All
through the Bible we run into the truth of a "remnant”
who are willing to give themselves wholly to the Lord
and not follow the ways of man. It is the "remnant" that
God has used time and again to fulfill His purpose for a
particular time and age. God told Elijah: "I have left
me seven thousand inIsrael, all
the knees which have not bowed to Baal.” (I
Kings 19:18). Hezekiah's revival came through the
"remnant" that escaped after the Assyrians had overrun
both
Israel and
Judah
up to the neck of
Jerusalem
. (II Chron.
30:6; Isa. 8:6-8). Only a "remnant" returned from
Babylon
to rebuild the
"house of God." (Ezra. 2:64). There was the "remnant" in
Jesus' day who remained faithful after many others had
turned away. (John 6:66-69). Other illustrations could
be given.
One of the most interesting "remnants" we find in
the Bible is that of Gideon's 300 men. They were those
who "remained" (remnant) out of 32,000 who were
CALLED. Even so it is true that "Many are called but few
are chosen." (Matt. 22:14). Gideon said: "Whosoever is
fearful and afraid, let him return." So today many who
have begun to see a glimpse of an end time glorious
church which is going to overcome all the powers of the
enemy and liberate the people of God, are turning back
into the safety and security of their ways,
traditions and churches. There was no condemnation
to those who turned back; they were just not qualified
for what God wanted to do through Gideon's band. Then
there was a TESTING at the water, where those who were
drinking only to satisfy themselves, without being ALERT
to be used, were told to go back to their homes. For God
said: "Bring them down to the water and
I will try them for you there
(Judges 7:4). So God is now TESTING us to see if we are
seeking the things of the Spirit (water) just to satisfy
our own desires and needs, or whether we are
WATCHING for His purposes, ALERT to the enemy and EAGER
to be used for His glory in this end time.
According to the pattern we are seeing a separating
and sifting in this hour that a BODY (a Gideon company)
may come forth to fulfill all God's will and be
used as a mighty instrument in His hand.
A MIGHTY MESSENGER AND A LITTLE
BOOK
In Revelation 8:1-2 we read the following: "And
when he had opened the seventh seal, there
was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
And I saw the seven angels which stood before
God; and to them were given seven trumpets."
Seven is the number of the church; therefore when the
seventh seal is broken matters concerning the church are
contacted. This is also shown by the fact
that when the seventh seal was broken there was silence
in heaven about the space of half an hour. All heaven
standing in raptured silence at that which is about to
be revealed concerning events which will lead
up to the final setting of the stage for the
"mystery of God" (concerning His church) to be
consummated.
After six angels have sounded (recorded in
chapters 8 and 9), all things are ready for the master
stratagem to unfold—for the "mystery of God" to be
finished. So great is this final chapter in the age-long
history of the church that a special "mighty angel" is
dispatched from heaven to reveal the contents of a
special "little book" (as recorded in Rev. 10:1-2). WHO
is this mighty "angel "and WHAT is in this "little
book?"
The Greek word for "angel "simply means a
"messenger" and can refer to anyone of earth or heaven
with a special mission or message. When we read
John's description of this mighty "angel" (messenger) in
Rev. 10:1-3, we realize that none other than the LORD
JESUS HIMSELF could be described thus. It is HE,
the Covenant (Rainbow) God, the mighty "messenger of the
covenant" (Malachi 3:1) coming down to reveal to John the
end-time message for
the church.
[prophecy]
"Hear my words my people; listen to that
which I make known to you in this
hour. For am I not coming to you even now
as a mighty messenger to REVEAL to you that which has been hidden
for ages and generations? For even now I would reveal to
those who have ears to hear that which I have prepared
for my body in these end-times. Do you think that I will
leave you without direction and knowledge of my purposes
for you in this end-time? Do you think that I am
unable to choose special messengers through whom to
reveal my message and my purpose for you at the
consummation of all things? Hear my words . . . again I
say, listen to that which I speak to you in this
hour. For I now have a little book in my hands and I am
making known the contents of this book to my specially
chosen servants.
"And what [does it say]? It says this. My
people, I am coming to you in an end-time message
and purpose which shall be the consummation of all that
I have prepared for you even for many generations and
ages. And I will cause you to come into the fulness of
that which I have prepared, even the fulness of
that which I consummated on the cross when I poured out
my life's blood for you, to confirm the everlasting
COVENANT to you—even a covenant of perfection for
my people; a covenant which embodies all the fulness of
my glory and power for those who are especially prepared
to receive. For I say to you that a
few, yes a
remnant, are going to be prepared to receive this
end-time revelation and purpose which I am now making
known. For it is too potent to be received except
by a prepared company, even a "little flock" which shall
receive the fulness of the covenant. For you shall walk
in these last days in the fulness of that which I have
prepared for you. For even now I am giving you a
revelation of that which was sealed (ratified) and made
available and ready when my life's blood flowed on
Calvary. For is it not
written that I spoke the words, ‘It is finished.' (John
19:30). What was finished? The fulness of
my covenant was finished; even then fully
wrought out for the full deliverance from all the power
of the enemy, and the full entering in of all that I am
ready and able to impart, including the abolishment of
death. Yes, the full power to overcome all the works of
the enemy, and the full glory prepared even from the
foundation of the earth for those who are ready to
receive and enter in.
"But is it now also written that they "limited
the Holy One of Israel?' (Psalm 78:41). Am I not the
"Holy One of Israel?" Am I not the one who spoke through
the prophet Isaiah saying, "Consider that which I have
done and understand' (Isa.41:20), and ‘is it not
prepared for you' (lsa.64:4),
says the
Lord? But men have limited me. They have hardened
their hearts to BELIEVE ALL; and thus have failed to
fully appropriate all that I have made ready and sealed
(ratified) on Calvary's cross. Yes, I say to you that all
things were ready then. But where could I find a people
who were ready—who were prepared to fully believe? Yes, none were
found save those like Joshua and Caleb. (He that has ears let him
hear! For even here I perceive that your ears are
heavy and I cannot fully reveal to you at this time what
this means; but you shall
understand before too many days are past). But now I
shall reveal as much as you are ready to receive. For
the little book contains much for this day and time. But
I must reveal it a little at a time, for even now many
of you are as babes just weaned from the milk and are
not ready for meat. Others will understand more of that
which I speak. So let me prepare you and
circumcise your hearts
completely to receive this end-time message. For to whom much is
given, much is required (Luke 12:48). For would you know
the contents of this little book? Then prepare your
hearts to receive. For little by little shall it be
revealed to
you as you are ready to receive.
"For even now I am preparing a people who shall
fully possess the land prepared—who shall cross over
Jordan's tide—who will laugh at the forces of the mighty
descender; even he whose coming is with mighty signs and
wonders, and whose working is like to the rushing
waters of the Jordan. Consider this my people! For is it
not written that the dragon will come as a mighty flood
of death and destruction. And shall not that same dragon
come against my people with a flood of lies and
deceptions in this day (Rev. 12:15). But you shall not be
overcome, for I will cause the waters to be damned
up while you cross over by my mighty hand to possess the
land prepared for you. For truly this is a good land.
And my people have wandered in the wilderness of
spiritual desolation long enough. I say to you that the
‘forty of testing’ has been consummated and a
second time my people are coming to the Promised Land.
Even now I am preparing you to cross
over in spiritual power. Listen and consider what
I say to you. For the little book which I hold in my
hands contains all the secrets and mysteries which I
would have you to know in these days." (end of
prophecy)
[commentary on Rev.
10:1-4]
Going back to our vision in Revelation Chap. 10,
we see in verse 2 that the mighty messenger with the
little book "set his right foot on the sea, and
his left foot on the earth." Is it not written that he
shall subdue all things under His feet (1 Cor.
15:25-28)? And are not we, the members of His Body, the
feet—the last ones of this age (in time) to come into
that Body. Even so shall the Lord Jesus, the Head of the
Body, bruise Satan under the feet of His Body, and we
are those feet. (Rom. 16:20).
