As the Priest looked on, there in front of Him was a constant reminder that beyond this veil was the Holy of Holies where the sacred ark resides.  There in former times God sat on the mercy seat with the winged Cherubims enthroned in the Shekinah glory while beneath Him was the Law of Moses, Aarons Rod and manna from Gods Heaven all enclosed in the Ark of the Covenant as God Himself sat up on the mercy seat judging equally for all mankind.

The place was called, Mount Moriah.  Jesus called it, “My Father’s house.”  If the Jews had only known who Jesus was and who His Father was, things could have turned out differently in History, but, the Jews were blind and unable to see when Jesus was there.  How they stood at the portals of His world, “The Kingdom of God.”

The world, and especially the Jews at large, understood not the strategic importance of the place where God puts His name and where He makes appointments to meet His people.  Indeed His own people may have neglected the place of prayer and disregarded its importance, but one thing we know, “The enemy knows of its importance” and will occupy that place whenever he can.

Though the temple supposedly was the ‘House of God and of prayer” it was occupied by men of the Sanhedrin who were by nature carnal but religious tools of Satan, lost souls entrenched liked tares among the wheat.

This was God’s house held formerly by the enemy’s of Christ, God’s Holy temple.

Jesus came to set the “captive free.”  He went about His father’s business ignoring, minimizing all efforts to harm and even to murder Him.  They gnashed their teeth with unconceivable rage, delegated their own militia to arrest Him, but to no avail.  For you see, twelve legions or angels were at His disposal.  They are His personal body guards sent from Heaven, no power on earth or in Hell could manipulate Him, for he was “God-incarnate.” He is the “Word” made flesh!

His hour was not yet come!

Imagine our Lord bringing direct attention to the fact He is the pathway to His world.  “I go my way” [John 8:21-22] pointing to the “Godly” direction that He must take in direct contact of all human beings. “All like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way.”

Jesus indicated quite clearly, He did things Gods way.  “I do always those tings that please my Father.”  From manger to the cross His sole purpose in life was being marked by obedience to the Father of all life.

Only Jesus was qualified to speak these words, “Follow me.” For He was the only one who knows the way home; He was the Messiah sent from the creator to redeem humanity, besides… He is the way.

All must be aware who fiddle away the grace of God as insignificant and of little importance.

How unendurable must the end be of those raised in a society surrounded by Gospel preaching and Bible teaching knowing the truth of God yet rebelling against Heaven and resisting the wooing of His Holy Spirit,  they go away never to return no more.

Jesus responds in vs.21 by adding this statement of the desperate closing hours of life, “Ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins.”  What is it that they [humanity] will be seeking; Eternal life, salvation and redemption?

Jesus is insistent about the emphatic impossibility of anyone finding heaven after the rejection of Christ.

Once the portals of death are crossed, no change of status is possible.  The character of the dead is fixed as concrete.  “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he who is filthy, let him be filthy still.”  [Rev 22:11]

Eternity is unchangeable

Jesus qualifies Himself and His teaching by proclaiming and affirming His deity, “You are from beneath [earth] I am from above [Heaven].  You are of this world; I am not of this world.”

His statement concluded to the fact we are separate from Godly atmosphere and its restricted atmosphere indeed. Those who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb love the atmosphere of Heaven, in contrast, the lost love the atmosphere of death and the company of the unsaved.

-Johnny

God is morally infinitely unstained and spotless in character and in deeds.  His actions are up right, pure and unstained, without evil desires and thoughts while His motives are the source and standards of what is right and good!

God is free from all evil. He loves truth and virtue.  He values purity with an enormous passion while at the same moment detests equally impurity and that which is not authentic.

It is not within His nature to approve of evil, has no pleasure in it [Psalm 5:4], and cannot nor will not tolerate evil in His sight. [Habakkuk 1:13]

Righteousness and purity are not solely the products of Gods will but are an immutable characteristic of His eternal nature and His essence.

The Good of God, the spirit of God, the pure of God, and the Holy of God, are not mere arbitrary acts of God but are the overflow of His nature and are not independent of His divine posture.

