If we wanted to, how could we assess the spirituality of a person? Without being judgmental, could we tell how they are affected by God’s spirit? Let’s push church attendance aside--for many sit on pews without having met the Savior; spirituality shines within us (and can shine out to the world). Each unique processing sent from God takes us through perimeters with their own cogs or gears for that level. When we are ready for the next level--from Father’s assessment, we move forward. And so it goes in the ever increasing progression that is unfolding in this realm showing the Master’s plan. Is there a blueprint we can look to for understanding? Yes, for it was the subject matter in books written by Moses, being specifically and intricately explained and laid out. The Old Testament speaks in types and shadows of a higher reality, and this reality also shows up in The Revelation (of Jesus Christ). It’s called the tabernacle.
All the guidelines given to Moses concerning the construction of the tabernacle were straight from the mind of God in an exquisite blueprint of symbols. They spoke of God’s design for and in us, and many, many high realities that couldn’t be touched during those dusty desert wanderings. It was just the beginning of the Age of Law, and the true beauty of what God produced in front of them just couldn’t be appreciated yet. The carnal minds of men were being re-introduced to a creator who was rescuing them (and us) from death and darkness to bring us back into the Garden of God.
The Divine author of all the books of the Bible gives witness of Himself throughout the scriptures to confirm enlightenment and establish his will by using repetition of words and numbers. They produce a witness of themselves to help us see “secret” truths. The number “3" speaks of completeness and divine perfection. Many examples are available, but I’ll mention a few to accentuate the power of the three "spaces" of the tabernacle.
God’s word is referred to many times as “water”. Water has three forms: solid, liquid, gas (ice, rain, steam). God himself is: omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. God is three manifestations to us--all complete in Himself: Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Then, of course, is the breakdown of our composition as three dimensional creatures with a body, soul, and spirit. We are complete in those. This leads us to a most important aspect of the tabernacle: what the divided “rooms” speak of from a higher perspective.
While every single detail of the tabernacle--painstakingly assembled according to God’s “pattern”--was important and symbolic, my focus is on the separated chambers. Their divisions represent a progressive approach to God. Though demonstrated outwardly, they were a symbol and vision from an ascended view of our very real spiritual journey. They also spoke of the “appearing” of Christ right there in their midst (because the tabernacle was always in the middle of camp, as Christ is in the midst of his Church. Matt 18:20, Rev 2:1 ).
The purpose of the tabernacle seemed to be a place for animal sacrifices (overseen by the chamber where God’s presence resided), but it was also a visible show--a peek--of the Lamb who was already slain from the foundations of the world (Rev 13:8). The sacrifices and how they were handled (enhanced by the different pieces of furniture and their significance) spoke of acceptance or approach to God. Each chamber was attended by less people, and only the most consecrated (outwardly) could enter into God’s presence.
The outer court was where every man could bring their sacrifice. These would have been persons not in the priesthood, and they could go no further. The 2nd and 3rd chambers were separated from the outer court by curtains; only the priesthood could enter here. Within the Holy Place, (the first inner court), duties were performed and rituals attended to concerning the sacrifices of the outer court (offerings) and their presentation to God. Any priest could enter here, but only the high priest could go all the way into God’s chamber, the Most Holy Place. (Moses was an exception and could come and go whenever God called him, for he had been thoroughly forged in years of experience and trials, and was God’s Man of the hour.) When the high priest entered in to the Most Holy Place, the visits were limited and specific. In other words, the closer they got to God’s presence, the less “cluttered” was the visitation. These three separate sections of the tabernacle represent us in our body, soul, and spirit make-up. Let me explain, but with a parallel reality added.
Corresponding to this body, soul and spirit reality are the three feasts of Israel, each speaking of--and from--an area of the tabernacle. The feasts were a type of the progression of our soul into the realm of spirit. They are: the feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. Passover was about the blood and eating of the first Passover lamb as death "passed over" them while being freed from Egypt. Pentecost was a feast during the time of harvest and spoke of a firstfruit offering. Tabernacles was about God dwelling with men, also a memory of the desert wanderings with God’s presence in a tent (tabernacle).
