PART TWO- WOMEN, PRIESTS, AND TABERNACLESPlease, let me ask just one favor. Please, wait to read this particular part when you have some time to seriously sit and absorb. What I will be addressing here, is- what are the SIMILITUDES that God is teaching us in such questions as were posed in part 1.J. above. I must say I am most happy and excited to have the opportunity to give the answers to these questions. First, we must understand God's language in the Bible- Hos 12:10 "I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used SIMILITUDES, by the ministry of the prophets." Now, please bear with me as we first lay our foundation in basic Christianity. One of the first, and most important, "similitudes" in the Bible, is the creation of Adam, his wife, the fall, and the promise that her seed would bruise Satan's head. Now, of the "husband and wife relationship, of which Adam and Eve were the first, Paul had this to say... Eph 5:32 "This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church." I trust as you read, you will find that Paul has here made possibly one of the single greatest understatements ever to be written! ;-) Even if he did say great (Greek- mega!)! In the beginning- Gen 2:18 "...the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. 19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. 20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. 21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." We must first keep in mind what the above similitude (though real event it was) signifies- Eph 5:31 "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and THEY TWO SHALL BE ONE FLESH. 32 This is a GREAT (mega) mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church." 1Co 15:45 "And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit." This first man Adam represented, in similitude, God's word made flesh, our Lord Jesus Christ. In the beginning, we find the Word, in type as being alone, and God sees that as not being good. The heavens are adorned with many types of angels- represented by the creation of animals, but they couldn't give God's Word the kind of companionship His word should have, (as animals also only offer man a limited companionship)- there was no "help-meet" for the Word (expression) of God. Notice how it says- verse 21 "And the LORD God... took one of his ribs... 22 And the rib... made he a woman..." This is VERY important. The rib means side- an "aspect" of Adam is made into his help-meet. Rib: Strong's #6763, Hebrew: tsela` Adam expressed the significance of this in Gen 2:23 "And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." Though the whole Adam himself was now physically separated between male and female, the sanctity of their union has never diminished in importance in God's eyes- Eph 5:31 "...THEY TWO SHALL BE ONE FLESH." THEN came the fall, and after that, the first prophecy of Christ's redemption- Gen 3:15 "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." The reason there would need to be a redemption was, of course- Gen 2:17 "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Gen 3:23 "Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden..." Again, the purpose of this event, was clearly for the purpose of teaching us in similitude about the church of Christ- Eph 5:32 "This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church." The prophesy to the woman, representing the church, was that HER seed would bruise the head- destroy, the serpent. Did you catch this? Jesus was descended, and was born of the seed of Eve, through Mary. But this was only a type- a similitude! For Eve is the type of the church, therefore, the prophesy, taught in the similitude, is that the church's "seed" will bruise the serpent's head! The fulfillment of this prophesy, happened, SURELY first in Christ, born of the seed of a woman. This is basic Christianity. And I don't at all diminish this fact. Christ restored the woman, the church, to fellowship with God, as in before the fall. Again, basic Christianity. What maybe isn't so "basic," or well known, is the fact that Jesus Himself also was a similitude for a pattern of the redeemed to follow. The basic assumption, is that the bride of Christ ever remains His "female" companion. But we see a different scene in Revelation chapter 12- Rev 12:1 "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: Rev 12:2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. Rev 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. Rev 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. Rev 12:5 And SHE BROUGHT FORTH A *MAN* CHILD, WHO WAS TO RULE ALL NATIONS with a rod of iron: and HER CHILD WAS CAUGHT UP UNTO GOD, and to his throne. Rev 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, Rev 12:8 And prevailed not; NEITHER WAS THEIR PLACE FOUND ANY MORE IN HEAVEN. Rev 12:9 And THE GREAT DRAGON WAS CAST OUT, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, NOW IS COME SALVATION, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: FOR THE ACCUSER OF OUR BRETHREN IS CAST DOWN, which accused them before our God day and