God always wills in accordance consistently with His nature.  He wills the good simply because He is good; And because He is holy and good.  He consistently hates and is most noxiously repulsed by all evil [without respect of persons]. God’s Holy Spirit shares His holiness with His redeemed people {I Peter 1:15- Lev 11:44}.

We are to pursue moral clarity in character and in action like the God we worship.

Concerning the justice or righteousness of God, it is revealed in His moral law expressing His moral nature by His judgment and mercy, granting to all exactly what they deserve.

His judgments are not capricious nor His mercies arbitrary but they are without respect of person.  He is “just” because of His consistency.

No one has ever been judges unjustly by our creator nor has anyone obtained mercy unfairly.

God so embraces righteousness and justice with a passion He has personally pledged to create “New Heavens and a New Earth” [New Universe] where righteousness and justice will rule [Isaiah 65:17].  There is in God no selfish out of control anger.  Not only is He personal but highly ethical both in emotions and passion.

He is the only one who delights in justice, righteousness and holiness for the well being of His creatures.  His righteous indignation is compelled and then summoned by injustice including all other works of the fallen “flesh.”

The God of the Bible who actively creates, sustains, makes covenants with His people, preserves Israel and the Messianic line of descent, sent His Son into the world providing the atoning sacrifice to satisfy His own righteousness, raises Christ the Messiah from the dead, builds the Church and judges all justly.

The God of Israel and creation is an active architect, master builder, and freedom fighter, as well as advocates for the poor and oppressed.

As a spirit, God is invisible.  No one has ever seen God or ever will [I Tim 6:16].  However, this doesn’t mean God is incapable of being personal.  Christ’s emphasis upon God as Father in the “Lord’s prayer” would become meaningless if God indeed was not personal.

What would become of the great doctrine of mercy, grace, truth, forgiveness and justice if these attributes would only be meaningful if God were not genuinely personal?

These attributes are inseparable from the being of God in so much the divine spirit does not relate or act apart form His divine characteristics.

We will know God as He has revealed himself to be, and we can know Him fully as God knows himself.  Jesus said, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.”

God does not depend upon the world or anyone in it for His existence.  The world [Universe} depends on God for its existence

Jesus revealed that God has life in himself [John 5:26].  “I Am Who I AM.”  [Ex. 3:14]

Understanding that God is non contingent helps to understand how God is unlimited by anything or infinite free, self determined and not resolute by anything other than Himself.

“This God of ours is forever and forever.”  {Ps. 48:14]

-Johnny

To those who are “gay, lesbian, or transgender:” You will see a time in which we as a nation finally recognize relationships between two men or two women as just as real and admirable as between a man and a woman.  You will see a nation that’s valuing and cherishing these families as we build a more perfect union – a unions in which gay Americans are an important part.  I am committed to these goals and will continue fighting to achieve them.

It seems now that Washington D.C, may be the source of evil where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their center and become popular.

God forbid that we should have the least inclination to diminish the public horror against a crime which Christian ethics, Godly morality, and civil government, equally condemn yet on the other hand, we may venture to affirm the crime against nature [Homosexuality] will never make any great progress unless people of that society are prompted to repent and acknowledge the error of their ways excepting God’s way as the path to righteousness.

John Bunyan introduces a disgraceful and shameful place. A celebrated place; a place where people can be themselves and be free of all inhibition and free to be what they are entitled to be.  One of the main characters of this “Vanity Fair” was “Mr. Love –Lust, Mr. No-good, and others of unsavory characters which represented a mirror where the reader is expected to see oneself.

“Here are to be seen, too, and that for nothing, thefts, murders, adulterers, false swearers…”

It seems that history has once again repeated itself in Roman 1:24, “Therefore God gave them up in the lust of their own flesh to sexual impurities, to the dishonoring among themselves, abandoning them to the degrading power of sin.”

