Chapter 5 Jesus Is Our Destination/ Our HOME!
Chapter five:
Jesus Our Heavenly Tabernacle (HOME) or:
Jesus is our Destination!
"Lord, Thou hast been our Dwelling Place in ALL generations"!!!! Psalm 90:1 (many believe written by Moses)
“In whom the whole building being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together FOR A DWELLING PLACE OF GOD IN THE SPIRIT.” (EPH. 2:21,22)
“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Cor. 4:18:
The Tabernacle and Temples that housed the Ark were a temporary dwelling place of God’s eternal intentions. As Christians, our temples (bodies) although temporary, are also a sacred dwelling place of God. The Apostle Paul, gives us an even more intimate revelation; that collectively, we are the Body of Christ.
“ But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 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. 4:15,16, KJV)
That translation is beautiful but I’ll try to make it more clear through a literal and amplified translation:
“But speaking the truth in love, may we grow into Him in all things, into Christ who is the Head, of whom all the Body, being fitted together and brought together through every bond of assistance (contribution) according to the working of one measure (portion) in each part producing growth of the Body to the building up of itself (edification) in love” (Eph. 4:15,16)
The Lord has made it clear that we are the Body of Christ. We are being built up and bonded together according to what He has given and intended for us to be (as it is possible). He uses our natural gifts and talents (which usually compliment or parallel our spiritual gifts) but He is really talking here about something much deeper and more important that goes far beyond our natural gifts. The Body of Christ is made up of many parts that God has intended to work as a whole, AS ONE. We are each a vital part and are spiritually gifted in some way and need to operate in that gift to build up the Body. The more that we operate in the gifts and callings that He has given us (ministry gifts and Spiritual gifts), the more that we will be built up in Him and blessed ourselves. As we freely give of ourselves to the Lord and His Body, He will bless and used all the more. “Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." (Luke 6:38) However, our motivation to give, must never be so that we will get. This scripture is not teaching us about some pyramid scheme or money making formula by which God is bound! “But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you. (2Cor. 10:13)
The true Body of Christ, is the greater temple of the Lord. We are the Lord’s dwelling place on earth, where as different parts of the Body, we are nurtured and edified and conformed to the image of the Lord by His indwelling. We are all called to serve Jesus and His Body and we all have a specific calling.
The prophet, will tend to be the more controversial member of the Body but is sorely needed to bring people to repentance by proclaiming God’s truth and revealing the Lord’s will. A truly biblical church, will operate in the gifts, without show casing the gifts or making the gifts the center of attention. They are intended to bless and edify the Body and to draw all focus and praise to Jesus. The gifts are intended to be transparent- focusing our attention only on Jesus. It is God’s intention for the gifts to help break down the walls and inhibitions and draw us together. In the same way that opposites often attract and balance each other in a marriage, spiritual gifts are given in a similar way and also given to make us interdependent and more loving to each other. They will work in balance and in power if the headship (pastor or leader) and the flock are in proper submission to Jesus and His Word. The motivation for the usage of the gifts must come out of the anointing flow of the Holy Spirit and not the flesh. They are meant to edify the Body not tear it down or subjugate it. They are not meant to be an opportunity for someone to show off their “spirituality” or to be “validated.” It’s amazing that they have been misused to cause so much strife and division, in some camps. The gifts have been given to help make us one, not to tear us apart. Many have forgotten that the greatest of all gifts, is LOVE and without LOVE we are nothing! Not to mention Faith and Hope, which are the other eternal gifts from the Lord that will never fade away! HUMILITY... NOT arrogance, is the fruit of a godly leader and pastor. I'm not saying that a pastor can never be intense or filled with righteous indignation, BUT, their character will bear the fruit of one who walks with Jesus! They will not be driven by or pursue a selfish personal agenda that makes them more powerful, affluent or enriched.
“For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.” 1Cor. 12:12-14
“For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function” Romans 12:4
“But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.” 1Cor. 12:18-26
There are different kinds of prophets (perceivers)- only a few are usually found in any one church because an over abundance tends to make people too uncomfortable because what they say brings conviction. Some prophets may come off kind of flaky or strange (eccentric) but it is because they often perceive so much. Many prophets of the Old Testament did strange and even inexplicable things. Jonah tried to run when God told Him to go to Ninevah. He had to be thrown overboard by pagan sailors that realized more than he did, that Jonah was supposed to be on a mission from God. Reluctant prophets, often receive a rude awakening from God but not many get swallowed by a whale for three days and vomited up on a beach. (Wonder what he looked and smelled like?) When he got there- for his “trouble”- he couldn’t wait to see Ninevah get destroyed, and pulled up a nice shaded spot where he could watch it happen, but it didn’t. Ninevah Had listened to Jonah and repented.
