Numbers 4:21-49  The Duties of the Levites – Part 3

[Study Aired May 22, 2023]

Num 4:21  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 4:22  Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout the houses of their fathers, by their families;
Num 4:23  From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them; all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.
Num 4:24  This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, to serve, and for burdens:
Num 4:25  And they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tabernacle of the congregation, his covering, and the covering of the badgers’ skins that is above upon it, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, 
Num 4:26  And the hangings of the court, and the hanging for the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle and by the altar round about, and their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and all that is made for them: so shall they serve.
Num 4:27  At the appointment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burdens, and in all their service: and ye shall appoint unto them in charge all their burdens. 
Num 4:28  This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation: and their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 
Num 4:29  As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them after their families, by the house of their fathers;
Num 4:30  From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Num 4:31  And this is the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tabernacle of the congregation; the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and sockets thereof, 
Num 4:32  And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and by name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden. 
Num 4:33  This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tabernacle of the congregation, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 
Num 4:34  And Moses and Aaron and the chief of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites after their families, and after the house of their fathers, 
Num 4:35  From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation: 
Num 4:36  And those that were numbered of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty. 
Num 4:37  These were they that were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, which Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses. 
Num 4:38  And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, and by the house of their fathers, 
Num 4:39  From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation, 
Num 4:40  Even those that were numbered of them, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, were two thousand and six hundred and thirty. 
Num 4:41  These are they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, of all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, whom Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the LORD. 
Num 4:42  And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers,
Num 4:43  From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation, 
Num 4:44  Even those that were numbered of them after their families, were three thousand and two hundred. 
Num 4:45  These be those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses. 
Num 4:46  All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chief of Israel numbered, after their families, and after the house of their fathers,
Num 4:47  From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation, 
Num 4:48  Even those that were numbered of them, were eight thousand and five hundred and fourscore. 
Num 4:49  According to the commandment of the LORD they were numbered by the hand of Moses, every one according to his service, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him, as the LORD commanded Moses. 

Overview

The study defines the services to be rendered by the Levites – Gershonites, Kohathites and the families of Merari, when the camp is setting out, that is, when the Israelites were moving from one place to another. We must remember that Israel’s movement in the wilderness was dictated by the pillar of a cloud which leads them from place to place by day and a pillar of fire by night to give them light to travel by night. 

Exo 13:21  And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

Neh 9:19  Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go.

Both the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire represent Christ and the fire of His words. This age is regarded as one long night, and it is those who are guided by the pillar of fire (that is those who are being judged) who are being given the light of His words to navigate their way through this wilderness of life. 

Rom 13:12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

In a sense, the movement of the Israelites in the wilderness under the guidance of the pillar of cloud and fire symbolizes how the kingdom of heaven is being built over the ages as the word of the Lord (the pillar of cloud and fire) goes forth. As we know, the Levites represent our brothers and sisters in Babylon, and as we shall see later in the study, they play an integral part in the building of the kingdom of heaven. This is an example of what the Lord says regarding the work of our brothers and sisters in Babylon in the building of the kingdom of heaven:

Mat 13:31  Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 
Mat 13:32  Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
Mat 13:33  Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 
Mat 13:34  All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 
Mat 13:35  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

The mustard seed growing to become a tree, where all kinds of birds lodged in its branches, tells us about the negative aspect of the growth of the kingdom of heaven. The birds represent the devil or the evil one and his messengers, who make the assembly of our brothers and sisters in Babylon, a synagogue of Satan.

Rev 2:9  I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

The woman who hid three measures of meal to cause the whole meal to be leavened represents the harlot woman who represents Babylon. The whole meal becoming leaven implies that the word of the Lord has been corrupted with false doctrines. As Jesus said in the parable, this is all part of the building of the kingdom of heaven for the sake of the elect. That is why Jesus forbade His disciples by saying that he that is not against us is for us. 

Rev 17:3  So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
Rev 17:5  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Luk 9:49  And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.
Luk 9:50  And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.

Paul reiterated the point Jesus made by saying that some preach the good news out of envy and strife. However, whether the word is preached in pretense, or in truth, the kingdom of heaven is advancing!

Php 1:15  Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
Php 1:16  The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 
Php 1:17  But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
Php 1:18  What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

Wow!! How unsearchable is the wisdom of God who uses both good and evil to accomplish His purpose!!

Rom 11:33  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Rom 11:34  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Rom 11:35  Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
Rom 11:36  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Num 4:21  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
Num 4:22  Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout the houses of their fathers, by their families;
Num 4:23  From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them; all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

As indicated in the previous study, there is an age requirement for one to do the work of the Lord regarding the tabernacle of the congregation. To serve as a Levite – a Gershonite, Kohathites or from the families of Merari, one has to be between the ages of thirty and fifty. In a positive sense, one has to be spiritually mature to do the work of the Lord as the ages specified refer to the “golden years” of our lives where we are mature and have the necessary strength to do all kinds of work. The number 30 signifies the time we are spiritually mature as we have our senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Our spiritual maturity involves going through fiery trials as we see Joseph go through trials to become Prime Minister of Egypt at the age 30. David also became king at the age of 30 years. The number fifty refers to the liberty we have in Christ as we become spiritually mature. This liberty is about our freedom from bondage to sin.

Gen 41:46  And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

2Sa 5:4  David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Gal 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Gal 5:13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

As we recall from the Bible, our Lord Jesus Christ waited until He was thirty years old before He began His ministry or work of service to God. Although He was a son, He learned obedience by the things He suffered and became the author of salvation to the elect first and then to the rest of the world.

Luk 3:23  And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,

Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Heb 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Heb 5:10  Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

Num 4:24  This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, to serve, and for burdens:
Num 4:25  And they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tabernacle of the congregation, his covering, and the covering of the badgers’ skins that is above upon it, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,
Num 4:26  And the hangings of the court, and the hanging for the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle and by the altar round about, and their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and all that is made for them: so shall they serve.

In serving the Lord, the clan of the Gershonites were required to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, the covering of the tent of meeting and the covering of the badgers’ skin as they journeyed through the wilderness. They were also to carry the hangings of the court and the screen for the entrance of the gate. We can see that these Gershonites’ service to the Lord are basically superficial. There was nothing of the spirit involved in their service to the Lord. The items they were supposed to carry were basically the coverings of the tabernacle which is what the people of Israel see when the tabernacle is erected. In the Bible, coverings or clothing signify righteousness. 

Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

There are two kinds of righteousness – the righteousness which is self-made and that which is imputed by the Lord.  These Gershonites, or our brothers and sisters in Babylon, propagate self-righteousness which is that of the law. As the scripture says, this self-righteousness is iniquity before the Lord.

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Eze 33:13  When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.

Because these Gershonites, or our brothers and sisters in Babylon, do a lot of work in transporting their own righteousness according to the law across the world, they think they have the right standing with the Lord but do not know that they are workers of iniquity.  When we were in Babylon, we also thought that we have the right standing with the Lord, but by the mercies of the Lord, we have renounced our self-righteousness in favor of righteousness which is by faith in Christ Jesus as we exited Babylon.

Mat 7:21  Not everyone 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. 
Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 
Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Num 4:27  At the appointment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burdens, and in all their service: and ye shall appoint unto them in charge all their burdens. 
Num 4:28  This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation: and their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

These verses are to remind us that the work of the Gershonites, or our brothers and sisters in Babylon, are all ordained by the Lord. Aaron and his sons here represent our Lord Jesus Christ, who is working all things after the counsel of His will.

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

In verse 28, the son of Aaron, Ithamar, was chosen to be responsible for the work of the sons of Gershon. Itharmar signifies ‘palm coast’. It is very instrumental to note that where there are palm trees, there is water.

Exo 15:27  And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.

Num 33:9  And they removed from Marah, and came unto Elim: and in Elim were twelve fountains of water, and threescore and ten palm trees; and they pitched there.

As the Lord becomes our helper, we become like palm trees which are planted by the rivers of water and bring forth fruit at the right time ordained by the Lord.

Psa 1:3  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The sons of Gershon working under Ithamar signifies that all the works of the Gershonites are for the sake of the elect. 

Joh 4:37  And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
Joh 4:38  I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

Num 4:29  As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them after their families, by the house of their fathers;
Num 4:30  From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation.

As we have indicated earlier in this study, being thirty years old and above means being spiritually mature to serve the Lord. This is the requirement to serve the Lord. However, in Babylon, this is not the case as children are the ones leading the Lord’s children.  The Bible has a lot to warn us about children who try to serve as they assume leadership of the Lord’s people. This is what happens:

Isa 3:4  And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.
Isa 3:5  And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.