Why did God “give them up?” Vs 25 explain it quite eloquently, “Because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie.”  Not because they were born of God to be of that sort, but simple, they chose to “exchange the truth for a lie.”  Now that is truth!!  It is the simple fact of the matter.

Vs. 26, 27, 28, reveals a “fitting retribution” God gave them over to be a base and condemned mind to do things not proper or decent, but Loathsome.

Once a society has sub come to this level of lasciviousness, the descent into the abyss becomes accelerated to the point of no return.  The Apostle Paul expands on the matter by stating what the Holy Spirit has expressed in Vs 29-32, “Until they are filled, permeated and saturated with every kind of unrighteousness, inequity, grasping and coveting greed and malice, they will be full of envy and jealousy, murder, strife, deceit and treachery.  They will become secret back biters, gossipers, slanders, hateful and hating God as well.  They will be full of insolence of character, arrogance, boasting inventors of a new society causing disobedient and disrespectful to parents.”

These will be people without conscience [social paths] without understanding social norms and morals.  Society will produce faithless and heartless paradigm, a community [world community] without love or mercy.

They are fully aware of God’s righteousness decrees and those that do such thins deserve to die, not only do they do themselves but approve and applaud others who skillfully perform them as well!

It is a shameful time not only in human history, but eh history of our country as she plunges into the abyss of uncertainty.  At present time we have no Godly leadership in our Executive Branch, Judicial, and very little in our Legislative Branch.  We find ourselves absent of symmetry lacking, standing in line “wanting.”

We are a people void and abandoned of a reliable source of sensibility when our “Commander and Chief” cheerfully, without any decent and proper reservation, approve and applaud with celebration that which Almighty God of creation has declared “reprobate and depraved” VS 28.

If God Himself declares the reprobate and depraved behaviors of humanity “condemned” why in the name of Heaven would some inapt clown differ by stating that the abnormal homosexual lifestyle is admirable and cherishing and “a more perfect union?”

Is a man really right in his own eyes?  Are the ways of God different than ours?  Are His statutes and laws more suitable for mankind or are “we” the masters of our own fate?

“God forbid that we struggle so hard to fail!”

-Johnny

In other words, for something to be considered “good” for the sake of persons or things, it must function appropriate or be appropriately functional.  Thus, the fruit of the trees in Eden is described as “good for food.” [Gen 2:9]

God reviews what He has created and finds it “good” and then characterizes His completed work as “very” good [Gen 1:31]

This is the “craftsmanship of God” who, by the way, the human artificer stands back to observe at what He has made and declares it “good” [appropriate] and functional.

A divine observation was announced in {Gen 2:18] that it was “not good” for the man [Adam] to be alone. The very idea for Adam [Man] to be alone was not functional nor appropriate [good] to comply the necessary and absolute value of humanity and purpose of His creation.

Mic 6:8 represents the Ethical requirements by which God demands from His created humanity; “To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

This is the idea that “good” is the “way” God expects unequivocally in human behavior.

The characteristic duty of a teacher/prophet is to teach the “good and right way.”

[I Sam 12:23]

The prophetic movement in I Kings 8:36, also known in the Wisdom writings, is the “way of the good” [Prov 2:20] “the way of life” [Prov 5:6- 6:23]. We also must consider its polar opposite; not good or evil as expressed in the deviant community by ISA 65:2 who walked in a way “not good.”

The definition of “good” is simplified by its antithesis, “evil.”

Any attempt to confuse these two categories in the realm of human behavior is considered a fundamental wrong [ISA 5:20- Num 24:13].

{2 Sam. 19:35] [ISA 7:15-16] Although it is beyond the capacity of children to distinguish between the two, it is a necessary prerequisite one must possess for Godly leadership [2 Sam 14:17; Kings 3:9]

Good and evil are the terms expressed [Lit] “I set before you this day life and good, or death and evil [Deut. 30:15; Jer 21:8].

The expression “the knowledge of good and evil in description of the tree in the middle of  Eden [Gen 2:9] proclaims to eat from the tree was to acquire a moral awareness far beyond what the creator intended which was and is till this day not proper for human acquisition [Gen 3:5, 22].