In Daniel, the second chapter, we have the record
of the image which Nebuchadnezzar saw in a dream. In
Daniel's interpretation of that dream, the
feet of the image represented the
last stage in history of the system which
began with the head (Babylon). Even so,
according to the same PATTERN, the church began with the
HEAD (Jesus) and will be consummated IN TIME by the
FEET. We, in this end time, are the feet of the Body who
are going to bruise the Serpent. In Revelation, Chap.
13, we see a "beast" arising out of the "sea" (Rev.
13:1), and then a second "beast" arising out of the
"earth" (Rev. 13:11). The "mighty messenger” of Rev.
10:2 sets His right foot on the
"sea" and His left foot on the "earth." He
is standing triumphantly over
both that which would arise out of the
"sea" and the "earth." And so shall the "feet" of His
Body in these end-times triumph over the beast and his
false system.
In Rev. 10:1, John says he saw the "angel's" feet
as "pillars of fire." The Greek
word for "pillar" here is the same word used in Rev.
3:12 where the "overcomer" is to be made a "pillar in
the temple of my God." The same word is also used in
Gal. 2:9, and 1 Tim. 3:15 in connection with the church.
The Lord is going to make us "strong ones" in this day
as "pillars" in His end-time "Temple" (Body), tested
and refined in the fire.
In Rev. 10:3 the "mighty angel "cries with a loud
voice as when a lion roars. Only the "lion of the
tribe of Judah" (Rev.
5:5) could thus roar. It is not as a meek, sacrificial
lamb, who is dumb (Isa. 53:7) before the
shearers, as at His first coming, but as a
roaring lion (KING of beasts) of the tribe
of Judah (the ROYAL tribe). "And when he had cried,
seven thunders uttered their voices."
(Rev. 10:3). The "seven thunders" represent the church
RESPONDING TO HIS CRY. It is even those in this hour who
have ears to hear the Lion of the tribe of
Judah
now
CALLING. The apostle John (who received and recorded
this vision) IN TYPE represents the end-time
church. And was not John called a "son of thunder" (Mark
3:17). Even so shall the end-time "sons of thunder" HEAR
the voice of the mighty messenger as He "roars" and
shall RESPOND to the message of the "little
book."
In Rev. 10:4 we read that when the "seven
thunders" uttered their voices, John was about to write,
and the voice from heaven said: "Seal up those things
which the seven thunders uttered and write them not."
WHY was not John permitted to write what he heard?
Because the VOICE (message and ministry) of the
Seven Thunders was RESERVED UNTIL THIS END TIME. It
is NOW being revealed. What John was told to "seal up"
is NOW BEING MADE KNOWN. This parallels a word given to
Daniel, the prophet, who was told to "seal up" his
vision to the
"time of the end." (Dan. 12:4).
[prophecy]
"Oh my people, have I not waited longingly for
this hour, that I might reveal to you that which has
been hidden? Is not this the hour that all history has
waited for? Is this not that which was spoken of by the
prophets, though they themselves understood it not? Oh
my people, have you considered the honor and glory
accorded you
to live in this hour and to partake in this end-time
ministry? Oh that you might be awakened from your
lethargy to behold the glory that has been prepared for
this hour. Why will you say in your
heart that the time is not yet? Why will you wait and not
enter in with all of your heart and soul ? I say to you, NOW IS
THE TIME TO SEEK ME WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART, that I may
speak to you
in the inner chamber of your heart, and
make known to you my counsel
for this hour. Listen not to those who would seek
to discourage you and blind you to that which I
speak.
"Where are those who have the courage to STEP OUT
on the waters of difficulty and testing and WALK TOWARD
ME WITH FAITH, knowing that I am able to sustain and
uphold in this hour, so that you may walk
triumphantly above the waters of tribulation and
disturbance which shall try all men in this day. WALK, I
say, fixing your gaze steadfastly on me, looking neither
to the right nor to the left; looking neither to those
around you nor to the turbulent waters which would seek
to engulf you. For I say to you, that you
will never make it to the end-time calling and awakening
until you are willing by FAITH to step out of the boat
of your present ease and security and INTO THE
STREAM OF MY DIVINE PURPOSE, letting not the waves
of doubt and fear overcome you; neither letting those
who prefer to stay in the boat deter you. But COME MY
PEOPLE, for I will have those who dare to walk on the
waters of that which has never been done before, and
meet me as I come to you in power and glory in this day.
Did they not see that it was a BODY walking on the water and
not a spirit as they had supposed? (Matt. 14:26).
And did not Peter, in his BODY, walk on the waters?
(Matt. 14:29). Even so my people, it is NOT just the
spirit, but A BODY OF FLESH which shall be brouqht to me in this
day, to do exploits above the waters of human confusion
and distress. Are you not the BODY
of Christ; are you not my flesh
and my bones? (Ephes. 5:30). So shall you be one with
me in this day; so shall we be joined together ON THE WATERS,
to go forth in this day, says the Lord.
And so shall you be in the
coming days, says the Lord, a
BODY OF OVERCOMERS—those who have overcome all the
emotional defilements of the watery recesses of the
enemy and who are walking triumphantly in overcoming
power." (end of prophecy)
[commentary on
Rev. 10:5-10]
Going back to our vision in Revelation Chap. 10,
we read in verses 5 and 6 that John sees the mighty
messenger lift up his hand to heaven and "swore
by him that lives forever and ever . . .
that there should be time no longer." The Berkeley version
translates it, "There shall be no further
delay." That is, there would no longer be a time
of delay or waiting for the CONTENTS of the little book
to be revealed, for the "mystery of God" to be finished,
and for the end-time church of the "seven thunders" to
enter into her ministry. This is further indicated by
the seventh verse which says: "But in the days of the
voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin
to sound, the mystery of God should
be finished, as he has declared to
his servants, the prophets.” The "mystery of God"
is none other than the "mystery" revealed to Paul
concerning the church (Ephes. 3:3-11) much
of which has been veiled
until this end-time.
This "veiling" is shown by Rebekah (The BRIDE of
Isaac—a TYPE of the church) who was veiled until she was
taken by Isaac into the tent (Gen. 24:63-65). Even so
our Isaac (Christ) shall LIFT the veil (of mystery) from
off His Bride as He comes to meet her. And then there
shall be "mysteries" no longer as the Lord unfolds His
purposes during the DAYS (plural) of the voice of the
seventh trumpet, indicating that the seventh trumpet
"blows" over a period of
time, AFTER the mystery has begun to
unfold. This is further indicated by the words "when he
shall begin to sound." If the seventh angel
begins to sound, then he must continue to
sound for a period of time. The final
blast of this seventh trumpet will see the
fulfillment of I Cor. 15:51-52 and I Thess. 4:14-17,
when the dead in Christ shall be raised and the living
in Christ shall be changed. The consummation
of this sounding will be that recorded in Rev. 11:15
"And the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms
of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign
forever and ever."
In Rev. 10:9-10, John is instructed to take the
little book from the hand of the angel and "eat it up."
The angel then said: "It shall make your belly
bitter, but it shall be in your mouth sweet
as honey." John obeys and "eats" the book. He then says:
"It was in my mouth sweet as honey; and as soon as I had
eaten it, my belly was bitter." Those who are willing to
accept the call to this end-time revelation and ministry
must be willing to accept the "bitter" with the "sweet."
That which God is revealing is SO SWEET to the taste, as
we "taste and see that the Lord is good." (Psalm 34:8).
But the Lord must PROVE us, and the testings
necessary for the perfecting of God's end-time
remnant seem so bitter at times. But God must be certain
that there will be no failures during the critical times
just ahead. For the words to John AFTER he
had "eaten" the little book were: "You must
prophesy again before many peoples and nations, and
tongues, and kings. HERE is the evidence that God's WORD
will go forth during this end-time, during the "days of
the voice of the seventh angel," once again with
mighty power to all nations as at the beginning. For
JOHN in this vision stands for the end-time "remnant
"which shall "prophesy" before many peoples,
and nations, and tongues, and kings.
[sickness of
Leland Earls: a prophetic type]
In connection with John's symbolic experience of
"eating" the "little book", let me share with you
that which came to pass in my own experience AFTER I had
received from the Lord and "ate" the end-time message
and ministry which the Lord revealed to me from this
"little book." I share this only because I believe the
Lord WROUGHT OUT in my life a PATTERN to depict the
condition of the church in these days, even as the
ancient prophets enacted by life drama, PATTERNS
(similitudes) to depict the condition of the people and
God's dealings with them. In Hosea 12:10 we read these
words: "I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have
multiplied visions, and used similitudes (patterns)
by the ministry of the prophets."