Isa 3:12  As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

Num 4:31  And this is the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tabernacle of the congregation; the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and sockets thereof,
Num 4:32  And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and by name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden.
Num 4:33  This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tabernacle of the congregation, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

The service to be offered by the sons of Merari involves carrying the frames of the tabernacle with its bars. pillars and bases. In other words, the sons of Merari or the Levites’ work in the kingdom of heaven is related to the beginning aspect of building the kingdom of heaven with the Lord having laid the foundation. However, after the foundation has been laid, how we build on it is the issue. The work of the Levites is related to the wood, hay and stubble which cannot stand the test of fire, which is judgment. As we have all experienced, it is after we leave Babylon that our judgment begins resulting in the burning of the chaff which we have used in building on the foundation of Christ. This implies that the initial work of the sons of Merari or Babylon as we begin our relationship with Christ is what gives the Lord the occasion to come and judge us as we leave Babylon.

1Co 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1Co 3:12  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 
1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

Mat 3:11  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: 
Mat 3:12  Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

The fact that Ithamar, who represents the elect, was to supervise the work of the sons of Merari is to let us know that all the work being done by our Babylonian brothers and sisters are for our sake.

2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

Num 4:34  And Moses and Aaron and the chief of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites after their families, and after the house of their fathers, 
Num 4:35  From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation: 
Num 4:36  And those that were numbered of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty. 
Num 4:37  These were they that were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, which Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

The number of Kohathites who were from thirty years old and up to fifty years, who were counted by Moses and Aaron, was 2,750. This number implies that the complete number of the elect (significance of the number 7) must be spiritually mature to be counted for the service of the Lord which entails being witnesses of Christ (the significance of the number 2). This is achieved by grace through faith through the chastening rod of our Lord Jesus Christ (the significance of the number 5).

Isa 43:10  Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Num 4:38  And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, and by the house of their fathers, 
Num 4:39  From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation, 
Num 4:40  Even those that were numbered of them, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, were two thousand and six hundred and thirty.
Num 4:41  These are they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, of all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, whom Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the LORD.

The number of the sons of Gershon who were qualified to serve was 2,630. What we are being made aware of is that from every tribe and kindred (the significance of the number 6) the Lord is selecting His witnesses (the significance of the number 2) to become spiritually mature through the process of the Lord’s judgment (the significance of the number 3). We all through tribulation (judgment) must enter into the service of God’s kingdom.

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Num 4:42  And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, 
Num 4:43  From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation, 
Num 4:44  Even those that were numbered of them after their families, were three thousand and two hundred. 
Num 4:45  These be those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

The sons of Merari numbered 3,200. Again, it stresses the point that to become part of His witnesses in this world, we must become spiritually mature through the Lord’s judgment of our old man. In other words, to become a witness of the Lord requires us to go through the seven plagues (complete judgment  of our old man).

Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Num 4:46  All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chief of Israel numbered, after their families, and after the house of their fathers,
Num 4:47  From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation,
Num 4:48  Even those that were numbered of them, were eight thousand and five hundred and fourscore.
Num 4:49  According to the commandment of the LORD they were numbered by the hand of Moses, every one according to his service, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him, as the LORD commanded Moses.

In total, the number of Levites who were counted was 8,580. We are called and chosen from the tribe of Levites (Babylon) to come and serve the Lord. It is by grace through faith that we are called and chosen to birth the new man within us who is after the image of Christ (significance of the number 8). As indicated, this grace is the chastening work of the Lord which results in the birth of the new man.

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12  Teaching (The Greek word used is Paideuo which means chasten) us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

May the Lord continue to help us to become witnesses of Christ as we see the day approaching!! Amen!!

Audio Links

Awesome Hands – part 113

“The women … did spin with their hands”

March 17, 2017

Repentance and comfort were the topics of last study, and as we learned, they are closely linked together. In our study this week, we are going to connect these two things with what we do after we have gone through the repentance process.

It is important for us to learn how to proceed, biblically speaking, because we know that there will be many times during our lives that repentance will be needed. It is during these times that we need to know what to do next in order to act on the repentance of which we have just been a part.

As we learned last week, repentance brings us comfort, but after we are comforted we need to go about the work of the Lord, or we will again fall into our old ways of the old man which lead us into needing to repent of those works once again.

Mar 2:17  When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Act 11:18  When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Rom 2:1  Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
Rom 2:2  But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
Rom 2:3  And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

2Co 7:10  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

After repentance to salvation and repentance unto life come to us, what is our purpose, and how to we go about achieving that purpose?

In our study today, we are going to cover these questions in the context of the next mentioning of “yad” or “hands” in scripture. Our verses for consideration today at found in Exodus 35.

At the beginning of this chapter we learn what the commandments of keeping the Sabbath holy are, and then we learn this about the building up of the tabernacle.

Exo 35:4  And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying,
Exo 35:5  Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass,
Exo 35:6  And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair,
Exo 35:7  And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood,
Exo 35:8  And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense,
Exo 35:9  And onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate.
Exo 35:10  And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the LORD hath commanded;

We have actually covered these verses previously in the Awesome Hands series, and I encourage you to search for those studies on IWWB if you are unfamiliar with them. For now, we are going to read some of the results of the children of Israel obeying the commandments of the Lord.

The important thing to start is that this all pertains to the building up of the tabernacle. Much like the children of God could not repent while they were in Egypt, since they were slaves to the Egyptians, we cannot have godly repentance until the Lord brings it to our attention that we NEED repentance in order to proceed in our walks with Him.

In Exodus 35:25-29 we will see how we are to proceed AFTER having repented of those things needing repentance. Again, this is a continuous process for whenever repentance is needed, since repent is a VERB, and after this verb has happened we must take action to build up the tabernacle of God, “whom temple you are”.

Zec 6:15  And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Rev 11:19  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.

Yes, indeed, the temple of God is OPENED in HEAVEN, and within His temple, within us, is His ark of His testament. How do we go about building up this temple?

Exo 35:25  And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen.
Exo 35:26  And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats’ hair.
Exo 35:27  And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate;
Exo 35:28  And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.
Exo 35:29  The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.

“Whose heart made them willing.” It sometimes feels a bit repetitive to add the disclaimer that we fully know and understand that the Lord is working ALL THINGS after the counsel of His own will, yet because we never know who our audience is, we must always make sure to communicate this Truth when speaking about things “we need to do” or things we “ought to be doing”.

Nevertheless, the Lord stirred up the hearts of the children of Israel to DO “all manner of work” for the building of the tabernacle.

So, how do we reconcile the two ideas that the Lord works it all, but we need to take on the work of the tabernacle of the Lord in order to achieve actually doing something that will be used in His temple?

“Don’t you know that you are the temple of God and the spirit of God DWELLS in you”? Are you alone the temple of God, or is there MORE to it than ‘me, myself and I’? Of course, there is more to it, and that brings us to our next variation on the Hebrew word “yad”.

Exo 36:1  Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded.

Exo 36:6  And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.
Exo 36:7  For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.

Exo 36:20  And he made boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up.
Exo 36:21  The length of a board was ten cubits, and the breadth of a board one cubit and a half.
Exodus 36:22  One board had two tenons (H3027), equally distant one from another: thus did he make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
Exodus 36:23  And he made boards for the tabernacle; twenty boards for the south side southward:

I am going to introduce a concept that may seem foreign to you at first, but once it rings true to your heart and mind, it should be one of those things not easily forgotten.

You’ll notice that the boards of the tabernacle were made out of wood. These boards are connected together by tenons, or hands, and if you are wondering what “works” the Lord puts into our hands to achieve the work of the tabernacle, then you must consider that the boards “made of wood” are connected together to form the skeleton of the tabernacle.

Exo 35:29  The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.

The Lord has commanded that Moses, who is a type of God in Jesus Christ, make these things happen “with his hands”. The “things that are made” are then made by the Lord “putting wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary” into the hearts of all the people who fashion all the items of the tabernacle to be “fitly joined together.”

I did a study a long while back named, “Fitly Joined Together”. At the time I did that study I conceptionally knew of the things I am speaking on today, but it hadn’t yet been revealed to me just how connected the “boards of the tabernacle” are by the “tenons” the Lord build into them.

Still, here is how we move PAST repentance and LIVE the thankfulness that comes with having received comfort from the process of repentance:

Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16  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 4:17  This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Eph 4:18  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Eph 4:19  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Eph 4:20  But ye have not so learned Christ;
Eph 4:21  If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
Eph 4:22  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Eph 4:23  And be RENEWED in the spirit of your mind;
Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Now comes the time of examination so that we can walk in the words that we just read. Knowing that the Lord works all things, how then do WE take part in this?

Is your mind renewed? Does it need renewing? Then look around to your left and right to the other boards that are connected to you, and SEE the TEMPLE of God as it is.

Eph 4:25  Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Eph 4:26  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Eph 4:27  Neither give place to the devil.

I know this seems so simplistic and that creator of the universe and all therein could not have simplified our lives down to these simple concepts, but I will counter that argument with asking if you have ever actually TRIED to do these things.

Truly, they are IMPOSSIBLE to achieve without the Lord doing them in us and He does them in us AS we call out for Him to create in us the new man’s mind in order to achieve these things in our lives.

Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
Eph 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

We keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace by realizing that we are all in this together. It seems so cliché, but it really is something we need to know deep within our hearts and minds.