This was the first act for the original “Boundary Crossing” by which the first humans considered themselves in contention with their creator therefore distanced themselves from Him [Gen 6: 1-3]

ISA. 45:7, “I make peace and create evil”… [Niv] I bring prosperity and create disaster.” Thus, claiming that He is the creator of all polarities of light and darkness, good and evil, hot and cold, wet and dry, and all else in between. Nothing exists without Him but not all things created are expedient or necessary.  Example: God created poison ivy; however, it is not for human consumption. If it were then there would be those who would plunge it into their pipes and smoke it.

God warns against intentionally denying goodness and calling evil things good.  “You who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter, will be consumed by fire.” [ISA 5:20-24]

As an adj. in classical Greek “good” means anything or any person that is serviceable, excellent, that can invoke a state of well-being whether intellectually, physically, or moral is said to be “good.”

The “Good” is the power that preserves and supports, in contrast to evil which spoils and destroys.

In the Hebrew Bible, [Torah] the concept of the “good” is indissolubly linked with the person-God [YHWH]. The “good” is always a gift from God and thus outside the control and domination of human.  God becomes a person’s highest “good” when they see their own limitation without illusion in the presence of the all incomprehensible God. God’s goodness brings salvation to all who are uninhibited by His name.

-Johnny

Our Lord reveals to John’s disciples that “change” was coming.  The Lord foretold the removal of His physical presence and the coming new dispensation, “the dawning” of a “New Age” during which our Lord would be absent.

Jesus spoke in essence of a “changing of the guard” in which the “veil” was to be rent.  Not in the sense of “reform”, but total abolishment of ALL instruments including: The priest hood down to the sacraments, feasts, holy days, rituals, calendar events and all liturgies.  The old garments of Judaism would be out-dated in one moment, in one act of Calvary’s cross.  Judaism was over, no longer needed.  It could not measure up to the “New Covenant” of Christianity. The new cloth of the Kingdom of God was too strong to be a “patched work” in the old covenant.

Someone new was on the world’s scene…Jesus Christ, the Son of God – The Son of man. Jesus had come to pour out “New Wine” upon humanity, “Christianity,” The world of Christ!

For, if men do not put “new” wine into “old” bottles, why should God put something “new” and “fresh” in an “old” container?

The time was right for a NEW dispensation, a NEW covenant, NEW dynamics and a NEW life indeed with new principles dictating new methods in which God deals with humanity.

Religion alone could no longer “cover” the sins of man.  The New Covenant demanded that our sins be “washed” away, no longer cloaked with the sacrament and rituals of Judaism.  Forever gone were the days of formalism and burdensome religious duties that had and have no value concerning eternal life.

Gen. 3:15. All the past of Judaism was a shadow of what and who was to come.  Jesus the “Messiah,” the one anointed (Christos), who links both church and Israel as His pathos, which does overwhelm rational thought.

None of the “religions” of the entire world including Buddhism, Hinduism and their off shoots, nor the youngest of these (Islam), offer a “New Wine” to the conversion of the human soul.

No debt has been paid for the lost souls of humanity; no ransom has been issued for the redemption of mankind – except for the love of God who sent His Son (Messiah) who by the act of persuasion redeemed those who will.

None of the world’s religions posses the ingredients within the “New Covenant” (covered) by which one can purchase redemptive souls.

“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”  Matt. 9:13

“I will prefer to have mercy, and not sacrifice.”  Hosea 6:6

This is His “New Testament,”  “Mercy” which distinguishes it from that given by Moses, the law. Now antiquated by providence, the previous treaty between parties (God and man) has been canceled, but granted a “New Estate.”  The condition is due to the charitable will, the “Free Will,” the good-will of the testator.

All grace is contained in Him, our Lord Jesus.  Unless we consent fully to Him as our Lord, we cannot expect any benefits by Him.  In Christ our Lord, are not only a full discovery of that grace, but a legal binding instrument by which is conveyed upon all believers.