Elijah had just called down fire from heaven that consumed a wet sacrifice and slain 450 prophets of baal but that didn’t prevent him from turning into a shivering sheet at the very thought of facing Jezebel. He found a cave to hide in and became so consumed in self pity, that he asked God to take him home. Prophets are called to rely only on God and not to be concerned with the reactions that they may receive. “To whom much is given, much is expected,” and prophets must walk a very straight and narrow path, for they are often called on by God to raise up a standard and deliver a message with God alone as their back-up! In ancient times, many were stoned for delivering their inspired messages. In these days, prophets are stoned verbally and sometimes hated, often by those Christians who cry the most about “love” and “tolerance.” There is one thing that many 20th century Christians cannot tolerate too much of; God’s truth. Prophets are often treated very poorly and some by nature are aloof, independent and outspoken. Some prophets come off eccentric and even act strange at times when they discern things that grieve or overwhelm them.
As Prophet, Priest, King, and Creator, Jesus did things like spit into dirt and rub it into a blind man’s eye to heal him. When we realize that in so doing, He was merely revealing to us that He was the very One that created us from the dust of the earth. We can then see why it was that He chose to use the dirt to create a new eye! It was a confirmation of who He is! We cannot understand these things in the flesh of our minds. God has made it so. Prophets are the best example of how different the parts of the Body are, and can be used for God’s glory. God will often mightily gift a person spiritually, that doesn’t rate at all in the natural scheme of things. Others may find this person “unrespectable” from the way the world measures people. God does this on purpose to confound our flesh and to show us that “it is not by might nor by power but by HIS SPIRIT says the Lord!”
“And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body, which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our unseemly members come to have more abundant seemliness, whereas our seemly members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, (1Cor. 12:19-24)
There seems to be a natural tendency in the Body, that I have seen in different churches and ministries. Some spiritual gifts tend to repel other gifts, especially gifts of the same kind. It is sometimes difficult to have two powerful preachers in the same building let alone in the congregation. It’s not likely for two powerful Evangelists to remain together, nor two Apostles. Peter didn’t hang too long with Paul, in fact Paul was called to rebuke Peter and I’m sure that it didn’t feel real good for either of them at the time. This tendency to repel has an obvious reason; to spread the Gospel, and not collect Christianity all in one area or place. The salt needs to be spread around the earth, not collected or buried in one place. This also will help achieve God’s goal of making the salt, more dependent on Him alone rather than on others. Christ’s church is a spiritual fortress but not meant to be a physical fortress- formidable to “outsiders.” His church is now called to the streets and byways more than ever! He will not empower a church or a believer who has no intention of serving Him by reaching out and serving others. By the way, a church body is not an exclusive club or clique. All effort should be made to make newcomers welcome. We often tend to alienate newcomers because we tend to fellowship with those we feel comfortable with. There is a vast difference between family and familiarity. If we only love and congregate with those whom we are “familiar” with, we have failed. We are not to show deference only to people we happen to know well. We are to reach out to new people in the bond of love and unity.
God readily gives powerful spiritual gifts and callings to children that may not be gifted in the natural- children that come from very humble roots, yet very gifted in ministry. Many who see only the natural, only the external, will find this child of God offensive for many different reasons. This is meant not only to further confound the natural mind of man but actually to offend it. God wants us to see and know people by their heart and by His Spirit. Not by what they’re wearing or what social class a person they are, or if they have a heavy accent. If people that are different from you, or not in your social class bother you, you have a major problem. If people of a different race offend you, you badly need to repent. If you feel that you have not been properly “recognized,” or “validated” by others, your motive is all wrong.
