empty empty empty

#450–1B: Walking Through the Kingdom: Preface

            (#1 Introduction to a Series of Studies on the Tabernacle of God)


Because of the magnitude of this study and the truths uncovered about Mount Zion and the Eternal City of God, both the Preface and this Introduction will be quite long. Even longer than the Preface. So much information must be assimilated and then much more explanation should be made on each point. This introduction will take an overview of the Eternal Government of God as the fulfillment of what God purposed from before the foundation of the world. As certain as the Kingdom Government of God in the heavenly realms has always existed, so also that same Sovereign Kingdom Government must come to this earth realm as the personal Kingdom Government of God over our lives as Christians. Christians who ignore God’s Kingdom Government and refuse to obey His Eternal Laws will be considered as “lawless.” Matthew 7 clearly reveals that these cannot participate in His body and cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven.


Mat 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.


Mat 7:22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’


I recently read a condemnation of the Kingdom message by a woman that considered this scripture an idle threat because the grace of God covers our lawlessness. This is accepted as correct within the “gospel of grace” but the Gospel of the Kingdom requires obedience to His words and to act upon them. Therefore, there will be NO apology for the demands of the Kingdom in this study!


In this study we will attempt to “walk through the Eternal Kingdom” to observe a few details of the Eternal Government of God. This will require that we tour the New Earth and then visit the New Heaven and of course observe Mount Zion and the New Jerusalem. We will use some conjecture, some types and shadows, some interpretation of scriptures and some very clear scriptures. The purpose of the “conjecture” is to combine several thoughts from the scriptures that are not confined to one verse or found clearly written. It is NOT that our information is too limited but that these scriptures require us to view these truths from a higher viewpoint than the dirt dimensions of earth. We may be amazed at the magnitude of information that is available in scripture. However, it must be remembered that God is not revealing His secrets or His mysteries in one verse. Each verse that speaks of the Kingdom and God’s Eternal Purpose is fragmented and must be joined with other verses within the same context to reveal that truth. How we combine these verses may appear to be conjecture and in some cases may be “just conjecture.” That is why it is important to ask the Holy Spirit to confirm the “truth” presented.


I am assuming that the importance of seeing the Complete Kingdom Government in relationship to the nations of the New Earth will be of interest to many who have some understanding of the Eternal Kingdom and God’s Eternal Purpose. While there is much written in the scripture about Mount Zion and the City of God, there are only a few clear scriptures about the New Heaven except that God will create a new one. Of course we have clear verses about those who are before the throne or sitting on thrones around His throne. Different places in the Eternal Tabernacle of God can be clearly shown in scripture. The “Nations of the New Earth” is plainly stated in scripture but the details of how it looks and how it functions under the Eternal Government of God is not so clear. Still, we can see those who are under the Bronze Altar and those standing on the Bronze Laver which was in the Outer Court or by our interpretation we can make an application assigned to the New Earth. Sometimes we can see the difference in maturity and character in these various areas. This will, obviously, require a lot of thought and then connecting many of these fragmented thoughts together into a more accurate vision of eternal things. We must make a distinction between the Internal Kingdom today, and with the Millennial Kingdom, someday, and then with the Eternal Kingdom. Combining these three visions of the Kingdom is what is causing so much confusion today in the church.


In other words our emphasis will NOT be upon the “flowers”, the wonderful odors, the music, the intense colors, the communication by mental perception and many of the other “human concepts” that have been taught or assumed from visions and dreams. We are not trying to refute these things but our purpose is to view these places as realms of His Eternal Government. Possibly as realms and levels of the authority of the Kingdom of God. Of course each realm will have various qualities and quantities of His Light, His Life and His Glory. We will point out different intensities of the Light. However, we will focus more upon the Divine Order of heaven. There is no question that even the New Earth will be a wonderful and serene place in which some lessor degree of God’s Presence will be experienced than in the Throne Room of Heaven. It is clear that the light for the New Earth will have its source in the New Jerusalem. The “Bondservants” will differ from the ordinary believers in about every aspect of the Presence and Purpose of God.


We recently discovered in Cuba that many of the previous doctrines and religious concepts had to be rooted up, broken down and destroyed BEFORE Kingdom truth could be presented. This seems to be a principle in God!


Jeremiah 1:10 “See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To pluck up and to break down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant.”


