Before I came to the Lord experientially, I was preaching at age eighteen in Presbyterian churches. But hearing the salvation call, I came to the Passover experience through a man who was a Quaker. Shortly thereafter, I joined an American Baptist church. As a young man in the faith and a Baptist I was not taught about the feast of Pentecost. When I did hear about Pentecost, I was warned against it. By the same token after having experi- enced the feast of Pentecost, I heard of Tabernacles and again was warned against it, perhaps for any number of religious reasons. While I rejoiced in my salvation daily and enjoyed praying in the Spirit, neither of the first two experiences seemed to empower me in my walk, although these feasts blessed me mightily on the natural plane of things. Both feasts let me be in the world but not of it. Yet, these two feasts did not provide a daily victorious presence of the Lord in my life, or at least did not seem to do so. But a driving hunger for more of God in my life propelled me into a new area of experience.

The importance of Tabernacles in the daily life of a Christian is tantamount to a victorious walk in God. The other two feasts provide some victory over the "devil" or the "flesh" but it did seem to be random and temporary. Tabernacles is a feast that few discuss because most are concerned with Passover (Salvation) or Pentecost (Baptism in the Holy Spirit). J.Preston Eby has written some wonderful things on Tabernacles as has George Hawtin and George Warnock. Only those whose eyes have been opened to the feast can even discuss it because it seems that the church system does not recognize Tabernacles in the Scriptures. We first begin with knowledge of Tabernacles, for without hearing, who can learn? Then the feast of Tabernacles can become experiential. The Feast of Tabernacles is a total experience that eliminates the adamic nature from your presence and provides a bold entrance into the Holy of Holies, into a union in the Spirit with God, while living in the New Creation man.

There are many analogies that would seem to indicate a third experience with God. Obviously, only God can reveal the experience to anyone. Please review the following list. Consider carefully, that if each column is experiential in this lifetime and not later "in heaven" then the next column probably is also.

Passover                     Pentecost                              Tabernacles

Jesus                             Holy Spirit                                 Father

Way                                    Truth                                      Life

Spirit                            Soul                                           Body

Heart                            Soul                                           Might

30 fold                            60 fold                                      100 fold

Blood on Leper           Oil on Leper                             Vial on Leper

1st Day                            2nd Day                                    3rd Day

Birthright                            Blessing                                    Inheritance

Faith                           Hope                                          Love

Red Sea                            Rock of Christ                          Promised Land

Outer Court                    Holy Place                               Holy of Holies

Psalms                            Hymns                                      Spiritual Songs

Blood                           Water                                        Spirit

Baptism of Water             Baptism of Spirit                      Baptism of Fire

Each experience is a necessary part of our development in the Lord. Salvation births us as a babe in the New Creation man. Pentecost propels us forward into our struggling teen years in our walk in the New Creation man. But Tabernacles brings us to maturity in the New Creation man. Now, I have used the phrase New Creation man in order to emphasize the truth established by the resurrection of our Lord. Adam died. We no longer live in Adam. Adam is sinful. But since we have been grafted into the vine by Christ Jesus, we are no longer in the adamic nature, we are alive in Christ. A friend stated that we struggle with Adam every day. Some do. Some live in Pentecost. Others have come to Romans 8 and left Romans 7. One only struggles with Adam when he is in him, identifying with him. Trying to purify Adam is death. Yet, people think they are in Christ when they try to "overcome" Adam. Jesus overcame the world for us. If we are alive in Him we do not struggle to get victory but reside in it. This is difficult for a Passover or Pentecost person to comprehend and move in.

In previous centuries one finds that Tabernacles was called perhaps another name. The word "tabernacle" means Engathering. Madame Guyon wrote of entering into a Union with God. Isaac Newton wrote of sonship and union with God. William Law even wrote of a deeper experience. Of course, there were many others, who never wrote but were part of the remnant of the Lord. These down through the ages lived in the realm of Tabernacles.

The Representations of The Seven Vessels of the Outer Court and the Tabernacle

Brazen Altar:                     Salvation                                  Passover

Laver:                             Water baptism                          Unleavened Bread

Showbread:                     John 20:23                             First Fruits

Menorah/2 Lamps:    Baptism of the Holy Spirit     Pentecost

Altar of Incense:             Third Experience                 Trumpets

Ark of the Covenant:    Union with God                         Day of Atonement

Mercy Seat:                    Manifestation (Romans 8:19) Tabernacles

Altogether there are seven vessels found in the Outer Court, the Holy Place and the Holiest of Holies. Each vessel corresponds to an experience in one's walk with God. It so happens that there are three main feasts (Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles) with a total of cor- responding parts of seven. We can easily draw an analogy between the vessels and the feasts. The first feast, Passover has three parts to it: the sacrifice, the unleavened bread, the firstfruits. Each part corresponds to an action of the priests in the service of the Lord. The brazen altar corresponds to the Passover. The first vessel is that of the brazen altar and it is found outside the Tabernacle/temple. Here the vessel is made of brass which speaks of judgment in the Scriptures. The animal (bull, Exodus 29) is killed before the tent of the Tabernacle. The blood spurting forth from the neck is saved and sprinkled on the four horns of the altar (Exodus 29:12) and placed before the base of the altar. Then the blood is placed on the altar of incense inside the Tabernacle (Leviticus 4:7) because in the feast of Pentecost there is still leaven (sin) which needs to be covered by the blood. The innards of the animals are burned on the altar, but its flesh is taken outside the camp. Leviticus also verifies this for the people in chapter 9. The blood offering was a type and shadow (1 Corinthians 10:6, Romans 15:4) for us of the death of Jesus and His atoning work for us.

The laver corresponds to water baptism and the eating of the unleavened bread. The laver was made of polished brass which speaks also of judgment. The priests washed their hands in the laver’s water which came out of a spout at the base because their hands were tainted by the blood of the sacrifice. It is important to note that these two vessels - brazen altar and the laver are not in the Tabernacle. These vessels are located in the Outer Court, under the natural sun. The experiences of salvation, for which the brazen altar corresponds, and water baptism, to which the laver corresponds, are visible to the world at large. All other experiences are internal and hid from the world. Unleavened bread of sincerity and truth is eaten by the saint and the life of the saint changes dramatically. People who knew the person before the person became a saint see the difference. The difference is the result of unleavened bread - no yeast in it, no corruption in it.

The first fruits of the Passover feast (Leviticus 23:20) correspond to Jesus giving the Holy Spirit to the disciples before He ascended (John 20:22) and also to the vessel of the table of showbread. When the Lord gave them the Holy Spirit, it was not made known to the world at large or even to the people who followed them. The twelve loaves of bread, each representing a tribe or a disciple, are a wave offering before the Lord and are changed daily in the Tabernacle. The evidence of "Pentecost" is not yet because the Lord has not ascended in the person. The person has had the infilling but the "empowering" of Pentecost as found in Acts is yet to occur.

