty harvest of souls. ‘Elijah’ will come and restore all things [Matthew 17:11] i.e. the Spirit which anointed Elijah will come upon the Church to prepare the way of the Lord as He came upon John the Baptist to prepare the way for Jesus’ 1^st coming. It will be a glorious time and it’s about to begin in a few short years.

Jesus moved in sync with the Feasts of Israel. Those Feasts were set into the history of Israel as a road map for the Church. Therefore if we look at what Jesus did at the time of the Feast of Tabernacles, we will have some clues about what Jesus will be doing during the season of the fulfilment of this Feast. Jesus made the point that He could not go up to the Feast any time as others could. He wasn’t just another worshipper; He was the central figure of what the Feast was all about. Jesus went up secretly. What is that saying? Jesus will be coming to the Feast but it will not be the time for Him to be openly revealed. Of course Jesus is always with His Church but at the End time fulfilment of the Feast, there will be a greatly increased sense of the Presence of the Lord.

About the middle of the Feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught. The temple stands for the people of God. They are the Living temple that Jesus is building even now. At this time the Church will come greatly alive with the Word of God; we will be of one mind with Jesus the Head. This is the glorious Church spoken of in Ephesians 5:25,26

“that he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”

The Church will move with power and authority and be filled with the love and the Presence of God.  There will be great healings and creative miracles, like limbs being restored, and the world will flow into it.

On the last great day of the Feast Jesus revealed Himself openly and proclaimed Himself as the fount of Living Water and gave the invitation,

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scriptures has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”  John 7:37, 38

Foreshadowing the invitation at the end of the Age as in Revelation,

“And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the waters of life freely.” Revelation 22:17

Jesus will come physically and openly at the end of the season of the fulfilment of the Feast of Tabernacles in the Church. It will undoubtedly be “On the last day, that great day of the Feast.” John 7:17.

Jesus, the king once despised and rejected, will be welcomed with great rejoicing and celebration and will reign on the Earth. AMEN

"YOU HAVE NOT PASSED THIS WAY BEFORE"

                                                                           

New territory up ahead.

After many years of wilderness wanderings, the nation of Israel was on the move into new territory. Their instructions were to watch the Ark carried by priests as it approached the Jordan River; “Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.” Joshua 3:3,4. This is a word from the Lord, intended, not just for Israel centuries ago, but also, and more especially, for the people of God today. Just why, I hope to make clear in these few pages.

The basis of my books is Typology, i.e. understanding the purposes of God by studying the redemptive types [maps, patterns] of the Old Testament. Israel is the pattern nation. Every redemptive act, event or object in the Old Testament finds its spiritual counterpart in the New Testament and in the ongoing journey of the Church. Jesus said that the Spirit would lead and guide us into all truth. Revelation by the Spirit is ongoing. By the Word and the Spirit God unlocks the truths which will bring us into maturity. “The Lord has yet more light and truth to break forth from His Word.”  AHB 335

The principle of Typology is: ‘First the natural, then the spiritual.’ Before the coming of the Spirit, people couldn’t understand spiritual truth. Such truth can only be ‘spiritually discerned’ [1 Corinthians 2:14].  God gave them physical things which represented the spiritual truths which would then be revealed in the New Testament after the coming of the Spirit. The spiritual descendants of Abraham are the nation of Israel; the spiritual descendants are all true believers, i.e. the Church. [Galatians 3:16,29]The redemptive events in Israel are paralleled in the Church. They are physical in Israel and spiritual in the Church. God’s purposes are: Demonstrated in Israel; Activated by the Cross; Manifested through the Church. 

 Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” The Scriptures He was referring to were the Old Testament Scriptures.  Since the Cross is God’s only answer, everything God did in Israel pointed to it and everything since the Cross issues out of it. Most Christians know that Jesus is the fulfilment of the Passover Lamb; however not many follow the Type through to its conclusion; therefore we have not yet come into the ultimate outcome of the sacrifice of the Lamb. We have understood the truths of Passover; but not yet entered into the truths of the Feast of Tabernacles. Likewise with the Type of the Tabernacle we have been to the Altar in the Outer Court but have yet to enter into the Glory in the Holy of Holies beyond the Vail.