Those who participate in the Governmental part of the Kingdom– The Overcomers– will rule over the “Nations” with a rod of iron. Exactly where the Old Testament saints and those in the New Heaven function in the Divine Order is not so clear but we will first look at the exact dwelling place of God and some of the details of Mount Zion. Our purpose will be to clarify what His Divine and Eternal Presence is really like. All the Charismatic talk about “intimacy” generally ignores the terribleness of His Presence. Hopefully we can ‘break down” some of the fantasy that circulates through the church.


Psalms 48:2 Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion in the far north, The city of the great King. 3 God, in her palaces, Has made Himself known as a stronghold. 4 For, lo, the kings assembled themselves, They passed by together. 5 They saw it, then they were amazed; They were terrified, they fled in alarm. 6 Panic seized them there, Anguish, as of a woman in childbirth.


Because earthly Mt. Zion, that is now in Israel, is on the sides of the south of Jerusalem, it is clear this refers to the other Mount Zion in the heavenly realm. This Heavenly Mount Zion, the City of the Living God, is the ultimate reality of all things spoken of Mount Zion. However, earth words are inadequate to speak of eternal things, therefore, we must perceive the depths and heights of Zion by inner revelations.


Psalms 48: 7 With the east wind Thou dost break the ships of Tarshish. 8 As we have heard, so have we seen In the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God; God will establish her forever. Selah.


When we see words like “forever” we immediately know this is not speaking of any “city”, mountain or place here on earth.


Psalms 48:9 We have thought on Thy loving kindness, O God, In the midst of Thy temple. 10 As is Thy name, O God, So is Thy praise to the ends of the earth; Thy right hand is full of righteousness. 11 Let Mount Zion be glad, Let the daughters of Judah rejoice, Because of Thy judgments. 12 Walk about Zion, and go around her; Count her towers; 13 Consider her ramparts; Go through her palaces; That you may tell it to the next generation. 14 For such is God, Our God forever and ever; He will guide us until death.


In some other studies and in some Power Points presentations, we have explored some of the mysteries of Mount Zion that are stated in scriptures! These are not really secrets because they are spoken of frequently in scripture. However, as we see here there are fragmented details in these scripture that only reveal a little about Zion. Still, they help to explain some of the eternal realities that have been hidden from past generations. Nevertheless, very little is ever preached about Mount Zion and multitudes have never heard that there even is such a place in the eternal realms of God.


I recently thumbed through a book called “All the Doctrines of the Bible.” The one that is NOT mentioned is the “Doctrine of the Kingdom!” that has a minimum of 150 scriptures and many more verses that are assigned to this topic. Obviously this “doctrine / teaching” was not considered important by that author!


In the Eternal Realms of Zion and the New Jerusalem we are not so concerned about a “place” as we are about the Character of Zion and its relationship within the Kingdom Government of God. For example; God is SPIRIT and He, His Presence, is everywhere at the same time. He is omnipresent and He fills all space. We cannot perceive His Realm of existence from the time / space / earth / perspective because of its limited viewpoint. We cannot think about “God’s Dwelling Place” in earth terms of buildings and streets. Even though the scriptures use earth terms familiar to man, as we see in Mount Zion, these terms cannot accurately represent the Eternal Dimensions so they are metaphors of the reality. They are similar to the parables. However, these are the only terms we can use to write about these mysterious realms. Even though we are using earth terms we should be aware that these terms only “representative” of the ultimate reality which is of another and invisible realm.


One of the details about Mount Zion, that is immediately realized, is that Mount Zion is an exclusive place that is separated from the earth dimension. In Hebrews 12 it is called “ Mount Zion, the City of the Living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem.” This City Of God is seen in Revelation 21 as “coming down out of the existing Heaven.” The existing heaven is where, in this dispensation, everybody who has eternal Life goes when they die. That is the “heaven” that will pass away with the existing earth. At that time “the redeemed” will be judged and each one that has eternal Life will be assigned to one of the three dimensions to which they have obtained. Either to the New Jerusalem, the New Heaven or the New Earth. {or possible the new hell}


Some who have obtained the perfection of the New Heaven dimension will be assigned to that lofty and wonderful place. This is the place of the Old Testament saints who came to perfection in their dispensation and the place of “the friend of the Bridegroom”, John the Baptist. This New Heaven realm is much closer to the New Jerusalem realm than the New Earth realm. Why? Because those of this realm have attained to the perfection necessary to function in this higher realm. However, there are many levels of perfection in each of these realms. The “kings” from these other realms can walk by Mount Zion and observe certain aspects of it but the awesomeness of it terrifies those who see it, even from a distance. This indicates that there are “kings and priests” in each dimension. They have come to a higher perfection than others in the same realm but NOT the perfection of the New Jerusalem.