How precious and valuable then should this “New Testament” of our blessed Savior be to us who believe?  Unsearchable are His riches! It is His testament towards us, though written by others, who’s words have inspired by His Holy Spirit confessing and preserving His covenant to all those who will, and to all who witnessed.

St. Mathew wrote this book conferring and declaring the “New Covenant” God has instituted with man.  His word was written so that we would surly believe!

All sinners must despair while others, through Christ, are brought into a covenant with God! This is the will of God, that ALL men should honor the Son and by doing so, they honor the Father, for it is He who inhabits eternity!

-Johnny

There were many obstacles at work to hinder the power and especially the progress of the Gospel at Corinth.  The Church was divided by a “party spirit” as well as immoralities of various kinds which prevailed causing factions among the brotherhood.

Paul reminds the Corinthian brethren when he was present with them for 18 months. He preached not with human wisdom of excellent speech, but in “demonstrations of the Spirit and the power of Almighty God.”  [I Cor. 2:4]  It is within these passages [I Cor. 2:1-16] Paul makes his stand and pursues the original purpose and design of Church.

He is determined to know nothing among them other than “Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

“To preach anything else is to preach nothing and to discover the knowledge of nothing.”

The office of Christ and His very person is the sum total of all substance concerning the Gospel and the entire universe as well.  The preaching of the Gospel ought to be the greatest subject ever taught by the gospel ministers.

Paul didn’t come among the Corinthians preaching some intellectual sermons enticing the people with his knowledge of science and philosophy, nor did he appear as a refined orator. He did not pompous himself with deep reasoning.  Paul didn’t captivate his audience by fined skilled eloquence (speech) expressing to please or entertain the crowds with lofty notions (which he could have, being one of the most educated men of his time, but instead chose to preach and declare the testimony of God.

He preached a divine revelation proceeded by miraculous and spiritual operations and it was there he left the matter.

All decoration and embellishment of speech, philosophical argument could add no weight to what comes by the spirit and power of the gospel. He came in the “demonstration of spirit and power,” Those of the full gospel of Christ.

Our faith should not stand in the wisdom of man, but the power [dynamite] of God. (2:5) When the gospel is preached, God appears that He may be glorified by all with divine evidence and spiritual operations. This is where true success is found.

Neither by rhetoric nor logic should people be drawn to the savior lest it be said they were overcome by mere human arguments and emotions.

There is no room in God’s Kingdom for human glory.

The Great Jehovah chose to use trumpets to bring down the walls of Jericho.  He scaled down Gideon’s army from 32,000 to a mere 300 men to carry out His special operation.  An ox goad was used in the hand of Shamgar to defeat the Philistines.  He chose to use Samson and the jawbone of an ass to slay a whole army of God’s enemies.

Our Lord chose a few loaves of bread and fish, multiplied them over again to feed 5,000 men plus women and children.  He spat into clay then applied it on a blind man’s eyes that he may see.  For truly, “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound [put to shame] those who think themselves wise…”

Since God is the lone creator of all the universe [out of nothing] it would seem only fitting that He should use things and people of no esteem in the eyes of the world, to use them for His glory.

Rebuke, is called to all who bear His name and yet favor the prominent and well-known persons expressing little or no regard for the dear humble souls of God.

We know according to the 3^rd chapter of Cor., Paul speaks to the Christian brethren as carnal babes who can not bear the meat of the word but milk only.  They, at Corinth, had deceived themselves thinking they were wise when in fact they were foolish, Vs 18.  They taught science and philosophy instead of Christ and him crucified, they preached a religion without a cross; an alter of sacrifice.  They just entertained!

-Johnny

The Bible determines the outcome of good and evil, righteousness and unrighteousness, sinner and saint, moral and immoral etc…

Never do we find these truths to be more self evident than in the first pages of the last Book of the Bible, Revelations Chapter 2-3.  Here, is made the last stand for mankind.  He will either advance forward or recline backwards to the abyss, never to be mentioned again in the chronicles of human existence.