Eph 2:19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 2:21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

We are built together for a habitation of God, and I dare say that a one-board home isn’t much of a place that can be inhabited.

I seem to have been given this “unity message” for a long time now in this series, but the more and more I study, the more I learn that the Lord would have His sheep gather together under His wing and NOT maintain a mind that we are separate.

Given everything I have said, that also means that we do not need to feel guilty when we are not able to stay in constant contact with one another or with ALL the members of the body that we know about.

In fact, back when these scriptures were written, it could have very well been many years before communication happened between various members, if at all. Sometimes, letters were sent to churches that have never seen those who wrote the letters.

However, the connecting glue that binds us all together is the Spirit that dwells in us all.

1Co 5:3  For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
1Co 5:4  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

If Paul can be present in Spirit to judge a Corinthian fornicator, then we, too, can be together in Spirit to partake of the judgments of God in the lives of His saints. We witness this “correcting judgment” each and every time we communicate with one another.

I hope that gives us all comfort.

Audio Links

Awesome Hands – part 97

“East to west”

February 24, 2016

We’ve been studying the various items of the tabernacle with great interest in learning the various hidden meanings behind each item. We know that the tabernacle represents Jesus Christ, and because we are a part of His body, we know that we have representation in the tabernacle as well.

In the study today, we are going to again look at various details which can easily be read quickly and overlooked but hold significant value to those who are “looking over a field and find a treasure of great price”.

Mat 13:44  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

I hope these studies add to your joy in finding “a hid treasure in a field”.

Joh 17:12  While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
Joh 17:13  And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
Joh 17:14  I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

The tenons of God

The first verses we are going to cover in this study are found in Exodus 26:15-17.

Exo 26:15  And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up.
Exo 26:16  Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board.
Exo 26:17  Two tenons shall there be in one board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle.

The first noticeable attribute of this acacia boards is that they are 15 feet long by 27 inches wide if a cubit is accepted as being 18 inches in size. This is generally the accepted measurement used so we will stick with that.

The other noticeable thing of note is those these trees would be fastened together with tenons, 2 per board. Remember, the covering of the tabernacle would be laying on the top and sides of this frame. So, there are framed sections connected together with one another via tenons.

As I briefly mentioned at the end of the study last week, these tenons are almost exclusively translated as hand or hands. This is the same “yad” that started this entire series being created, pun intended

H3027
yâd
Total KJV Occurrences: 1536
hand, 1088
hands, 275

This word “yad” is translated 1363 times as yad and the remaining 173 times are a lot of different words in English. So, the word is obviously inspired to be translated as hand or hands.

Yes, the “tenons/hands” which must be twice on each board are commanded by the Lord. The placement of the tenons would correspond with the silver sockets that we will be talking about in a few minutes.

I likened this at conclusion of the last study to the wings of the cherubim being in contact with one another:

Eze 1:8  And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.
Eze 1:9  Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.

The Lord wants us to be connected. Being that these boards are acacia wood with hands connecting them, we might start to get the idea that the Lord is trying to reveal something to us.

So, how are we all connected?

Many times you will hear us pray for one another and either sympathize or empathize with one another over the topic of the prayer request, but what connects us together in such a way that we care to pray for one another.

The obvious connecting is the Lord, but what is this connection so strong. Could it have to do with our origins and what so I mean by asking that question?

Exo 26:18  And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south side southward.
Exo 26:19  And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.
Exo 26:20  And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side there shall be twenty boards:
Exo 26:21  And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
Exo 26:22  And for the sides of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards.

Could it be that the dragging process, the process of the Lord dragging us to Himself, has us all being dragged in the same direction, and because of that dragging, we are able to understand the process we are going through individually?

The verses I just read above are the first examples in this tabernacles focused series of studies where we see direction or orientation being mentioned about the way the tabernacle must face. Yes, indeed even the direction is very important to the Lord!

What we have just been told in these verses is where the entrance to the tabernacle comes from, and that entrance is from the east. Why is that important?

As far as direction is concerned, the west is where the Father is. It is the direction we are heading. The Sun rises in the east and sets in the west and Jesus is the Sun of righteousness.

Depending on the direction we are heading, we are either moving towards God or away from Him spiritually speaking. We are either moving towards His throne in the heavens or we are moving away from it.

The tabernacle embodies this spiritual principle, and we can see the start of this principle at the very beginning of mankind’s interactions with the Lord.

Gen 3:22  And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
Gen 3:23  Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
Gen 3:24  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

The entrance to the garden of Eden, which was guarded by a flaming sword, was on the east side.

What we really see is the dynamic and spiritual principle of two men being dealt with in scripture, and we ALL have these two men in our lives and walks.

Even after Adam and Eve were kicked out of Eden, we see a progression of moving away from God of the old man typified in Cain.

Gen 4:16  And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

When Abram and Lot’s shepherds disputed over the land for their flocks, Lot separated from Abram and choose what he thought was best for his flesh and the wellbeing of his house.
Lot went to the east away from Abram, a man of faith.

Gen 13:7  And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
Gen 13:8  And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
Gen 13:9  Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
Gen 13:10  And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
Gen 13:11  Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
Gen 13:12  Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

When we all start off our dragging process we desire to please the flesh and to please the Lord. We do not want there to be strife between the two. The Lord has worked out this same dynamic over and over in all of our lives.

Indeed, even after we are spiritually given a new name, like Abram being named Abraham, we still desperately try to find a balance between doing what we need to do in and for the flesh and doing what God commands us to do. We all struggle with this battle of naturally versus spiritual, old man versus new man, US versus GOD. How does that end for the flesh? Sodom and Gomorrah are consumed in fire.

What does this have to do with the tabernacle?

The entrance to the outer court was in the east. This is the concordant literal version.

Exo 27:9 (CLV)  You will make the court of the tabernacle: for the edge of the Negev southward the slung-sheets for the court shall be of corded cambric, a hundred cubits length for the one edge,
Exo 27:10  with its twenty columns and their twenty copper sockets, the hooks of the columns and their connections of silver;”
Exo 27:11  and so for the north edge, in the length of the court the slung-sheets shall be a hundred cubits long with its twenty columns and their twenty copper sockets, the hooks of the columns and their connections of silver.
Exo 27:12  For the width of the court for the seaward edge, the slung-sheets shall be fifty cubits with their ten columns and their ten sockets.
Exo 27:13  The width of the court for the eastward edge toward the sunrise shall be fifty cubits.
Exo 27:14  Fifteen cubits of slung-sheets shall be for one flank, with their three columns and their three sockets,
Exo 27:15  and for the second flank fifteen cubits of slung-sheets with their three columns and their three sockets.
Exo 27:16  For the gate of the court shall be a portiere of twenty cubits of blue, purple, double-dipped crimson and corded cambric, a handiwork of embroidery with their four columns and their four sockets.

The entrance to the outer court, in order for anyone to approach the throne of God, is from the east. As we get through the fine linen curtain gate of blue, purple and red we move on to and through the tabernacle through the EAST side if the inner tabernacle eventually ending all the up at the throne of God… the furthest point in the west setup of the tabernacle.

Notice there is a similar pattern to the inner court in that there is a fine linen veil that must be passed through but it is residing on 5 pillars, whereas the outside east only had four pillars.

Exo 26:23  And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.
Exo 26:24  And they shall be coupled together beneath, and they shall be coupled together above the head of it unto one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.
Exo 26:25  And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
Exo 26:26  And thou shalt make bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
Exo 26:27  And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the two sides westward.
Exo 26:28  And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end.
Exo 26:29  And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars: and thou shalt overlay the bars with gold.
Exo 26:30  And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount.
Exo 26:31  And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:

Now we have bars introduced which helped support the boards from the outside. These bars are overlaid with gold and run horizontally. The 2 upper and 2 lower bars come from the ends and meet in the middle, but the middle bar runs from end to end. The entrance again is from the east.

So, what does this tell us about the detail of the tabernacle for which God tells us we are a part of?

If the Lord has gone through all the details of this tabernacle in order to show you that He cares about the details, then we should have the same concept transfer to our minds when we consider that the Lord takes just as much care when dealing with the details of our tabernacle in the flesh AND SPIRIT.

When we meditate on all various items in the tabernacle, and even the direction of the tabernacle the Lord has created, we should start to understand just how important we are as the TEMPLE of the LIVING God, the church of the Living God!

It is so easy to think that the Lord isn’t “with us” or that He is somehow punishing us for something we done wrong to Him in the flesh and in sin, but the Truth is that we are a BLESSED people among all those who are living.

We know the Lord is the one who has caused His decrees to come forth to us FORM the thundering and lightning on the cloud of Mt. Sinai. We are privy that the Lord will SOMEHOW bring good about from the evils we face in the trials and tribulations we endure. That is a huge blessing that the rest of the world simply does not have.