The feast of Passover has three parts comprising the whole. It is a spiritual feast. It is not natural nor carnal. The spiritual experience empowers the natural, is revealed in the natural and destroys the carnal. An unsaved person who finds the Lord as his Savior is changed inwardly and outwardly. People see the change. The spiritual event changes the outer, natural man. How? By slaying the carnal man inside. The reason for mentioning this is vitally important. We shall find each feast and each part of the feast is experiential in our life. Each feast may or may not relate to the events in the natural world, but each feast does relate to each of us personally.

In the feast of Pentecost we find Pentecost. This feast begins in the third month, fifty (Greek "penta") days after Passover and would correspond approximately with June 1, depending on the lunar or solar calendar system that is used. The actual feast of Pentecost corresponds to the candlestick (menorah) and the two lamps (Zechariah 4). These two "lights" had a total of nine wicks. These nine correspond to the baptism of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12 where nine gifts are mentioned: word of wisdom, word of knowledge, gift of faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues and interpretation of tongues.

THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS - PART ONE OF THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES

The third vessel in the Tabernacle was that of the altar of incense. This corresponds to the feast of trumpets. Trumpets were blown for four reasons (Numbers 10): Gather just the leaders, or gather the people, or gather all to go to war, or gather all at the time of the feasts. Moses had created two trumpets of silver, which speaks of redemption, and the trumpets were made from one beaten piece of silver - our redemption, to wit our body, is accomplished by Jesus offering His soul and us laying down ours (thus, two trumpets) for the sake of others. Along with the table of showbread, the lamps and menorah, the altar of incense in the Holy Place is the final piece. The altar of incense has upon it the fragrance of a censor filled (Exodus 37:29) with spices. A pleasing scent of the Romans 12 sacrifice.

There is a sound that blows within the individual when he experiences the work of the altar of incense. His identity changes on the altar. The other four experiences (brazen altar, laver, showbread and menorah) all bless the person. But the altar of incense causes the person to fully be "inChristed" as Evelyn Issac states. Only the Christ nature (our life is hid in Christ, in God) can enter the Holy of Holies. The altar of incense is the marriage supper of the Lamb in the sense that the New Creation man, which has been growing, enters into a full union with God's plan and purpose. The altar of incense is not a place of ending but a place of beginning. The censor is lifted by the priest and taken into the Holy of Holies once a year. This shows the aroma, the fragrance of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14). It is only the Christ nature that is pleasing to God and enables us to enter the Holy of Holies.

The outer court deals with the revelation of God in the outer man so that the world might see Him who is our salvation. The purpose of Pentecost, the Holy Place realm, is to remove the carnal mind from dominance in us so that the mind of Christ might ascend into its rightful place. The function of the Holy of Holies in the individual is the manifestation of the fullness of God in the new creation man. This manifestation will permit the full salvation of mankind because they will see that it can be done in a people.

The angelic ministry of the seven angels who blow the seven trumpets is a declaration of the purpose and plan of God towards the earth. God's plan is to bring about the consummation of the ages, the restoration and restitution of all things. The first angel (Revelation 8:7) speaks a word that is given to the earth and a third of the trees are burned up. This is not talking about the natural earth (planet) nor literal trees. This is speaking about the cleansing of the earth (Adam was of the dust of the earth) and the removal of trees of self-righteousness, as Adam hid in the garden amongst the trees (knowledge of good and evil etc.). The second angel sounds (8:8-9) and again the earth (Adam) is dealt with. In Revelation 17:15 it tells us that the sea is made up of all kindreds, tongues, people etc. So judgment comes on the whole of mankind and they can not traffic in the ways of the world as they previously had. The third angel sounds (8:10) and the rivers are made impure which speaks of the knowledge that God had given man is ruined in that mankind cannot see how to apply it. The rivers in a deeper sense represent the "life" on the natural plane which is interrupted by the corruption of man. The fourth angel sounds (8:13) and one-third of the heavens are struck down. This speaks of the knowledge that is in the mind realm. Understanding and leadership in natural truths (sowing/reaping etc.) are removed and can no longer produce in the earth.

The next three trumpets are "woes" to those who live on the earth. Revelation 12:12 states the same. Again, this does not mean the natural planet, but it means those who dwell in Adam who was made of the dust of the earth. Those in Christ, as Revelation 12:12 state live in heaven and rejoice. Paul states the same as our citizenship is in heaven, the new Jerusalem, the mother of us all. (For those who read this article and believe in a rapture, I suggest you write us for some information because there is no rapture as the evangelical church teaches.) The fifth angel (9:2) releases all the corruption that the carnal mind can develop and behold demons come forth. The sixth angel (9:14) the four rivers are: the will emotions, desire and the mind. Judgment comes upon the earth and its rivers which means Adam and his source of power. The seventh angel sounds its trumpet (11:15) and the birth of the manchild occurs who shall bring release from the flesh nature. This is done through the fulfilling of Romans 8:19-20.

The trumpets in the feast of Tabernacles play a great role. The sound of these trumpets has been going on since the ascension of Christ. The first trumpet sounded and while still sounding the second began and while it and the first were still blowing the third began , so on and so on. We now have come to the sound of the final trumpet. Many have had the hope through the ages (Hebrews 11:39-40) but now they shall join us.

The seventh trumpet sound is the declaration that there is a birth, a spiritual birth, which reveals a full union of the individual with His God through Christ Jesus our Lord. The birth is a third experience in the walk of the saint. It is different to all because we all are individuals. But the result is the same. Identification is no longer with Adam and the ways of the flesh, but there is a total identity with the Lord and the realization that 1 John 3:9 is active in your life. There is no desire to sin, and you cannot sin because you reside in the nature of God. It truly is a revelation that you are alive in Christ. This sound of the trumpet destroys the yoke of Adam upon your neck.

The Altar of Incense

The details on the altar of incense are found in Exodus 30:1-10 and 37:25-29. This is the smallest of the vessels in the Tabernacle, but it is the tallest piece of furniture. There are many types of service in the Lord's work. The brazen altar in the outer court signifies service to God, and this can be seen even outside the tabernacle/temple area by people of the world. The second place of service is found in the candlestick/menorah where the baptism of the Holy Spirit provides us with gifts of the Spirit to edify the body of Christ whether it be healing, deliverance, prophecy etc. But the third realm of service is represented by the altar of incense which does not remain in the Holy Place but goes into the Holy of Holies. The altar of incense is our service to God, where we lay down our will, emotions, desire and mind (the four corners of the earth) which are removed by the sacrifice of the Christ in us. Adam is removed so that the pleasing fragrance of the Lord Jesus can open the way to come boldly to the throne of God.

In Hebrews 9:2-4 Paul does mention the altar of incense in the Holy Place but refers to it being in the last room, the Holy of Holies in verse 4. The key is that this vessel relationship is tied to the Holy of Holies and not to the Holy Place. It is a "bridge" to the entrance of the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place. The importance of this point is truly valuable to the walk of the saint.

Romans 12 states the following: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God which is your reasonable service." I might add that the Romans 12 sacrifice is not your old nature that is pleasing to God! Adam stinks. Adam is dead and his body is outside the camp where Jesus was crucified for us. Adam, the entrails of the sacrifice, is taken outside the camp and placed as refuse in Gehenna, the garbage dump outside of the walls of Jerusalem. There is no Adam in the Tabernacle, only Christ. It is only the life of Christ in you that is a pleasing sacrifice unto the Lord. He in you is the only solution to the pollution of Adam. Now, we know that Adam is dead in trespasses and sin never to be raised into life again. What body is Paul talking about in Romans 12 that is to be presented to God? We note that the body is pleasingly accepted by God. Adam could not be accepted by God because of sin. God could accept His Son, but it is not talking about that since the verse states that "you" present "your body". What body is it then?