God has especially gifted many black men and women in ministry as well as in the natural realm. In fact, they are the best example of how God gives gifts. African descendants have consistently received the worst treatment in our society and in the whole world. But God loves to gift those that the world sees as the “less deserving” and less honored, so as to make for us an obvious object lesson; that God’s ways are not our ways. “His strength shows up best in weak people,” and in people that have been battered by the world like many of our African- American brothers and sisters. God has greatly gifted some of the less honored in the world, to bring them “more abundant honor” in the Body, so as to make us need each other and honor every brother and sister in Christ. We should value others more than we value ourselves. We need to cherish everyone, especially the difficult and “unlovely.” (those who are hard to love)
God’s word is full of other such examples. Great servants like the little shepherd boy; David, and a little big mouth like Joseph, were “rejects” in the eyes of men but not to God! Christ’s twelve disciples all seemed quite unspecial when they were called from their stinky fishing nets and various occupations. (Jesus even called a tax collector- imagine that. I suppose the equivalent today would be an IRS lawyer!) If anything, they seemed to epitomize the people of the time, perhaps they were what the Pharisees would consider the “bottom of the barrel”! Jesus specializes in what the world considers the bottom of the barrel! You see, it is not our “selves” that are the least bit special (Some may glory in their good looks and their intelligence but that is foolishness to God). It is only Jesus’ presence within us that makes us of any use to God and He came for those who need the Doctor- for those who desperately need Him! Jesus’ desire is that we need each other as well- that we are one!
“that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. 31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way. (1Cor. 12:12-31)
What is the “more excellent way”?
In the next chapter Paul goes on to thoroughly explain that even if we had all of these great and powerful gifts but do not have LOVE, we are just a loud noisy gong! If we don’t love our brothers and sisters, worshiping God is irrelevant and pointless. It is impossible to enter in to worship if our love walk is pathetic. God says to abandon our offering at the altar, go and make it right with our brother if we have wronged them. We can have the greatest following on the earth, but if love isn’t our motive, we have totally failed. Now, love means telling the truth. Love sometimes means confrontation. But we must tell the truth “in LOVE.” Our motive must never be to hurt or to denigrate (put people in their place) but to build and edify the Body. Not everyone is going to be able to handle the truth, but we must strive to live it and talk it but only in LOVE. However, a loving word may also be a tough word, a word that many may not react well to. Many Christians can no longer handle any sort of “tough” word that calls them to repentance. They may even attack the messenger with false accusations, even labeling that messenger as “critical,” “judgmental” or “unloving.” A church without love, is a dead church but so is a church without correction, that tries to sweep sin and disobedience under the carpet and avoids “confrontation” at all costs! “Peace at any cost,” (compromise of the truth of the gospel) is the unspoken motto of many churches that are becoming immune to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Some of these may even preach the basic truth of the Gospel but have become immune to it! Praise God that repentance can change all of that. “They will know we are Christians BY OUR LOVE!” “LOVE covers a multitude of sins”. It is an unloving Christian who allows his brothers and sisters to continue on in obvious sin without confronting that person and calling them to repentance. As the body of Christ we must strive to worship Him in Spirit and in TRUTH!
Romans 12: 5 “So we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;” Romans 12: 5- 10
1Peter 1:22 “Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart”
Our love for Jesus and for each other is the mortar that cements the temple of God together. Our love for each other is the “bonds of assistance,” and that which “fitly joins us”.
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” (Eph.4:1-7,13)
The most exciting, imminent prophetic fulfillment is the coming of our King of Kings back to this earth, to reign for a thousand years from His temple in Jerusalem. Jesus is the kingdom and His kingdom is coming soon. Home is wherever Jesus reigns! He reigns in our hearts now and will soon reign physically on earth. Jesus is our destination!
Ezek. 43:1 “Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing toward the east; 2 and behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the way of the east. And His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory. 3 And it was like the appearance of the vision which I saw, like the vision which I saw when He came to destroy the city. And the visions were like the vision which I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell on my face. 4 And the glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate facing toward the east. 5 And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house.” 6 Then I heard one speaking to me from the house, while a man was standing beside me. 7 And He said to me, "Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the sons of Israel forever. (“the earth is My footstool”) And the house of Israel will not again defile My holy name, neither they nor their kings, by their harlotry and by the corpses of their kings when they die,”
Zech. 2:10 -13: “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee. And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation. “
Zech. 6:12; “And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord: 13 Even He shall build the temple of the Lord; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a Priest upon His throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. 14: 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. “
Zech. 8:2,3; “Thus saith the Lord of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.
