A Time of Rejoicing, from The Coming Day of Redemption
A Time of Rejoicing, from The Coming Day of Redemption
This truly is a Year of Jubilee for us in our church. The Scriptures are opening as never before. The congregation has been participating in some Jewish dancing---and there is nothing else as joyous as Jewish dancing!
It reminds us of the Tabernacle of David, doesn't it?
And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. (II Samuel 6:14,15)
And they brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. (II Samuel 6:17)
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The following verse refers to the decline of the Tabernacle of David, prophesying of the two thousand years of the Church Age, during which the glory of the Christian churches has declined, and Satan has governed the earth. But Christ is coming again, and there will be an end of Satan's rule.
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)
After the first century of the Christian Era, the spirit of revelation that was on the original Apostles seems to have been lifted. While some Christian work continued, it appears that the original ministry of the Christian churches was not revitalized until the Protestant Reformers of the Restoration began their ministry. We are thinking now of the revival during the 16th century.
Since that time, some features of the original doctrines and experiences have been restored. The best known of these may be the doctrine of "righteousness by faith," as compared to punishing one's self, and helping people in need, such as lepers, in order to gain the righteousness that will admit a person to Heaven.
Water baptism by immersion; the priesthood of the believer; the born-again experience, have been added. At the beginning of the twentieth century, speaking in tongues began to be practiced. I would regard these restorations of spiritual life as the rebuilding of the Tabernacle of David.
By the "Tabernacle of David" I mean the anointing of the Spirit of God upon a remnant, in contrast to the anointing of the Spirit of God upon all whom God intends to save into the coming world of righteousness.
The concept of a "firstfruits," an anointed "remnant," is an important part of God's plan of redemption.
One can see in our day the division between an anointed remnant and the majority of those who profess Christ.
I do believe that if all the pastors of the Christian churches in the United States were to announce from their pulpits that unless an individual denied himself, took up his or her cross of delayed gratification, and followed the Lord Jesus until the person was living by the Life of Jesus, he or she was not a genuine Christian, that the larger part of the church-attenders would leave their churches—at least the churches that taught what it really means to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus.
I think a careful study of the history of the Christian churches will reveal that there often has been a large organization, such as the Catholic Church, and then a relative handful of believers who earnestly were seeking the Lord. Unfortunately, these handfuls sometimes were persecuted viciously by the large organization.
In fact, there have been sincere disciples of Jesus in the Catholic churches who sometimes are venerated as "saints." This designation comes from the recognition that they were different from the ordinary Catholic communicant.
Notice, in the following, that the restoring of the Tabernacle of David will result in the power of Christ extending to the nations.
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: That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the Lord that doeth this. (Amos 9:11:12)
That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. (Acts 15:17)
The significance of this is as follows. The reign of David preceded the reign of Solomon. During the reign of David the Tabernacle of the Congregation, representing the majority of God's people, was in Gibeon, north of Jerusalem. But the Ark remained in Jerusalem in a tent, that is referred to as "The Tabernacle of David."
The thousand-year period, often referred to as the "Millennium," and I term, the "Kingdom Age," was foreshadowed by the reign of King David.
The new heaven and earth era was foreshadowed by the reign of King Solomon. This is the way I see it. At the time of the new heaven and earth reign of the Lord Jesus, the anointed remnant will be merged with the majority of the Church; the Lord's "mighty men" will take their place as part of Israel.
Thus the perfecting of the Church will occur in two stages, typified by the reigns of David and Solomon.
In our day the Ark of God is returning to God's people.
The "Ark" has been in captivity for the two thousand years of the Church Era, so to speak. But now we know by the Spirit that we are approaching the Day of Redemption, the return of King Jesus, and the thousand years of the Kingdom Age (Millennium).
When referring to the Ark returning to God's people, I am speaking figuratively of the Glory of Christ approaching His churches. The actual, physical Ark of the Covenant will be seen no more, as I understand it. The Ark will be replaced by the saints, in whose hearts the Throne of God will be established. The saints compose the holy city, the new Jerusalem.
And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the Lord, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the Lord: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more.