The body laid upon the altar of incense is the New Creation man fully born of God. For the altar is a place where the saint has come into union with God on the Day of Atonement and the soul is afflicted, cut off (Leviticus 23:28-30), and the body within the body is presented. For inside this carcass of death there is an inner man being renewed daily (2 Corinthians 4:16) which is the earthly house, this adamic carcass of death is dissolved, and Christ is revealed. This house is not made with hands (not of the making of the carnal mind) but fashioned after the image, conformed to the image, the very image of the Son of God. Yes, 2 Corinthians 5 deals with the new creation man who willingly lays down his life for the sake of others (2 Corinthians 4:11). See our message and tape of 2 Corinthians 5.

It is the New Creation man who can move from the Holy Place into the Holy of Holies. Adam can never enter nor be purified to enter. Adam is in death. The New Creation man is in life. No man can see God and live - no adam, but those in Christ can come before His presence.

We note that the brazen altar had four rings for its moving. But the altar of incense has only two rings. Four rings of the brazen altar represent salvation in the realm of Adam, Adam being made of the earth. The two rings present the spiritual side of the New Creation man. Two being the witness of the world, the Spirit and the Word, Father and Son, etc. This vessel only moves by the realm of Life. All other vessels in the outer court (brazen altar, laver) and the Holy Place (showbread, candlestick, lamps) move by effort, effort of the flesh. But this altar is acceptable to God. The brazen altar in the outer court is where man accepts the work of God. The altar of incense is where God accepts the New Creation man.

It is fitting to mention that Revelation 12:11 states: "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the Word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death." The blood represents salvation, the Word represents the working of the Holy Spirit in you, and the death is the entering into the Holy of Holies willingly laying down your life, the New Creation man, so that others may enter in even as Paul sought to be used for his brethren. Having gained Christ and identification with Him, we must be willing to be Him.

The incense used was made of spices: sacte, onycha, galbanum along with frankincense (Exodus 30:34). Song of Solomon also uses these spices in 4:14 calling them chief spices. In 4:14 the wife, the bride, is called a fountain sealed, a life spring, a fountain of gardens, a well of living waters. How can such a vessel be used when the spices are part of the burial process? It is the aroma, the fragrance of Christ - life to some, death to others. 2 Cor 2:16 states: "To the one we are the savor of death unto death; and to the other the savor of life unto life..." The very thing that is used for burial is the very thing that creates life! The very death of Jesus was necessitated for the resurrection to occur. Even He had to lay down the visible expression of God in order to truly reveal His divinity by resurrection. Christianity is the only religion that has a resurrection in its belief structure.

How pleasing it is on the day of Trumpets, the first day of the seventh month, the day of a new sound and a new proclamation, for our God to see those conformed to His image laying their lives down so that others may enter in. If we were in the Adamic nature at the time we would be seeking to preserve our lives, but in the Christ nature we offer up who we are to be the salvation of all through Him who is manifested through us. This is the coming of the Lord that will change the world.

The actual altar of incense was made of wood which speaks of humanity, and overlaid with gold which speaks of divinity. The old nature has been changed to the very nature of the Father. The gold was of one beaten work. Yes, we are hand crafted individuals made for His good will and pleasure. Together we are a vessel of glory to God because it is the final work of the Holy Place realm.

The seventh month of the Jewish year is the beginning of trumpets which begins the feast of Tabernacles. Depending if you use the Lunar calendar (as the Jews do) or the Solar calendar as others do, there will be some variation on the dates. But in the seventh month (counting from the Jewish first month, Abib, which corresponds approximately to April) of the Jewish year, we find September. The vessels in the Holy of Holies are the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat. These two vessels correspond to the two parts of the feast of Tabernacles - atonement and engathering but also brought forth from the Holy Place realm is the altar of incense.

While we do not have time to explain some thoughts on angels (see our booklet on Angels Ministering from the Heavens), we do want to state clearly that angels are people not a white robed wing flapper. Remembering that angels are people, consider this with the feast of trumpets. Revelation 9:13 shows that the sixth angel (Greek "angellos" meaning messenger of good news) was before the golden altar (not the brazen altar). Revelation 8:3 also states another angel came and stood before the altar with the incense which was the prayers of the saints. Around this angel were the seven angels who each had a trumpet. These are messengers with a call of judgment and release to the world which is held in corruption. The good news is that judgment brings deliverance.

Summary

The feast of trumpets loudly proclaims a new message of the New Creation man. This man does not live under the law nor above but rather manifests the life of the law. The sound is clear and distinct given by the trumpet because it is a call for the people to come together. It is a call for the people - the body of Christ - to come together into His nature, His name, and manifest it at this time. Two trumpets were used. One is Jesus Christ who revealed the resurrection to us. The sound of that proclamation has resonated through the world for almost 2,000 years. Shortly after His ascension the second trumpet sounded. The second trumpet sounds and is the remnant of the faith who have not bowed to Baal, Babylon or the Beast, but have been persecuted by them. The chronological time has come for those who have proceeded us to join with us in this the age of the manifestation of the sons of God as stated in Romans 8:19.

The altar of incense which corresponds to the trumpets is a time of sacrificing our own Christ nature for the salvation of others. While at this time in the world we see people sacrificing others so that they can do their own "thing", we following the pattern Son must acquiesce to the plan of the ages and lay down our life for the world. No greater love can be seen. Such a pleasing savor rises to the heavens because the golden censor is filled with the scent of the saints who have laid their lives down for the glory of God.

The spiritual growth of the saint from Passover to Pentecost is a life changing experience. But the movement from Pentecost to Tabernacles is a life exchanging experience. Before Jesus could lay down His life on the natural plane, He first had to have it settled in His mind, otherwise He could not have done it. Mature saints who have entered into union with God and His purposes and plan can easily lay down this life. In fact, the things of this world are not an enticement to them. The altar of incense reveals this.

Jesus' altar of incense truly was in the wilderness. Here He was challenged in the three areas of 1 John 2:16 which includes the trial of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Jesus was tested in the body soul and spirit. He overcame those trials because of who He was. The altar of incense allows us the victory because we have become like Him.

THE DAY OF ATONEMENT - PART TWO OF THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES

The day of atonement begins in the seventh month on the tenth day of the month. Ten is the number of personal testing in the Bible (if you would like a list on Bible numbers write us). The word atonement does not mean at-one-ment, as I have heard some state incorrectly over the years. The word means that another has taken the place for you, paid the price for you, given his/her life for you. The purpose of the day of atonement is to afflict yourself so that Christ Jesus can replace you! The day of atonement is the emergence of Christ in you and the decrease of Adam's presence into total oblivion. As mentioned earlier in this paper, Leviticus 23:25-29 expresses the thought that the "soul" or the mind is to be afflicted (Adam was a soul) or it will be cut off from the feast. Also it states that there is no servile work which means the individual has come into unity with Christ and He reigns.