night. Rev 12:11 AND THEY OVERCAME HIM by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Do you understand this portion of Revelations? Do you understand that this passage is a view from heaven portraying the catching away of the redeemed unto God, and the casting down of Satan and his angels to the earth? Notice in verse 9 that this is where Satan is "cast out into the earth." That didn't happen when Jesus rose up into the heavens! That event happens when the saints are caught up! 2Th 2:6 "And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: ONLY HE WHO NOW LETTETH WILL LET, UNTIL HE BE TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed..." Surely you know about Abraham beseeching God for Lot and how God could not pour out His vengeance until the righteous be removed? (Gen 18:20-33). Not only that, but this event is happening after the saints have lived out their lives- Rev. 12:11 "And they overcame him... and they loved not their lives unto the death." So how do the redeemed come to be likened to a man child here in Revelations 12? The reason is because, currently, we are at a stage in our redemption that is likened to the period before the fall represented by Adam and Eve. In other words, Christ and His church, His body, are currently physically separated just as Adam and Eve were. But after the resurrection, we will be restored to the similitude of a relationship in Christ even BEFORE that- when Adam was a single man. For the prophesy is- Gen 2:24 "...they shall be one flesh." Eph 5:31 "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and THEY TWO SHALL BE ONE FLESH." Just as in the similitude wherein God planted His seed supernaturally in Mary, so God has planted His seed, supernaturally, into the church- Gal 3:16 "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to THY SEED, WHICH IS CHRIST." Mat 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Joh 14:18 "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you... 20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I IN YOU." What God was teaching us in the similitude of the natural birth, is that the seed of Jesus Christ needed time to germinate, and gestate, if you will, in the church, before the redeemed body of Christ was ready to be born- Rom 8:22 "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." 1Co 15:35 "But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain..." 1Co 15:42 "So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body... 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. What we are seeing here is that the woman represents, through type and "similitude," the church, that "bears" the perfect, mature, man-child, but she, the whole church, does not HERSELF enter into heaven... Mat 25:1 "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish..." Only the spiritual part of the church, which keep themselves full of the Holy Ghost, will enter into heaven. Not the whole church! Only the spiritual portion!!! The rest of the woman represents the outwardly, worldly portion. This is very important to keep in mind. Now, this man-child in Rev. 12 is represented, explained, and referred to, in such passages as Ephesians 4:12 and Daniel 7:13-27- Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints... 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, UNTO **A PERFECT MAN**, unto the measure of THE STATURE OF THE FULNESS OF CHRIST" Now look at what Daniel chapter 7 says- Dan 7:9 "I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose GARMENT WAS WHITE as snow, and THE HAIR OF HIS HEAD like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire." Here the Ancient of days is identified as Jesus Himself. Note the HAIR OF HIS HEAD like the pure wool, garment white as snow, and compare that with Rev. Chapter 1:14 "His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;... 18 I am HE THAT LIVETH, AND WAS DEAD; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen..." Daniel isn't talking about the Spirit of God but about the glorified Jesus Christ. The Spirit of God does not have a head of hair, but Jesus, the man in whom the Spirit dwells, does! Following after in Daniel, the saints, those "LIKE the Son of man" are presented. "LIKE" means similar, as in "not actually" the thing being spoken of- Dan 7:13 "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, ONE *LIKE* THE SON OF MAN came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days (Jesus), and they brought *HIM* near before Him... Dan 7:14 "And there was given HIM dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve HIM: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." This is identifying the saints as those "like" the son of man (like Jesus), just as Revelations also says- Rev 5:9 "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy...: for thou wast slain... 