Isa 33:14 Sinners in Zion are terrified; Trembling has seized the godless. “Who among us can live with the consuming fire? Who among us can live with continual burning?” 15 He who walks righteously, and speaks with sincerity, He who rejects unjust gain, And shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe; He who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed, And shuts his eyes from looking upon evil; 16 He will dwell on the heights; His refuge will be the impregnable rock; His bread will be given him; His water will be sure.


Isa 33:17 Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; They will behold a far-distant land. 18 Your heart will meditate on terror: “Where is he who counts? Where is he who weighs? Where is he who counts the towers?” 19 You will no longer see a fierce people, A people of unintelligible speech which no one comprehends, Of a stammering tongue which no one understands.


Isa 33:20 Look upon Zion, the city of our appointed feasts; Your eyes shall see Jerusalem an undisturbed habitation, A tent which shall not be folded, Its stakes shall never be pulled up Nor any of its cords be torn apart.


It is obvious that the earthly city of Jerusalem or the earthly Mt. Zion are NOT eternal and their tents WILL be folded up and exist no more. It is not so difficult to make a distinction between the Eternal Mount Zion / New Jerusalem and the temporal, earthly Jerusalem by certain distinctions associated with time and eternity which we will point out.


The heaven or heavens ( there may be more than one) that exist today are a temporary holding place until the reconciliation of all things and the final judgement is rendered. It is at that time that each person will be assigned to the place that best reflects his character and the growth of his inner man and his likeness to Jesus Christ. Those who were “redeemed” but their character was never transformed and their inner man had just remained in its primary state will be assigned a place with others of that stature and character. These of course will be monitored and ruled over by those of a higher order of Life and obedience who reflect the Kingdom Government of God. Those who are selected to rule over the earth dimension are called the “kings of the earth.”


Those who assume that “when we go to heaven” we will walk up, shake His hand, look into His face and forever dwell in His Presence, have never read their Bible. That makes a nice gospel song but is far from reality. Fantasy preaching has put in people’s mind too many things that are not true in all realms of eternity. For example; we see the “BONDSERVANTS” in Revelation 22 that see His face and then assume that this is the experience of all believers. Revelation 22:1-5 defines who these Bondservants are to what they had attained.


Rev 22:3 And there shall no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His bond-servants shall serve Him; 4 and they shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 And there shall no longer be any night; and they shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them; and they shall reign forever and ever.


To casually tell all believers that they shall “see His face” or that “they shall reign forever and ever” is ignorant at best and criminal at worst. Why? That deception gives the common “believers” the mistaken notion there is nothing to do but believe something about Jesus and they are kings and priests. To assume that all believers are “bondservants” reveals that the law of the bondservant is foreign to the average minister.


This “gospel of cheap grace” has assumed that all believers are equal and will share and share alike in the eternal realms. Why? Simply because they believe something about Jesus. Even what they must believe varies from group to group. The reason this is such a well promoted “gospel” is because ministers can’t see the Eternal Heaven is in three parts. Therefore, most ignore the fallen character that exists in the ministries and in the churches but then it is assumed that grace covers these unconverted areas of a person’s life. Their conclusion is that all believers “go to heaven when they die.” The real issue is not do they go to heaven when they die but where in heaven do they go when they die. Heaven is a very big place. Even that small part heaven called the New Jerusalem is 1500 miles by 1500 miles by 1500 miles.


God’s Presence is an Eternal Fire and He lives in a continual burning. Anyone who sins is terrified in His Presence and trembling has seized the godless. Even those who see the King (from a distance) will be seized with terror. If we ever see Mount Zion it will be part of the New Jerusalem. Zion is in the City of the Great King and the place of His immediate Presence, the place of His Throne. But this IS the place of the consuming fire. To suggest that partially converted believers can even approach that place displays gross ignorance of who God is.


God demonstrates this fact at Mt. Sinai when the mountain burst into intense fire and was burning like a furnace! The people were terrified and backed up from His Presence. At Mt. Sinai trembling seized the godless and they turned away. They realized if they went near to that mountain they would die. They had a better revelation of God that most writers of gospel songs that talk about walking up and shaking hands with Jesus and thanking Him for dying for them.


If His Presence is so terrible and those who come near to Him begin to tremble how can we even think about a bride for Jesus Christ, who will be one with Him? If His Presence is so terrifying how can we be included in His body? ONLY those who are exactly like Him can dwell in Him. This is exactly why we insist that the Church which is His Body MUST grow up in all things into Christ and be conformed to His image and experience His likeness. This will require a total transformation from what we are to what He is. We assume that this IS the reason He is personally building His church because no one else knows how to build in this realm of Zion and its perfection of beauty.