To avoid a lengthy clutter of explanation on each of the seven churches’ in Rev 2-3, it would be more reasonable to simplify by combining the sum entirely into an integral commentary.

First, it must be acknowledged that Revelation is the beginning of the first stage for the time period allotted for humanities existence as we have known it for thousands of years. And, that God’s interest in revelations springs from an absolute acknowledgment of the primal elements of fallen human characteristics.

“He searcheth the reins of the heart,” He peers into spheres of the mind where no other can see, observing where the character is generated, where the soul elements drift and fluctuate; an invisible arena where moral battles are fought and won, a place where victories and defeats are decided.  It is truly the place of evidence.

Our interest in life is often blinded and obscured when we embrace admirations that tend to be worthless, vain, inadequate, and contemptible.  Not so with Christ, the Son of the living God, for He knows what true character really is and what it was originally intended to be in the “Beginning” of man’s primal state.  Christ has the deepest concern for the progress of the “good” when He said “I know thy works and charity, service, and patience,” acknowledging that moral goodness wherever it exists is progressive.

It would appear what the “spirit” is saying to the church is: Christ like men everywhere are to expel evil from their communities [habitat and church body] crush the wrong not by force, but by divine moral Godly example and spiritual pattern.

The work of the “Christ Man” is to slay with the sword of the Spirit [both spoken and written] all the immoral “Jezebels” and their effectiveness with all clarity and truth.

The Book of Revelation strongly indicates the Disciples of Christ are held, to some large extent, responsible for the continual existence of evil characters in their midst [The Church]. The very presence of such characters alone presents conscious of their responsibility to act accordingly.  Even the fact that they inherit the” bad” from their ancestors whether near or distant does not in any way relieve them from their responsibilities. They are the “authors of their own character,” even if the characteristics are transmitted by the generational curse.  “I gave her space [time] to “repent” of her fornication and she repented not.” [Willing not to repent]

The book of Revelations says, God in His mercy has given ample time and space for the most wicked and evil person to pursue repentance!

It has been said that God hates nothing He created, but hates what it [creation] has become.

The immoral person spoken of here is that spirit of Jezebel whose wish is not to repent. Although time had permitted her grace, she chose not to use it.

Repentance is the method by which God has selected to rid one’s self of bad character and is the very thing every man or woman ought to accomplish.

The will is the rudder of the soul. It either steers to open blue water for smooth sailing or is driven on the “Rocks of Destruction.” In truth, all evil characters will do so. [Shipwreck]

The transmitted evil character will broadcast itself onto others.  “I will kill her children with death,” says the Lord.  All people have their moral or immoral offspring children like unto themselves.

Evil propagates evil.  “No man loveth unto himself.” Our children will do our work even after we are gone.  Who knows what permanent injury the children of Jezebel will accomplish in the future of humanity?

We need not to apprehend any future evil.  Our works will determine our doom or define our future.

“The chamber of voluptuousness shall become the very chamber of torture to those who repent not!” Repentance is what God is looking for in the closing hours and days of our determination!

-Johnny

There is no appeal to those who lack spiritual discernment. For men will either be attracted to Christ or be antagonized by Him.  “I came not to send peace but a sword…” [Matt 10.34-35]

The words that Jesus spoke often created a division time and time again.  How many times do we read the phrase “there was a division among the people?”  He always produced an issue; He never ever stayed at a constant state of neutral.  He was a true partisan all the way.

He was God’s man; always filled with the Holy Spirit creating division and transformation to people wherever He went.  If only we too could emanate our Lord as we went.  Men would either be attracted or repulsed by us having acquired the same source of our Lord Jesus.

Concerning the tent:  Exodus. 36: 14-18, “Thou shalt make curtains of goat’s hair to be covered upon the Tabernacle…”  All that we have covered thus far concerning the Tabernacle has been a “prelude or rehearsal” speaking of the inwardness and outwards ness of our Lord’s person and work which was yet to be done.