Rev 4:5  And OUT OF THE THRONE proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

Exo 20:18  And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
Exo 20:19  And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
Exo 20:20  And Moses said unto the people, FEAR NOT: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
Exo 20:21  And the people stood afar off, and MOSES DREW NEAR UNTO THE THICK DARKNESSWHERE GOD WAS.
Exo 20:22  And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you FROM HEAVEN.

Naturally speaking, we all want to FLEE from the lightning and thunder but that is the WORST thing for our new man. See, LIGHT comes FROM DARKNESS. As we put on the mind of Christ, we move toward “the darkness” because the Light is HIDDEN within. What looks very unappealing on the outside has tremendous wealth buried within. This is the beauty of the tabernacle that the Lord has made.

Like the empty field which has treasure hid in it, we too should cry out to the Lord for a fleshly heart that wants to “sell all of the old man” to “purchase the new man within”.

Mat 13:44  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Jesus says He is the door, He is the gate. He is the Light of the world. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you as you move closer and closer to the throne within the tabernacle.

Joh 10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Joh 9:5  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

Joh 12:46  I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1Pe 2:10  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Mat 10:27  What I tell you in darkness, that SPEAK YE IN LIGHT: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

Mat 5:14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Mat 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Audio Links

Awesome Hands – part 90

“Watchmen”

October 28, 2015

Exodus 25 is the first chapter in scripture that gives commandments to the children of Israel to build a sanctuary for the Lord to dwell in. This is also the first chapter that goes into great detail about the design and creation of all the objects that will go into and be a part of the sanctuary.
All of these descriptive items are physical symbols of what we know to be spiritual items. If this is doubtful to you, then we can see that the sanctuary itself is spiritual as described in the New Testament.

Exo 25:8  And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

2Co 5:1  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2Co 5:2  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
2Co 5:3  If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Rom 8:10  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Mar 14:58  We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.

Heb 9:8  The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
Heb 9:9  Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
Heb 9:10  Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
Heb 9:11  But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

Act 7:48  Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
Act 7:49  Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
Act 7:50  Hath not my hand made all these things?

Act 17:23  For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
Act 17:24  God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Act 17:25  Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

I mention all of these familiar verses because they lay the foundation for all of the scripture we are going to cover in Exodus moving forward while also allowing us to connect the Lord’s working of His awesome hands in our lives.

The last few studies we covered who it is that gives a willing offering and what that means, so now we are going to connect how the Lord Himself views those whom He is at present working with in His temple.

If Jesus Christ can and is described as the lamb of God and the lion of the tribe of Judah, then His body and church can also be referred to as the “pillars of the temple of God”, “the temple of God” and yes, they can and are referred to spiritually with the items that make up the temple.

Symbols

All throughout human history, we associate things with symbols. We have symbols for everything. This symbol means this or that and by identifying the symbol and what it means, we are able to communicate the idea of thought behind the symbol.

Even today, we use company logos to identify one company from another so that we know what brand is being represented. We have country flags, organizational flags, medical symbols, street signs, restroom signs, on and on and on. We as humans NEED symbols to be able to communicate and our creator knows this VERY WELL. However, just having a symbol isn’t enough. We must know what that symbol represents.

The entire book of the revelation of Jesus Christ, the most important person to ever walk this earth, is told to us in signs and symbols.

Therefore, when we are told by Jesus that Moses, the prophets and Psalms all speak of Him, then what is He really telling us?

Luk 24:44  And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Luk 24:45  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

“All things must be fulfilled,” are written in the law of Moses, the prophets and the psalms are all concerning Christ. So, adding line upon line, precept upon precept we can also conclude that anything in the temple concerns Christ, and Christ Jesus is a head and body.

Someone human recorded all the writings we have today concerning all of scripture. Someone sinful, lustful, and full of pride was used by God to eventually be brought to the point of being a vessel of God’s message, inspired by the Holy Spirit, to pin down the scriptures we have today.

I say this to connect this thought with the idea of who we are to God and how our verses in Exodus today connect to that temple we are to God.

Exo 25:8  And let THEM make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
Exo 25:9  According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.
Exo 25:10  And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
Exo 25:11  And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.
Exo 25:12  And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it.
Exo 25:13  And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.
Exo 25:14  And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them.
Exo 25:15  The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.

The pattern that we are going to see all of these items made out of is the SAME pattern the Jesus Christ IS!

“After the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it,” is told to us to be:

Heb 8:3  For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
Heb 8:4  For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:
Heb 8:5  Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
Heb 8:6  But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Heb 8:7  For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

1Ti 1:15  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
1Ti 1:16  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

So, we have just been told that the tabernacle that was about to be made by Moses, the patterns being shown to Moses in the mount, are an example and SHADOW of the heavenly things, and those shadows now lead us to a MORE EXCELLENT MINISTRY / SERVICE.

How do those things shadowed, of which we just read a few of in Exodus 25:8-15, and will continue to read as we move through Exodus, lead us to a more excellent ministry?

Well, sometimes words are used to hide the meaning of what they are saying. In this case, there is a particular word connected OVER and OVER with a very precious metal in scripture, gold.

Mike is fond of saying, and I’ve found it to be very applicable to scripture, that words in the bible “mean what they mean” J

Gold is used all through the sanctuary because it is by far the most precious metal physically speaking. It is very rare and very valuable. Spiritually speaking this is no different for our spiritual understanding of the symbols we are being shown in Exodus 25.

Mike has written a great series on “Metals in scripture” and I encourage you all to review that study if you have not listened to it before.

What I noticed for the first time ever while preparing for the sanctuary and its items as described in Exodus is that everything is covered with gold.

You might be thinking, “well duh”, but what I am referring to is that everything is COVERED with gold.

Immediately my mind thought of Christ being our covering but most of the time I think of His blood and being washed in it as well as being white as snow such as a garment would cover our naked body, among other things.

The connecting thought that came to me is that we are OVERLAYED with gold, but my mind always wants to know why the Lord repeats a word or phrase to us.

After all, He is speaking to us via His Holy Spirit when we sup with Him via the Word.

Being inspired to search, I honed in on the English word “overlay” and looked at it in its Hebrew origin.

H6823

צָפָה
tsâphâh
tsaw-faw’
A primitive root (probably rather identical with H6822 through the idea of expansion in outlook transformed to act); to sheet over (especially with metal): – cover, overlay.
Total KJV occurrences: 46

H6823
צפה
tsâphâh
BDB Definition:
1) to lay out, lay over, overlay, cover
1a) (Piel) to overlay, plate, stud
1b) (Pual) to be laid over
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root [probably identical with H6822 through the idea of expansion in outlook, transferring to action]
Same Word by TWOT Number: 1951

H6823
צפה
tsâphâh
Total KJV Occurrences: 46
overlaid, 28
Exo_26:32, Exo_36:34 (2), Exo_36:36, Exo_36:38, Exo_37:2, Exo_37:4, Exo_37:11, Exo_37:15, Exo_37:26, Exo_37:28, Exo_38:2, Exo_38:6, Exo_38:28, 1Ki_6:20-22 (5), 1Ki_6:28, 1Ki_6:30, 1Ki_6:32, 1Ki_10:18, 2Ki_18:16, 2Ch_3:4, 2Ch_3:10, 2Ch_4:9, 2Ch_9:17
overlay, 12
Exo_25:11 (2), Exo_25:13, Exo_25:24, Exo_26:28-29 (3), Exo_26:37, Exo_27:2, Exo_27:6, Exo_30:3, Exo_30:5
covered, 5
1Ki_6:15 (2), 1Ki_6:20, 1Ki_6:35, Pro_26:23
garnished, 1
2Ch_3:6

So, H6823 means essentially what it sounds like and that is to sheet over “especially with metal”. However, what does it mean to be sheeted over “especially with Spirit” since this gold is a symbol of something?

Well, it happens that H6822 is mentioned as “probably rather identical with” H6822 overlay or “tsaw-faw”.

H6822

צָפָה
tsâphâh
tsaw-faw’
A primitive root; properly to lean forward, that is, to peer into the distance; by implication to observe, await: – behold, espy, look up (well), wait for, (keep the) watch (-man).
Total KJV occurrences: 36

It’s hard to tell, but if you look at the Hebrew writing used in Strong’s, it is identical. The BDB writes it the same as well for both H6822 and H6823 though BDB and Strong’s write them different than one another between the versions. For example, Strong’s writes both words the same and BDB write them the same but the way that BDB and Strong’s writes them is slightly different, but they are consistent within their own individual standards.