During the feast of Passover, Jesus was crucified; he became the sacrificial lamb. At the time of Pentecost, He returned as the Holy Spirit, giving himself as the firstfruits of a new creation. His fulfillment of the feast of Tabernacles is upon us, even though it has happened in the invisible, but its out workings are still unfolding to our understanding as God “booths” (dwells) with us.
In the make-up of the tabernacle, crowds of people were in the outer court. It is symbolic of our outward lives--our humanity, visible for the world to see, and under the influence of the spirit of the world. We cannot touch God here. This is the body realm, where outward laws rule and keep order for what hasn’t been established within us (yet), for the (bestial) world system has our full attention. In the outer court we “worship” in form, or law. There is an acknowledgment of God and a reverence, but no relationship (no communication--we don't "hear" him). The associated feast is Passover.
Passover represents Jesus as our Savior. Every believer starts here. It is the acceptance of our reconciliation to God on the cross. These are church-goers in denominations of all kind, and are the bigger portion of all of the ecclesia--the called out of God. Not all attend “church”, but all have been given the ability to accept Jesus as God’s son. There is much religious rhetoric in this realm, inequality of persons, and subordination to man. Approach to God is through outward form, church attendance, literal alters, communion, dress, and all sorts of “remembrances” of the Savior. To this group Jesus is a hope; most await a 2nd coming. Otherwise, they will see him when they die and go to heaven. These are the daughters of God, or the bride church--the female side (spiritual status) of the body of Christ. They still await the Bridegroom; they know about him, but have never met Him
The Holy Place showed a handful of servants "in the middle", ministering to both God and men. Invisible to the outer court, yet separate from the Most Holy, it was in the middle. This is the soul realm, where our mind and intellect, our will and our emotions are hidden from view, yet very visible in so many ways to the world, as expressed through our body. Our soul is forced to touch the world in this way, yet it also “touches” the higher chamber of access to God, his Secret Place. From that chamber He beckons us to draw near, and we prepare for that in the middle of our being, not in the outer court. But the voices of the world are also heard here, and to whatever degree we have been enabled by God, we will more and more ignore it--or we will ignore the voice of God. Only in this most powerful soul realm is this happening possible. Here, then, we worship in mixture, the pure word being polluted with carnal concepts (the rapture, eternal damnation). This makes the word of God of none effect. (Mark 7:13) Pentecost is the feast associated with this realm.
In Pentecost, we become aware of Jesus in us, in the invisible, no longer being the Savior on the outside (a physical person to look for). These have received a spiritual baptism by the Holy Spirit. They know that Jesus is real, for they have been touched by him! Spiritual gifts and spiritual ministry are given by the Holy Spirit; this includes a prayer language that always accesses God (tongues). Spiritual (not water) baptism is an empowerment accentuating the former experience of Passover, but not possible without it. Those chosen for this next step become aware of God’s presence with them now. These are being “born from above” because their spirit has been regenerated by the Holy Spirit to enable the Christ to start arising in their souls. This experience happens because Father willed it, not because they “made a decision for God”. This is where God separates the sheep from the goats.
Christians having a Pentecostal experience have received a higher call--out of religion. They have been called out of Mother’s house (religion) to become a more serious student of spiritual things under Father’s administration. These are potential sons of God, or the male or groom side of the body of Christ. Their potential lies in whether they will be able to bear the training that happens in this higher realm. Death to “self” is the topic. Allegiance to God’s direction is the focal point. Our soul is where the action is in God’s renovating work of changing our identity from old Adam to new Adam (Christ). This is where the winepress is, and the threshing floor, the potter’s wheel, and the furnace of affliction. No one would volunteer, and no “join up for Jesus” enlistment camps will be found.
