CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION

Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty: Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God that he hath given thee. (Deuteronomy 16:16,17)

There were three times each year when the Hebrew men were to gather together before the Lord. The three times were as follows:

The feast of Unleavened Bread.

The feast of Weeks (Pentecost).

The feast of Tabernacles.

The week of Unleavened Bread began with the slaying of the Passover Lamb. It included the celebration of the Firstfruits of the barley harvest.

The feast of Weeks is known to us more commonly as Pentecost—an Anglicized form of a Greek word related in meaning to the number "fifty." The feast of Weeks came a week of weeks (seven weeks) after the high Sabbath of Unleavened Bread. Forty-nine days elapsed, and on the fiftieth day the assemblage of Pentecost was called.

The week of Tabernacles occurred during the seventh month. The seventh month (Tishri) commenced with a memorial day announced by the blowing of Trumpets. The Blowing of Trumpets was followed on the tenth day of the month by the solemn Day of Atonement.

The feast of Tabernacles was celebrated from the fifteenth through the twenty-first day of this seventh month, with an eighth day of rejoicing (Simchat Torah ) occurring on the twenty-second day.

The three convocations, Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, and Tabernacles, constitute one of the most significant types of the plan of redemption to be found in the Scripture.

There are three major phases of the Divinely provided redemption that is in Christ. The three phases are not like three rungs on a ladder we are to climb or three grades in school we are to attain. Rather, the three phases are as three facets of one diamond.

They are three dimensions of the one redemption that we possess, entire and whole, when we receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior.

The three areas of our redemption are pictured in the Scriptures in a number of ways, in addition to the three feasts of Israel, and these portrayals enable us to gain additional insight.

The Outer Court, Holy Place, and Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle of the Congregation (Exodus 40:18-30).

The three divisions of the journey of the Israelites, which were the exodus from Egypt, the wilderness wandering, and the entrance into the land of promise.

The water to the ankles, knees, and loins (Ezekiel 47:3-5).

The hundredfold, sixtyfold, and thirtyfold (Matthew 13:8).

The fruit, more fruit, and much fruit (John 15:2-5).

The three stories of Noah's Ark (Genesis 6:16).

The three means of overcoming Satan: the blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony, and loving not our life to the death (Revelation 12:11).

The three "days" (Hosea 6:2; Luke 13:32).

The manifestation of Christ's glory on the third day (John 2:1-11).

The three testings of Christ (Luke 4:1-13).

The three "cities" in which the saints are overcome: Sodom, Egypt, Jerusalem (Revelation 11:8).

Be alert as you study the Scriptures for events that had to do with a three-day period of time (Joshua 1:11; Nehemiah 2:11; Exodus 19:15; Jonah 1:17; and so forth).

Christ rose from the dead on the third day.

These dissimilar and widely scattered examples may seem to be unrelated at first glance and their "threeness" coincidental. A closer look may show that many of the examples portray much the same thing and yield further understanding of the meaning of the redemption that is in Christ.

Paul speaks of being "caught up to the third heaven" (II Corinthians 12:2), and so it appears there are at least three heavens. Since Hebrews 9:21-24 informs us that the Tabernacle and its vessels were "patterns of things in the heavens," we may conclude that Heaven itself is in three divisions, and that we can learn a great deal about the redemption that comes to us from Heaven by studying the Old Testament types, as well as by meditating on what Christ has done and is doing in the earth. This we will do in subsequent chapters.

The redemption that is in Christ is a mighty work, a broad work, a perfect work. It includes the growth of the believer to spiritual maturity, which is the image of Christ; the growth of the Church, the Body of Christ, to the Bride of the Lamb without blemish; and the setting up of the Kingdom of God on the earth.

The believer is (1) "born again" into the Kingdom of God and baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Church, the Body of Christ. The saint then (2) fights his way, by the wisdom and power that the Holy Spirit gives, into (3) the "throne" phase of redemption. He must "overcome" if he is to rule with Christ and be God's son (Revelation 3:21, 21:7).

In spite of the "threeness" it is one redemption, one Lord Jesus Christ, one blood of the Lamb of God, one God the Father of whom and by whom are all aspects of the one redemption.

We have given the title Three Deaths and Three Resurrections to our book. This is exactly what occurs. In order to enter each of the three areas of redemption we must die the specific death God has ordained. If we are willing to go through the "deaths" that God has decreed we will receive the accompanying resurrection.

The deaths are just that—deaths. The resulting resurrections are so glorious the deaths soon are forgotten.

"No man can see God and live." Therefore we die that we may live eternally in His Presence.

It is our understanding that the greatest of all revivals of human history is in progress today in the Church of Christ. The third death, which we will be describing with the help of the Holy Spirit, never before (as far as we know) has been called to the attention of the churches as a defined doctrine, to any great extent. Yet, the third death is the one that will bring us into the authority and power the Lord Jesus has promised to His Church.

The doctrine that the Holy Spirit is giving us in these days is not new, actually. It is apostolic. It has been contained in the Scriptures since they were written. There have been many outstanding saints throughout the centuries who have pressed into close fellowship and union with God through Christ. These have been blessed individuals. Now God is increasing the understanding of the Church as a whole. Perhaps this "latter rain" revival of understanding and experience began with the Protestant Reformers.

We have been in a period of restoration for the past several hundred years. The scriptural teaching concerning the maturing of Christ in us, which the Holy Spirit is unfolding, is straightforward, clear, and brings peace and joy to our hearts.

Sometimes the development of redemption in our life involves of necessity a fiery trial for a season—a "death" out of which can come newness of resurrection life.

There are three major symbols of Judaism: the Altar, the Lampstand (Menorah ), and the booth. Let us proceed to investigate the three gifts of God's grace that the three symbols portray.

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