If we could speculate for a moment we could say that Zion IS God and those who dwell in Zion will dwell in God. In fact those who dwell in the New Jerusalem will dwell in God. God IS the TEMPLE in which those in the New Jerusalem Dwell. In other words the New Jerusalem is IN GOD or THESE have become ONE WITH HIM. Jesus’ prayer in John 17 has its fulfillment and reality in the New Jerusalem which IS the bride of Christ, the wife of the Lamb.


In these about 50 scriptures that speak about the Heavenly Mount Zion and about its Eternal Characteristics, there are so many details that they overwhelm our sense of reason. How can we summarize so many details into a few words? The natural mind collapses under the magnitude and the glory of Mount Zion and the New Jerusalem, the City of our God. Nevertheless, if we insist upon seeing the Kingdom as it really is, it is essential that we walk through some of the realms of Mount Zion.


Walk about Zion, and go around her; Count her towers; 13 Consider her ramparts; Go through her palaces; That you may tell it to the next generation.


We shall see that it is impossible to separate the Kingdom from Mount Zion. It is not enough that we hear about Zion { the headquarters of the Kingdom} from some other person. God exhorts us to personally walk about Zion and personally observe her unique towers, ramparts and her palaces. In other words these unique “expressions” will tell us some details about Zion and who and what is significant there. Then our personal experience , if we pay the price, will let us inform others so they can, if they pay the price, experience Zion also.


Obviously, we can’t walk around Zion in this dirt realm and with these earth feet. The new man must walk about Zion. Therefore, we must see into this realm by the eyes of the new inner man and hear words from that realm with the ears of the new creation man. We have speculated that the “new inner man” is from that next dimension because he was not born of the will of the flesh nor the will of man but he was born of / out from / God. We are guessing that the revelation of Zion and this Kingdom realm, the bride and the New Jerusalem, must arrive within us as a conception with an embryo forming the new inner man. We are also guessing that the natural man, observing these things with the natural mind, will assume all this is foolishness and much too difficult for the church today.


1Peter 1:23 For you have been born again not of seed (human sperma) that is perishable but imperishable,( The Sperma of God) that is through the living and abiding WORD OF GOD. This “sperma” is the same Word that came into Mary and was made flesh in Jesus. The “Sperma” contained EVERYTHING in it to complete God’s purpose in Jesus, and make Him both Lord and Christ!


It is the uniqueness of Mount Zion and the New Jerusalem and its exclusiveness that helps us define the other dimensions of New Heaven and the New Earth. While “the Eternal HEAVEN” is just one place, or is spoken of as one, it is in three dimensions. This is clearly stated about the Tabernacle of Moses that is a copy and shadow of heaven itself. The Tabernacle of Moses was just one Tabernacle but it had three places as in (1) The Outer Court (2) The Holy Place and (3) the Most Holy Place.


The Tabernacle of God is also one Tabernacle but it has three places. (1) The New Earth (2) The New Heaven and (3) The New Jerusalem. It is in the New Jerusalem that we find Mount Zion.


Our thesis at this point is that Mount Zion IS GOD and those in Mount Zion are IN GOD fulfilling the prayer of John 17. The New Jerusalem is also IN GOD because God AND THE LAMB are its Temple. Again, it is important that we see this beyond the natural / earth realm of natural reason and human logic. This requires the seeing, developed eyes of the new inner man.


Even though the Tabernacle is one unit there is a tremendous difference between the Most Holy Place dimension and the Outer Court dimension. There is a tremendous difference between the kind and intensity of Light in the Most Holy Place and the natural light of the Outer Court. In that same way; even though heaven is one unit, there is a tremendous difference between the New Jerusalem / Mount Zion and the New Earth. The “distances” and “character” between the two are inconceivable. The difference in the glory is undescribable. The New Jerusalem shines like the sun in its brightness when seen from the level of the New Earth. Since the New Jerusalem is transparent (like crystal clear jasper) the Glory of God shines right through the New Jerusalem to illuminate the nations of the New Earth. The implication is that the distance between the two is similar to the distance between the present earth and the sun. Of course these are only human concepts. There may be an even greater “distance” between the character, the perfection, the Presence of God and the authority of the Kingdom than what we perceive now that is presently between the sun and the earth.


Psalm 74:2 Remember Thy congregation, which Thou hast purchased of old, Which Thou hast redeemed to be the tribe of Thine inheritance; And this Mount Zion, where Thou hast dwelt.