Goat’s Hair was the color of black.  The only color known in the Middle East used by Bedouin tent makers [Solomon 1:5]

The tent [Tabernacle itself] was completely covered by goat’s hair as the first layer or curtain of the canvas.  The goat in scripture is mentioned in connection with the sin and sinners [Lev 9:3]… “Two kids of the goats for a sin offering…”  Also, in Matt 25:32, “He shall separate them from one from another as a shepherd dividedeth his sheep from the goat.”  This represented the saved and the unsaved at the “judgment of the nations.”

Here at the beginning of the building of the tabernacle we see the initiation principles of “separation” and “division.” The major concepts that engage the Holiness of God!  The black color of the goat’s hair represents the darkness of sin, while the skin [flesh] speaks of Jesus the Messiah as the divine “Sin Bearer” [Rom 8:3] who condemned sin in the flesh.”

The Ram’s Skins: “and make a covering for the tent of ram’s skin dyed red [Exod 26:14]

The significance of the Ram’s skin again simplifies the outward ness of the Savior’s person at work speaking expressly of His “consecration.”

Jesus purposed in His heart to dedicate His life to God for a special service for which He was sent, “The act of substitution.” [Gen 22:13]  The Ram is referred to as “The Ram of Consecration.” [Lev 8:22]

Notice that the ram’s skin was to be dyed red which speaks of consecration unto death.  Death of the cross!  [Exod 26:14] Nothing would hinder Christ from going to the cross until His work was complete.  “It is finished.”

The marks on His hands, back, and feet, bear the truth of His consecration to humanities redemption and His love for the Father.  Now, he has a permanent foundation in the sanctuary of God; “A Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.” [Heb 7: 17-28] If this is the path of the Master, should all servants do the same?

Mention must be made at this time, “no specific measurements for the ram’s skin were observed in scripture suggestion, no limitations set on a life of consecration.”

Badgers skin [seal skins]: Both of these skins were abundant in the Nile and Red Sea.  The Israelites would have no trouble obtaining large amounts of skins before leaving Egypt entering the Sinai Desert.  These skins were durable and coarse, suggesting ideal footwear. [Ezek. 16:10] There was nothing attractive or beautiful about the outer coverings of the tabernacle, for the glory of these skins were drab, dull, and bluish grey.

The last layer was very hard leather, resistant to the harsh elements of desert life.  The last layer of covering [skins] gives notice and represents the life our Lord walked in separation with His Deity veiled in humanity.  ISA 53: 2-3 states, “He hath no form or comeliness…no beauty that we should admire Him.”

His life was separated from the rest of creation and humanity.   His life was impregnable to the world of sin of the flesh and evil.  “He is holy, undefiled, and separate from sinners [Heb 7:26].

Once again there are no measurements for the seal skins- no limits of a life separated unto God. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the Devil [I John 3:8]

Thank God for the rich symbolism of the inner and outer curtains [skin of flesh] of God’s dwelling place.

-Johnny

This gate was to be suspended on four pillars of acacia wood, fixed in sockets of brass hooks with connecting bars and chapters [caps] of silver.  Covering the gate, or the “hangings,” were a fine-twined lined wrought in blue, purple and finally scarlet [Exo. 27:16-17].

All of these intricate pieces of the tabernacle played an ultimate purpose pointing to the coming of the Messiah.  Every item was imperative to the pre-figurement of Christ and His person.

First of the materials to be discussed is the linen which speaks of the purity of Christ’s humanity.

Every trait of perfect humanity was included and illustrated in the weaver of the fine twined linen including the embroidered curtains of the gate as well.

From outside looking inwards, this expansion of white linen gates overlaid with embroidery must have spoke and looked impressive to those wishing to enter.  These gates spoke of righteousness [Rev. 19:8]. “Fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. For the righteousness of the saints “imputed” and imparted by God through Christ our Lord”[I Cor. 1:30].  The Prophet Isaiah said it most correctly in [64:6] concerning man made righteousness is as “filthy rags.”