At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. (Jeremiah 3:16,17)
The thousand-year Kingdom Age is a partial reign.
The fullness of the Kingdom will come after the final judgment and resurrection of the dead of all ages, when the thousand years have been concluded.
It may be noticed that the Ark, hidden since the days of Nebuchadnezzar, will be seen spiritually once again when Christ becomes King of the kingdoms of the world. This appearance of the Ark symbolizes the Tabernacle of David, in which King David placed the Ark of the Covenant.
And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. (Revelation 11:19)
The Ark represents Christ—Head and Body. The Body of Christ that will be seen at the next appearing of Christ actually is a firstfruits of the Body. The full Body of Christ, the glorified Christian Church, will not be seen in its fullness until the new Jerusalem descends from Heaven to be established for eternity upon the new earth.
Before the new Jerusalem descends from Heaven, Christ, and a firstfruits of His Body, will govern the earth throughout the thousand-year Kingdom Age. This is the restoration of the Tabernacle of David.
What a glorious day we are in! Indeed, it is the beginning of the Year of Jubilee. All that has been lost, due to the reign of Satan, shall be restored.
There shall be singing and dancing in the heights of Zion, as the "Ark" is returning. I saw a month or so ago, in the briefest of visions, the Lord Jesus dancing. He is our King David and He is rejoicing at what His Father is bringing to pass. I did not understand the vision until just now.
So let us never once touch what God is doing, but watch the Spirit of God carefully and go as He is directing. Any attempt to make an organization or a movement out of the present move of the Spirit will only delay the coming of the Kingdom to the earth.
The Pentecostal movement lost its fire when it was organized. By "lost its fire" I mean it lost the "Ark of the Covenant," so to speak. When the Ark is lost, the Day of Atonement cannot be celebrated. David's Tabernacle is reduced to powerlessness. What we have left is the "Tabernacle at the High Place in Gibeon," to speak in a figure.
The Tabernacle at the High Place, minus the Ark of the Covenant, speaks of the Christian churches practicing their customary services without the authority and power to set people free from the bondages of sin.
The same thing happened to the "Latter Rain" revival that occurred at the middle of the twentieth century. If I am correct, both the Pentecostal and Latter Rain revivals died because ambitious people "put their hands on the Ark" by trying to organize the intervention of the Lord. The "booth builders" drove away the Presence of Christ.
To "lay our hand on the Ark" is to die spiritually!
The "death" of the two movements means that the fullness of making man in God's image by the removal of sin and self-will cannot proceed, because such removal depends on the spiritual fulfillment of the Day of Atonement; which in turn depends on the placing of the Ark in David's Tabernacle.
The Ark can be carried successfully only as the Holy Spirit moves upon the members of the Royal Priesthood. It will not submit to being carried by ambitious Christian leaders and ministers.
The power of the seven thunders will be held back until God has saints who will set aside their own ambitions that God's will may be done. Then the ministry of the two witnesses may proceed, and the spiritual fulfillment of the Day of Atonement, the making of man in God's image, will take place in God's remnant of saints who are determined to do God's will.
You can choose to be one of these, if that is your desire.
You may have observed that the Day of Atonement (of Reconciliation) is the sixth of the seven major Jewish convocations. Man was stipulated to be in God's image on the sixth day of creation.
We are at a rare moment in history. The world is sinking into the depths of sin and confusion. But where sin is abounding, the grace and Glory of God are abounding to an inconceivably greater extent.
Let me digress for a moment and talk about a separate but related issue.
I noticed, when studying about the "faith alone" (Evangelical) and "faith plus works" (Catholic) doctrines that neither side is completely correct.
The faith alone group may insist that there absolutely is nothing we are to do except believe. Salvation, which they equate with admission to Heaven, is gained as we make a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus. Our "faith" is all that is needed to guarantee righteousness in the sight of God and entrance into Paradise when we die.
(I wonder sometimes if such "faith" often is little more than mental acknowledgment. It may not be the grasp upon God's Character that genuine faith is!)