Shortly after the Lord began to reveal to me this
end-time message, and made known to me that I had been
called to a ministry, I suddenly became very ill. For
over a year I was down most of the time, and came very
close to losing my life. If the Lord had not intervened
I would not be alive today. The root of all my
trouble was in my stomach. Before this I had
never had any stomach trouble. But after I had "eaten"
(received and assimilated into my life) what God had
revealed to me, which was so "sweet" (wonderful), I went
through the most "bitter" (trying) experience of my
life. I AM NOT saying that everyone who receives this
end-time message must go through such an
experience, although everyone will be tried in one way
or another. But God chose to ENACT A PATTERN
through my life that it might SPEAK to
others.
The fact that my illness was from a stomach
ailment was not known until after several months of
progressively getting worse, even to the point of death.
I was in four hospitals and had several medical doctors
who were unable to correctly diagnose my trouble. It was
finally discovered that my system was not producing the
necessary hydrochloric acids so that my stomach could
function properly, and without these acids in my stomach
it was impossible for my body to assimilate the
vitamins, minerals and proteins from the
food.
In that which God allowed to happen to my
physical body, we find many parallels in the church
world today. I would like to compare the SYMPTOMS which
my physical body experienced, with the CONDITIONS we
find in the "body" of Christendom today. In the first
place, my body was STARVING TO DEATH, in spite of the
fact that I was constantly consuming more and more food.
I was getting no nourishment from my food.
The food was just fermenting in my stomach. I became
what I call a "foodahollc." I wanted to eat all the time
and I consumed enormous amounts of food, but it wasn't
doing me any good. And here is the truth concerning
most church people today: THEY ARE STARVING TO DEATH
(spiritually), and what food is being fed to them is
doing them very little good. There is a FAMINE IN THE
LAND for that which will really nourish and build up.
(Amos:8:11). Church people are consuming much, but it is
not the true LIFE GIVING WORD of God. Generally
speaking, the church world IS SICK NIGH TO DEATH! They
are "spending money for that which is not
bread, and laboring for that which
satisfles not." (Isaiah
55:2.)
[prophecy]
"My people, hear my words! Are not the acids in
the stomach a type of my workings in your midst? Can you
get nourishment from that which is not bread and from
that which does not satisfy? I say to you, the
workings of My Spirit are necessary for you to receive
that which is life-giving. For am I not able to take
that which is vital from my Word and cause it to be
assimilated into your being, so
that you shall receive that nourishment which you need?
But why will you feed on that which is not my Word? Why
will you seek
that which you know will not satisfy your innermost
being? I say to you, if you
will not seek me wholly and let my Spirit vitalize that
which you take into your system, you will find
yourselves in a condition spiritually similar to that
which is described herein. The workings of my Spirit are
necessary. Otherwise you are taking only that which is
dead, and which will do nothing to bring spiritual
vitality to your innermost being. Therefore heed that
which you are reading, for it is true to the pattern of
that which is happening to my people today. For it is
impossible in the present condition of the church world
for me to work by my Spirit in such a way that my Word
will give life and health and deliverance to all who are
in need. Therefore, again I say . . . seek me and let me
give you that which is necessary for you to live a
spiritual life that is vital and full, says the Lord. "
(end of prophecy).
[commentary on
sickness continued]
In the second place, in this terrible condition I
was getting fatter, but also progressively
weaker. Yes, I was actually gaining weight while
starving. I came to the place where I had "pernicious
anemia." Even so, there is a certain "fatness" evident
in the church world today, but at the same time
spiritual anemia and
weakness. I was not only weak from lack of
nourishment, but during the months of suffering I had
experienced a complete nervous collapse. I was so
completely devoid of nervous energy that at times I was
unable to utter a word; even to try to whisper was
more than I could manage. In order to communicate to
those who were caring for me, I would have to scrawl a
few words on a piece of paper.
Do we not see a church world today almost
completely devoid of real spiritual energy (power)? We
have a picture in Rev. 3:17 of the "fatness" of today's
church: "Because you say,
I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of
nothing;" but the spiritual weakness and poverty is
described by Jesus in these words: "and know
not that you
are wretched,
and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." "Fat"
(in material things and in self-sufficiency) but "weak"
spiritually is certainly a general over-all picture of
today's church.
Another strange phenomenon which occurred during
my illness was the fact that everything I took into my
stomach would turn to "gas." After eating or drinking,
gas pressure would build up and I would "bloat" until at
times I would almost die. Water was my worst enemy. Even
a little sip of water would turn my stomach into a
raging inferno. Because of the gas pressure I had to
stop drinking water altogether. For over two months I
drank no water whatever. What liquid I got came through
drinking vegetable juices. Does not the scripture teach
that WATER is a type of the SPIRIT (John
7:37-39)? Even as my body could not take water, the
church world, as a whole, cannot "take" the things of
the Spirit. Try to put a little water of the Spirit in
the church "bodies" (organizations) and "gas"
pressures build up to where the situation
usually becomes intolerable.
After being in four hospitals and having the best
medical doctors available, and after undergoing all
kinds of tests, I was only getting worse. What I say
here is not meant to be a "broadside" against the
medical profession, or in any way intimating that the
doctors which treated me did not do their best. Neither
does it mean that I do not appreciate their attempts to
help me. The fact remains, however, that they did not
get at the root of the trouble. I feel that in the
providence of God their "eyes were blinded" that
THAT which He purposed to portray might be fully wrought
out. As a matter of fact, I later found out that
what they were prescribing was actually making me worse,
and was just the opposite of what I
needed.
After being released from the hospital for the
fourth time and getting progressively worse, the Lord
finally led me to a man who found the trouble. After
being in the finest hospitals available, with the most
modern equipment and the best of doctors, the man who
discovered my trouble and started me on the road to
recovery was a little-known physician in a small house,
on a side street, in a small city. He took a test on my
stomach and told me I had no acid. He gave me
hydrochloric acid in tablet form to take when I ate. I
was in such terrible condition by this time that if the
Lord had not directly intervened I would never have
lived, even though the diagnosis was correct. But at
this point the PATTERN had been wrought out and God
began to restore life and health.
WHAT does this tell us? The patient "Christendom"
is sick. And WHERE is the answer? It is not in the
modern church systems with their elaborate and imposing
structures, their modern equipment, their highly
organized programs, and their well-trained ministers and
other professional help. As a whole, our modern
"doctors" of divinity do not have the answer. Much which
they are prescribing is only making the patient
worse. By this I do not mean to imply that it is
wrong to have a nice building and modern equipment, or
that formal education and training are wrong in
themselves. Such can be used for the glory of
God. I am only saying that generally
speaking THE PATTERN IS TRUE. Those to whom God
is revealing the solution to today’s spiritual
dilemma are usually small groups meeting in "out of the
way" places in unimposing structures or in
homes.
One final parallel. During the prolonged illness,
my glands were seriously affected, especially the
adrenal glands. My body could not function properly
because these glands were not functioning properly. The
adrenal glands are a part of the "endocrine" system of
which there are five main glands. These glands regulate
all the functions of the body, and their proper
functioning is absolutely essential to the health and
vigor of the body. The Lord is showing us in these days
that it is impossible for the "Body of Christ" to
function properly unless the five ministries of
apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers
are restored to their proper place in the Body. These
ministries, functioning as God has ordained, are
necessary "for the perfecting of the saints, for the
work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of
Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and
of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect
man, to the
measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."
(Ephes. 4:12-13).
I feel led at this point to add a word of caution
lest some jump to unwarranted conclusions because of
what I have written concerning my experience. The Lord
could have healed me miraculously without any medical
help if He had chosen to. He could have used the medical
doctors with their modern equipment and techniques. I
have no quarrel with any of these things. I think it is
wonderful that the Lord has revealed so many things in
this day in the realm of medical science What I have
written does not mean that we should be for or against
any thing just because of an experience. I would not use
what happened in this particular experience as a basis
to determine what I would do in some future
experience of illness.