Leviticus 16 deals with the atonement. 16 times the word "mercy" is used in the Hebrew. 16 times in 1 Corinthians 13 the word "charity" in the KJV is used. The thought here is that "charity" means maturity. For of the three types of love (eros or physical love, phileos or brotherly love, agape or God's love) agape is the mature love, a love of understanding. Full atonement is mercy/charity revealed.

The day of atonement is where the saint comes into union with God. What is meant by the word "union"? Up to this point in one’s walk there may have still been identification with the old nature, the adamic nature. But when one goes into the Holy of Holies, no man, no Adam, can go in there and live. The only person ever to go in without needing atonement was Jesus Christ and that was because He was God. The day of atonement is when your New Creation man has been joined to the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:17). Joined in the sense of a marriage bed. As a woman changes her name on marriage, so too, we forsake Adam and take Christ's name, ie nature. Romans 7:4 (see our message on it) states when the first husband is dead, the wife is free to remarry. Well, our first husband, Adam, is dead in trespasses and sin, so we are free to be alive in Christ and marry Him.

This union then is a total identification with Jesus. This is not a boisterous announcement that you are Jesus! But a walk of life in the acknowledgment that what you "be" is Him in this world. The only manifestation of Jesus that anyone will ever see is Him in you. You are the light of the world, as the Lord stated. When you come into that understanding, that union with Him, you begin to act substantially different. When you were "saved" you changed from one lord to the Lord, but there were still things you did that didn't measure up to the fullness of the stature of Christ (Ephesians 4:11). When one enters into union, every motivation within is to reveal Him, from the rising of the sun unto the setting thereof. It is not a conscious effort - if it were it would be the effort of the adamic nature. There is no effort to reveal Him in union life. Union does it effortlessly.

The day of atonement is specifically for the saint. It is a day when the saint realizes the depth of his relationship with the Lord, which up to this point in his/her life the Lord has been like a "dad". For "dads" lovingly watch over, provide for, educate, etc. But when union occurs, then one becomes a friend of the Lord. A servant doesn't know the meaning of the Lord's will, the purposeful plan, but carries out the orders of the Lord. When union occurs there is no servile work any longer and the person becomes the friend of the Lord. "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." (John 15:15)

It is an intimate time when the relationship changes from a flowering beauty of adolescent innocence to womanhood and a marriage relationship. For the best of friends are those who are married to one another, if they are in Christ. The depths of their intimacy are opened up to one another. True friendship is manifested when one makes himself vulnerable to such a state that the one could, if given the chance, kill the other. Love is vulnerable. Jesus opened Himself up to the disciples. Eleven valued the love and one did not, but that one did regret later after the relationship was changed and could never be the same again.

A young man dates a young lady. They fall in love. When they consummate the relationship, the marriage begins. For in their natural nakedness, they have made themselves vulnerable also in the mind and spirit. The day of atonement is the day that the clothing of Adam is removed and what remains is seen. Is there a fully born person of God there? Is there a woman there ready to consummate a relationship with the Lord or is the one seen but a mere child? The answer is that the day of atonement only occurs when the person is ready to receive the coming of the Lord unto them! God is faithful that He will not find you naked. He brings you to a place where He has done such a work in you that He will be revealed. You see the coming of the Lord is His coming to a marriage bed. He seeks a union of the two - you and Him.

The day of atonement occurs as one enters into the Holiest of Holies. Union with God must occur before entering of the Holy of Holies because if it does not, the flesh that enters into the Holy of Holies will die, killing the whole vessel. We can come boldly to the throne of grace through Christ Jesus (Hebrews 4:16) which means we can come through Him only as we have His last name - a marriage relationship. It is only when we have entered into a union with His name ( the word "name" means to have the character, nature of ) can we manifest who He is. When this union actually occurs, the soul (Adam was a soul) dies and we become a life giving spirit fashioned in the image of God (1 Corinthians 15:45-49)

When union occurs with God, the person yields to the overshadowing of the Spirit. The Spirit of God takes preeminence in the life of the individual. We do not mean the concept that some think is spiritual. Some that I have met thought they were spiritual praying over what clothes they would wear and then would have two different color socks on! That is spiritual carnality to its height! When the spirit of God impregnates you every other desire is relegated to a lower level and at the same time heightened to the highest plane. How so? God empowers, enlivens, quickens, glorifies what you do causing what you do to ascend to another plane. Simply buying groceries at the store becomes a godly action. Whereas, when you were in Adam you did not think anything about going to the grocery store and if you did you looked for an opportunity to witness. Union with God means that all that you do, even the grocery store experience is a witness - by just being you - the Christ, the anointed of God.

Servile work requires effort on your part. Leviticus 23 as we quoted earlier states that there is no need for servile work in the day of atonement. Servile work is required where you work in conjunction with the Lord to accomplish something. He and you together do it. Mostly though, it is you. Perhaps, you have seen the bumper sticker on cars that state: "God is my co-pilot". This is a very unfortunate statement. It shows that the person is in charge and God is second in command, called on when the storm gets rough and the ship needs another set of hands. That is what servile work is about. But the day of atonement is different. It is a day when you end. Your life is swallowed up by God's in you. Death is done away. We are not talking about natural death here. Natural death cannot be swallowed up until the person first enters into a union with God in Spirit and Soul. Then and only then can the body be redeemed from death.

Leviticus 23 brings out that in the feast of Tabernacles during the time of atonement there is to be no "servile work" (KJV) in verse 28 and in verse 29 states that the "soul" must be afflicted in that day. If the soul is not afflicted on that day, the soul will be cut off. The "soul" is what Adam was, but he sinned. The wages of sin is death. The soul that sins surely dies (Ezekiel 18:4). So, in this feast the person is to cut off Adam finally with a totality. It is interesting to note that the word "atonement" in the Old Testament means: to cover, to cancel, to cleanse, to disannul, to pitch away, to forgive, to reconcile, to be merciful. The Holy of Holies does two important things during the time atonement for the person who has entered into union with God. First, the removal of sin consciousness is accomplished. Secondly, the individual no longer does "servile" work, as one had in the Outer Court or Holy Place realm. Rather, union with God has caused a full blown relationship in fullness with God and the person's identity is now totally with God rather than Adam. Adam serves; God gives. A saint in union with God by the work of the atonement gives because it is his nature now, whereas a person still in Adam serves because he has nothing of life to give. The work of the day of atonement is the full removal, cleansing of the individual of any reminder or remainder of the carnal adamic nature. IF THE SOUL IS NOT AFFLICTED WHEN YOU ENTER THAT REALM YOU WILL BE CUT OFF (Leviticus 23: 29-30). Holiness must be in this realm. License causes removal.

There is no work in the time of trumpets (Leviticus 23:25) and there is no work on the day of atonement (Leviticus 23:28). The reason is that is a new day, a time of a new manifestation in your life. It is the Lord's Day because Adam has ceased to reign and Christ reigns. The life of God begins to manifest itself with complete ease through the vessel. There is no warring, no questioning, whether one should do something or not for the Lord or even if something is "of the Lord." For when one resides in the third heaven life is and life flows and death has no sway over life.