 At a Lay Preacher’s Retreat, I commented on the many Old Testament Scriptures which don’t make it into the Lectionary. Someone asked me “Well would you want to preach on the furniture of the Tabernacle?” She was obviously unaware that the Tabernacle with its furniture is a pattern of spiritual truth of great significance. When God gave the pattern of the Tabernacle to Moses He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” [Hebrews 8:5] It was “the copy and shadow of the heavenly [or spiritual] things.”

The Tabernacle with its furniture is a map showing the spiritual progression of the people of God into the completion of God’s purpose. If we study it alongside the Journey to the Promised Land and the Feasts of Israel we will understand the way God is taking us and the spiritual truths whereby we arrive at our destination. God chartered this map by the Cloud of the Spirit as He led His people into the Promised Land. Jesus did all things ‘according to the pattern,’ and in bringing the Church into its destiny in the Earth, God is doing all things ‘according to this same pattern. ’

Jesus often said “My time is not yet” E.g. John 7:6.  Because He was working according to the pattern of Redemption laid down in the Old Testament Scriptures.  We will not come into the fullness of truth unless we study the whole Bible. This is the pattern or the map of the journey the Church is on:-

ESCAPE FROM BONDAGE -PASSOVER: Egypt with its tyrant ruler is a Type of the Kingdom of Darkness ruled by Satan where Man is in bondage to sin and death. We escape through faith in the shed blood of the Passover Lamb. The truths of Passover are; Justification by faith,[Passover] Sanctification [Feast of Unleavened Bread], and Baptism into Christ [Feast of Firstfruits]. God had his infant Son brought out of Egypt to fulfil the Type. [Check out Hosea 11:1]

COMMISSIONED: Israel, Jesus, and the Church have all been commissioned. The Church has an assignment to complete in the Earth before the Coming of the Lord. Our deliverance was accomplished at Passover ; the rest of the Journey is about coming into the fullness of our deliverance [the ‘manifestation of the sons of God’] and completing our assignment.

 EMPOWERED TO FULFILL THE COMMISSION – PENTECOST: Pentecost is about equipping the people of God to fulfil their commission.

Israel’s Commission. God called Israel to possess their inheritance, [Canaan] and be a ‘kingdom of priests, a holy nation.’ They were to dispossess the inhabitants of the Land and establish the rule of the Kingdom. They were equipped for their assignment at Mt Sinai with the Law and the Tabernacle.                                                  

 Jesus’ Commission was to ‘destroy the works of the devil.’ [I John 3:8] By the Cross, He stripped the devil of his authority and gave it to His Church. He stated ‘I will build My Church and the gates of hell will not stand against It.’ Which brings us to our commission.

The Commission of the Church.  Our commission is to make all the nations Jesus’ disciples. In essence it is the same as Israel’s commission – dispossess the enemy and establish the

 . Kingdom. The Earth is our inheritance. [Romans 4:13]At this present time ‘the whole world lies under the sway of the evil one.’ [1 John 5:19] Looking at our world it can be clearly seen that this is so.  It is gross error to pass off all the terrible things that happen in our world as the will of God.  That's why the priority prayer is that God’s name be honoured; His will be done; His Kingdom come ‘on Earth as it is in Heaven.’ Our Promised Land is the Kingdom of God on Earth. The Holy Spirit is given to us to bring down the ‘gates of hell,’ free the nations to receive the gospel, and thus establish the rule of the Kingdom, before the return of the King. The Types show us how this is to be accomplished. For Israel it was a physical journey; for the Church it is a spiritual journey.

WILDERNESS WANDERINGS.  Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years because they had an identity problem. God said “Israel is My son, My firstborn.” [Exodus 4:22] Israel’s faith confession when they saw the giants in the Land was, “We are as grasshoppers.” [Numbers 13:33].  They didn’t know who they really were or believe that they could do what God had commissioned them to do. They still operated in the slave mentality they acquired in Egypt.  It was right here that God made the vow that one day His glory would fill the earth. [Numbers 14:21]Taken in context; this is dependent on the people of God possessing their inheritance.