It absolutely is not true that there is nothing we are to do after receiving Christ. The New Testament is filled with exhortations to righteous living and to practical steps to keep us growing in Christ.
Let me quote from a recent essay titled, "Did Jesus Do It All?"
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. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1,2)
Now, think about the passage above. Are we to respond by saying "Jesus did it all," or is there something we are to do? What do you say about this?
"Present your bodies a living sacrifice." How do we do this? By refusing to follow the appetites of our flesh, denying its desires, making it serve the Lord.
We take control of our appetites. We make our body get up and go to church when it doesn't want to get out of bed. We do not give in to its laziness.
In the case of most of us, our body is a whimpering mass of sin and self-will. It does not want to make the changes that Christ requires of us. It does not want to be crucified so the Spirit of God can destroy the sinful nature that dwells in our flesh.
If we follow the desires of our body, while reciting that "Jesus did it all," we will never come to maturity in Christ. In fact, we may lose the little bit of eternal life we do have. That which bears thorns and briars is to be burned, the Book of Hebrews tells us.
If you think I am being too hard, consider those who are placed before us as people who lived by faith. In fact, the eleventh chapter of the Book of Hebrews is an explanation of "the just shall live by faith."
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:38,39)
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise. (Hebrews 11:37-39)
If this is what it means for the righteous to live by faith, how can we possibly believe that Jesus did it all and there is nothing left for us to do but to lean back on a divan and read the newspaper?
It is interesting to note that God uses people from the Old Testament to instruct us about what it means to "live by faith," isn't it? Perhaps the New Testament is, in a major sense, a continuation of the Old Testament, rather than a new dispensation, as some teach.
You know, it is time for a reformation of Christian thinking and preaching!
After we leave the first and second verses of the twelfth chapter of the Book of Romans, we find a large assortment of efforts we are to make:
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation.
He that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord. (Romans 12:6-11)
Let us prophesy.
Let us wait.
Let us teach.
Let us exhort.
Let us give.
Let us rule.
Let us show mercy.
Let us love without dissimulation.
Let us abhor that which is evil.
Let us cleave to that which is good.
Let us be kindly affectioned one to another.
Let us prefer one another in honor.
Let us not be slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.
And so on and on and on.
Someone may claim that this is all fine and good, but we are saved by faith and not by any of the above. This argument falls apart completely when we change our meaning of "saved," from eternal residence in Heaven, to being conformed to the image of Christ and untroubled rest in the center of God's Person and will!
My response is, "Such reasoning is specious. It is deception at its worst. By this teaching we make the words of the Apostles of no effect. The truth is, in our unwillingness to face our personal cross and the total demands of the true Christian discipleship, we have seized upon a few verses and have deduced our theology from these. We have ignored the bulk of the New Testament teachings."
How could any devout Christian deny we are to obey every word of the Lord Jesus and His Apostles if we expect to grow in Christ! If we are willing to cleave to Jesus totally until His Life becomes our life, the day will come when the Day Star will rise within us and we will keep God's commandments by nature.
But nothing like this will take place in us until we pray continually and look to Christ to help us obey what is written in the New Testament.
The teaching of "faith alone," as it is interpreted today, is a destructive idea that has produced generations of Christian church-attenders who have no idea what it means to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are spiritual infants, grace-babies, of no threat to Satan, and of no use to God as He is building His Kingdom.
I believe the "faith alone" position, at the time of the Protestant Reformers, meant "we are saved by faith apart from the Catholic emphasis on self-punishment and attendance to social needs." Today it means "do not try to do anything about your salvation. Jesus did it all. Any effort you make is legalism and self-righteousness."
The present understanding is quite different from the Catholic idea of making an atonement by self-punishment and good social deeds!
The Catholic position, that by good works we are saved and made eligible to enter Heaven when we die, is also unscriptural, although perhaps not as destructive as the "faith alone" error.
We cannot save ourselves by any sort of self-punishment, such as saying so many "Our Fathers," or by crawling on our knees to venerated statuary. Atonement was made once for all on the cross of Calvary.