10 And HAST MADE US unto our God KINGS and priests: AND WE SHALL REIGN on the earth." Daniel himself goes on to clearly explain that the saints are the *HIM*, who came to the Ancient of days- Dan 7:22 "Until the Ancient of days came, AND JUDGMENT WAS GIVEN TO THE SAINTS of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. In fact Daniel repeats who they are that receive the kingdom- Dan 7:27 "And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey HIM." The remarkable thing about the passage in Daniel, is that the redeemed are referred to as ONE MAN- Dan 7:13 "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, ONE LIKE THE SON OF MAN came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought HIM near before him. 14 And there was given HIM dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve HIM" Just exactly as Revelations says- Rev 12:5 "And she brought forth A MAN CHILD, WHO WAS TO RULE ALL NATIONS with a rod of iron: and HER CHILD WAS CAUGHT UP unto God, and to his throne." The redeemed aren't referred to as the bride at this point. They are THE FULLY RESTORED (REUNITED) BODY of the man Jesus Christ! Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it... 27 THAT HE MIGHT PRESENT IT TO HIMSELF... 28 SO OUGHT MEN TO LOVE THEIR WIVES *AS THEIR OWN BODIES*... 29 For no man ever yet hated HIS OWN FLESH; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, EVEN AS THE LORD THE CHURCH: 30 FOR WE ARE MEMBERS OF HIS BODY, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, AND SHALL BE JOINED unto his wife, AND THEY TWO SHALL BE ONE FLESH. 32 THIS IS A GREAT MYSTERY: BUT I SPEAK CONCERNING CHRIST AND THE CHURCH." Rom 12:5 "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." 2.B. Let's Consider The Tabernacle! Now, while you're thinking on that a bit, let's consider the tabernacle at this point- for that also is a similitude of basically the same thing- God's people restored to God... Heb 9:24 "For Christ is NOT entered into the holy places made with hands, WHICH ARE THE FIGURES OF THE TRUE; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us..." Heb 8:5 "Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. 6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises." Heb 9:7 "But INTO THE SECOND WENT THE HIGH PRIEST ALONE once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: 8 The Holy Ghost THIS SIGNIFYING, THAT THE WAY INTO THE HOLIEST OF ALL WAS NOT YET MADE MANIFEST, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: 9 WHICH WAS A FIGURE FOR THE TIME THEN PRESENT..." I don't think I need to get too in depth on the tabernacle itself with you. But guess what- If the tabernacle was a "figure for the time then present" because "the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest" then it stands to PERFECT REASON that Jesus, and His salvation plan of the Death, Burial, and Resurrection, and ascension into heaven is also a "figure for the present time" since the way into heaven itself, also, is not yet made manifest!!! And of Him it is written that- Heb 10:12 "...this man... sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool..." So then, as the example, so shall we be- Heb 12:22 "But YE ARE COME UNTO MOUNT SION, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels... 25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from HIM THAT SPEAKETH FROM HEAVEN" Also, don't forget, Jesus said "Follow me" Do you see then that the similitude taught in the tabernacle is also taught in the similitude of Jesus Himself, which is- an example for the saints (the man-child of Revelations) entering the heavens, and waiting till our enemies be made our footstool- i.e. during the great tribulation, and until after the millennial reign? Remember, the Holy Ghost is ONLY the "earnest" of our inheritance! Eph 1:13 "...that holy Spirit of promise, 14 ...is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption..." Rom 8:23 "And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." Heb 4:9 "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, (sat down on... From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool!!!) he also hath CEASED FROM HIS OWN WORKS, as God did from his. 11 LET US LABOUR THEREFORE TO ENTER INTO THAT REST, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." Heb 10:36 "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise... 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." Therefore, we are still in a "figure for the present time." Which figure will be actualized at the rapture of the church- Rev 12:1 "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered." Now, the tabernacle displays the man (priest), entering into the temple. This also represents Jesus, the seed, entering into the church. Which also represents the man-child, (made of a woman- the church- for we are labourers together with Him!) which man-child then becomes the seed that is planted in the New Jerusalem! Therefore, the New Jerusalem is also called the bride, and not only the tabernacle... Rev 21:9 "And there came unto me one of the seven angels... saying, Come hither, I will shew thee THE BRIDE, THE LAMB'S WIFE. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me THAT GREAT CITY, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Rev 21:2 "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared "AS" a bride adorned for her husband." One would get the impression then, that if there is a husband, and if there is a seed dwelling in the bride which is the New Jerusalem, then there will likewise, again, be offspring! What do the scriptures say on this subject??? 