 Jesus was also tested in the wilderness and the temptation He faced was also an attack on His identity. He came from His powerful encounter at the River Jordan with the Father’s affirmation, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased,” to face the insinuations of the Tempter “IF You are the Son of God…..” He came out of the wilderness after 40 days, ‘in the power of the Spirit,’ ready to begin the attack on the strongholds of the enemy.

This is where the Church is at right now. Like Israel, we don’t know who we really are or what it is we are to do. Some are preparing to get away from it all in a space flight called the ‘Rapture.’ Some are opting to go with the flow and be ‘progressive.’ For others it’s just business as usual.  What we need to do is to get back to the Word of God and wait on the Spirit for revelation. There is a cache of revelation that is reserved for the end time, as Daniel was told. [Daniel 12:4-13]At a time when ‘many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase’ God will bring the revelation that is needed. He sees the way ahead and will show us if we earnestly ‘ask, seek and knock.’

We have come to a way which we ‘have not passed before’. The Early Church set out on this Journey and became a powerful Church of whom it was said ‘they turned the world upside down;’ but like the first generation of Israel from Egypt, they didn’t complete the Commission. Error entered the Church and it went through the ‘Dark Ages,’ sometimes called ‘the devil’s millennium.’ For many years the Church wandered in the wilderness of spiritual blindness. God again began the process of restoration with the foundational

 4. truth of Justification by Faith and brought us to this place where we now stand. The final generation of the Church Age will come into the ‘all truth’ that Jesus promised and complete the Commission.

COMPLETING THE COMMISSION – THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES  The final Feast is the Feast of fullness and completion. It is the Feast of the final harvest.  Israel came out of the wilderness under the leadership of Joshua. They crossed Jordan and began the attack on the strongholds of the enemy by bringing down the walls of Jericho. Eventually they conquered the Land and Solomon, son of David, came to the throne. For a short time the nation became a faint earthly Type of the Kingdom of God. The Land was at the height of prosperity, the rule of the Kingdom was established and its king [a Type of Jesus, the greater Son of David] was famed throughout the world for his wisdom and understanding.  On the Feast of Tabernacles, Solomon dedicated the great golden Temple which was filled with the Glory of God, a picture of the ‘Glorious Church without spot or wrinkle.’ [Ephesians 5:27].  This glorious Church will draw the nations in. As Isaiah said,(Isaiah 61:1-3) -

‘Arise, shine, for thy light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.

For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people;

But the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

And Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising…..”

The truth which is encoded in the Day of Atonement will be revealed. It is a deeper understanding of all that the Cross accomplished; the truth of the finished work of Christ.    Jesus is now seated at God’s right hand waiting till his enemies are made his footstool. [Hebrews10:12-14]. That’s our job! And it will involve spiritual warfare. The truths of the completed work of the Cross will cause the Church to rise up in power and glory and bring the nations in. A short paragraph like this cannot do justice to this. I have written about it in my books and it needs the revelation of the Holy Spirit.

In the Scripture at the beginning of this paper, Israel was coming out of the wilderness. They were told to ‘Watch the Ark’ so that they would "Watch the Ark" now which way to go, because they were about to traverse new territory. The Ark is the highest Type of Christ in the Tabernacle. It was to precede Israel by ‘about 2,000 cubits.’ Every detail that God gives is important when interpreting the Types. Nothing is whimsical. This mostly overlooked detail shows that about 2,000 years after Jesus came out of the wilderness ‘in the power of the Spirit’ to begin bringing down the strongholds of the enemy; the rest of the Army of the Church will follow. That is soon! Much more could be said and is said in my books. The truths that God is unlocking are the truths we need in these difficult days.