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (I John 2:1,2)
The idea of Purgatory, which as I understand it is a place in which we suffer until we have atoned for our sins and now are worthy to enter Paradise, seeks to add to the atonement made by Christ.
Christ's sufferings made atonement for all mankind. It is true that Christians must endure tribulation and suffering. But the purpose of our suffering is to drive sin from us, not to make an atonement so we are worthy to enter Heaven. That idea has no support in the Scriptures. It is human reasoning.
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. (I Peter 4:1,2)
I believe it is true that numerous people whom God judges to be worthy of eternal life, but who have not lived a victorious life in Christ, will, after they die, have to undergo a season of instruction until they are fit to fulfill their role in the Kingdom.
But such instruction and training, whether or not it involves suffering, is altogether different from suffering to atone for their sins and self-will. The one atonement made by Jesus Christ on the cross has appeased the wrath of God concerning every person He has selected to inhabit the new world of righteousness that is on the horizon. It is finished!
So what then is the true way of salvation? It is to receive by faith the atonement made on the cross. Then we are to count ourselves as dead to the world and alive in the Lord Jesus. From that point forward we are to seek to live in newness of resurrection life.
We have learned recently that the concept of residence in Heaven being the goal of the Christian redemption is not scriptural. The true goal of the Divine redemption is conformation to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ, and perfect, untroubled rest in the center of the Father's Person and will.
Thus we see that salvation is not a change in where we are but of what we are.
Living in newness of life requires continual prayer, meditation in the Bible, and bringing the Lord Jesus into every area of our life until we are a new creation of righteous behavior. Brother Lawrence, the Catholic, helped to show us the way the true Christian lives, in his "practice of the Presence of God."
Brother Lawrence's saintly conduct of life has been an inspiration to untold multitudes of people. This is the true Christian life, the life pursued by the anointed remnant of all periods of Christian history, whether the believer be a Catholic or Protestant. The Christian organizations plow ahead according to their understanding and convictions. But the true remnant continue to walk with Jesus.
To sit in a chair and read the newspaper and say, "I am saved by faith alone. Jesus did it all. I am on my way to Heaven where I will continue to do nothing but believe," would be funny if it were not so deadly in its effect.
Do we work for our salvation? Absolutely not! Our salvation was paid for on the cross and it is God's gift to us.
Do we do anything in addition to saying, "Thank You?"
Decidedly yes, beginning with presenting our body a living sacrifice to God so that Christ may live in us and do the works of God.
How many "Christians" do you know who are presenting their body a living sacrifice that they may prove God's will for themselves? How many are denying themselves, taking up their cross, and following the Lord Jesus at all times?
How many are seeking to think and plan along with the Lord Jesus? Speak along with the Lord Jesus? Act along with the Lord Jesus? This is the way Christ lives by the Life of the Father. This is the way we are to live by the Life of the Lord Jesus.
How many in your church? Five? Two? One? None?
Nothing short of this is acceptable, if we expect to go to meet Jesus when the Trumpet sounds. Jesus has no intention of calling up to Himself undisciplined church-attenders who never have gained victory over their sin and self-will.
You may tell from what I am writing that we have come to a movement of the Ark. There is great jubilation, singing, dancing, praising God. No one is to lay a hand on the Ark to steady it; to attempt to direct and organize what the Spirit of God is doing today. This is what religious organizers may attempt to do, but it is not acceptable. We cannot build three booths to contain it.
The power and revelation that are approaching will increase, no matter what satanically-inspired actions take place in the governments of the world. The revival finally will, I believe, evolve into the mighty works of the two witnesses of the eleventh chapter of the Book of Revelation. The two witnesses are Christ, the one Witness; working with the victorious saints, the second witness. Such is my understanding at this time.
Perhaps if we are willing to abandon our own interests and obey Christ in all aspects of our life, we may be able through prayer to reverse some of the abominations we read about in the paper or see on television, such as the individual who has been harmed or treated unjustly, or some of the deliberations of the world governments.
All of this glory, power, and fruitfulness can be part of your life as you press into the Lord Jesus.
Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. (Hosea 6:1-3)