The white linen witnesses that we should be found in Him, not having our own righteousness. For the very purpose we have been redeemed even the demons declared, “We know you and who you are, the Holy one of God, should we not acknowledge the?”

The blue linen speaks of the mystery of Christ’s divinity as “the heavens declare the glory of God [Ps. 19:1] and the divinity of Christ.  We all must admire the fact that Christ left the edge of heaven’s eternity and descended on earth as humanity.  He is our living bread sent down from heaven [John 6:33], He is the man from heaven [I Cor 15:47]. Blue was also used in the Tallit or prayer shawl as well in the robes of the Hebrew Priest.

Purple linen speaks of the majesty; the royalty of Christ.  It also declares the Kingly characteristics of our Lord and His elegance.  Purple typifies Christ as the sovereign one, the “King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, who will reign universally [Rev 18:16] “…they clothed Him with purple and placed a crown of thorns upon His head and saluted Him as “King of the Jews.” [MK 15:17-18]

Scarlet linen speaks of the “sacrificial one.  This color embodies the entire plan of redemption, “Thou art worthy, for thou were slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood…” [Rev 5: 9-10].  Scarlet typifies the quality of Christ’s humanity.  He was “faithful unto death,” the death of the cross, so that He may destroy him that had the power of death [Heb 2:14-15].  Christ did this as a divine servant, savior and sacrifice for all humanity. He was “obedient unto death” paying the ransom required by Almighty God.  Scarlet was the symbol of the blood shed for our sins.  This again typifies the quality of our Savior’s humanity and deity.

Color was often used as an appropriate tool for expressing various truths in Biblical language. The colors as indicated were representatives of the inner curtains and the “gate way” to God’s Holy tabernacle exemplifying in the most inner glory of the Lord which is hidden from all but those who come by “the way of the cross.”

The last scriptural specification indicated for hanging curtains over the “gate way” were the embroidered cherubim’s which speak of the intensity of Christ’s severity.  Cherubim’s throughout the Bible are observed as God’s messengers of protection and of judgments.  After the expulsion from the Garden of Eden, there appeared a flaming sword and cherubim’s to guard the way of the “tree of life.”  These serve and function as guardians over Gods’ eternal interest.  They are the attendants of the furnishings of the Holy of Holies.  Their symbols seem to be always present in Temple worship representing the Highest of all of God’s creation.  Nothing escapes their presence! They are there for one purpose, to serve God’s business.  So it is Christ’s business to do the will of the Father, creator of all that is.

It must be remembered, although He is the savoir of our souls and humanities, redeemer, He is also the soon coming judge to the entire world.  His first coming was of a lamb. His second coming will be on a “war horse” with a cherubim sword in His mouth. Judgment and destruction WILL be on His lips. [John 5:22, Rom 11:22].  We now have a full length portrait of God’s son in His humanity, His divinity, His regality, and His severity; the intensity as the great divider for which the inner curtain was intended…..DIVISION!!

-Johnny

I have not seen many a true and wholly great man in my time. We do lack the perfect man, the God man. He is greatly to be desired. Our age is left in wanting and in waiting for great men. Men of taste and fine qualities over-estimate themselves; they prefer to warn man of evil
rather than to take on themselves the honor of repressing it.

Give us men who stand by their words, men of vision and purpose, men of responsibility…..having a sense of urgency in that this Gospel must be preached in all nations. Starting in the home where he becomes the priest of the family, guiding those in the ways of the Lord God Almighty, and providing the way of escape for all who come under his roof. A man that vows for better or worse, richer or for poorer, that will be there always not only as lover but husband…not only as sire but father….not only as king but as a priest.

Where are the men of God, our supposed Pastors, Evangelists, Profits, Teachers, and Apostles? Where are they? Where are these men of valor? Are they of mice or men? Are they with courage or faint of heart? Are they full of Spirit or of themselves? Which one of these will you send us, Almighty God? Will you send us men of caliber, men of a better way, or will you send something better than nothing?

In all that we do we must retain God in all of our knowledge.

-Johnny