H6822
צפה
tsâphâh
BDB Definition:
1) to look out or about, spy, keep watch, observe, watch
1a) (Qal) to keep watch, spy
1b) (Piel) to watch, watch closely
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root
Same Word by TWOT Number: 1950

H6822
צפה
tsâphâh
Total KJV Occurrences: 38
watchman, 14
2Sa_18:24-27 (5), 2Ki_9:17-18 (2), 2Ki_9:20, Isa_21:6, Eze_3:17, Eze_33:2, Hos_9:6-8 (3)
watch, 5
Gen_31:49, 2Sa_13:34, Isa_21:5, Hab_2:1 (2)
watchmen, 5
1Sa_14:16, Isa_52:8, Isa_56:10, Jer_6:17, Mic_7:4
look, 2
Psa_5:3, Mic_7:7
looketh, 2
Pro_31:27, Son_7:4
watching, 2
1Sa_4:13, Lam_4:17
behold, 1
Psa_66:7
beholding, 1
Pro_15:3
espy, 1
Jer_48:19
waited, 1
Job_15:22
watched, 1
Lam_4:17
watcheth, 1
Psa_37:32
watchman’s, 1
Eze_33:6
well, 1
Pro_31:27

What does “overlaying” with gold and “watchmen” have in common? Rather, what is identical about these words? Here is why the BDB concludes these words are the same, “probably identical with H6822 through the idea of expansion in outlook, transferring to action”.

That itself can be a little hard to understand, so thinking about what overlaying does, it COVERS whatever is being overlayed.

A watchmen COVERS the thing he is watching with the concept of “I am covering your back” or I am “looking out for the city”. The watchmen covers the city with his ability and the safety net of covering the city with a watchful attendance to said safety.

I could spend another hour giving examples of how gold and being a watchmen have very similar qualities, but we should be getting the idea that our Lord wants us to understand that we are COVERED with His gold and the COVERING itself is ….. wait for it ….. Jesus the Christ.

Jesus Christ is Head and body.

If this all seems like a bit of a stretch, no pun intended, then let us consider what overlaying represents in the context of the next verses in Exodus.

Exo 25:16  And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.
Exo 25:17  And thou shalt make a mercy seat of PURE GOLD: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
Exo 25:18  And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.
Exo 25:19  And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.
Exo 25:20  And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.
Exo 25:21  And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.
Exo 25:22  And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

Isn’t that something! We have items which are overlaid with gold, but then the items mentioned here are made out of pure gold and not just covered with it.

The mercy seat and cherubim are made of gold, but the cherubim are specifically mentioned in these verses as being BEATEN into shape.

When I see two cherubim being mentioned I immediately think of the two witnesses fallen in that great city. As I read these verses, focus your spiritual discernment on what it is these witness’ witness and prophecy about.

Rev 11:3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Rev 11:4  These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

Rev 11:7  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.
Rev 11:8  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
Rev 11:9  And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
Rev 11:10  And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
Rev 11:11  And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
Rev 11:12  And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

Connecting these witnesses to their actions with the cherubim in Exodus, let us focus on the power they have been given.

The spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus Christ (Rev 19:10) and Jesus Christ is the Word of God (John 1:1).

The cherubim stare at each other and have their wings extended over the mercy seat. Where is the mercy seat at? Is it not the throne of God?

Num 7:89  And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him.

We are spoken to from where God dwells. We are spoken to from within heaven and the kingdom of God is within us.

The cherubim cover the mercy seat and have God commune BETWEEN and ABOVE THEM.

Jesus told us, as Christians, that He has given us all things. We have the power of God residing in us.

Luk 10:19  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Behold, we have the power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy.

What then does this power look like in our lives? After all, I am NOTHING. I have no strength of my own, no power of my own to resist the false prophet and the devil, I have no power to make myself an inch taller or to keep the hair on my head. I cannot change my spots nor can I change the color of my skin.  Lord knows I would love to be able to stay in the sun longer than a few hours without getting totally and utterly burned to the point of skin and sun poisoning.

So with all of this being true, what power DO I HAVE?

I have the Word of God. I have the power to “do greater things than these”. I have power to do WONDERFUL miracles in the lives of those who are the walking dead, always naked, always hungry, never full no matter how much they eat, ever wondering, never given peace.

But with this power comes the witness of it. Jesus Christ gave instant miracles when He walked this earth. He fed people instantly for their physical bellies.

He healed them of their physical health problems and diseases.

However, He left the spiritual healing up to His BODY whom He DWELLS in. We, as cherubim having the THRONE OF GOD in our CENTER, must WITNESS the work of God as he sits on His throne.

We often times wait very long periods of time to see the manifestation of God’s will in our lives. Sometimes, we see it instantly as well as miracles that happen instantly.

However, if we are really looking toward the cherubim in our midst than we would see none stop miracles. Lord gives us eyes that see and ears that hear.

In the next study, we are going to continue to build upon who we are as the cherubim, and how all the other items in the sanctuary represent an aspect of who we are to and for God’s will.

We have His mind SITTING upon us, ABOVE us and IN us, so we will continue to dig in the field to see what that beauty of our pearl of great price really is.

Hi Mike,

Can you expound on ‘they… which serve the tabernacle” from Heb 13:10 below? Levites are a type of today’s Babylonian ministers, correct? (whom in times past we were…) they, which have no right to eat at the alter (alter representing Christ, His Word, His Wedding Supper, etc…) serve the tabernacle. When it says … they serve the tabernacle is this (outwardly) saying those that serve the ‘called out, not chosen’ vessels in Babylon and all the functions and outward works they do (including keeping the many called from entering the Kingdom of God at this time) or is the tabernacle referencing in type, The elect who eat at the alter? If so, do they serve the elect outwardly by keeping the sheep blind as well as the many positive functions they serve in the process of salvation God has predestined to occur in each of us? Hope my question makes sense. Any additional light on the matter would be greatly appreciated.

Heb 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle

Thanks,
M____

Hi M____,

You are asking for clarification of the meaning of “serving the tabernacle”.
Yes, the Levites are a type of the ministers of Babylon. They are given work all around the tabernacle and to carry the holy things, but they are never allowed to eat at the altar within the tabernacle nor even touch the holy vessels within the tabernacle.

Lev 6:26 The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Num 4:15 And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath [ the Levites] in the tabernacle of the congregation.
Lev 10:13 And ye [ Aaron and his sons] shall eat it in the holy place, because it is thy due, and thy sons’ due, of the sacrifices of the LORD made by fire: for so I am commanded.

The altar in the holy place is the golden altar of incense, and no mere Levite who is not the seed of Aaron the high priest was ever to eat at that altar. The high priest is a type of Christ as our high priest.
You ask specifically:

When it says … they serve the tabernacle is this (outwardly) saying those that serve [ are] the ‘called out, not chosen’ vessels in Babylon and all the functions and outward works they do (including keeping the many called from entering the Kingdom of God at this time) or is the tabernacle referencing in type, [ to] the elect who eat at the altar? If so, do they serve the elect outwardly by keeping the sheep blind as well as the many positive functions they serve in the process of salvation God has predestined to occur in each of us?

The answer to your question is, yes, the tabernacle and those who eat in it are one and the same.

1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

The answer is, yes, “they that serve the tabernacle” are a type of the “many called” but not chosen.
And yes, it is “by keeping the many called from entering the kingdom of God at this time” and by doing ‘many wonderful works in Christ’s name’ that Babylon serves the true tabernacle which, Lord willing we are. Here it is in plain English:

Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice 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.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

God’s people could not come out of her if she were not there to serve that function. God’s people all come out of Babylon. There is no way of side- stepping this process. Here is what God told Israel about this process:

Hos 11:5 He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian [ Babylon] shall be his king, because they refused to return.
Hos 11:6 And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels.
Hos 11:7 And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High [ called but not chosen], none at all would exalt him.

When we live our lives simply as we want to live them, we are living by our “own counsels”, and our Husband, Christ, will have no part of that. Assyria is Babylon before it was known as Babylon. It is God’s intention that we all come out of Egypt, and then go into Babylon.
Babylon is just as much our brothers as Esau was Jacob’s twin and as the Levites were Aaron’s brothers. Here is how they serve thetabernacle, and yet cannot eat at the altar in the holy place with thepriests.

Rom 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

“Their unbelief” is a service to us. It is through that service that we believe, and it is out of that ‘unbelief’ that all of God’s elect must come.
Babylon also serves us by bringing millions and millions of people to Christ, just as the ‘Babylon’ of Christ’s day did.

Mat 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

Babylon has missionaries all over the world bringing many to Christ, just as the synagogues of Paul’s day were full of Gentile proselytes.

Act 13:42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles [ proselytes] besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
Act 13:43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
Act 13:44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
Act 13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
Act 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
Act 13:47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
Act 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

“The Gentiles” is Bible- speak for those who are not converted and are outside of Abraham and the promises made to Abraham. The “circumcision” is Bible- speak for those who are in Abraham.

Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Eph 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Nothing has changed. Those who claim these words today and say they are Abraham’s spiritual seed, yet are still under the “law of commandments contained in ordinances” and all “the tradition of men” that make up Babylon, are to this day the very same people who reject Christ. On the other hand, those who are called uncircumcision by those who are called circumcision in the flesh, are cast out of Babylon. These are those who are called and chosen to become the true temple of God, and are given an altar at which “those who serve the tabernacle” have no right to eat. Those who ‘have no right to eat at our altar’ is referring to those who claim to be Christians, but cannot walk where Christ walked is revealed in the verses just before Heb 13:10.

Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Heb 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats,[“offered to idols”] which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Heb 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

“They which serve the tabernacle” but “have no right to eat” with us, are those who are “carried about by different and strange doctrines” because they fear offending their brothers who think nothing of eating “meat offered to idols” and thereby causing weak brothers to think there is nothing wrong with eating meat offered to idols. Meat offered to idols is the doctrines of Babylon and the doctrines of those who serve the tabernacles, and are “carried about by different and strange doctrines which Paul calls “the cup of devils”.

1Co 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

Babylon’s mantra is “unity in the essentials and tolerance in the non- essentials”. Christ’s doctrine, on the other hand is:

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

In Christ’s opinion there are no “non- essentials” in the Word of God, and anything contrary to that Word will not be tolerated by those who eat at our altar, and who refuse to be “carried about with divers and strange doctrines.” The true priests of God will not partake of “meats, [“offered to idols”] which have not profited them that have been occupied therein”.
I hope I have answered your questions. Those who are given to eat at our altar are those who are willing to follow Christ where ever he goes.

Rev 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

Here is what Christ promises those who are given to follow Him where ever He goes.

Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Mat 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
Mat 10:18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
Mat 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
Mat 10:21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Rest assured that anyone who thinks:

Heb 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

And anyone who thinks that their brothers cannot touch the holy things of the temple, “shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake”.

Lev 6:26 The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Num 4:15 And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath [ the Levites, the called but not chosen] in the tabernacle of the congregation.

Your brother in the sufferings of our Lord,
Mike

Hello Mike!

Hope you are well and your family and friends. About 6 years ago, I read comments by someone concerning Isa 30:25 that the “Towers fall” were the World Trade Center, but I disagree with that. It has nothing to do with 9/11 World Trade Center. Am I correct? I admit, I don’t understand what Isa 30:25 means, but I don’t think it’s connected to WTC. If you understand what it means, maybe you can help me understand if God so wills?

Thank you for your web site of Is, Was, and Will Be.
Your brother in Christ,
B____

Hi B____,
It is always good to hear from you!

You are exactly right. Isa 30:25 has not more to do with the WTC than it has to do with the fall of the tower of Siloam.

Luk 13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
Luk 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

What Christ says here is just as applicable to anyone who thinks that Isa 30:25 refers to the WTC, as it was to anyone who thought that Isa 30:25 referred to the Tower of Siloam.
You ask what it really refers to. What that prophecy, and all such dire predictions, always refer to is the high and exalted thoughts in the heavens of our minds and hearts, which exalt themselves against the knowledge of God. That is the spiritual meaning of ‘towers falling’.

2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Whether it is towers, kingdoms, principalities or the beast, if and when we think of any of these things outwardly, we are losing any personal benefit to be gained from these fiery words, and we are placing their purifying effects upon someone else, somewhere in the future or the past, or upon some up there in New York City, or over there in Jerusalem. All the while, there is a beast, a man of sin, sitting in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God, and when you place any word of God off on others like that, then those words do you no good. They will become personally applicable to all in the lake of fire, where their fiery character will finally do the work it is sent to do.

Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Our innate desire to place all the prophecies concerning the fall of our old “man of sin” upon someone else and not upon ourselves, is just an “idol of our heart” (Eze 14:1-9), and it is but one of the “towers” spoken of in Isa 30:25, which must be brought down and destroyed.

Isa 30:25 And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.

Here again is some of those “rivers and streams of water” which will accomplish this prophecy and bring down those “towers”.

2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

I hope this helps you to see more clearly that the “towers”, are the “high things that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God”.
Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Hello,

First I would like to Thank God with you for the site you have online.
Next, I think I understand most of what you have relayed regarding the off- handed way I had thought the New Testament quoted the old. I just figured that somehow the quotes were perhaps lost through translation.
The one thing I want to ask is about the fulfillment of the prophecies in the O. T. that needed to literally come true, verses the seven seals in Revelation. I was wondering, since some or perhaps all of these things are written in the O. T, such as Daniel, and other prophets, that perhaps they need to physically come true and things such as the rebuilding of the Temple physically in Jerusalem or is it a rebuilding of the body of believers (a temple), and why does the world target those of the Jewish faith? Is this because they are still a target because of The Lord Our God and that the time of the Gentiles has not been fulfilled yet? Well, I have many questions, but I will continue to read on your site. I also want to say Thank you about the info on the Whore that sits on seven hills or mountains. This is what I have concluded also, however, you went into further detail and helped me to understand a few other things.
Thank you!

L____

Hi L____,

Thank you for your questions. You ask:

I was wondering, since some or perhaps all of these things are written in the O. T, such as Daniel, and other prophets, that perhaps they need to physically come true and things such as the rebuilding of the Temple physically in Jerusalem. Or is it a rebuilding of the body of believers (a temple)? Also, why does the world target those of the Jewish faith? Is this because they are still a target because of the Lord our God and that the time of the Gentiles has not been fulfilled yet?

While there is always an outward, physical type and shadow of every spiritual principle, lesson, and message, the primary focus of scripture is never the outward fulfillment but the inward. If Israel had known that one Truth, they would have recognized that Christ, their own Savior, first had to come and die for their inward sins and enemies, before he could come to rule this world outwardly during the millennium.
Here is one little example of how this principle works within the scriptures:

Joh 2:19  Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

That statement was received then as the rebuilding of the temple is received to this very day:

Mat 26:61  And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
Mar 14:58  We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.

So will a physical temple be built in Jerusalem? We do not know as of 4/24/11. If ever a physical temple built it will only serve the same purpose that the reestablishing of the physical nation of Israel is serving. The establishing of the physical nation of Israel has served only to take the minds of the masses of Christians off of the true temple of God and off of the true beast, the blasphemous “man of sin” who is sitting in the True temple of God, which is the hearts and minds of His people.

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

You and I are the true temple of God. You and I have been the “man of sin” who has occupied that temple for so long, serving our own lusts and worshiping ourselves in the process. That is what Paul told the Corinthians, and that is what he had also told these Thessalonians. So he says:

2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

So while we do not know how far our Lord will go in keeping the eyes of mankind on the outward fulfillment of prophecy, what we do know is that if a physical temple is built this will be the truth of that matter:

Act 7:48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,

So all the ministers who think that physical Israel is God’s chosen people, will be misled to support something in which God “does not dwell”.
You ask about “the fullness of the Gentiles” and I am going to ask you to read these URL links for your answer to that question:

Rom 11:25  A1512.0    When Is Physical Israel Saved?
http:// www. iswasandwillbe. com/ When_ Is_ Physical_ Israel_ Saved. php
Rom 11:25  A45.0    Those Who Died Under The Old Covenant
http:// www. iswasandwillbe. com/2005071105. php
Rom 11:25  A1513.0    When Will All Israel Be Saved?
http:// www. iswasandwillbe. com/ When_ Israel_ saved. php
Rom 11:25  A1520.0    When Will Physical Israel Be Saved?
http:// www. iswasandwillbe. com/ When_ Will_ Physical_ Israel_ Be_ Saved. php

God bless you as you seek to know Christ and His Father. That is what eternal life is – it is the developing their mind within us.

Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Your brother in our Lord’s service,
Mike

Video Links

Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
Rev 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Introduction

When we read in last week’s study that “I saw no temple therein”, what are we being told? What we are told is that the symbolism of the temple has been fulfilled. Christ is now dwelling withmen, because “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.”

Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

So those who are Christ’s are His Bride, His wife, the mother of all of His children, “Jerusalem above which is the mother of us all”. “The bride the Lamb’s wife”, has now been pronounced to be the fulfillment of the symbolism of the temple into which all who come to God must enter. “There is no temple therein” simply because “the Lord God almighty and the Lamb are [ therein, and they] are the temple of it”. So the following verse now applies to the Lamb’s wife, the New Jerusalem.

Rev 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

If you and I are the temple of God, then it is only so because “the spirit of God dwells in us”. That is what you and I are being told when we read:

Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

If we are “the bride the Lamb’s wife, the holy Jerusalem”, then it is not adding to what is written to say “there is no temple therein” because “Christ and His Father are the temple thereof” within us here and now.
These are words of our Lord and they “will not pass away”. These words will be just as applicable to all men who are cast into the lake of fire as they apply to us now in our own “fiery trials”.
To the natural man it seems impossible to say ‘We, as the children of Christ, are the church of Christ’; we are the “manchild… who is to rule all nations with a rod of iron; and we are also the church which is Jerusalem above “the mother of us all”. How can Christ’s children also be His brothers, His sisters, and at the same time be His wife? This is no problem at all in the spirit:

Mat 12:47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
Mat 12:48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
Mat 12:49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
Mat 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

If we go on to say we are the four beasts and the four and twenty elders in the midst of and round about the throne of God, and we are the angels who shows us these things and we are the seven churches and we are the hundred and forty four thousand; It just sounds impossible to be all of these things.
To add to the confusion of the natural man, we must also confess that we were first, “that woman Jezebel, the hated Nicolaitans, miserable, blind, and naked Laodiceans, and Ephesians who have left our first love. We are the beast, the false prophet, and we were first of our father the devil. These things must all be seen as being within our own flesh and they must first be burned out of us and seen as “the patience and faith of the saints”. All of this must be “read, heard, and kept”, before we are granted to become “the bride, the Lamb’s wife”, through whom all men will be brought to Christ.