3 Thus saith the Lord; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Lord of hosts the holy mountain. “
Zech. 8:9 "Thus says the Lord of hosts, 'Let your hands be strong, you who are listening in these days to these words from the mouth of the prophets, those who spoke in the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, to the end that the temple might be built.”
Ancient gates of entry to the temple mount- long sealed with stone and mortar, will triumphantly open so that the King of Glory may enter His Temple. Jesus will descend to the Mount of Olives and His foot will touch down from where He ascended into heaven, as prophesied by the angels. This time, He will enter His temple in great majesty, power and glory. He will enter His temple and; “The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,' says the Lord of hosts, 'and in this place I shall give peace,' declares the Lord of hosts. " (Hag. 2:9) Now, this verse is a prophecy from before the 2nd temple was built but it pertains to the ultimate temple fulfillment, when our Lord of Glory will enter again through it’s gates as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This is another example of how bible prophecy is layered in fulfillment and not necessarily meant primarily for the time frame in which it is given. Hagai is the prophet called to rally Israel to rebuild the 2nd temple. It was first fulfilled when baby Jesus was blessed in Herrod’s temple by Zacharias the High Priest. Jesus also entered and taught in the 2nd temple, many times. The third and primary fulfillment of that prophecy will occur when once again the temple is rebuilt and the King of Glory fills it with His glory! That verse also refers spiritually to us; the temple of the Lord. The Body of Christ is another fulfillment of that verse and the parallel fulfillment for Jews, is the rebuilding of the third temple.
When Jesus comes to gather His church from the earth it will be the ultimate moment of victory and celestial joy for believers- the fulfillment of “the Blessed Hope.” The remnant of Jews that remain alive in Israel after the war of Gog and Magog, will begin to rebuild the temple to honor Messiah. There is an order of events in Ezekiel 38-48 that proclaims the coming of the Day of the Lord, which will be preceded by or commence with the Rapture. It will begin around the time of the war of “Gog and Magog,” which will be completed when the Lord is joined to His Bride and reigns from His millennial temple. Ezekiel had a vision of “a man whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in His hand, and a measuring reed; and He stood in the gate.” This “man” is none other than Jesus, who had come to measure His temple and the “House of Israel.” In Ezekiel 43, Ezekiel is brought to the east gate:
“ And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face. And the glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house. And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me. And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile,” (Ezekiel 43:2-7). This is the prophecy of the Lord’s final return to His temple.
It was prophesied that God would one day write His law on the flesh of men’s hearts and dwell among them. Jesus made this all possible and has been doing this in believers for 2000 years! It has also been prophesied that one day the Lord will again dwell and reign from His mercy seat in His temple in Jerusalem. Isaiah; “saw the Lord, sitting upon a throne, He was High and lifted up and His train filled the temple.” Isaiah had a vision or “out of body experience” in the very future throne room of Christ. Jesus will soon come again and reign on earth for a thousand years. We will return to reign with Him on this earth for the millennium. At the end of the millennium, we will see;
“ the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God....” (Rev. 3:12) “And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the Tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them,” (Rev.21:3) Jesus IS the TABERNACLE OF GOD in whom we shall eternally dwell!
I have read and heard from reliable sources, that the Ark of the Covenant is in existence and hidden away until the third temple can be rebuilt. There are differing reports, as I would expect because Israel would not want anyone to know where it was. When a tunnel was excavated under the Dome of the Rock decades ago, it is reported that several large ancient crates were discovered by Israeli archaeologists but could not be removed. The tunnel was discovered by the Arabs and had to be filled. Could it be that the Lord does not want it to be unveiled until the third temple is rebuilt? Is there a relationship that exists between the Ark of the Covenant and the ark that is the church, that prevents it from being revealed until the church has been raptured? The Ark seems to have disappeared almost 2500 years ago. Did the priests hide it in one of the vaults under the temple prior to the Babylonian exile? The vaults are known to exist but cannot be accessed. Was it taken to Ethiopia long ago as rumored and recently flown back to Israel? Did angels take it to heaven? In revelation there is a reference to the “Ark of His Testament.” Is it the Ark of the Old Testament? Or is it a reference to Christ? Perhaps this reference prophesies the revelation of Jesus the ‘Ark’ to Israel?