The times are difficult but they are also very exciting. It is my firm belief that in spite of all the trouble and persecution we encounter; this generation will see the rise of the Church in power and glory.  “CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY! “ [Colossians 1:27]

CAPSTONE GRACE

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

 

 

THE GLORY OF HIS PRESENCE

Every Christian has experienced in some measure at least, the presence of God - some more than others.When you were born again, you began to know that Other Presence with you. When you were filled with the Spirit,  that sense of His presence increased - that beautiful presence which draws us on to follow after and which causes us to lift up our hearts in worship. This is what every person in the world is longing for, even though they may not know it. As Saint Augustine said, "You have made us for Thyself and our hearts cannot rest until it rests in Thee"

Now magnify that presence many times over - the beauty of His holiness, the knowledge of His Glory, the deep, deep satisfaction of His fathomless love. This is what will pervade the Church in this last great move of God. This is what the world is seeking.

That presence will convince the world of the reality of God and the truth of His Word. It will bring conviction of sin. Witness its effect on Isaiah in the temple; on Job when he saw His Glory; on Moses who had to wear a veil to cover the reflected Glory on his face. That presence will bring healing and cause every knee to bow and every tongue to confess the Lordship of Christ. That presence will have every demon fleeing in dread.  His presence will wash away all the filth and the hurt and the hate of this world.

Back in the days of the Charismatic Renewal, I saw something of the power of His presence. People surrendered to the Lord without anyone preaching to them or sharing 'The four spiritual laws' with them. His presence said it all.

In the worldwide Awakening that is coming, the intensity of His presence will be greater than anything we have previously experienced. How do I know all this? Because I see in the Type of the Tabernacle that the Church is about to go into the Holy of Holies - beyond the Veil.

The Day if Atonement was the holiest Day of the year for Israel. Some things happened in the solemn rituals connected to that day that were unique. On that day only, the High Priest went through the Veil; and on that day the Scapegoat was taken out into the wilderness carrying all of the sins of all of the people.

These rituals portray a deeper revelation and experience of the Cross. We know that historically, the Veil was torn at the time of Jesus' death; but what does that mean for us personally? We can know that the Crucifixion really happened; but unless we come personally to the Cross we won't receive its benefits. Likewise, the rending of the Veil can be just a fact of history unless it is personally applied. I have written about this in my book "End Time Insights."  I hope you manage to get a copy of it and take a walk through the Tabernacle and experience the rending of the Veil for yourself.

The removal of the Veil comes with the truth of the finished work of Christ. Hitherto we have not come into the full realisation of just what the cross accomplished. When we do we will rise 'unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ' [Ephesians 4:13] and be a 'glorious Church without spot or wrinkle'.[Ephesians 5:26] When we, by the Spirit, behold His glory, we will become glorious because it is a spiritual principle that 'what we see, we will be.'
"But we all with unveiled face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory unto glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord." [2 Corinthians 3:18] 

We are changed, not by crossing t's and dotting i's but by beholding the Glory of His presence beyond the Veil. It is this removal of the Veil in the Church which will draw in the nations and bring into manifestation all that Jesus died for.

"And he will destroy in this mountain [Mt Zion- the Church] the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations.
He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth; for the Lord hath spoken it.
And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us; this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation." Isaiah 25:7 - 9

THE OTHER BIBLE CODE REVIEWS

THROUGH THE VEIL

 A MEDITATION from “THE MELCHIZEDEK MINISTRY” by Val Pym

“Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree...” 1Peter 2:24

“Therefore brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is His flesh....”

Hebrews 10:19,20

[Beginning from the view of the priest ministering at the Golden Altar of Incense before the Veil in the Temple at the time of the Crucifixion.]

You are standing in the Holy Place in your white priestly robe. It is the ninth hour, the time of the evening sacrifice, and you are preparing to burn incense at the Golden Altar. It has been a strange day and darkness has brooded over the city for almost three hours.

The soft golden gleam from the Lampstand lights up the Holy Place and the Table of Showbread of the Presence reminds you of the Presence within the Veil – a Presence which filters through into the Holy Place and draws you to worship. On the Golden Altar you place the incense with coals from the fire from the Altar where burns the evening sacrifice.  The incense rises before the Veil and its fragrance fills the air.

Your eyes are fixed on the Veil which shuts you out of the Holy of Holies where you long, and yet dread to go. To enter in there means death. The Veil is embroidered with Cherubim and you remember that Cherubim and a flaming sword guard the way to the Tree of Life and all that Man lost through the foolishness of pride. You think of yourself and the sins that drove you to the Altar of Sacrifice seeking forgiveness and you wonder “Are they really gone?”