In fact verse 30-31 states: "And any person who does any work on that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. you shall do no manner of work; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings." If it is the Lord's Day, then Adam cannot enter in since he would profane the day. This implies that you, the individual, are in a realm, a spiritual relationship with the Lord, that is in union of purpose and plan. If you decide to leave that estate, that realm, and do some work, ie have your dwelling place change to a lower vision, modus operandi, then that is operating in "work". Jesus never fought with the devil. Jesus was never on that plane because He lived above it; after all He created evil (Isaiah 45:7). But if you are not in union with Him, if you are in a different state (Passover or Pentecost) you will fight with the devil and that is work, among other things.

The Ark of the Covenant

The ark of the covenant is the vessel upon which the mercy seat is placed. Inside the vessel in the time of Israel were found three things: Aaron's rod that budded, the ten commandments, and in a jar overlaid with gold was the manna hidden. There is joy today. For the earthen jar (humanity) overlaid with gold (divinity) is not to be found. For the New Creation man is not in Adam and the hidden manna, which means 'what is it?', is no longer hidden. For Christ is revealed in the New Creation man. Aaron's rod is not found, which was made of wood which speaks of humanity. For there is no authority given to men anymore, but the Christ nature reigns supreme in the life of the individual in this realm. Only the ten commandments remain. These are not Do's and Don'ts as the church has taught for centuries, trying to control right thinking in a speaking corpse of Adam. Ah, praise be to God that the ten commandments are life. How so? There is no nature in the individual to serve another god (in Adam there is). There is no nature to lust in the New Creation man (in Adam there is). And so it goes on. Adam tries to control unrighteous desires. In the new creation man of this realm there is no desire for sin to control - 1 John 1:7, 3:9.

The ark was made of shittim woord which speaks of humanity. Like the other vessels the outside was overlaid with gold which speaks of divinity. But the difference is that the inside too was overlaid with gold. This has important significance because it represents a union with God. The ark was the most important thing to God because it was where His presence would be found. The cloud of glory was on the ark of the covenant. The outer court had silver fillets joining all the pillars together. Silver is the color of redemption. The fillets were joined to the pillars - forced to join if you will. There are many Christian denominations who tolerate each other but do not actually have fellowship one with another. When you enter the ark of the covenant realm there are no fillets. There is union with God.

The union with God is also indicated by the overlayment of gold in the inside of the ark. This indicates where the gold overlay on the outside reveals the changed nature to the world, the gold nature on the inside in this room, the Holy of Holies reveals there is no more carnal nature, Adam is dead in the individual. The carnal mind no longer exercises control over the individual but the mind of Christ rules and reigns. This is one aspect of the kingdom.

Fifty years ago Maureen Gaglardi wrote of the third experience, the Holy of Holies: "Not only outwardly will we show a Christ-like conversation and action, but now a deeper work still - where gold is on the inside too. Every thought is brought into captivity and obedience to Christ, every motive is pure, every desire godly. Truth is on the inward parts, and the inside of our heart is as spiritual as the outward appears. I believe we are conscious of a gradual inward change, until His own unsurpassable life is lived through us."

Living in this realm, the presence of God, the parousia, is very delicate. The glory of God did not always remain over the Tabernacle's Holiest of Holies. At the slightest grieving of the Spirit, the Spirit withdrew - although the other realms (Holy Place and Outer Court) were still able to be active. The glory in the time of the Israelites was the first to be lost. In these last days it is the last to be restored.

Exodus 25:15 states that the staves that would move the ark are to remain in place at all times, which is not so with the other pieces of furniture. The ark of the covenant is led by the Spirit of God and is always on the move, always ready to proceed into the depths of the Lord's purpose. The staves are made of wood overlaid with gold. Again, humanity swallowed up of life. The life in this realm, symbolized by the staves permanently attached to the ark, demonstrates that life is an ongoing experience. This is not so in the other realms of the outer court and Holy Place. There you experience God, but after the experience of salvation or the baptism of the Holy Spirit you are empty again.

The Ark of the Covenant - The Ten Commandments

Consider the ten commandments very carefully. The first four are towards God: you shall have no other gods before me, no carved images (ie pictures), do not take the Lord's name in vain, and finally remember the Sabbath to keep it holy. For years the church system has caused us by legislation, coercion, force and any other means possible to obey these four. But the church has failed to instill in us the life of God to live these. Rather the church has taught us to realize we are sinful (ie we are in the fallen nature and not the New Creation man) and must struggle to keep these commandments.

If you identify with your sinful nature, that adamic nature, it is your god and God is not God to you. For the scripture states that our life is hid in God through Christ. If we are alive in God, we cannot be alive in Adam. Adam separated from God so that he could be god, not knowing his union with God before the separation made him god.

The second commandment "no graven images" means that the person has no preconceived ideas of what God is like. The Adamic nature always limits God to a certain vision. When I was a Baptist I did not believe God could move with the gifts of the Spirit. I limited God and was in the adamic nature because of the image I carved of God to fit my doctrine. So, one day the Pentecost God came and removed my Baptist God. But thank God that God was not done with me, for He removed the Pentecost God from my graven image list when He revealed Himself deeper to me. Adam always puts down tent stakes and wants to encamp rather than progress. But God's name is CHANGE. He is ever enlarging Himself to us, removing our blinders, pulling up our tent stakes, etc.

You have heard it said it is a sin for a person to take the Lord's name in vain. Unfortunately, most Christians do it daily. No that does not mean literally saying the Lord's name outloud in a cursing manner as the church teaches. The adamic nature can only do what it is! Since most Christians identify with sin, they identify with the adamic nature and therefore by not identifying with the New Creation man, they take the Lord's name in vain. "I am a sinner saved by grace," many say. No they are not. They are no longer a sinner, but a new creation in Christ. If they still see themselves as sinners, they identify with the adamic nature and take the Lord's name in vain.

The fourth commandment is to keep the Sabbath day holy. We are not talking about Saturday or Sunday here - only the adamic nature would bring such a discussion because it would remove us from the real issue here. Leviticus 23:25-28 clearly states that the day of the Lord is not a time but a relationship in the feast of Tabernacles. The feast is a time where there is no servile work (KJV). Adam has to work by the sweat of his brow (Gen. 3:19). The Sabbath is living in Christ. As my close friend, Stacy Wood states: "the church teaches us to do in order to be, but we must be in order to do. Instead of do be we should be be do." The only way to keep the Sabbath is not through a literal religious service, but total identification with the New Creation man, which we are.

With just these four commandments, I hope that you can begin to see that the ten commandments are not some legalistic, Herculean effort of pulling oneself up by the boot strap, of doing it your way (adamic), of trying to meet the qualifications, etc. Rather the ten commandments are essentially quite easy - when one resides in the New Creation man. Residing in Christ allows each person "to be" who they are - inChristed men.