On one particular occasion Jeremiah had to make
and wear a "yoke" (Jer. 27:2) on his neck to portray a
truth to the people of his day, concerning the coming
Babylonian "yoke" to which they were to submit. But that
does not mean he had to wear it all his life, that
everyone else had to go around wearing them, or that the
use of a yoke was not right in its proper place. Ezekiel
had to be bound and had to lay on his side for many
days, and had to eat his food weighed out in certain
portions (Ezek. Chap. 4), again to portray a truth for
his day and to his people. But this does not mean that
others were to go through such an experience. Even so
God chose to portray through me, by physical means, that
which would speak of today's spiritual condition among
his people. Let us take it for that and nothing
more.
There are other factors in my experience which
also portray important lessons, but the Lord has not
given me liberty to share these at the present
time. At the proper time I will share the experiences of
the final stages of my illness and the unusual way in
which I was raised up for good. Beloved, the Lord has
caused some of us to go through much that you might be
TAUGHT, and that you might be LIBERATED from that
which has bound you INTO the glorious purpose and
ministry which the Lord has for His church in these last
days. Do you have ears to hear?
[Ed. note: for a larger description of the
physical ordeal through which Brother Earls passed,
please see his biographical article called “A New and Living
Way.”]
SET IN
BATTLE
ARRAY
[prophecy]
"Gather my saints together, says the Lord,
those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
(Psalm 50:5). I say to you, the
gathering is drawing near; and I will take out
from the midst of my people a company of consecrated
ones who have made a covenant with me to forsake all and
follow after me. Yes, they have followed me as stated in
Revelation 14:4, for wheresoever I have led them,
they have gone. And they have heeded my Word, and have
followed my way, and have not contaminated themselves,
says the
Lord. Therefore, says God, I will
redeem them from the earth into a ministry on the other
side of the veil, even as I shall redeem a company on
the earthly side of the veil who shall be loosed into a
ministry and into a battle for me in this last day, says the Lord.
For they shall not be limited by that which they have
known before; neither shall they be limited by the
weaknesses and inabilities they have known before.
For they shall be strong ones in the Lord to go forth
with mighty power in this day. Yes, they shall be
redeemed, liberated, into an end-time ministry of power,
says the
Lord. And those I am gathering to myself as one
man (Body) shall go forth to do exploits in my
name.
"Those that I shall gather to myself to be
taken out of the earth, even as a firstfruits to their God
(Rev. 14:4), shall also be liberated into a
ministry and into a battle. For do you think I am to
take them out just so they can have a time of ease and
waiting. I say not! For they are redeemed from among men
so that they may be fully liberated from all the
limitations of the flesh in a battle which is taking
place on the other side. For this is the
standard that I shall raise up to my people
when the enemy shall come in like a flood (Isa. 59:19).
It shall be a standard of glorified ones who shall be
used in the battle on the other side of Jordan, even in
the realms of the Spirit, to bind and cast down to the
earth the Satanic forces which dwell in the upper
realms. I say, they shall be cast down (Rev. 12:10) and
they shall be bound. And who shall do the binding? I say
to you, my
glorified ones shall bind the power of the enemy. Even
so shall they be used mightily in the battle of the
great day of Almighty God as the enemy seeks to send out
a flood to consume my people on the earth (Rev.
12:15). But is it not written that the earth helped
the woman in the wilderness? (Rev. 12:16). And who shall
be in control of the elements of the earth at that time,
that all of the forces of nature will be used to help
those that are under the attack of the enemy? Yes, I say
to you, those
glorified saints, even that firstfruits company, shall
be in charge. They shall have entered into the first
stages of that which shall eventually be an absolute
mastery over all the elements of the earth.
"So my people, listen! How shall I
raise up a standard and protect you against the enemies'
flood? I will take out of your midst 144,000 of the
choicest of my people, even those who have been faithful
and have been perfected by me. And they shall be loosed
away into that power and ministry awaiting them. For
they have been faithful and they have walked with their
God; and so like Enoch, they shall be taken, says the Lord. They shall be
caught up to my throne (Rev. 12:5), and there they shall
be invested with power to do only that which a tested
and tried people can do, even those who have overcome in
the flesh all the wiles of the enemy. Having overcome
the enemy in the flesh, they shall be used to overcome
him in his own realm and drive him out even to its borders, where he shall
be hemmed in. Then as a roaring lion shall he go forth
to consume and destroy on the earth. But those I have
raised up to me, and have been glorified
by me, shall then be used to stem the tide of
anguish and destruction which he would bring
against my people yet on the earth. For a mighty chain
shall be used to bind the power of the enemy, and that
chain which I will gradually ensnare him in and bind him
with, is none other than the might and power which my
glorified ones shall have. And then shall the battle
rage in its fury as the maddened demons of the nether
world see their domain being stripped from them, and the
chains of bondage being wrapped about them. And in great
fury shall they make their stand in that day, says the Lord.
"So you see, says the Lord, in that day of
the battle of the Lord God Almighty, I will have two
companies: even the one on one side and the other on the
other side of Jordan. One
on the west, corresponding to my glorified ones, even
the firstfruits, who will be battling the enemy into
submission in his own realm; and one on the east
side of Jordan, which corresponds to my anointed company
of overcomers who will still be on the earth. They too
shall be given great power over the enemy to drive him
out of the realms where he has operated heretofore, and
they shall be helped greatly by that Standard which I
have raised up, even my glorified saints,
to myself.
"And shall I not be in that day as
a wise military strategist who puts the enemy in a
vise, even into a giant pincers movement, that I may
crush him in between the two—one operating from the
earthly and the other operating from the heavenly? Even
so shall the enemy be overcome and defeated in the
battle of that day, says the Lord.
"And did I not portray this in my
temple of old, even Solomon's temple, says the Lord? For out in front
of the temple I placed two mighty pillars—even pillars
of brass, refined in the fires. So do these pillars
represent those who shall be pillars in my end-time
temple (Rev. 3:12), one on the one side (of Jordan) and
one on the other (symbolically speaking). For the first
was Jachin (1 Kings 7:21),
and I will establish in power those I raise up to myself, and they shall be
used to establish the
Kingdom in power. And then I shall raise up Boaz (1 Kings 7:21), even those
who have been left on the earth, and they also shall
minister in power in that realm which shall be committed
to them. Even so shall my purpose be accomplished, that
THAT which I have ordained by pattern be fulfilled in
this day, says the Lord. Now you
understand why I must remove some from your midst, for the battle
array must be set in order and prepared; and then shall
I consummate all things even as I have determined from
the beginning, says the Lord.
"Are you ready, says God? Are you ready to be
used in the battle of the great day of God Almighty? I
say, you shall be used if you will let me equip you now
with my armor, and let me train you in my ways of
warfare and if, like a good soldier, you will obey me
implicitly; for this is what I demand of those who will
be used of me to rout the enemy in these last days, says the Lord." (end of
prophecy).
[commentary]
The foregoing prophecy began with
the statement from Psalm 50:5, that the Lord is gathering together His saints, even those
who have made with Him a covenant by sacrifice. This gathering is
two-fold. First, it is a gathering together into one the
end-time Body of Christ, which is going to go forth on
this earth to do exploits in His Name. Secondly, it Is
the gathering, or taking out, of the firstfruits company
just before the time of Great Tribulation. To each it is
a "redemption" of a kind. To the "firstfrults," it is a
"loosing" from the earthly into the heavenly realm
for a ministry and a battle "on the other side." To that
Body being joined together on the earth, it is a
"loosing" from certain limitations, weaknesses and
inabilities, into a ministry of power. In either
case it can be said that we are to "look up, and lift up
our heads; for our redemption draws near." (Luke 21:28).
Jesus speaks in
John 6:40, 44, 54, of those who are to be "raised up" in the "last
day." We usually take this to mean the resurrection of the dead.
Certainly the thought of the resurrection is included, but we need
not limit the meaning to this. There
is a "raising up" from the earthly to the heavenly realm without the
experience of death, even a translation or change from the
physical to the "glorified" body. Such will be the experience of the
firstfruits before the tribulation, because the Lord has a work for them to do on the "other side."