In Ephesians 1 we read about “our inheritance in Christ” and then in verse 18 we read about the saints who are “His inheritance.” The “tribe of His inheritance” IS Mount Zion, where God dwells. However, Paul insists that we cannot perceive this realm unless God grants to us the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation and THEN opes our inner eyes to see into this realm. Obviously most believers have not experienced this realm of “seeing His inheritance in the Saints.”


Many now are speaking about the “Remnant Church.” If there is a remnant it is most likely associated with Mt. Zion or the people where God is NOW dwelling and ruling or where His Throne presently sits. Mt. Zion in its present reality speaks to us of those growing on into Perfection or to His measure and stature and into His fullness, being conformed to His image. The Living Mount Zion is now being built.


Isa 10:12 So it will be that when the Lord has completed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the pomp of his haughtiness.”


If Mt. Zion is the people of God and the “perfection of beauty,” then the “perfected church” is the only one that can qualify and be designated as His bride, the wife of the Lamb. John was taken “up” to a great and high mountain to see the bride, the wife of the Lamb! We can assume that mountain was the heavenly Mount Zion! He saw the END of God’s work on Zion and Jerusalem, the perfected bride. Now we should be in the process of becoming the bride. God is at work on Mount Zion AND on Jerusalem. This IS the church He is building! When THAT WORK is finished God can then punish the devil and those with him.


Rev 21:9 And one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues, came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I shall show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper.


The angel showed John the bride, the wife of the Lamb, but what he saw was the holy city, Jerusalem. This is identified in Rev 21:2 as the New Jerusalem who was made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. If we can see the perfection of the city we will see the perfection of the bride because the city IS THE BRIDE! Again, here human concepts with an earth viewpoint will not hSelp us because He is speaking from an eternal, heavenly viewpoint. The “bride” is another metaphor giving us another viewpoint to see God’s Eternal Purpose.


Eph 5:25----- Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; 26 that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless.


Since the “bride” is to become one with Christ and become His body, it is clear that she must grow up in all things into Christ and be without spot or wrinkle, perfect! Christ gave Himself up for the church, but much more is needed to be completed in the church before He could present the church / bride / wife to himself. She not only needed to be forgiven by the blood but then she must be totally cleansed by the washing of water with the Word of God. Why? Because now the church must not only be forgiven but she must be perfected to be without spot and without a wrinkle in her garments or any disarray but that she would become holy and blameless.


To say that every one who believes something about Jesus has come to this perfection is ridiculous. Surely the grace of God is fully available so we can press on, pay the price, and endure the painful transformation into the perfection of the Bride. Still, it is a deception to preach that the “grace” covers our imperfections so we become the bride simply because of what we believe about Jesus.


Why is this “perfection”essential? Because both He and she ( the two) shall become one new man or one flesh. Now there is no longer two but the two have become one. He is in her and she is in Him to fulfill Jesus’ prayer in John 17. Eph 5:32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.


If we put this into the context of Zion we could say that Zion is in the bride and the bride is in Zion. The two have become one. To clarify the difference between the bride and the wife we could say that the bride is for a day and the wife is for eternity. To put the “bride” into the context of Revelation 19 we have to make a clear distinction between the Bride, the Lamb and the multitude of invited guests. Many misinterpret this to say the multitude of invited guests at the wedding feast are the bride. Guests are plural while the bride is singular. Not that she is made up of one person but she is made up of one company of perfected saints who have come to the measure of the stature that belongs to the fullness of Christ. It is clear that this great company of invited guests are focusing their attention upon the Lamb AND the Bride. Obviously they are ALL believers from various dispensations ( including John the Baptist) but the distinction is that the “bride” has completed (been perfected) much more preparation. She has made herself ready! Therefore, her garments are special and quite different from the great crowd of wedding guests. They had on special wedding clothes but NOT the bride’s garments. Her garments are unique to her and reflect her righteous acts.


Rev 19:5 And a voice came from the throne, saying, “Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.” 6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude and as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. 7 “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”


Rev 19:8 And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 And he *said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he *said to me, “These are true words of God.”


For those who actually read the scriptures, it is perfectly clear that there will be multitudes of guests INVITED to the wedding feast, including some bond-servants who fell short of perfection and those who fear Him, but there will ONLY be one bride who has received some EXTRA preparation to reach “perfection.” Maybe like Ester.


The fact that John the Baptist will not be part of the bride offends a lot of believers. John had the revelation of the bride but died before he could receive the “Sperma” and come to the perfection of the bride. For that reason John is not in the Kingdom in the same measure as the bride / Mount Zion / New Jerusalem.