Rev 21:23  And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

Another way of saying what we are being told in this verse was given us by our Lord when talking to His disciples just before His apprehension and His glorification. Here is how He told us that the glory of God and the Lamb would be within those who are espoused to Him as a chaste virgin:

Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

Our primary approach to these words is to see these words as “I in you”.  When we apply these words presently and internally, their outward and future application take care of themselves. Here is what this knowledge produces within us:

Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

That is the ‘is’ and present application of “for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof”. Here is Christ revealing to us that we are this “city on a great and high mountain”:

Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill [ Greek, oros – mountain] cannot be hid.

The Greek word translated ‘hill’ in this verse is the same word translated ‘mountain’ in this verse:

Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain [ Greek – oros], and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

This Greek word ‘oros’ appears in the New Testament 65 times. 62 of those 65 entries are some form of the word ‘mountain’. 28 entries are translated ‘mountain’; 21 ‘mount’, and 13 ‘mountains’. Only three times is this Greek word ‘oros’ translated as ‘hill’.
In Mat 5:14, Christ is telling us that we are “that great city, on a great and high mountain, which cannot be hid“.

Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

It is nothing less than denying our Lord when we put our light under a bushel, or try to hide the fact that we are “a city on  a mountain”. Christ goes so far as to tell us that just as the world did not know who he was, neither will they recognize who we are.

Joh 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
Joh 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

The apostle named Judas asked Christ how this is accomplished, and this is His answer:

Joh 14:22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Joh 14:24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.

It is Christ’s Words, which are really His Father’s Words, which, if they are in us, put Christ and His Father, with their light and with their glory, within us. That is how the light and glory of God and the Lamb, are within us, as that great city, which is the wife of the Lamb.

Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

Here is a verse which graphically demonstrates both the inward and the outward application of these words. “The nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it”.

1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Christ is “the light of the world”, but he tells us that “as He is so are we in this world”.

Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Therefore if He is that light that lightens the great city, which city we are, then we too, must be “the light of the world”. Is that so?
If we “do not walk in darkness, then there is no night in us as that “city of a mountain great and high”.

Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill [ Greek, mountain] cannot be hid.
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain [ Greek, oros], and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

Rev 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

There is no night in the holy Jerusalem, the Lamb’s wife, because “the spirit of God dwells in us, and the glory of God and the Lamb are the light thereof”.

1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

“The gates of it need not be shut at all by day” for this reason:

Rev 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Remember, this city, which city we are, is “lighted by the glory of God and of the Lamb… who are both the temple of this city”.

Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

If “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it” then there will be no way in which any evil or any darkness could possibly slip through the gates of this city. Here is how we know this to be the case:

1Ti 6:15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
1Ti 6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

We may have thought that this verse is speaking only of the Father, but Christ makes clear that the word ‘man’ does not mean those who love and obey God. Rather it means unrighteous, and ungodly men:

Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Joh 14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Joh 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

“The glory and the honor of the nations” is the subduing of “every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2Co 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Every thought is a “nation” which, when it is “brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, is “the honor of the nations” which will then become an integral part of the great high wall and the foursquare character of this “city of God”.

Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.

All of this must happen as a necessary part of being prepared to enter into that great city. Christ continues with this very theme:

Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
Mat 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

That is how we are prepared by our Lord to enter into this city and become “the bride, the Lamb’s wife”.

Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Our old man must die and be left behind with the rest of the world, if we are granted to enter into that city. It is only by acknowledging that we are “marred vessels of clay, in the Potter’s hand, that we have defiled the temple of God and must therefore be destroyed, via the wrath of God upon our own ungodliness and unrighteousness, that we ourselves will be saved “yet though as by fire”.

1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
1Co 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

Dying in order to live, and enduring the fire to avoid the lake of fire, is foolishness to the natural man. Let all of us “become a fool that we may be wise”. Only then will we be granted to “bring the glory and honour of the nations into it”.

Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

Next week, if the Lord wills, we will cover these verses of the very last chapter of this “revelation of Jesus Christ” within each of our lives.

Rev 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Rev 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Rev 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
Rev 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
Rev 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Hello Mike,

I hope all is well with you and your family. I wanted to ask two questions concerning the scriptures. I was talking to a friend last night and the subject of tithing came up. His brother told him, “if you don’t pay your tithes, then your money is Cursed!” I was shocked to hear that. I pointed out the scriptures to show him where the bible clearly tells us we should not be giving out of a necessity, and tithing is a necessity to most in Babylon.

2Co 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver

I was not hesitant to tell him again his brother is being deceived and told him to show these scriptures to his brother and let me know how these scriptures fit in with tithing. (1Co 9:18, Act 20:33-35, etc) He told me he does not believe his money is cursed, and I told him he was right about that because only by believing your money is cursed in your heart, so is he.

Pro 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

Many people preach tithing and prosperity. It is nothing more than wolves in sheep’s clothing not sparing the flock. I even heard John Hagee quote a verse telling us that God delights in our prosperity. Here is that verse:

Psa 35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

What was so revealing was that in my e- sword when I put my mouse on the word “Prosperity” the Hebrew word is (Shalom). So God does not delight in how much we can make, but he delights in our PEACE and friendliness. The question my friend asked me was what about when Jesus told them give to Caesar his things and God his things, so he believes this verse is speaking about us tithing.

Mat 22:21 They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

I just wanted for you to help me understand this scripture and see what it is spiritually telling us so I won’t be teaching on something I do not yet understand completely.
My other question is about the gospel of John chapter 2. Here is what is says.

Joh 2:13:15 And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables.

What I am getting from this that this temple which was filled with wickedness was just a shadow of what he is doing to his TRUE temple which we are and removing the wickedness within us (1Co 3:16). I was asking myself, “why did Jesus get so angry about a temple which the Father does not dwell in?”

Act 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands.

But it is WE who are his dwelling place:

1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

In saying that, when I read that he DROVE THEM ALL OUT OF THE TEMPLE which we are, I see they did not just POOF and vanish, but they were driven out little by little. They were removed like a process of how when he comes into our life and removes that man of sin and starts rebuilding his temple in three days, which is the number of process.

Joh 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.

That is what I’m getting from this since this is written for our admonition to learn of it. Let me know if I’m correct on this question.

Your Brother In Christ,
Y____

Hi Y____,
You have hit the nail on the head concerning both the subject of tithing and why Christ drove the money changers out of the temple.

Tithing was done on the produce of the land and was given to the priest and Levites for the service of the people at the temple. Tithing has no place in the body of Christ, whose mantra is “the Lord loves a cheerful giver”, not a begrudging tither,

2Co 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
2Co 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

I gave a talk in 2004 called The Types and Shadows of The New Testament. In that talk I showed how all of Christ’s miracles of healing were types and shadows of what He is doing in us spiritually. We are being healed of every disease from the deadly disease of leprosy, to our crippled legs and arms and hands, to being born blind, and being raised from the spiritually dead state in which we come into this world.
So it is with the cleansing of the temple. That whole incident happened to them and it is “written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”

1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

None of this denies that “the fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much”, but it does demonstrate that Christ’s words are spirit and that the holy spirit teaches comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

There was no spiritual body of Christ until after Pentecost, and the only shadow of good things to come was the physical temple, which was shortly destroyed. But Christ was already within us, long before the physical temple came to the ground.

Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

Here is the “good thing to come which the tabernacle and the temple of the Old Testament, foreshadowed.

1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

So yes, you are exactly right. The temple Christ cleared of its money changers is a type and a shadow of you and me and all the attempts, of our leaders and of us, to make money of the gospel.
God bless you as you come to know Him and His Son better every day.
Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Video Links

Rev 21:18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
Rev 21:19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
Rev 21:20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
Rev 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

In our study last week we saw that because Christ, the husband of this “bride the Lamb’s wife”, wants only to please His head; His husband, who is also His Father, the Lamb’s wife, being of the same mind, wants only to do the same for her husband, Christ. For this reason, because she has given up her life for her husband, the Lamb’s wife is said to be “foursquare”. Being ‘foursquare’ means her whole purpose in being is simply to please her husband. We saw that both the golden altar of incense, and the brazen altar of sacrifice, as well as the plate of judgment, are all “foursquare”, because all three are symbols of laying down our lives to please our God. That is the meaning we are being given when we are told that this “city lies foursquare”.
We also saw that this city is on “a mountain great and high”, and that it “has a wall great and high” for the purpose of telling us that God’s “ways… and thoughts are as high above our natural man’s ways and thoughts as the heavens are above the earth”, and we saw that God’s ways and thoughts are His doctrines which our natural man considers to be fanatical and rejects, as our natural man simply cannot receive or accept them.