Translating them into the "heavenly" is a part of His strategy and battle plan. They
are that STANDARD spoken of in Isa. 59:19 which shall be "raised up" at the
crucial moment when the enemy begins to come in like a flood.
And from their vantage in the heaven lies (Satan's own realm), and
with the newfound powers of their "glorified bodies," they shall be
able to "strike a death blow" to the forces of Satan. At the same
time the Lord will empower His end-time Body still on the earth to
go forth and "press the battle" from this side of the veil. And
great victories will be won for the Lord because we will have the
help and protection of the "glorified ones" on the other
side.
These two
end-time groups are symbolized by the two great pillars which stood
in front of Solomon's temple. We read about them in the 7th chapter
of I Kings. They were cast out of brass.
This reminds us of John's vision as recorded in Revelation, Chap. 1,
where he sees "one like to the Son of man "whose feet were like to fine brass, as if
they burned in
a furnace."
Also, the feet of the "mighty messenger" of Rev. 10:1, were
seen by John as "pillars of fire." And
those who "overcome" are to be made "a pillar in the temple
of my God." (Rev. 3:12). "Brass" is a type of the physical or
"fleshly" nature of man. Thus we see the picture of the purging,
refining, and transmuting of the base characteristics of our "carnal
nature" so that they might be cast into
the image of Jesus Christ.
Reading the 7th
chapter of I Kings, we notice that these two pillars were ornamented
in a certain way. This ornamentation pictures that adornment and
beautification with which the end-time Body of Christ shall be
graced—the beauty of holiness, godliness, humility, glory, victory,
boldness, overcoming power, etc. For it will be a "glorious church,
not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should
be holy and without blemish." (Ephes. 5:27). We also see that on
each "pillar" were hung the semblance of "pomegranates"—200 on each
pillar. Even so, does this picture the fruitfulness which shall be brought forth by
those who are "pillars" in the end-time church. The 200 on each
pillar shows that separation (2 = division, discernment and
screening) has done its complete work, reaching into the placement
of SPIRIT. Are you willing to let the Lord make you "a pillar" in
His end-time temple?
HIS
WAYS UNTO MOSES
In Psalm 103:7
we read these words: "He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the children of Israel." Notice the
difference! His "acts" were made known to the entire nation; but His
"ways" only to Moses. His "acts" were His mighty deeds—signs and
wonders wrought by His mighty power. All the people of
Israel saw the miracles
which God performed for their deliverance and preservation. They saw
the Red Sea rolled back for them to cross over; they saw the
Egyptians destroyed by a mighty act of God; they saw the miraculous
cloud which led them by day and the fiery pillar by night; they saw
the heavenly manna provided for their sustenance, and they
beheld the water surge forth from the rock by the mighty hand of
God. These and other "acts" they constantly beheld as God performed
mighty miracles in their midst. But ONLY MOSES ascended the "mount
of God" to have made known to him the "ways" of God—the "ways" in
which God wanted the people to WALK, in obedience to His Word, that they might be prepared for that which God wanted to do
THROUGH them according to His foreordained purpose. His "acts" the people beheld, that their needs might be met, and
that their faith might be quickened, as they realized their mighty
God and Savior was in their midst. But His "ways" they
had to learn. And God had to have a man
to whom He could reveal His Ways, and
that man was Moses. Moses, thereafter, made known God's Ways to the
people. But the tragedy of the situation was simply this: the people
were constantly clamoring for a demonstration of the mighty "acts"
of God, but they did not want to learn His "ways."
How much
Christian people are like this today! Multitudes are willing to
seek after the "acts" of God, but only a few (a Moses company) are
willing to fully learn His "ways." This does not mean that His
"acts" are not important, but we should be primarily concerned with
His "ways." In Psalm 77:11-13 we read: "I will remember the works of
the Lord: surely I will remember your wonders
of old. I will meditate also of all your
work, and talk of your doings.
Your way, O
God is in your
sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?" We are to remember
and talk of all his doings (acts), but His WAY is in the sanctuary. The Hebrew word translated
"sanctuary" means a "separation "or a "separated place." In the Old
Testament the "sanctuary" was the tabernacle or the temple
built by command of God as a separated place where the priests ministered to the
Lord on behalf of the people, and where the "presence" of the Lord
was manifested that He might speak to His specially chosen servants,
Moses and Aaron. In the New Testament the "sanctuary" is a separated people,
the very Body of Christ and the Temple of the Holy Spirit (I Cor.
3:16, 6:19; Ephes. 2:20-22); a royal priesthood that ministers to God
(I Peter 2:5,9), and to whom God speaks and makes known His
ways.
"Your
way, O God, is in the sanctuary." This means two things. First,
the sanctuary (tabernacle) built by Moses in the wilderness is
actually a divinely ordained picture or pattern (in symbols of
materials, structure, measurements, and objects) of GOD'S WAYS for
His people. (This is too great a subject to go into at the present
time and is beyond the scope of this article.) Secondly, it means
that HIS WAYS are being made known TO and revealed THROUGH that
"sanctuary" or "separated people" He is calling to
Himself in these last days—a people who are willing to learn His ways.
[prophecy]
"Oh my people,
are you willing to learn my ways, says
God. How long have I waited for a people who will give themselves
wholly to me, that I might teach them to walk in
that which I have foreordained for this hour. For I say to you,
that even before the foundation of the world I determined that
a people should show forth my glory in these last times, even that
which is the consummation of many ages and generations. But my
people, how much are you willing to give yourselves to me
that I might teach you my ways? Are you just Interested in beholding
my wonders, of seeking after signs, and in rejoicing only in that
which I can do for you? Are you not rather willing to be an
instrument in my hand, that I might show forth my glory to this
world? I say, if you are willing to learn my ways; if you are
willing to subject yourselves to me and to one
another in the body of Christ; if you are willing to take my Word
and study that which I have revealed through my servants of the
past; if you are willing to forget your ways and seek my face; then,
and only then, shall you become my sanctuary—even that body in which
my ways shall be made known, says the Lord. For is it not written that my
ways are not your ways and my thoughts are not your thoughts?
(Isa. 55:8). Why will you then continue to insist on following
your ways? Are not my ways, which are high as the heavens, revealed
only to those whose minds are set on the
heavens, to do that which has been revealed from heaven? And is not
that voice from heaven heard only by that Spirit which has come from
heaven to show my ways? Listen then to His voice, for He will show
you my ways and glorify me in your midst says the
Lord. Why will you then seek only after signs and wonders
and not seek ME, says your God. For did I not say that I AM your
way, your truth, and your
life? (John 14:6). Am I not He that revealed myself of old to Moses
my chosen, even as I spoke to Him on the
mount? And do I not call you to my "holy mount" in these last days, that
I might speak to you as it were "face to face", and to speak
to you
concerning my ways? Listen to my voice, for I will speak to you
once, yes twice, but if you are not
willing to hear, will I continue to speak to you says the
Lord? Must I "badger" and "buffet" in order to get you to listen?
Will I "bargain" with you and "beg" you says the
Lord? I say "nay"—I will not! But I speak to those who have ears to
hear and hearts to receive, and I will call you to
myself even as I called Moses to my mount; and I will deal with you to
bring you into my way, that you may be a witness to my people in
this day, says the Lord." (end of
prophecy).
[commentary]
Again, let me
quote Psalm 77:13, "Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary." During the forty days that Moses
spent with the Lord in the mount, the Lord revealed to him the
details for the building of the sanctuary (tabernacle). The
Lord then admonished Moses: "And look that you make
them after their pattern,
which was showed you in the mount." (Ex. 25:40). In contrast
to this temporal tabernacle which served the Israelites in the
wilderness, in Heb. 8:2 we have reference to "the sanctuary" and
"the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and
not man." This true (real) sanctuary or tabernacle is the church, which
the Lord Jesus said He would build
(Matt. 16:18). The temporary tabernacle in the wilderness was but a
TYPE of the real and permanent.
Now the
question is simply this: Is it not foolish to think that God would
be so meticulous about detailing the PATTERN for a temporary
tabernacle in the wilderness made out of perishable materials, and
yet fail to give a PATTERN for the reality of which it was a type, even the
true tabernacle (church) which the Lord Jesus is building? And
yet most Christians fail to realize that there is a DIVINE
PATTERN and ORDER for the church given in the New Testament.