Now, the next set of six commandments is centered on relationship, man to man. These six include the following commandments: Honor father and mother, do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not lie and do not covet. Matthew 12:50 brings to our attention some serious consideration only those who do His will are his father and mother, brother or sister. Honor is due to those who do His will. Love is to God. If one is in the New Creation man there is no desire to murder, but to give life because He is everlasting life who is living through each person. There cannot be adultery. Adultery is generally considered in the natural act of sexual relations between married people who are not married to each other. Many Christians fall into this trap spiritually. How so? The normal Christian is married to Christ when that saint receives salvation, but the person generally, as taught by the church, believes he is still in Adam and identifies with Adam. Thus, the saint commits adultery - has a relationship with Adam that is more meaningful than with Christ.

Do not steal, although true in the literal, it has spiritual truth also. Typically, a saint hears this commandment and identifies with the taking of something that is not his. This is the way that Adam thinks. But the one in Christ realizes all things are his, and are there is no need to steal since as he seeks the kingdom of God, all things will be given to him. Even the heathen are our inheritance. Since all things are ours, we serve and seek good stewardship of these things and people. But most Christians are in the Adamic nature and prefer to destroy people in hell rather than set them free as Christ has promised. He did die for all and since He is God all will be saved. (Questions on that can be addressed to us and we will provide a deep detail).

Do not lie. Adam lied. Christ cannot. If you lie then who are you living in? Simple isn't it? If you deceive yourself in any fashion you are in the Adamic nature. Christ cannot lie, for He is one and true unto Himself. When we are identified with the New Creation man we cannot lie either; we be what He is. If you know who you are you are not struggling to become something you are not. Do you struggle to become like Jesus? Then you are trying to make Adam into Jesus. You cannot. Adam must die. He cannot be saved.

You shall not covet. Jesus had no desire of anything because He created it all. When one comes into union with God there is a rest from the works of striving to "get". How many Christians want it all? How many want the "best"? Hello to the adamic nature, for that is not the Christ nature. When you reside in the New Creation man, you know that you, through Christ, can create anything that you need. No sowing and reaping. Need to pay taxes? Jesus created a gold piece in a fish. Jesus saw Lazarus as alive even though the disciples saw Lazarus as dead and wrapped in burial clothes. When you are in Adam you cannot see life in everything because you are in death, so you desire things in order to have life. But when you are in life you desire nothing.

The ten commandments are not a set of legalistic do's and don'ts. The ten commandments represent the very life of the Spirit. The Hebrews could have bypassed the walk of forty years in the wilderness if they had the ability to free themselves of carnal thinking. Except for two, Joshua and Caleb, they died in the wilderness because they could not see spiritually. God had to bring a different generation along into the promised land and this generation had none of the "baggage" or burdens of the previous generation.

Moving in the life realm comes from union with God. When one has entered into that estate, that place, that realm, then peace reigns in the vessel. There is no turmoil in the soul. Lose a job. No big deal, God will provide. A loved one dies. You release them and are free of sadness. Why? Because the life realm permits you to understand the purposes of God in your own life and those close to you. You rest knowing that life is generating out of each situation, and you look to stimulate it. Change is looked upon as a means of expanding the Lord in you.

Jesus fulfilled the ten commandments. He lived it. No man could live it. Adam could not, and Adam was a man. Jesus could though because He was not a man (He was similar to us but not the same as us . See Romans 8:3, Philippians 2:7). Jesus was God in the flesh. As God He showed us it could be done. The New Creation man in us empowers us. For this type of man has never been made before. Adam was a man. Jesus was God. Now God is doing a new thing in the earth - the New Creation man. This person when manifested will be a full embodiment of God in a new man. Never has this been seen before. Now is the time for this generation.

The Ark of the Covenant - The Hidden Manna

The manna was hidden in an earthen jar which was overlaid with gold. It was a miracle that the manna was saved because if the manna was a day old in the wilderness it was putrid. "...he who gathered much had nothing left over and he who gathered little had no lack...and Moses said,'Let no one leave any of it til morning.'...they did not heed Moses...and it bread worms and stank..."(Exodus 16:18-20). But God preserved this manna because it was a type, a shadow (Romans 15:4, 1 Corinthians 10:6) from which we are to learn. The manna was a daily event that occurred in the morning. It was a type of the Lord. He is not bound by time like Adam is. He is. Or we could say He is the I AM.

Each of us according to John 1:4 has been given life by Him. He is the manna in this earthen vessel, this adamic man. Adam runs around trying to find the Lord by being religious, never realizing the experience he craves with God is within his breast, the very author of life from whom all life comes (John 1:1). The experience of Passover (salvation) begets a journey towards the ark of the covenant. The taste of life begins at the brazen altar. The eating of life begins at Passover when the Lamb is partaken of, but the purpose of eating the Lamb is so that the life in the Lamb changes you. In the natural eating a lamb causes your cells to change - or to add some and make you fat if you eat too much. But this manna is exactly what you need - not too much to make you fat and not too little to make you skinny.

But in studying the golden urn and the hidden manna, we find it is not in the ark. When the ark was lost by the Israelites to the Philistines (2 Samuel 6), it came back without the golden urn and the rod of Aaron. The manna was given to the Philistines as a type and shadow of the Gentiles receiving Christ after the Israelites had rejected the ark, even as they rejected Christ. Yet, even beyond this there is another thought. The ark found in the temple of Solomon had no manna nor urn.

There was no manna to be found because the life was manifested! The life of God revealed by His glory cloud was the very place unto which we are to come. Redeemed from among men (Revelation 14:4) we are to become what He is - a spiritual being. My life to flow in yours as His does in me. This is life; all other things are death. I see Christ in you, and you see Christ in me. This is life - living in Christ Jesus means I am living you for we are one body (see our message Discerning the Body of Christ). The manna is no longer hidden when we realize that we are His body, His bread, broken for all mankind.

The Ark of the Covenant - Aaron's rod

In the ark had been Aaron's rod. But it is not to be found when it comes back from Philistia. The reason is important to us. There were twelve rods. One rod from each tribe was chosen and then God would pick the one rod as a symbol of the tribe that He wanted to be His priesthood. Aaron's rod was chosen. It was made of almond wood and actually budded when God's life touched it. Imagine that. A staff budding with leaves.

But in the ark in the Holy of Holies of Solomon's Temple which was twice the size of the Tabernacle and 8 times the volume, there was no rod of Aaron. Why? It symbolized the old order that Jesus would destroy and remove (Hebrews 7:11). The ministry of the letter of the law was done away with with Christ who revealed the spirituality of the law. The priesthood of man was replaced by the ministry of Melchizedek. Thus, Solomon's temple reveals the truth the kingdom - without and within.

The missing of Aaron's rod establishes the removal of man's effort and the beginning of the reign of Christ in a person. Man had the priesthood. He lowered the beauty of it to a carnal understanding. The adamic nature takes life and brings it to death. God had chosen Aaron, but the other tribes grumbled to Moses about the choice. Aaron's rod reflects to us the effort of the flesh to rule, even over that which God has ordained. Because the rod is missing, the truth is presented that Life cannot be hindered where there is no adamic nature. Remove Adam. Come into union with God in the Holy of Holies and God reigns supreme without Adam fighting because Adam is dead, gone, removed, destroyed and no longer exists.