John 3:29 “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. And so this joy of mine has been made full. 30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.


Luke 7:28 “I say to you, among those born of women, ( by the perishable sperma) there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”


The significance of these verses should not be under emphasized because they make a distinction between those in the Kingdom / Mount Zion / the New Jerusalem / the bride and the great multitude of believers who are invited guests at the wedding feast.


It might be possible to “over emphasize” these scriptures but that is not yet a problem in the church today!


John may be “the best man” for the job of standing with the Bridegroom at the wedding feast but he was aware that he was not part of the bride company. Jesus said that the “least in the Kingdom” was greater than John. Maybe only the Bride is greater than John in the Divine Order of things. This refutes the doctrine that everybody in heaven are equal because everybody has one Father and He evaluates all His children exactly the same. Why? Because He is not a respecter of persons. Many of these “earth doctrines” evaporate in the light of scripture.


Those “in the Kingdom government” have grown to the standards of the Kingdom and have become worthy of the Kingdom. They have grown to the measure of the stature of the fulness of the King and, therefore, may be a part of Him. Because they have grown to His stature and fulness they will not be defective members of His body. While these things are very basic in the Kingdom, they may seem strange to those who have focused upon the “gospel of grace” or the “gospel of just believe” or some other gospel of prosperity.


The erroneous “doctrine of universal sonship” also is confirmed by the erroneous “gospel of inclusion” because it is thought that all the children of God are automatically the sons of God by faith in Jesus. Without spending so much time explaining the difference between our positional place in Christ with our experiential place in Christ, we will just point to Galatians 4:1-5.


Gal 4:1 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. 3 So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. 4 But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.


Here it explains the difference between a child of the Father and an adopted son of the Father. Both have been begotten by the same Father but the one who receives “the adoption and sonship” has matured to the standard set by the Father. After that he will be adopted into the family of God.


Mat 12:48 But He answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold, My mother and My brothers! 50 “For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”


From the Kingdom viewpoint, only those who do the will of God are included In His family. This statement is not acceptable to the “gospel of grace” that assumes the Father MUST accept everyone, who accepts Jesus as their personal Savior, and be included in the Family of God. From the Kingdom viewpoint He saves those who obey Him. In the “Church He is building,” He is the one who decides who He will accept.


John 3:35 “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”


The Greek says he who does not believe unto obedience shall not see life. This is another error of those who preach the “gospel of cheap grace” who isolate a few scriptures to establish their “truth of salvation.” Some even proclaim that if we preach “obedience” we are preaching “works” which cannot save us. “Save us” is the goal of that gospel. “Fulfill His Purpose” and “bring joy to His heart” is the goal of the Gospel of the Kingdom.


Of course, the Gospel of the Kingdom exposes these errors but is not a popular message because it does not permit a wood, hay and straw church to be built in the first place. We can be sure that the “Church He is Building” will be based upon the Gospel of the Kingdom and the requirements of the King. This man centered gospel that was created by man and for man will be certainly rejected because it is a substitute gospel. The fact that the Kingdom Government of God demands obedience to its Divine laws should not seem strange to those who at least “see the Kingdom.” The “GRACE” of God is given freely so we can obey the laws of the Kingdom.


If state, county and city laws demand obedience why would we think the Kingdom demands NO obedience. Some say because that would interfere with grace. That argument is so weak that it must have been invented by man and for the carnal man that accepts no responsibility for obedience toward God or His Government.


Mat 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’


Strong’s Dictionary says this word is also translated sometimes as “iniquity” means “illegal” or a violation of law. The NASB translates this as “lawlessness.” The Amplified Bible translates as “disregarding my commands.”


It is obvious that “our personal ministry” will not qualify us for the Kingdom unless it is out of obedience. It is “doing the will of God” that defines obedience. This scripture identifies some who are “ministering” but NOT doing the will of God. This is defined as “lawlessness.”


Rev 3:16 ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. (Out of My body)


When we apply this popular “gospel of grace” to these scriptures, we immediately understand something is wrong. Grace does NOT cover over our lukewarmness or our lawlessness. Even if we insist that these people are “saved” because of their faith, it is clear they are NOT in the body of Christ. Therefore, if they are in heaven, they must be in a different place. If they cannot be in the New Jerusalem [the bride– His body] there must be another place for these lawlessness ones who are disobedient and lukewarm. According to this scripture it is obviously some of these living “outside the Kingdom” were still ministering in the power of God. God has a place for everyone but not all are in the same place. Where we end up will be determined by our level of perfection and by His Character that we demonstrate and not by the ministry we have done.