After Moses had made all things "according to the pattern," the
tabernacle was erected and everything was "set" in its proper order.
We read of this in Exodus Chap. 40. Notice God's instructions to
Moses: "And you shall put
therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the veil. And you
shall bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set
in order on it; and you shall bring in the candlestick, and light the
lamps thereof. And you shall set the
altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony,
and put the hanging of the door to the
tabernacle, And you shall set the
altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the
tent of the congregation. And you shall set the
laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shall
put water there." (Ex. 40:3-7). Notice that everything had to
be brought in and "set” in the proper place as God commanded.
Beginning with Verse 19 of this chapter we see how Moses carries out
God's instructions. The phrase "as the Lord commanded Moses" is used
seven times in the rest of the chapter
showing Moses’ obedience. Following this we read: "So Moses finished
the work. Then a cloud covered the tent of the
congregation and the glory of the Lord
filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent
of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle."
(Ex. 40:34-35). Of this I am
convinced: the glory of the Lord would never have filled that tabernacle, if Moses
had not made all things "according to the pattern," and if he had
not "set" every article in its proper place according to God's
divine order. How much more important is it that the "true
tabernacle" (the church) be "set" in "divine order" by our Moses
(Jesus) that it might be filled with the glory of God.
The "glory" of
God is the "presence and power of God in the midst of His
people"—manifested in one way or another. In the Old Testament
His "glory" is primarily associated with the visible "glory cloud" which filled the tabernacle, and
which led the Israelites through the wilderness. In the New
Testament the "glory" of God is the reality of His presence and power through the Holy Spirit. The result of this presence and power is the
manifestation of the divine attributes and perfections in His people, such as love, joy, peace, victory,
deliverance, miracles, wisdom, knowledge, faith, revelation, divine
utterance, etc. The "glory of the Lord" in His Body is to bring that
Body into His own perfection and fulness. Now brethren, the
Lord wants to fill His Body with His Glory, not just in part, but in
fulness; and this will happen only as we
submit ourselves to His divine order for His church ... letting
Him "set" each member in the Body as He chooses. This IS going to
happen, and God has patterned it in His Word as follows:
[Saul vs. David]
The KEY is
found in a statement made in Acts Chap. 13, by the apostle Paul as
he preaches in the synagogue at Antioch of Pisidia. Recounting the
history of their people, Paul says: "And afterward they desired a
king: and God gave to them Saul, the son of Cis, a man of the
tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. And when he had
removed him, he raised up to them David to be their king; to whom he
gave testimony, and said, I have found David, the son of Jesse, a
man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will." (Acts 13:21-22).
"Saul" means
"asked for." God allowed the people to have Saul because they desired a king and "asked for" him. In time
God removed Saul and raised up David, because in him God saw a man
after His own heart, who would fulfill all His will. God is now "raising up" a David company who
will fulfill God's perfect will and order for His church in these
last days. Saul represents, in type, the old order of man-controlled
churches which are a result of the desires of the people; and what the people
"ask for" God gives, so that they might learn by experience the folly of their own desires and
ways.
One of the
first things that David wanted to do after He was raised up to the
throne was to bring the ARK back to Jerusalem. He said, "let us bring
the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul." (I Chron. 13:3). Just think, during
the entire reign of Saul, the ark, which symbolized the very
presence of God in the midst of His people, was not in its
rightful place, nor was the Lord enquired of at it. It was in the
land of the Philistines for seven months after the Philistines had
captured it, and when the Philistines sent it back it was
placed in the house of Abinadab (1 Sam. 6:1, 7:1-2). In type, the ark represents Christ, the head
of the church which is His body (Ephes. 1:22-23). In the
man-controlled churches represented by Saul, the ARK (Christ the HEAD) is not in His rightful place. But David
desires to bring the ark back. Even so there is a "David
company" that God is raising up who are willing to fulfill all
His will and see that the ark (Christ) is restored to His rightful
place as HEAD OF THE CHURCH.
[David's errors in order]
But here we
need to walk carefully, seeking the face of the Lord and examining
His Word daily, for David made some mistakes, even though he wanted
to do what was right. His first mistake was in consulting the
leaders and the people instead of the WORD of God. "And David
consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with
every leader. And David said to all
the congregation of Israel, If it seem good to you,
and that it be of the Lord our God. . . let us bring again the ark
of our God to us ... And all the congregation said that they would
do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people." (I
Chron. 13:1-4). We should not do
something because it is right in the eyes of the people or because
some leaders we have counseled with say so. We should seek God and
His Word, and let Him teach us by His Spirit.
Next we read
that "they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of
the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drove the
cart." (I Chron. 13:7). This was contrary to God's Word because only
the Levites were to carry the ark with
the specially made poles slipped through the rings on the ark. Not
realizing this, David was bringing the ark back on the cart. "And
David and all Israel played before God
with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with
psalterles, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with
trumpets." My, what a glorious meeting they were having; a real
"Pentecostal" campaign. Everything went fine until they came to the
"threshing floor of Chidon." There the oxen stumbled, and Uzza put
forth his hand to hold the ark. "And the anger of the Lord burned
against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark; and
there he died before God." (I Chron. 13:10). Numbers 4:15 shows that
none but the priests and Levites were in any way to approach or care
for the ark, so that Uzza was the victim of inexcusable
ignorance of God's Word. We might think that God was unreasonably
harsh, and yet we must realize that God was teaching them a
necessary lesson, as well as enacting a TYPE or PATTERN for us that
we might learn.
Notice that God
did not intervene until they reached the "threshing floor
of Chidon." A threshing floor is a type
of JUDGMENT: a place where the wheat is separated from the chaff.
Such was pointed out by John the Baptist in his words recorded in
Matt. 3:11-12. "He (Christ) shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost,
and with fire; whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly
purge his (threshing) floor, and gather his wheat into the garner;
but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." The
"threshing floor" represents a place of humbling and breaking
(the grain trampled), a place of separation (wheat from chaff), and
a place of testing and purging (fire). Even so is the Lord
putting us through fires of testing and purging, separating from our
lives those things which hinder His working, and causing us to be
broken and humbled before Him in a way that we have never known
before.
Just as in the
TYPE God overlooked the Ignorance and carelessness of David and the
people UNTIL they reached the "threshing
floor of Chidon," even so the Lord has overlooked our ignorant
and wayward ways regarding His church, BUT NOW JUDGMENT HAS BEGUN TO INTERVENE. God is causing us to realize that
He will not allow that which He has allowed before if we want the
fulness of His blessing. We must take our hands off of the ark. God
caused the oxen to stumble at the "threshing floor of Chidon" as a
TEST. And the reaction of Uzza portrays that which is so
characteristic of human nature. It is so human to want to put forth
our hands and try to PROTECT what God is
doing. We feel we have to organize, systematize, programize,
publicize, officialize, etc. what God is doing so that it will
be protected and preserved and propagated. Uzza putting forth his
hand symbolizes the attempt to rely on the "arm of flesh" which was
the great sin of the Israelites, and has also been the great sin of
the church. God spoke through Jeremiah thus: "Cursed be the man
that trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from
the Lord." (Jer. 17:5). God wants us to keep our hands off what He
is doing.
In I Chron.
13:11, we read that "David was displeased, because the Lord had made
a breach [against] Uzza: wherefore that place is
called Perez-uzza to this day. " "Perez-uzza"' means "breach of Uzza." It means a "breaking forth
or through." Later David realized that God had made a "break
through" [against] them by killing Uzza because they were not
bringing the ark back according to His divine order. Hear his words
in I Chron. 15:13: "The Lord our God made a breach [against]
us, for that we sought him not after the due order." People, God is going to "break
through" in judgment on the church in this day because
Christendom is not seeking His divine order for His church. We need
to realize that the Lord cannot sanctify with the fulness of His
glory an end-time "tabernacle" or "house" until we get that house in
divine order.