“And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament....” (Rev. 11:19)
The Israeli temple officials built a thickly armored building near the temple mount. It is rumored that it was built to protect the Ark when it is brought out of hiding. These are all questions of curiosity and do not affect our destiny but anyone that is blessed by prophecy and the intricate weaving of history, will be blessed by the significance of His Arks. The Ark could also have been taken to heaven as Jesus was and as we also will be (raptured). Is it entirely by man’s doing that there are hundreds of Levites now being trained in the temple rites and sacrifices? Is it just a fluke that 600 kg. of the holy temple incense were unearthed by an archeological crew led by archeologist Vendyl Jones (the inspiration for “Indiana Jones” fame) and identified along with a bottle of the precious temple anointing oil also found buried in the cave? The ashes of the red heifer (a ceremonially pure animal, necessary for temple worship) are also reported to be buried in that cave and may soon be found. If they are not found, the miracle birth of a red heifer in Israel, has been provided. Born of different colored parents, rabbis’ take it as a sign from God and it is! The temple instruments have been made and musicians are being trained for service and use in the temple. The priests are being trained in the rites of sacrifice. These discoveries cause controversy, even among Israelis because any movement to build the temple or excavate there, will cause a war. In fact, the orthodox Jews who are getting excited about these discoveries make other Israelis nervous and the Arabs insane with anger and potential violence.
Another possible discovery has been reported by a Canadian archeologist and Christian; Ron Wyatt, who says that he has found all of the major items of the Tabernacle, buried in a vault, underneath Golgatha! Golgatha may also be the sight where Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice! This man reports many fantastic details on his web sight. He reports to have excavated for several years by God-given revelation and command. He says that he has seen the Ark of the Covenant and that it rests directly under the sight of Christ’s crucifixion. He discovered three post holes which he reports were excavated several feet above that vault, carved into the rock and long buried. Wyatt reports that the middle post hole has a deep crack in it, evidently from an earthquake, which runs some ten feet, all the way down to the vault and directly onto the Mercy Seat. If this is true, the blood of our Savior may have flowed down into that crack and onto the Mercy Seat, where priests for generations had offered the blood of sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. Wyatt has reported the presence of dried blood upon the Mercy Seat but all of this is not confirmed by official sources in Israel. If this were reported openly and officially, it would cause a war, whether it was true or not. This sight has supposedly been locked up and the holy artifacts may have been moved through the tunnels whereby they were originally brought. Supposedly, there is a secret tunnel system that allowed the prophet Jeremiah to transport these items underground from the Temple. These tunnels reportedly lead to a massive underground quarry that has a hidden tunnel that leads to the vault. Golgatha has been known as many things during the ages but it has also been called “Jeremiah’s grotto.” Is this truly where the real Ark was hidden, right under the noses of the Babylonians? I’m quite sure that many of the Temple treasures exist and are hidden away, awaiting the rebuilding of the Temple. The building of the third temple is imminent, as is Christ’s return. It will be rebuilt for Christ so that He can reign from there! But, it is not necessary for it to be rebuilt before the church is raptured. The rapture, is the most imminent of all these great events.
“After these things I will return, And I will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen, And I will rebuild its ruins, And I will restore it, (Acts:15:16) “Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain.” (Ps. 127:1)
“In order that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,” (Acts 15:17)
Zeph. 3:14-20 “Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord.”