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

We also saw that this city and all of its measurements reveals to us that we, if we are this city, have the number twelve and multiples of the number twelve, stamped all over us. It is this number which the scriptures use to tell us that we, as this city on a mountain great and high, with its wall great and high, lying four square with its twelve gates; we are the very foundational saviors upon whom, and through whom, being “in Christ”, all men of all time will be brought to God. It is this “wife of the Lamb” through whom God will become “all in all”.

Oba 1:21 And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.
1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us- ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

If “the eyes of our understanding is enlightened” then we will know that it is “the church which is His body, [ which is] the fullness of Him that fills all in all”. That is “the hope of the calling” He has given us, and that is the riches of the glory of His ‘inheritance in the saints’. The church is “the bride, the Lamb’s wife”. As such that it is she who will lay down foundation seed.

Heb 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive [ Greek, katabole, founded] seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

For that reason, being the mother of, and the very foundation of, the salvation of all mankind, the wife of the Lamb has the number 12 found in the number of foundations, the number of gates, and in all the measurements of this city. She is Christ’s wife, and it is she through whom all living will come to be in Christ. With Him and in Him, she is the foundation of the salvation of all men of all time, and “the fulness of God who fills all in all”.
This is an exceedingly precious calling we have been given, to be the bride of the Lamb, and to bring forth children to our husband, whose numbers will be as the sand of the sea shore and as the stars of heaven.

2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Gen 22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

It is the rare and precious quality of this woman, who we are, God willing, which is the focus of our study today. She is symbolized as consisting of gold and precious stones. These are the symbols of how precious this woman is to her Husband. Notice what we were told of just how precious and how highly thought of by her Husband the Lamb’s wife is earlier in this chapter:

Rev 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

The Lamb’s wife is on “a great and high mountain… having a wall great and high… having the glory of God… and light like a stone most precious…” As unpopular and as elitist as this sounds to the natural man, this really is an exclusive group. This is a few numbered, persecuted, and rejected group of people who are called “the bride” who becomes “the Lamb’s wife”. This bride and this angel which had the seven vials have been demonstrated to be one and the same. Both are those who “read, hear and keep the things written in this prophecy”.

Rev 1:3 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 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

He that reads, hears and keeps the things written in this prophecy, is the same as he who overcomes and has the name of the city of my God written upon him. That name is ‘New Jerusalem’. So who are these who read, hear, and keep what is written in this prophecy and have the name New Jerusalem written upon them? It is this angel who is showing us the Lamb’s wife, the New Jerusalem.

Rev 22:8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Rev 22:9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

What we are seeing here at the end of this prophecy is what we were told at the beginning. This book is the revelation of Jesus Christ in His few overcoming saints who read, hear and keep the things written in this prophecy; not just the part that pertains to being the Lamb’s precious wife, but all the things written in this prophecy.
When we are told “all things are ours”, what that means is “all things present and all things to come”, the bad before the good, are ours.

1Co 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

In order to obtain “the patience and faith of the saints”, we must first know what is “the body of this death”.

Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rev 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Rev 13:9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
Rev 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

These words are written in the prophecy of this book. We are told “Here is the patience and the faith of the saints”. If we are given to understand that the revelation of Jesus Christ entails being overcome by the beast, then Christ’s words “In your patience possess ye your souls” takes on much deeper meaning.

Luk 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
Luk 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
Luk 21:21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
Luk 21:22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

This is exactly what “is foolishness to our natural man”, who wants only to appropriate the positive “things which are written” to himself.

1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

What makes Christ’s wife so precious?
It is of utmost importance that we acknowledge that we have an altar at which they who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.

Heb 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

If we disagree with this Truth, and we say within ourselves, ‘All men are destined to be one with Christ and His Father, therefore there is no need to say that they who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat with us’; then the previous verse will be our reward if that is our attitude:

Heb 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

Because we do “have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle”, those who know this to be true, from Christ’s resurrection until the beginning of His millennial rule, are symbolized by the multiple of 12 x 12 x 1000, which is a mere 144,000.

Rev 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
Rev 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
Rev 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
Rev 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

If we are not in this select group “being the firstfruits unto God and the Lamb”, then we will be of another group whose experience will be the same as ours, but that experience will be a symbolic thousand years later.

Rev 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Rev 7:10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
Rev 7:11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
Rev 7:12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
Rev 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Rev 7:15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
Rev 7:16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
Rev 7:17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

This “great multitude, which no man could number” comes “after this”. It comes after the “manifestation of the sons of God”, after the revelation of “the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb”. It will be “by the Church”, through the firstfruits, that this “great multitude” will be brought to God.

Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Eph 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

Christ’s wife is as precious to Him as is the wife of any man who demands that all of his children look up to and respect their mother. A spiritually begotten son and a spiritual spouse are one and the same thing. Both are submissive to, and are subject to their head, their Father or their Husband. It is in this sense that the Lamb’s wife is given the power to bring forth, nurture and discipline Christ’s children whose number will be as the stars of heaven and as the sand of the sea shore.
The overcomers of Rev 2:27 are “the bride the Lamb’s wife”, as well as “the manifestation of the sons of God”. It is they who first experience “New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven”, and who then rule with Christ a thousand years upon this earth. These are those who are so precious to their Husband, Christ.

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Here is the “judgment [ which is] given unto them… first as the house of God”.

1Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

“That we should not be condemned with the world”. That is just how precious is the Lamb’s considers His wife to be. She is precious, and she is special because she is “the firstfruits onto God and the Lamb”.

1Pe 4:17 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?
1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
Rev 14:4 These [144,000] are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These wereredeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

Here is the language Christ has chosen to let us know just how precious we are to Him.

Rev 21:18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
Rev 21:19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
Rev 21:20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.

How is any precious stone formed? How is gold purified? Every precious stone is formed only by placing rather common substances under severe heat and pressure. It is pressure and heat that turn a lump of common coal into a precious diamond. Rubies, sapphires, and emeralds are all produced in the same way, through heat and pressure upon minerals which are common to that area. The wife of the Lamb will endure fiery trials and the pressure of being hated of all men to become the precious wife of the Lamb, and the mother of His children.
Why are we told “the wall is of Jasper”? The message is that this wall is as pure and as transparent as crystal, which is a rare and precious jasper. But these same words are used to describe the entire city earlier in this same chapter. Being clear and transparent and without any impurities is the nature of the Lamb’s wife.

Rev 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

The Lamb’s bride is “most precious… like a jasper”, and both she and the wall she is within are “clear as crystal”. So too, is the entire city.
“… The city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.” These are the same words used to describe those who fulfill the pouring out of the seven last plagues and who stand upon the “sea of glass mingled with fire”.
That is just how pure and transparent the Lamb’s wife is. It also tells us that Christ’s wife has nothing to hide because His bride knows from whence she was redeemed:

Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
Rev 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
Rev 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

This woman has twelve gates because she is the foundation of the seed through whom all mankind will be brought to God. She has been “redeemed from the earth”, not just for her own salvation. She has been chosen by her Husband to be the spiritual mother of all men of all time. But we have yet another symbol for the fiery trials which make this woman worthy of being the spiritual mother of all spiritual living.

Rev 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

We have demonstrated the spiritual significance of the heat and fire required to produce pure gold, but just for the purpose of clarifying the necessity of fiery trials to produce the patience required by all who will follow in the steps of their Husband and Savior, we are now given the symbol of a pearl as the material which forms the twelve foundational gates of this foundational city.
How is a pearl formed? A pearl is formed from one of those very common grains of sand from the sea being placed within an oyster. That grain of sand then irritates the oyster, just as the fiery trials of this life irritate you and me as the Lamb’s wife. The patience we develop to deal with the trials of life, are the beautiful layers of nacre which coat that common grain of sand, until we become a beautiful pearl, large enough to be a gate to the city of our God, the New Jerusalem.

Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Jas 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Jas 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

These twelve pearls, twelve gates and twelve foundations with their precious stones; The clear jasper wall great and high, and pure gold of this city are all Christ. But who “the Christ” is, is what is hidden from the whole world in this revelation of Jesus Christ. This city is those who have been espoused to Christ as a virgin:

2Co 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Here is what our Lord Himself tells us should be the value which our mind, if it is His mind, will place on the pearls which make up the twelve gates of this ‘foursquare city’, which we are.

Mat 13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
Mat 13:46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

We must do what the rich young ruler could not do; “Sell all we have” and buy that “pearl of great price”.
Just to demonstrate how much Christ and His Father identify themselves with this city being Christ and His Christ, we are told this of the city which we are told is “the Lamb’s wife”.

Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

“The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it”. How can God and the Lamb be the temple of it, we are told that we are the temple of God, and now we are told this city is the the wife of the Lamb? How can we be “the temple of God”, and at the same time be considered the city with no temple within it? Here is how that is accomplished in the spirit:

Joh 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Joh 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

The more we come to know Christ and His Father, the more we will begin to see the Truth of these verses:

Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Rom 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Rom 11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Next week, if the Lord wills, we will finish our study of this 21st chapter of Revelation.

Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
Rev 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.