Paul writes that when he was caught up to the third heavens (2 Corinthians 12:4), that he heard things that it were not lawful for a man to utter. True. Adam cannot proclaim the third experience. Adam cannot reveal (manifest) through his personal life, the words he speaks or the things he does the life of the third experience, the feast of Tabernacles. But we rejoice that Paul was able to proclaim the mystery of God (Romans 16:25-26). Paul could speak it; yet, no man could utter what he saw. A contradiction? No. He lived in Christ (Galatians 2:20) and not in Adam and thereby was free to proclaim the life of the feast of Tabernacles.

Aaron's rod is no longer needed. Christ reigns in many saints and now, the end of the age, 1994, is upon us and we shall reveal Him.

THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES PART III

On the fifteenth day of the seventh month Tabernacles begins. Whereas on the tenth day atonement began (ten being the number of personal testing), the work of the atonement takes five days (the number of grace). But the number fifteen represents rest in the Scriptures. The person rests in who he is and cannot be removed from the presence of God regardless of the situations, trials or afflictions.

Jesus was born during the feast of Tabernacles. He was not born December 25, a pagan date incorporated by the Catholic church. The sheep were still in the hills with the shepherds, and in Israel they start to come down after Tabernacles. There is much natural history that would indicate a birth of our Lord in that month. The importance of the birth of the Lord in Tabernacles is significant because of the prophetic fulfillment of Revelation 12 which includes the birth of a manchild company.

The vessel used here which corresponds to Tabernacles is that of the mercy seat. When one has fully entered into the atonement and there is a cessation from the flesh and a flowing forth of life, then one is ready for the engathering, which is what Tabernacles means. For God's mercy endures longer than His judgments. His judgments are truly merciful because the judgments of God bring an end to the nature which rebels against the love of God so that the person might be released into an intimate salvation with God.

Many will look for the fulfilling of the feast of Tabernacles as a literal event as in a chronological time sequence. Some see the feast as an event that occurs in the last days of the world. But I would warn against such a belief, whether 1994 is close to the "end of the world" or not does not determine the reality of the experience in Christ. Above all things, each age since the resurrection of our Lord, there is found a remnant, a small cadre of people, who have experientially entered into the Tabernacles way. The Book of Calendars states that according to the Jewish calendar we are in year 5755 (1993). In fact, Hebrews 11 mentions the great men of Faith who although having seen the literal manifestation of Christ in a people, did not receive the literal fulfillment in their natural lifetime but have to wait until the appointed time (Hebrews 11:39-42). Yet, they did walk in that realm spiritually. They had to possess their land before they received their land - even as Joshua and Caleb possessed their land before the time to receive it. Since these two did it spiritually, the Lord allowed them to walk in it, while the others who did not receive it, died in the wilderness.

Tabernacles provides the means to state as Paul does "it is no longer I that live but Christ that lives in me" (Gal.2:20). The Lord of us all can quite quickly quench our desires for the ways of the flesh and establish us fully in the realm of life. Living by the faith of the Son of God is far different than "having faith". The old nature, that flesh nature, that adamic nature, tries very hard to "have faith" for many things, to believe for many things, and it cannot. The Adamic nature cannot please God. It did not in Cain nor could it. If one "has faith" for something then who receives the credit when that something is given? Adam, not God. Paul lived in a realm of Tabernacles as he states: "... the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God.

The article "the" does not appear in the Greek. We do find it in the King James as English requires articles to make the sentence more comprehensible. Therefore it may seem that I am trying to make a point with something that is not there in the original text. However, the Greek implies that "the" faith of the Son of God is different from "your" faith in the Son of God. Other translations do bring the thought out clearly:

Each of these translations clearly express that there is a difference between the faith of a person, when he hopes in or hopes for something and the faith of the Son of God. Many people have "faith" in something, let us say that "something" would be their children. If their children fall or fail them, they are crushed. Personal faith has no substance because its roots are in Adam. God is constantly testing us to see if our faith is in Adam or Christ Jesus. Substance comes only from life and that comes from the Lord's essence. The faith of the Son of God is a person. Jesus, by laying down His life, expressed the faith of God. As God's only begotten Son, Jesus revealed God's faith toward us in His ministry and atoning expression. The invisible God became visibly expressed through His Son, and the Son revealed faith for He did only what He saw or heard His Father say. He never walked in the flesh, but in the faith of the Father's words, which are life.

The Greek brings out that Galatians 2:20 "en pistei" can be translated as: "(from, with. of, by,) faith". The Greek phrase indicates (particular to Paul's writings) the indwelling of Christ which thereby implies that "the faith of the Son of God" is in actuality Christ, Himself, and His own faith. The Greek preposition "en" can be translated variously but basically: with, from, by, of. Yet, in Galatians 2:20 "en" has a more difficult use. The Diaglott indicates it is "from" meaning rooted in, based out of, and then the Diaglott states "en" which is translated "towards" the Son of God. This indicates the faith comes out of the Son of God and moves even towards the Son of God. In other words the faith causes one to move closer to God while even being in God. How true! The adamic faith, rooted in Adam, cannot draw us closer to God because it sets itself up as God.

Paul had come to the place in his life that God had removed from his being any attachment to a personal faith. Paul's personal faith was in the laws of the Old Testament. But on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), something happened that removed any possible connection between his personal beliefs on religion and true religion. Paul was very religious. He was highly educated. His place was such in the religious system of the day that the leaders ascribed to him great respect, especially his zeal for the religion. But his whole life was consumed by his own faith in something. That is the way of adamic flesh. We see many sold out to the corporate structure, or their religious denomination, their family, etc. Their life is consumed by the direction or goal of their "faith". Unfortunately, even many Christians are also the same. Living in the adamic nature, while being a saved or even Spirit filled person, is at enmity with God.

When God appeared to Paul that day on the road to Damascus, Paul fell to the earth. His eyes were blinded and for three days he did not see. Adam was made of the earth. Today and tomorrow Jesus said He did cures but on the third day, He would resurrect. When God raised Paul up, God resurrected Paul out of the earth, redeemed him from the earth realm (Revelation 14:3). The scales fell from his eyes and he was free to see in a new way - without the adamic religious trappings. Paul changed from the adamic nature which is legalistic to the ministry of grace which is mercy - unmerited favor.

The truth of the feast of Tabernacles is found in Paul. For years I have studied the man and his writings. It is my belief that the ultimate move of God is in a people who have experienced life in the way Paul did. Tabernacles is not a feast for oneself, but it is a feast in which the Christ life is laid down (perhaps I should say offered up) so that others might enter in. Your life hid in God becomes the means by which you are the bridge (laying down) that others might enter. In order for you to lay down or use your life in Christ as a sacrifice, an atonement, for others, you had to be dead to the adamic a long time ago! Hear and understand. Paul was dead to his old nature and that is why he could state in Romans 9:3: " For I could wish that myself were accursed for Christ for my brethren, my kinsman according to the flesh.". He expressed a belief that if the life of Christ in him could be laid down as a benefit for others, he would have done so. A true tabernacles understanding.