If we love the gospel of prosperity, we will not like this place. If we like to run our own lives, we will not pass the tests and will be returned to Mother’s house to go back and play church, worshiping God again in form. Truthfully, only those who are “led of the spirit” (not the soul) are sons of God. (Romans 8:14; from the Greek agontai: our lives are led away). Many are called, but few are chosen, so most of these will end up back in the outer court with a new look, a little fancier and sassier than their brethren in the sister churches, wearing the Pentecostal experience as a medal. They are Christians with a new zeal for God, but are not led by him. (But they are still loved by the Father.) This middle chamber offers both a vision of entering the Most Holy Place, and a vision of returning to the outer court (the world) where they can still “serve” Jesus.
Those who have remained in the Holy Place have been molded into sons (a spiritual status), for they are being led of the spirit, and being prepared for entry into the Most Holy Place where God's presence dwells continually. A very small number receive this training, for they are a spiritual priesthood, and their visitations have been generational. Segregated from organized religion, the focus is ruling and reigning under Father's direction. Discipline, instruction, and tribulation forms the Christ in them to a great degree, and much fruit bearing is the result. Transformation happens here from obedience and surrender, becoming a living sacrifice--like Jesus. The heart beats passionately after the heart-sounds of Father. Self desires have been overtaken to offer true ministry to God (to set creation free for and as Him).
In that Most Holy Place, only one man can enter, to meet God face-to-face. This spirit realm is the place of consecration. Our only relationship here is with Him. He has our undivided attention and we have his. No dust from the old Adamic mind allowed. Here we get our direction, our strength, our peace. This is the innermost part of our being where Divine love flows forth in a never-ending supply from the Tree of Life. Here we worship in spirit, for God desires those who seek to worship him as such. (John 4:23-24) The feast season for this realm is Tabernacles.
Entering the 3rd chamber is about witnessing the marriage of the soul and spirit realms accomplished at Calvary. When Jesus died on the cross, he had just consummated that marriage. This reality enables God to tabernacle with us, just like he did Jesus. The one who enters here experiences that marriage expressed from within themselves, passes from death into life, and attains to full salvation. This person will overtake “the grave”, losing all faith in death, and will embrace incorruptibility--a hope for all of mankind. Incorruptibility will cause our corruptible condition to be overtaken. Eventually--in God's way and time--our physical appearance will be affected, for death and dying will no longer rule in our space. As wonderful as full salvation is for each who receive it, it has a higher purpose. The whole process is to unfold the Christ fully inside each called out person to unleash divine LOVE upon all of mankind. This is how Father rescues his creation and draws each to him--with hope--to attain this miracle.
Experiencing full salvation bears witness of the Divine marriage and an unveiling occurs of the Bride and Groom (Jesus). The married soul (bride) of this mature child of God is showing forth for all the world to see, totally one with their spirit–Christ Jesus. What is the most beautiful sight at a wedding? The bride! This bride expresses the ultimate hope, peace, comfort, healing, love, and divine life that will draw all men to Him. (John 12:32) Because of the Christ transformation of the priesthood, each person in the outer courts will be covered and released to embrace their reconciliation to God, in Father’s time and order. This includes the whole world of mankind, for all who have ever lived and who shall live, will get to taste of this beautiful reality.
Yes, the Israelites of old (the body of Moses) were picked by God to be his Holy nation. They were spoken for in one of three chambers of the tabernacle. Now, in this new covenant, the elect of God are the body of Christ; they are the Holy nation. Christians stand in one of three chambers--or realms right now. We will see them expressed through Passover, Pentecost, or Tabernacles. They will be seen in the outer court, the Holy Place, or the Most Holy Place. Getting understanding of their view of Jesus will explain it simply. They have a hope to see him, or they can see him--afar off (Passover); they have met him as the Holy Spirit--Jesus has come in their flesh, and there is evidence with gifts of the spirit (Pentecost); their soul has married him and they are consumed by His abiding presence (Tabernacles).
The fruit bearing of each of these realms speak for themselves. Jesus said they will know us (followers of his) by our fruit. And each step forward makes us more and more mature children of God--sons and daughters, less and less ego-driven, and no longer religious. Our concerns will be more and more as Father’s are: restoring his creation so they may return to Eden right here and now. Who knew the powerful truths of spiritual status were on display right before us, echoing from a long ago temporary habitation in the desert. The tabernacle dwells among us still.