[David's success in order]
In I Chron. 15,
we have the record of David's success in
bringing the ark back to Jerusalem. This time he is
careful to do it God's way, for he said: "None ought to carry
the ark of God but the Levites: for them has the
Lord chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister to him
forever." (1 Chron. 15:2). "So the priests and the Levites
sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of
Israel. And the children
of the Levites bore the ark of God on their
shoulders with the poles thereon, as
Moses commanded according to the word of the Lord." (I Chron. 15:14-15). As the ark was
returning, we read that certain priests "did blow with (seven)
trumpets before the ark of God." (I
Chron. 15:24). In its final application
the return of the ark to Jerusalem is a picture of the
personal return of Christ to this earth. Going before (preceding)
that return we have the seven trumpets of Revelation, Chapters 8 through
11. Christ's return is at the consummation of the 7th, or last,
trumpet. BUT FIRST, Christ (the ark) must "return" to His rightful
place AS HEAD OF THE CHURCH, that He might bring the BODY into His
perfection and fulness. Even so, there is now a "trumpet ministry" which is "going before the ark" to
HERALD ITS RETURN, and to sound forth (trumpet) a MESSAGE of preparation and sanctification, saying "sanctify yourselves,
both you and your brethren', that you may
bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the
place that I have prepared for it. " (I
Chron. 15:12).
[study of the word "breach"]
Previously we
mentioned that David said, "The Lord our God made a breach [against]
us, for that we sought him not after the due order." (I Chron.
15:13). The word "breach" used in this passage is the same Hebrew
word used in Nehemiah 6:1 where Nehemiah says that he had "built the
wall, and there was no breach (break) left therein." In ancient
times a WALL was a city's protection. It was absolutely necessary in
those days of marauding bands of robbers and constant threat from
hostile tribes and nations. After the Jewish "remnant" had returned
from Babylon,
they began to rebuild the temple of God as
recorded in the book of Ezra, but the wall was still broken down. God then raised
up Nehemiah to return from Babylon to lead the people in the
task of rebuilding the wall, as recorded in the book of Nehemiah. Not until the wall was built was
there real success in that which the Lord had commissioned the
people to do. THE WALL is a type of divine order. It
is our protection, both from the enemy
(Satan), and from a "break through" of the righteous judgment of
God. Divine order for the church is absolutely necessary for the
success of that which God has commissioned us to do.
Another example
of the use of the word "breach" is found in the 13th chapter of
Ezekiel. God accuses the "prophets" of failing to fill in the
breaches and build up the wall in preparation for the "day of
battle." Hear the words spoken through Ezekiel the prophet: "Son of
man prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and
say you to them that prophesy out of their own hearts. Hear [ ] the word of the Lord; Thus
says
the Lord God; Woe to the foolish prophets, that folIow their own spirit, and
have seen nothing! O Israel, your prophets are like foxes in the deserts.
You
(prophets) have not gone up into the gaps (breaches),
neither made up the hedge (wall) for the house of
Israel TO
STAND IN THE BATTLE OF THE DAY OF THE LORD."
God's judgment
on
present day prophets (preachers) is that they are not filling the
gaps (breaches) nor building up the WALL OF DIVINE ORDER so that the
people may be prepared to STAND IN THE BATTLE OF THE DAY OF THE
LORD. The "battle" of the "day of the Lord" IS AT HAND. Instead, the
preachers of today are building up the walls of their own kingdoms
and organizations and telling the people that "everything is all
right." (peace). They are thus fulfilling the words of Ezek.
13:10: "Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying,
Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo,
others plastered it with untempered mortar (or, as
the Berkeley
translation puts it, "plaster it over with whitewash"). Beloved, this is a hard word,
but it is true. Preachers as a whole (there are notable exceptions),
whether they realize it or not, are engaged to a great degree in a
big job of whitewash of the manmade walls (systems) which have been
erected before them, and of which they have become an integral part.
The Lord God has commissioned us to "say to them
which plaster it with untempered mortar
(whitewash), that it shall fall: there
shall be an overflowing shower; and you, O
great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall [tear] it
[down] (a picture of the JUDGMENT which is
coming).
“Lo, when the
wall is fallen, shall it not be said to you,
Where is the [mortar with which you plastered]
it?. . . So will I break down the wall that you have
plastered with untempered mortar."
(Ezek. 13:11-14). God says in Ezek. 22:30, "And I sought for a man among them,
that should make up the hedge (wall), and stand in the gap (breach) before me for the
land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none." God found
none in Ezekiel's day, but we can be thankful that He is finding men
in this day who will stand in the breaches and BUILD UP THE WALL OF
DIVINE ORDER, that we may stand in the "day of battle."
People, we can
talk a lot about "divine order," and there is a divine order for
everything—our lives, the home, the church, the nation, etc., but
unless we have the willingness to obey in our
hearts, then all of our talk will avail nothing. Divine order
begins in the heart, with a willingness
to set our own house (inner life) in order first, that the spirit of reason and righteousness may RULE
instead of the soulish desires and emotions. Having begun in the
heart, we can then see that willingness to have all things conformed
to His divine will and plan extend to all of our other
relationships.
We have not
sought in this article to set forth the many "ways" of God; we have
sought only to show you how important it is to seek and learn
His "ways." Do you not see how important it is in this hour to seek
God and His divine will in everything; and to abandon everything
that is not of Him, as you would flee from a building that is about
to collapse? Will you not be among that "Moses company" that the
Lord is CALLING up into His "holy mount" to teach them HIS WAYS? "Oh
my people, listen to the
voice of your God in this hour; for time quivers in
the balance, and the very heavens and earth quake in anticipation of
His appearing.” But first, He will "appear" in spirit and power in a
Body that He is preparing, to show forth His glory; yes, a people
who will walk in HIS WAYS."
REBUILDING IN TROUBLESOME TIMES
[prophecy]
"Shall you not
warn my people, says the Lord? For a sword [is
coming] on the land. Yes, and
a terrible scourge is on its way. Even now it comes while the people
are unconcerned about my ways and seek to walk in the
stubbornness of their own heart. Yes, I
say, is it not time for the Lord to judge the earth and not pass it
by any more? (Amos 7:8). I say, the time has come and judgment comes
swiftly; it is coming! Oh my people, prepare, for it is even
now at the doors. Your time is short. Oh that you would
redeem the time and make your preparation! (Ephes. 5:14-18). For the
Lord God of the whole earth arises to bring judgment, and to purge
and cleanse the earth.
"Is it time, says
God, to build your own houses and to consume yourself
on your own pleasures, and yet consider not
that my house lies [in ruins]? Where are those who will abandon
their own pursuits and turn from their folly and give themselves to
me? For my house shall be built. My people shall come forth and
return to Zion with
everlasting joy and singing; for that which has lain [in
ruins] shall be built. It shall be built in a time of trouble
and in a time of great lamentation for the inhabitants of the world.
But my people shall be joyful even in the midst of tribulation. For
the power of their God shall be on them.
And the joy of their God shall uphold them. Yes,
even in a time of great tribulation shall my house be built. For I
will have a glorious house in these last days, says the
Lord. And the glory of this latter house shall outshine the glory of
the former, says the Lord. For in a time of grief will
my people arise to build that which has been torn down—that which
has been destroyed by the hand of the enemy—because my people have
turned from me to their own ways, and have not sought me after my
due order. [Do you think] that I have not revealed in my
word that which I desire for my house? Am I not the master builder,
and have I not laid down the plans for that which I will build? Why
then do you seek to build with your own
plans and your own ideas, when my plan is given to you?
Have I not said that you shall search and seek out that which I
have given in my Word? Why will you then
not seek that you might find, and ask that you
might receive, and truly I will give you
instructions on how to build my house. I say, that which you
build must be built according to my plan and purpose or it shall
surely fall, says the Lord." (end of
prophecy).
[commentary]
The Lord is not
speaking about some house or building of wood and stone, but rather
of the spiritual "house" (temple) of God. Even as Peter says: "You
also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house,
a
holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God
by Jesus Christ." (I Peter 2:5). In Hebrews 3:6 we read: "But Christ
as a son over his own house; whose house we are, if we hold fast the
confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the
end." Paul says in Ephes. 2:20-22, that we are "built on the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself
being the chief corner stone: In whom all the building [being
joined] together grows into a holy temple in the Lord: In whom you also
are built together for [a dwelling
place] of God through the Spirit."