Living by the faith of the Son of God creates an opportunity to sow your life rather than preserve your life. Living by the faith of the Son of God establishes you in Tabernacles in that you are engathered unto the Lord. You have ceased from the flesh and entered into rest of the mercy seat realm. Mercy, pure unadulterated mercy flows from you. As Jesus came to give life, so too you. Mercy is above the earth realm of understanding. People may experience salvation through the mercy of God but that does not mean they understand mercy. Experiencing mercy and living in mercy are two different things.

The Mercy Seat - The engathering

The last piece of furniture in the Tabernacle is the mercy seat. This is the seventh piece of furniture. While it is part of the ark of the covenant in that it sits upon the ark, the mercy seat is not made of the same material. Exodus 25:17-21 deals with the creating of the mercy seat. Verse 21 states that it is set upon the ark which reveals that it is a separate piece of furniture.

The construction of the mercy seat is pure gold, 100% divinity. Out of that piece of gold through great craftsmanship is hammered two cherubs (plural cherubim). The manifestation of the divinity of God is revealed through the cherubim. Before his fall Adam was the anointed cherub (Ezekiel 28:16). Jesus came and was from the realm of heaven - the Holy of Holies. He was manifested in the flesh. He was not given in marriage. He was angelic in that sense. He is the other Cherub. Some have said that the one cherub is the Lord and the other cherub is the corporate body of Christ created in His image as they behold Him.

Our booklets entitled: Ministry from the Sanctuary and Angels Ministering from the Heavens cover the subject in more depth concerning Seraphim, cherubim, angels and people who are angels. We do not want to get to involved with the discussion of angels, but we do wish to make clear that the cherubim minister from the Holy of Holies, the seraphim minister in the Holy Place. Each is a separate ministry with distinct functions. We find in Solomon's temple that the doors and walls are covered with cherubim.

The mercy seat is the place upon which the glory of God descended. The glory of God is very delicate in that even a "small" sin causes it to be Ichabod (means glory of God is departed). Salvation as a ministry can go on. Pentecost can go on with its function even though there is sin. But the feast of Tabernacles cannot go on with any sin. Thus, the feast of Tabernacles, the ultimate realm in God creates a real Waterloo for many saints. If one has entered into union with God and that person does not sin, he is immediately judged by others. They assume that since they themselves have not entered in that no one else can either. But the way is open. The partition of separation has been torn down by God Himself.

The mercy seat is a realm of a "beaten" work. The work of living a merciful life has to be worked out in the divinity (the Christ Jesus nature) in you. For even as Jesus had to grow and mature (Luke 2:52), so also the saint must grow from the "right of judgment" to the extension of mercy. Mercy is the very nature of God shoruded in holiness. Judgment is merely a part of the process of mercy. Judgment is not an end in itself. Thus, one has to learn to grow into the nature of mercy or should we say be "beaten" into it by the experiences of life.

The quality of mercy is not strained

It drops as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath: it is twice blessed;

It blessed him that gives and him that takes.

(Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice)

God is holy. Out of His holiness comes mercy. Adam extends mercy for whatever reason but generally it is for personal gain. "I'll be merciful to him because he will owe me." is the normal thought pattern of the fallen nature of man. But God's mercy is holy. It comes out of unadulterated pureness of heart. "The righteous shows mercy and gives." (Ps.37:21). Here the Hebrew means to extend from the heart. Such is God's mercy. Although iniquities prevail against us (Ps.65:3), so His mercy prevails towards us as the heavens are high above the earth (Ps.103:11).God is blessed by extending to us His nature, His mercy. We are blessed by the receiving of His mercy. Since we have entered into His nature via the new creation man, we can thereby express to others His mercy, which has become ours. For once our life becomes mercy, mercy is no longer something we receive, but rather what we are. Mercy is the nature of God, the nature of His life in us and we become mercy. Our life is hid in God through Christ (Col.3:3) and therefore we manifest who He is. The manifestation of the sons of God begins with the saints revealing the nature of God through them.

The word "mercy" must have three facets to it to present its meaning correctly. Many times people understand "love" to be mercy. But "love" can become sentimental in its meaning or even a vague universal concept that is far removed from the meaning the Lord gives it. While the word "mercy" has the idea of love in it, it also has two other words that must be tied to the word "mercy". Strength and steadfastness are those words.

Strength is important. The person who has sinned is weak. The person offering mercy has to be stronger than the person who needs to be strengthened. Thus, the merciful person can extend power, strength, out of himself to lift the fallen person up, ie the fallen person bcomes strengthened. When you have entered into union with the Lord, you become mercy. You have the power, the nature of strength, to set the person free from their weight.

The idea of steadfastness presents the concept of unchangeability. Mercy cannot change. Included in mercy is recognition of sin, judgment of sin, relinquishing of the sin nature, freedom from sin, death to life. Mercy is steadfast. The outworking of mercy follows a pattern which results in life. So, living in the mercy seat realm causes a person to reveal the nature of God in a constant extention of mercy to others. This is not a mercy of forgiveness - that is the outercourt work of the brazen altar, the Passover plane, the salvation plane. The mercy seat realm is revealing the Christ nature, seeing each person in Christ's fullness. The ministry of this realm is to release each person into the nature of God. The outercourt and the holy place realms deal with Adam. The Holy of Holies where the mercy seat is, deals with the new creation man and his manifestation, his garments, his actions, etc. The mercy seat realm empowers the the new creation man to go forth.

The new creation man is ready and the appointed time is here, the light out of the Holy of Holies will fill the holy place and remove the light of the menorah/olive lampstand. Not that those lights are put out because they are not since they still burn( that realm remains for those in it), but the glory of the new creation man progessing from the Holy of Holies is light in which there is no darkness. Mercy is strength that overcomes darkness. Mercy is life that overcomes forgiveness. Such is the mercy seat realm.

There is such a difference between forgiveness of the salvation experience and mercy as the two should not be confused. Jesus' death was the manifestation of sonship. His cross experience revealed mercy. He bore our sins, took the judgment for our sins, in His strength raised from the dead because mercy is stedfast above sin. Jesus was mercy personified. When we get "saved" we experience the work of forgiveness and mercy. But the "work" of Him, the propitiation, is not the life of mercy, it is the result of it. The outercourt experience is not the same as the Holiest of Holies.

Entering into the realm of the Holy of Holies means the life of it consumes the adamic nature. Cherubim on the door, the walls, the curtains all reveal that this is a realm of life. It is an angelic realm. A realm where men are not given to marriage. Their first husband is dead - Adam. The person can no longer procreate on the lower plane - angels are not given in marriage. One must procreate on the lower plane to continue but when you enter the life realm there is no need to produce, because you are life.

Devestation raised its ugly head.

Darkness encompassed me in my travels.

Death had me in its grasp and was worming its way.

Destruction was wresting life from this body.

Evil was ever present with me as a lion.

Its claws scratched; its teeth tore into my flesh.

Companions forsook my dying bed.

Struggle though I would, life ebbed away.

It was grace that found me in the prodigal pits.

It was mercy that freed me from evil's claws.

It was lovingkindness that formed me anew.

It was love that fostered the release.

I saw Jesus in your face when you came.

I felt Jesus' hands remove my shame.

I knew you were Him when you came.

Blessed be His Holy name.