To keep these Kingdom concepts short we will stop here and continue with another


study in this series later. There may be several more studies that, hopefully, will reveal this other aspect of the Eternal Kingdom which DEMANDS obedience, growth, and perfection. The Law of the Bondservant will become clear in the Light of the Kingdom.


Because of the density of this study it is important that we make a distinction between various groups of people who might read this series of studies!


In recent travels to different countries and cultures it has become clear that some people can receive spiritual understanding and some cannot. It has nothing to do with education or social position or mental acuity. Some may be accomplished scientists or doctors.


Recently in a pastor’s conference I had several pastors or leaders read Luke 12: 35-40 after I projected the verses onto a screen. I bolded certain phrases and changed the color in Power Point presentation. For example; I bolded and changed the color of “WHEN HE RETURNS FROM THE WEDDING FEAST” along with other key points.


I had them all read the verses and asked them to explain what it said. I then asked how many wanted to be ready to meet the Lord at that time. Nearly all put their hands up. None could perceive that when the Lord returned from the wedding feast it was too late to participate in the wedding feast. This is very sad testimony for the average Christian and especially for the pastors who were supposed to be preparing the church to become the bride. The wedding was over and the feast had begun. The bride and the Bridegroom had already completed the first part of the ceremony. This “return” from the wedding feast followed Revelation 19: 6-10.


After I explained it clearly several still could not understand the passage. This was very disturbing to me because these are the ones leading the church into the purpose of God. These were very alert people who could function in business or other professions very well. I wondered what went wrong and how can we fix it?


Just this morning I think I have the answer to this puzzling question. But why is solving this “mystery” important to this study? Much of what we will share and the scriptures we will use will seem strange and confusing to most church members that are just used to listening to a verse and a message on Sunday. Everybody who is limited to “human reason” will receive nothing from the spiritual dimension.


The “Tabernacle of God” is of another dimension far above the earth realm and will not be understood by those who only dwell and understand things in the earth realm. It is not “far above” in distance but in Spiritual perception. The method of understanding the “above” realm is not human but divine.


The perception of spiritual dimensions and eternal truth is limited to the new inner man who originated in that realm and came to us as the “sperma” from those eternal realms of the Living and Abiding Word of God. The “Sperma” through which we were born again has come down from God and is called the Living and Abiding Word of God. It is essential that we first have THIS exact Born again experience! Without this unique experience there is NO new inner man and therefore, there is no faculty though which we can perceive eternal things. Many pastors and believers say they are born again but have NO spiritual perception and cannot “see the Kingdom”. They know the term “born again” but obviously have no understanding of what that means as a genuine experience which results in the new inner man.


It has come to my attention that I use three words too casually for them to reveal what I am trying to say. This problem is multiplied when these terms are attempted to be translated into other languages. Therefore, I want to define what I mean in these three words so we can get on the same page in understanding the “Tabernacle of God.” Obviously there will be many people confused by this study but we want to explain the reason for this confusion. Of course I am assuming that this understanding and study is necessary for a valid introduction to the Kingdom of God!


These three words are (1) Revelation (2) Inspiration (3) Illumination. Many assume that all three of these words refer to the same thing and can be interpreted in the same way. To explain why I think some can understand and some can’t I will define at least what I mean by these terms.


(1) Revelation; Refers to that “Truth” which is directly revealed to man from God. It means “an uncovering” or “a drawing back of the veil” to reveal whatever obscures the truth. The truth has always been there but one day God pulls back the veil and we see something that we could not see before. Revelation is when God communicates truth to us that opens up vistas that can be recognized by NO OTHER method. Only that which comes directly from God to man can qualify as revelation according to my understanding. However, revelation comes to the new inner man. Since his origin was the Living and Abiding Word of God, revelation from God comes to this NEW INNER MAN that has the faculties to understand things from the eternal realms. If there is NO new inner man or just a very immature inner man no revelation can be received. The “pulling back of the veil” applies to both the second veil and the third veil in the Tabernacle.


(2) Inspiration; While revelation conveys truth directly to man from God, there still must be another working of God to communicate this truth to others. Inspiration is the ability (power) to deliver this God given truth to our listeners. This is what constitutes a valid ministry. A more common term we use today to convey this thought is “the anointing.” The anointing in the New Covenant is both in the inner man and upon the outer man. By the anointing, the Holy Spirit imparts a special ability {or gift} to communicate this God given truth to others. The lack of anointing is one reason so little truth is communicated and the reason why many cannot understand the message that is spoken, even if the message contains the revelation given by God. Here again the “anointing” to convey spiritual truth is upon the new inner man of the one ministering truth but must be received by the new inner man of those who receives this same truth. This explains why some hear the same words but receive no truth.