But men have
neglected the true house (temple) of God and have sought to build
their own "houses" (denominations, organizations, groups, etc.). A
picture of this is seen in the writings of Haggai the prophet.
Haggai was one of the prophets God used to stir up the
people to finish rebuilding the house
(temple) of God after the return from the Babylonian captivity. The
people had begun to build, but because of opposition from without
and difficulties within, the work had ceased. The house of God was then neglected
for about sixteen years, during which time the people turned to
their own pursuits, became interested in building their own houses,
and letting the house of God remain in an unfinished state of ["ruin."]
At this time God raised up Haggai to admonish the people to once
again build the house of God.
[prophecy]
"Oh my people,
will you not build my house? Can I alone do that
which I have decreed shall be done by my chosen servants, even
those whom I have ordained to build it in this day? Where are those
who will come forth to declare the Word of the Lord in this hour?
For my house must be built. The scripture must be fulfilled. Think
not that one jot or tittle shall pass away which I have spoken to be
fulfilled in this age. For did I not say that my church would be
built? (Matt. 16:18). And can I return to my temple when that
temple lies in ruins? I say to you,
you
must be built together according to my will and purpose,
even for a holy dwelling place for my spirit, and for an
instrument of my glory in this day. Why, oh why, will not my people
build according to my plan and my way, says the
Lord?" (end of prophecy).
[lesson from Haggai]
Let's listen to
the admonition of Haggai the prophet, for truly his words are
appropriate and relevant to the conditions which we find today.
"Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying. Is it
time for you [yourselves] to dwell in your paneled
houses, and this house (temple) Iie [in
ruins]? Now therefore thus says the
Lord of Hosts; Consider your ways. You have
sown much, and bring in little; you eat,
but you have not enough; you
drink, but you are not fllled with drink; you
clothe yourselves, but there is [no one
is] warm; and he that earns wages earns wages
to put it into a bag with holes. Thus says the
Lord of hosts; Consider your ways ... You
looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when you
brought home, I [blew] on it. Why? says the
Lord of hosts., Because of my house that is [in ruins], and
[every one of you runs] to his own house.
Therefore the heaven over you [withholds
the] dew, and the earth [withholds] her fruit." (Haggai
1:1-10).
Yes people, we
need to consider our ways, and
realize that our ways are not His ways, and that our ways are an
abomination to Him. Our failure to build the true
spiritual house (temple) of God has resulted in consequences similar
to those described by Haggai, except to us they are primarily
spiritual rather than physical. And what are these
consequences? We have "sown much" with all of our multiplied
efforts, campaigns, drives, programs, publicity, spending of time
and money with all the modern media at our disposal, yet we have
"brought in little." And much that has been brought in has been put
into a bag with holes in it. In other words, it has not lasted. God
has "blown" on it with His testings and provings and it
has been scattered. We have looked for much and it came to little.
WHY, yes WHY?" Because of my house that is [in
ruins], and [every one of you runs] to his own house." Yes, every man is
interested in building up his own denomination, organization or
group, and the true spiritual
temple of God
is not built.
How divisive
and sectarian have been our ways! How selfish have been our motives!
How much we have sought to build for ourselves that we might boast
in that which we have done! How we have [ ] “paneled" our own
organizations while the house that the Lord wants to build lies
neglected. When will we awaken and come to repentance? When
will we quit trying to do something for God, and just be
obedient vessels to be built
together in that true spiritual house which He is erecting. Yes, we need
to consider our ways!
We see a
further consequence in the words of Haggai: "Therefore the heaven
over you [withholds the] dew (the "latter rain"
is withheld), and the earth [withholds] her fruit" (the "harvest" of this
age is delayed). (Haggai 1:10). We need to understand that the
present move of the Spirit of God in all denominations is NOT the
"latter rain" promised in God's Word. The "latter rain" will far
exceed anything we see now. The present move of the Spirit is a
preliminary move of God to STIR UP the people of God and cause them
to SEE that which God wants concerning His true temple, and to call
out a "remnant" in preparation for the
"latter rain." For we read that "the Lord stirred up the
spirit of Zerubbabel .... and the spirit of Joshua . . . and the
spirit of all the remnant of
the people; and they came (out of their own houses) and did work in
the house of the Lord of hosts, their God." (Haggai 1:14). We have
been "stirred up" by God's moving in our midst. NOW is the time to
have our eyes opened to SEE God's plan for His house (church) and
begin to BUILD according to His pattern.
When we see
what seems to be such an insignificantly small group today who
understand this vision of an end-time church filled with the glory
and power of God, we may feel much like those to whom Haggai spoke
these words: "Who is left among you that saw this house in her first
glory? and how do you see it now? Is it now in your eyes in
comparison of it as nothing? (Haggai 2:3). The temple which they saw
being rebuilt didn't seem like much compared to the glory of
Solomon's temple which had been destroyed, and which some of
them remembered. Even so that which we see today doesn't seem like
very much in comparison with what we read about in the book of Acts
concerning the glory and power of the early church. But hear the
words of Haggai: "Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, says the
Lord; and be strong, O Joshua . . . and be strong, all you
people of the land, says the Lord, and work: for I am with you,
says
the Lord of hosts . . . my spirit remains among
you: fear [ ] not . . . and I will fill this house with glory, says the
Lord of hosts . . . The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, says the
Lord of hosts." (Hag. 2:3-9).
[Solomon's temple vs. Zerubbabel's temple: type
of the early vs. latter day church]
In TYPE,
Solomon's temple represents the "former house" or church of the
first century, which was "filled with glory" on the day of
Pentecost. Just as there were 120 disciples gathered in the upper
room on the day of Pentecost, so in the type there were "a
hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpet," at the dedication
of Solomon's temple (II Chron. 5:12). As they were in one place and
in one accord
on the day of Pentecost, so in the TYPE we read, "It came to pass,
as the trumpeter and singers were as one, to make one
sound to be heard in praising and
thanking the Lord . . . that then the house was filled with a cloud,
even the house of the Lord; so that the priests could not stand to
minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had
filled the house of God." (II Chron. 5:13-14). Even so, on the day
of Pentecost, the "glory of God" (the Holy Spirit) "filled" the
house (people) of the Lord gathered in the upper room.
If Solomon's
temple, as the "former house," is a type
of the early church, then certainly Zerubbabel's temple, the "latter
house" of which Haggai spoke, is a TYPE of the church of these last days, which will be filled with greater glory
than the "former" or early church. Yes,
we can expect more of the "glory" and "power" of God in these last
days than has ever been manifest before.
According to
Haggai, this "glory" is to be manifest at a time when the Lord will
be "shaking" all things. "And I will shake all nations, and the
desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with
glory, says the Lord of hosts." (Haggai 2:7). This
"shaking" process is now going on and will grow in intensity until
we see the fulfillment of Hebrews 12:26-28, "Yet once more I
shake not the earth only but also heaven. And this word, Yet once
more, signifies the removing of those things that may be
shaken, as of things that are made, that
those things
which cannot
be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom
which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God
acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a
consuming fire." God is "shaking" the religious "heavens," the
political "heavens," the financial "heavens." He is shaking all the
earth (organizations and systems of man); and all of these
"rumblings" are the prelude to the great "earthquake" (Rev. 6:12,
11:13) which shall see the complete collapse of all that "can be
shaken." Even so our God is now arising to "shake terribly the
earth." (Isa. 1:19-21).
NOW is the time
to heed the voice of the "Haggals" that the Lord is raising up to
trumpet this call for a "remnant" to REBUILD the house of the Lord
in these troublesome times. In the prophecy at the beginning of this
article, the Lord said that His house (church) would be RE-built
during a time of difficulty and tribulation. A pattern of this is
seen in the difficulties encountered by the "remnant" which returned
out of Babylon to
rebuild the house of the Lord. There were many internal obstacles to
overcome, as well as tremendous opposition from surrounding
peoples. Read the books of Ezra and Nehemiah for the details. Even
so, according to this pattern, the latter-day house (church) is
going to be REBUILT during times of extreme difficulty. We are now
in the very inception of this rebuilding.