1Co 2:9 "But as it is written, EYE HATH NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NEITHER HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN, THE THINGS WHICH GOD HATH PREPARED for them that love him." Eph 3:14 "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by *HIS SPIRIT IN THE INNER MAN* (!!!); 17 That Christ (the seed) may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, *WORLD WITHOUT END*. Amen." I think the magnitude of the meaning of what Paul calls a "mega mystery" should begin to be setting in about now, if it hadn't already! Now, as in currently, the church has authority over all the world. But only as long as she is submitted to the seed of Christ within her. (I don't think this is controversial, so I'll spare the scriptures on this.) In the future, the New Jerusalem will be the seat of all rule. Because God, and His seed, dwell within. Rev 5:9 "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God KINGS AND PRIESTS: AND WE SHALL REIGN on the earth." Rev 12:5 "And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne." Therefore, the woman, in type and similitude (according to the church and the New Jerusalem) is seen as being AN HEIR TOGETHER of the authority of Christ IF SHE IS BEING LED BY THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST WITHIN!!! Rom 8:16 "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And IF CHILDREN, THEN HEIRS; heirs of God, AND JOINT-HEIRS WITH CHRIST" Do you believe that the saints in the resurrection become fully joint-heirs with Jesus Christ (the 'Word made flesh') ruling with Him as kings and priests unto our God??? I don't think this is controversial. But then, if this is true of the bride of Christ, why don't you hold it to be true of the Spirit filled woman who is a type of that bride of Christ??? 1Pe 3:7 "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and AS BEING HEIRS TOGETHER of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered." We need to look at this verse as it was formulated in the Greek - "Husbands likewise, dwelling with (them) according to knowledge, as with a weaker vessel with the female, rendering (them) honour, as also (being) joint-heirs of (the) grace of life, so as not to be cut off your prayers." -G. R. Berry's Interlinear Greek English New Testament. (Words in parenthesis are as they appear in the Interlinear.) This direct rendering from the Greek gives this verse wholly different connotations! It is common knowledge, as it says, that the woman is the weaker vessel (referring to the differences in physical strength). NO controversy- common knowledge, or, as this passage says- "according to knowledge." Now, as to "rendering them honor." Honor- Strong's reference number: 5092 Let's look at some other places where this word honour (that we are to render to our wives) is found- 1Ti 1:17 wise God, be [honour 5092] and glory for ever and ever. Amen. Now, if we are to give the wife this kind of value, and honour, doesn't this sound like Jesus' exhortations- Mat 25:40 "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." In THIS CURRENT DISPENSATION, the church has become, as Eve was to Adam, Jesus Christ's help-meet. Now let's look at "as also being joint-heirs"... Strong's reference number: 4789 It is a form of 4788, also- Strong's reference number: 4788 Rom 8:17 of God, and [joint 4789 ]-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer Do you see Eph. 3:6 up there? You see, Jews and Gentiles, and husbands and wives, and Christ and His church, are the same types of joint-heirs! Do you not yet see that there becomes a point in the spiritual development, and maturity when the Spirit led woman becomes the embodiment of the Spiritual man- by putting off the deeds of the flesh? 2Co 4:16 "For... though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." Rom 7:18 "For I know that IN ME (THAT IS, IN MY FLESH,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do... 22 For I delight in the law of God after the INWARD MAN..." Rom 8:1 "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit... 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the *SONS* of God... 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, AND JOINT-HEIRS WITH CHRIST; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also GLORIFIED TOGETHER." Now, how did Jesus "Render honour" unto His bride? Joh 15:15 "Henceforth I CALL YOU NOT SERVANTS; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." Joh 14:12 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." "Greater works than these shall ye do" Can you say that to your bride, according to your current tradition? Not if you hold the perspective that women can't practice exactly the same gifts and callings in God as the man! Please continue with Part Two - Women, Priests, And Tabernacles Return to the Table of Contents for Women, Preists, and Tabernacles |