Many Orthodox Jews all over the world are proclaiming the coming of Messiah. They even rent billboards to proclaim His coming: “Moshiyach is coming.” Glory to God, they are right but they don’t realize that He already came once as our suffering servant, and that His name is Jesus. He will soon come again as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, revealing to them all, His nail pierced hands, feet and side: “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and supplication: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” (Zech. 12:10)
Intensive mourning will be the reaction of the nation of Israel as they realize that the glorified God that they are all seeing above them, is none other than Jesus Christ. The conviction of the Holy Spirit will fall upon the whole nation at one time like a hammer. I propose that Jesus will be seen over them in the air, perhaps at the Rapture or during and perhaps right after the war of Gog and Magog. For the church however, the Rapture will take place in the ‘twinkling of an eye.’ His appearance for us, will be so fast, that the entire world may not see Him, but we will see Him and we will be soaring like eagles to “meet Him in the air.” He is going to reveal Himself to Israel. At some point either during or after the rapture, Jesus is going to fulfill Zech. 12. At the onset of Israel’s annihilation, Jesus will intervene and “destroy the nations that come against her” (Zech. 12:8) This revelation could take place at any time after the rapture, but since the 144,000 are sealed early on in the tribulation, I believe that their conversion will be in response to the Lord’s intervention during the war of gog and magog. Perhaps after that war, Jesus will reveal Himself to Israel in fulfillment of Zech. 12. I don’t think that His revelation to Israel will be dependent upon our technology (TV). I also believe that these verses in Zechariah 12, more than infer; a time of mourning and weeping and undoubtedly, the accepting of Jesus as Messiah: “and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for Him.” (v. 10)
In my book, “The Day of the Lord,” I go into detail as to how I interpret that this will happen. Will it be right after He reveals Himself, that: “Thus saith the Lord; Again there shall be heard in this place, which ye say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast, The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the Lord of hosts: for the Lord is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at first, (a full restoration to the original God given borders) saith the Lord. (Jer.33:10,11)
"And I shall give them one heart, and shall put a new spirit within them. And I shall take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances, and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God.” (Ezek. 11:19) These verses also apply spiritually to the true church of the ages. During the tribulation, the “remnant” of Israel will again be the apple of God’s eye. This remnant will be mighty in the power of Jesus. They will begin to restore the breach in the spiritual wall of the House of David and witness about Messiah. The restoration of Israel began in 1948 when the dry bones of the House of Israel began to be assembled and Israel was resurrected. But Israel’s complete spiritual awakening is yet to come. The Lord Himself will breathe the Holy Spirit into that body and fill His chosen nation Israel. This will happen during the tribulation, when the remnant receives Yeshua as their Messiah. "And those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up the age-old foundations; And you will be called the repairer of the breach, The restorer of the streets in which to dwell.” (Isaiah 58:12) There is a report from Israel that there are many Rabbis that have been receiving Jesus as their Messiah. They are saying to certain gentile Christians in secret, that “the Holy Spirit has revealed to them that Jesus is Messiah” and that more and more of them are accepting Him! The seeds of complete spiritual renewal are being sown right now in Israel. I have no doubt that the Lord will lead them to protection (some in the Rapture, some to the wilderness) before the awful Day of the Lord begins and the war of Gog and Magog commences.
What is the ultimate destiny for all of His children? He loves us so very much that He has planned to share His very throne with His Bride: “He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. “ (Rev. 3:21) This is the destiny for those that have received the “Spirit of adoption,” whose hearts cry out; “Abba Father,” This is what Paul meant when He called us joint heirs with Christ. This is what Jesus revealed to John when he wrote; “Behold what manner of Love the Father has given to us, that we may be called the children of God....Beloved, NOW we are the children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we shall be. But we know that when He is revealed, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM because we shall see Him as He is. And everyone having this hope on Him purifies Himself even as that One (Jesus) is pure.” (1Jn. 3:1-3) There is no greater destiny than this! He has promised that we are going to rule with Him. I cannot even imagine being worthy of that, but some day we will rule with Him. We are literally going to be a part of His tabernacle, the House of the LORD: “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.” (Rev. 3:12 ) "For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne shall spread His tabernacle over them.” (Rev.7:15) Doesn’t that sound like: “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty”? Jesus is our eternal covering... our eternal HOME!
The Song of Solomon seems at it’s surface to be all about human intimacy. It may also be that but it is primarily a prophetic romance between Christ and His Bride. In the 8th chapter of the Song of Solomon, there is clear evidence of how Jesus views His Bride. He likens her as to a beautiful palace or temple: “ If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar. I am a wall and my breasts like towers: then was I in His eyes as one that found favor.” (Song 8:9,10)"He has brought me to his banquet hall, And his banner over me is love.” (Song of Sol. 2:4) The banqueting hall that the Lord is intimating here, is the secret place of His dwelling (His Tabernacle). This banqueting hall is where we will celebrate the wedding supper of the Lamb which cannot be described in the natural, except that it will be the most blessed event of our eternal existence! I am thrilled to realize that by then, I will have a supernatural, resurrection body, otherwise my heart would most certainly be overwhelmed and burst from the sheer joy and wonder of coming before Him!
“Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.” (Ps. 65:4)
Ezek. 37:25; “And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle (Jesus) also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore. Ezek. 37:25-28.
“That where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:3
We are destined to dwell eternally in His presence, as part of His Temple and His Kingdom and Jesus will be the Temple! Thy Kingdom come, Lord Jesus!
“And a voice came from the throne, saying, "Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great." And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude and as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. "Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready." And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. And he said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'" And he said to me, "These are true words of God." Rev. 19:5 -9
After Satan is cast in the lake of fire for eternity (Rev. 20: 10), and all of the dead from the second resurrection have been judged (Rev. 20:13), the New Jerusalem will descend to earth at the end of the Millennium and reveal Christ’ treasure; His glorified Bride:
“Then I, John, saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a BRIDE adorned for her HUSBAND. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “BEHOLD, THE TABERNACLE OF GOD IS WITH MEN, AND HE WILL DWELL WITH THEM AND BE THEIR GOD”... He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.
... And one of the seven angels came to me (John)....and spoke with me, saying, Come, I will show you the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb... and He showed me the great city, holy Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God... having the glory of God. And it’s light was like a very precious stone, as a jasper stone, being clear as crystal...”
(Rev. 21:2,3,7,9,10,11)
This fully explains the reason for our Lord’s intense love for Jerusalem! The Bride and Jerusalem are destined to become as one! Christ’ longing for Jerusalem and His desire to take her in His arms, reveals what our relationship to Him is destined to be for eternity. We are destined to become “pillars in His Temple” and already are “lively stones!” In the deepest spiritual sense, we will all be clothed in New Jerusalem! Our final form and destiny, will be as part of a living New Jerusalem, in which we will live in eternal union with our Bridegroom.“GOD ALMIGHTY and the LAMB ARE ITS TEMPLE.” (Rev. 21:22) In New Jerusalem, the Father and Son will be our eternal DWELLING PLACE- our TEMPLE and HOME! If we are now IN CHRIST, we have already received the down payment (earnest) of this eternal destination in our temples (bodies)! In New Jerusalem, there will be no need of any earthen temple or vessel, for Jesus will be our Temple. When New Jerusalem appears, we will spend the rest of eternity with Him in a new, glorified state- even ruling with Christ upon His throne:
Rev. 22:1 “He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.... 3 “And there shall no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His bond-servants shall serve Him; 4 and they shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 And there shall no longer be any night; and they shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them; and they shall reign forever and ever. 6 And he said to me, "These words are faithful and true;” and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must shortly take place. 7 "And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book."
17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.”
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Bibliography:
#1. pp. 5, Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest
#2. pp. 32, John Kirkpatrick
#3. pp. 39, William Brown, “The Tabernacle”
#4 pp. 49 Francis H. Derk, “The Names of Christ”
#5 pp. 54-55, study note excerpt from NKJV
#6 pp. 60, Andrew Murray’s sermon; “The Temple of the Holy Spirit”
#7 pp. 83, David Wilkerson, newsletter, 12-7-98
#8. pp. 84, Dr. Charles Finney’s sermon: ‘Sanctification’
#9. pp. 87-88, Oswald Chambers July 22nd, 23rd and 24th devotion from “My Utmost For His Highest”
#10. pp. 88, A.W. Tozer “The Pursuit of God” pp. 9-10
#11 pp. 90-91, C.S. Lewis
#12. pp. 91-92, Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest,
#13 pp. 98, Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest May 29th
#14. pp. 100, Dr. Charles Finney; “Gospel Themes” pp. 412-413
#15. pp. 101-102, F.B. Meyer; sermon: “The Chambers of the King”
#16. pp. 102, John Wesley; sermon: “On the Holy Spirit”
#17. pp. 103-104, Mario Murillo: ( two quotes; “Fresh Fire” pp. 52)
#18. pp. 107, Dr. Charles Spurgeon
#19. pp. 110, Dr. Charles Finney
#20. pp. 111, Smith Wigglesworth; “Faith that Prevails” pp. 41,
#21. pp. 111, Dr. Charles Finney; “How to Experience Revival”
pp. 132-133
#22. pp. 113-114, Dr. Charles Finney; “How To Experience Revival” pp. 129- 131
pp. 32 Dr. Joseph Chambers, on five elements of the anointing oil
All scripture is either NKJV or KJV unless noted otherwise
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