#5 Tabernacle: Ascending Experiences

It is interesting that the longer we study the Tabernacle the more is revealed to us. After we think we have exhausted the material new things are seen. Each section of the Tabernacle represent different dimensions of the various experiences revealed by the position, the function or the furniture in that section. As we meditate upon the various ascending experiences we can see the development and maturity of those experiences.

For example: Faith is an ascending experience. We should be more firm and experienced in our faith now than when we first believed. Life is another example. The “zoe” Life experience (that is experiencing the Life of God within) should be a growing and maturing experience. Love (agape) also has various levels of experience and manifestations. We should NOT be living in a static infusion or a stagnant demonstration of “agape”. Prayer is another example that is revealed in the Altar of Incense. We should certainly be praying in a much more mature dimension than when we first began.

Our, revelation of Christ will develop, mature and be more clear as we ascend in our relationship with God. In that same way our ministry to others should develop from one dimension to another. With a higher, clearer and purer revelation of Christ, we develop our ministry to God in praise, thanksgiving, worship and adoration. All these should be growing, developing, maturing and be with more zeal and enthusiasm that when we first began this walk. Each level or dimension of the Tabernacle represents another realm of preparation for eternity. Each dimension of the Tabernacle reveals another level of our purity of heart in our attitudes, thoughts, motives and humility towards God and towards people.

This is seen in the Isaiah 6 experience as well as the rooftop experience of Peter or the Damascus road experience of Paul. Even more so of the 2 Cor. 12 experience of Paul’s vision of the 3rd heaven. The closer we ascend within the Presence of God the greater our revelation of Him and then the greater revelation of ourselves follows. This becomes a “birth” into humility. As we maintain our revelation while still advancing in our personal experience, our humility should grow in dimension and mature in quality. In other words each section of the Tabernacle represents another dimension of spiritual Life.

It should be easy to see the experience of the Altar of Sacrifice is a totally different dimension than the experience of the Altar of Incense which is directly within the torn veil. Not only is the quality and source of light different, the proximity to the Presence of God is much different.

The same is true of experiencing the washing by the water of the word at the brass laver is much different than eating from the word in the Showbread. While both are necessary, eating is more advanced than washing.

It should be evident that the faith of Romans 5 is of a different dimension than Gal 2:20. The “life” of Gal 2:20 is different than the life of 1 John 5:16. Faith for forgiveness of sins is of a different dimension than faith to suffer for Christ or to be a martyr.

Grace sufficient to be a believer is quite different than the grace necessary to be a leader, an overcomer or to pastor an assembly. We are therefore exhorted to “grow in grace and faith and our knowledge of God”. The different sections of the Tabernacle speak to us of different measures of each of these characteristics of Christ. Many believe that God is not a respecter of persons so that each of us have been given equal portions of grace, faith, mercy etc. While that may be true in the beginning, all these characteristic are meant to grow. Some people grow and some don’t.

EPH 4:7] But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 2 PET 3:18] but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I suspect that each advancing experience in the Tabernacle represents each advancing experience in Jesus Christ. That each advancing experience adds to our experience of each of the character qualities of Christ. If we grow in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that indicates that we are developing toward the same measure of His grace. If we grow in mercy and love it is toward His own mercy and love and taking on His character of mercy and love. The goal is to be like Him.

Those who sit with Him on His throne WILL have grown to His same measure and stature and fulness. Does that mean that our shoe size changes OR that we manifest more of His character? If we refuse to change, we remain the same and suffer eternal loss. We may maintain our “salvation” and “be saved” but we will never be where He is or see His face.

You may have read that the army purchased black berets for all the army. The black beret was the trade mark of the Army Rangers and was their authenticating identification and indicated that they had completed a very rigorous training. Many, many never qualify by finishing that severe test of courage and endurance. You can imagine the frustration of the Army Rangers when the army issued black berets to the common soldier who had not suffered in that rigorous training.

I’m certain that God won’t make that same mistake and set the lukewarm and casual believer in the same position with Paul the apostle. Paul earned his “Black Beret” [or gold crown]. This is precisely why there are different places in heaven. This is why the souls under the Brazen Altar in REV 6:9-11 are in a different place than the overcomers in REV 3:21. There really is a reason to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him! There is an eternal reason and there will be an eternal difference. Those in REV 7:9-17 were not ready when the Lord came for His bride and endured 3 ½ years of tribulation. However, that was just for 3 ½ years while the position they took “before the throne” is for eternity. Some may feel that is not a bad position. That is true but why settle for less than God purposed before the foundation of the world. His bride will sit with Him and the two shall become one. Let us remember that the Old Testament saints are also before the throne but God has prepared something better for us. The 24 elders from the Old Testament period will also sit on thrones but not His throne.

REV 4:[2] Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. [3] And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. [4] And around the throne were twenty_four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty_four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads. [5] And from the throne proceed flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

These “thrones” are not related to the 12 thrones of the Apostles. MAT 19:28] And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. [29] “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, shall receive many times as much, and shall inherit eternal life. [30] “But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.

Since “Israel” will still only be Israel during the millennium, I assume the 12 Apostles will judge Israel during the millennium. My understanding is there will be no Israel during the eternal Kingdom when the apostles will sit and rule with Christ on His throne. REV 2:26] `And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO him I will give authority over the NATIONS; [27] AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father;

My understanding is this will also be during the Millennium but is not a matter of thrones but of authority.

REV 21:4] and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” [5] And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” [6] And He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. [7] “He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.

We wouldn’t expect crying in heaven except for those who finally realized they had come short of what God purposed for their life and in their life. This group is NOT the bride because we see in verse 9 the angel is now going to reveal the bride, which IS the city. This group in verse 4 is certainly in the Tabernacle of God but which section is not revealed.

LUKE 12:35 “Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps alight. [36] “And be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. [37] “Blessed are those slaves whom the master shall find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. [38] “Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. [39] “And be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. [40] “You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”

Multitudes are unaware that He is coming for this group in the middle of the Great Tribulation. These were left behind at the “snatching away” before the Great Tribulation when Jesus came secretly for His bride. These are invited guests at the wedding feast but not the bride.

These are the “five wise virgins” for which He returns at the midnight hour in the middle of the Tribulation and takes them into the wedding feast as guests. (Mat 25:10) Of course ALL the invited guests will be blessed whether from the Old Covenant or from the New Covenant! Still, God has prepared something better for the New Testament saint that is willing to pay whatever price is necessary to fulfill God’s plan and eternal purpose.

The difference is between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. That is the difference between the New Heaven and the New Jerusalem. Even those on the New Earth will be blessed in comparison to those in the Lake of Fire.

If He comes for us in the second watch or even in the third watch we will be blest. The difference will be the first watch will be a rapture and the second and third will be resurrection.

The first watch will be bride and the second will be invited guests and the third will be “saved” but each in his own order. 1CO 15:20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. [21] For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. [22] For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. [23] But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming,

Since there are no punctuation in the Greek the translator has to supply it. In the Spanish it says “ Christ, the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming”.

In the both the old Catholic Bible and in Moffatt’s translation it says in Mat 25:1 “ Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be compared to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride.” I didn’t check other translations but I can imagine the problem the translators had with this verse if that is what it said in good manuscripts.

I believe this could be accurate but even if I’m wrong it won’t hurt to keep filled with the Spirit and sanctify our lives and get ready for “the snatching away”.