(3) Illumination; This is of the same realm but is different in that the Holy Spirit must do something in the hearer so he has the ability to hear and understand the truth that was given by the revelation of God. Not only must there be a new inner man but the “eyes” and “ears” of the new man must be functioning within the realm of revelation and understanding.


Eph 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come.


Revelation truth cannot be understood by the natural man through human faculties. Why? Because this kind of truth of a different dimension and is not of the earth / dirt realm. Truth that has come from “above” the earth realm cannot be understood by those in the dirt realm. The dirt man has NO CAPACITY to understand spiritual truth.


1Cor 2:14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. ( by the new inner man)


The practical aspect of this fact is seen in the disciples who were on the road to Emmaus. Jesus was with them and communicating with them. Their heart burned within them but they could still not recognize Him until their eyes were opened. Both the “Living Word” that was speaking and the Holy Spirit”who opened their eyes were necessary to bring understanding.


Our conclusion then is this; Revelation, inspiration and Illumination are all needed AFTER we are born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.


1Pet 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,


Multitudes are sitting in the pew each Sunday that have not yet been born again to a living hope. Each may believe something about Jesus because what was presented was clear and logical but that is NOT what we are sharing as Kingdom salvation. When we are feeling extremely compassionate for the “casual believers” we may agree that kind of “salvation” MIGHT provide a place on the New Earth near the thief that was on the cross. Most of the time we feel no obligation to offer believers the option of something less than FULL KINGDOM SALVATION. IF we are going to run this race why not just run for the prize and press toward the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. We are defining the “high calling” as the throne of God, the New Jerusalem, the Mount Zion that is above! If we can reduce all that into a word we could just say “The Bride!”


After so many years of sharing these things I have no illusions that the multitudes will ever receive this message of the “Kingdom Demands.” Still I have some confidence that some will understand the message and begin to walk in its truth.


Jer 3:14 ‘Return, O faithless sons,’ declares the LORD; ‘For I am a master to you, And I will take you one from a city and two from a family, And I will bring you to Zion.’ 15 “Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding.


Jer 3:16 “And it shall be in those days when you are multiplied and increased in the land,” declares the LORD, “they shall say no more, ‘The ark of the covenant of the LORD.’ And it shall not come to mind, nor shall they remember it, nor shall they miss it, nor shall it be made again. 17 “At that time they shall call Jerusalem ‘The Throne of the LORD,’ and all the nations will be gathered to it, to Jerusalem, for the name of the LORD; nor shall they walk anymore after the stubbornness of their evil heart.


It is clear that the way to Zion is very narrow and few there be that will find it. Someone, must seek out the few and reveal the Way to Zion. Those who are just interested in the multitudes will have no burden for the few. Still, that is their revelation and their calling so we are not seeking a quarrel with them.


Psalm 87:1-----His foundation is in the holy mountains. 2 The LORD loves the gates of Zion More than all the other dwelling places of Jacob. 3 Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Selah. 4 “I shall mention Rahab and Babylon among those who know Me; Behold, Philistia and Tyre with Ethiopia: ‘This one was born there.’”


5 But of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her”; And the Most High Himself will establish her. 6 The LORD shall count when He registers the peoples, “This one was born there.” Selah.


Some will see and respond and some will never see. Our responsibility is to seek

 

out those whom God is calling to Zion and to whom God has given spiritual sight.


Regardless of all our work, God is still Sovereign over those that have an inner illumination and can “see” into these realms. Our responsibility is to seek God for the Revelation AND the Inspiration AND the Anointing to speak of these mysterious realms! However, if our listeners are Not Born From Above, that is, Born of God, and have a new inner man, our words will have very little effect because ONLY the outer man will hear but he will understand nothing. The natural man will receive nothing because he has no faculty to understand. For that reason to teach the natural man how to walk in the Kingdom is a big waste of time.


In the next study in this series I will try to bring the reality and some details of our preparation to participate in our Eternal Calling into the Eternal Kingdom realm. This will focus upon the Kingdom that is within us IF we have been born again by the Living and Abiding Word of God. The Kingdom Seed is in the Sperma, which contains EVERYTHING necessary to fulfill God’s Eternal Purpose and bring Joy to His Heart.


Even our final maturity is inherent within the Seed of the Kingdom. When and IF that “seed” comes to final harvest in us it will be “Christ in us, our hope of glory”!


To be continued…