As you gaze there suddenly appears on the Veil in stark ugly black, woven in and our among the Cherubim, every sin, every act or even thought of rebellion – nothing is left out, everything is revealed –all the secret hidden things, and more than that, the suggestion of every evil known to man which may yet lie in the future – every horrible thing. The Cherubim now seem to be wielding fiery swords and their eyes flame with holy indignation at your presumption. The Veil which looked so beautiful has become a thing of terror – a monstrosity hanging in this Holy Place.

[Spend some time on this. Also see on the Veil the things that others have done which have hurt or offended you]

A voice behind you whispers – a voice you have heard many times before, insinuating, accusing.-“Did you really think it could be any different? You and I know what you’re really like. Look at yourself.” You look down and see that the robe you thought was so clean is hanging in filthy tatters. You cringe and weep with shame and wish that the lamp would go out and the darkness swallow you up. The hideous taunting whisper goes on and on confirming what you already know – you sin has made an impenetrable barrier between you and God – a barrier you are helpless to remove.

Suddenly you hear from outside somewhere, a loud cry – a cry born in agony yet ringing in triumph “IT IS FINISHED!”

Then unseen hands take hold of the Veil, tear it from top to bottom and push it aside and the Shekinah floods out. It is a living pulsating light – almost tangible, and everything else recedes from view. You look down at your robe; it is glistening white and seems to be woven with the same glory that has enveloped the Holy Place and the Life and the Light of the Shekinah fill your whole being. You look up and see the unveiled Glory of God and know that, even as you behold it, you are reflecting like a mirror, that same Glory. The Cherubim no longer wield fiery swords but gaze with wondering eyes at the blood on the Mercy Seat.

 A welcoming voice says “COME,” and you walk over blood sprinkled ground into the arms of the Father. He speaks your name and says “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you. You are mine and I am yours for eternity. All that I have is yours and NOTHING will ever separate you from My love. What I have opened no one can shut.” You begin to understand the height and depth and length and breadth of His incredible love. It washes you through and through and every wound is healed. You know that you will never be the same, because your eyes have beheld the Living God and no one can see God and live. That old wilful Self is gone forever and your life is now immersed in His.

Jesus is standing there at the right hand of the Father.  There are deep wounds in His hands and feet, but His face is radiant. He has endured the Cross, despising the shame for the joy of seeing you come to this place. He says, “You are My Beloved, flesh of My flesh and bone of My bones and I have longed for this. You share a timeless moment of utter bliss.

He continues, “There are others I long to bring here. Will you go for me? Will you take the glory of this place out into the darkness and bring My love into the midst of the pain and turmoil of the world? Will you be a servant to all and wash the feet of the weary? It is not an easy path I am asking you to walk, but you will share my joy even as you share My suffering and you’ll never be alone. The way of the Cross is the way of Redemption for the World.”

He has been holding over His arm the High Priestly garments and He now places over your white garment, the blue robe with its fruit and tinkling bells. He asks “Will you share My gospel and minister the gifts I give you in love?” He puts on the Ephod with the Breastplate of glittering gems and the gleaming onyx at the shoulders and says “Will you carry My people in your heart, bear them up and join Me in My intercessions for them? They are my precious gems.” He places the Urim and Thummim in the pocket of the breastplate and says, “You will never lack guidance, You have only to ask and I will share the secrets of My heart.” He places the diadem of gold on your head with its inscription and says “You are now ‘Holiness unto the Lord,’ as the Father has sent Me, so send I you.” You turn to, reluctantly yet with purpose, knowing that this place is always open to you. 

He calls after you, “And child, don’t tell anyone who you are – just live it!”

 

Philippians 2:5-8  “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant and coming in the likeness of men, and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

Philippians 3:8 “.....I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord....that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.”

Colossians 3:3,4 “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”

1 John 4:17 “Love has been perfected among us in this; that we may have boldness in the day of judgement; because as He is, so are we in this world.”

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.”