A Comparison between the Great Pyramid and the Tabernacle, continued

“Wolves” in the Courtyard

In our previous post we were discussing the progressive path of those (individuals’ numbers 1, 4, 5 and 6) who whilst in the courtyard were steadily taking the proper steps leading them to the main goal or object to their justification now during the Gospel Age. Such individual’s having entered the courtyard trough faith in Christ as represented in the “door” or “entrance curtain” to the courtyard then preceded on to the “Brazen Altar” and the “Laver”, the first representing the great ransom sacrifice of Christ and the latter the means by which we cleanse ourselves from the defilement’s of the world through the washing of the Word in preparation to entering the dwelling place of the Almighty as pictured in the Tabernacle proper.

However in order for us to gain entry we must first bind ourselves in covenant relationship with the Father at the door of the Tabernacle, unfortunately very few ever make it this far, most after having entered the courtyard through faith in Christ are quickly taken away and corralled.

What do you mean taken away, taken away, corralled, where and by whom?

Let us recall the Words of our Lord as spoken in John 10:1,

“Most assuredly, I say to you he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.”

Apparently some (the thieves here mentioned) have gain entry into the Lord’s sheepfold by other means (through subterfuge, deception and lies) their purpose not to join with those seeking the LORD, but rather to rob, to steal away some of the Lord’s sheep. We are warned of such false prophets who come to us dressed as sheep, but who are actually ravenous wolves (Matt 7:15) unfortunately the sheep especially the young “lambs” (designated by individual number 2, i.e. new believers, those relatively new to Christianity) are very timid and are easily led astray and so it doesn’t take much to corral them, thus “with covetousness shall they with false words exploit you” (2 Pet 2:3) and speaking perverse things seek to draw away disciples unto themselves.

And so we fine waiting just inside the courtyard enclosure amongst the various professing Christians (individuals number 3), the “Blind guides”, “False Shepherds”, “robbers” “who climb up another way” (Matt 23:16; Ezekiel 34; John 10:1-3), those who would speedily misdirect and detour these “sheep” desiring true communion with God, this these blind guides accomplish by means of various man-made rules and teachings (creeds and etc.), and thus the majority of the sheep are quickly corralled into one or another of the various enclosures or “pens” (the various denominations and or man-made organizations) set up just outside the “gate“, in the “camp” (the worldly condition, thus the worldly church or churches).

And so it is that many who at first were on the right path are diverted from this course, one which if they had been left to followed would have led them to the “Second step”, the “Straight gate”, the “narrow way” of sacrifice (Matt 7:14), of full consecration and covenant relationship with the LORD.

What said the Lord in respects to these blind guides?

“WOE TO YOU LAWYERS! (Doctors of the Law as they were called then, but now called Doctors of Divinity both nevertheless designated by the Lord as the “blind guides” of the blind) FOR YOU HAVE TAKEN AWAY (through your teachings and traditions) THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE (the key to the privileges and opportunities of the Gospel age as they pertain to the church and her special calling, the “Heavenly Calling”, a call to sacrifice now and by and by to glory later, much of which is taught through the Tabernacle types) YOU DID NOT ENTER IN YOURSELVES (enter into “His rest” through faith and consecration, and thus never entered the “Holy”, the spirit begotten condition), AND THOSE WHO WERE TO ENTER IN (those who had entered the courtyard condition during the “acceptable time”, the Gospel Age and would have reached the spirit begotten plane) YOU HAVE HINDERED (that is you have confused them and misled them through false teachings and misrepresentations).” Luke 11:52

In other words through your own ignorance you have deceived them into thinking they have already done everything require of them at this time, and yet there remained one more crucial step, one which you yourselves have missed. Having thoroughly convinced them that a mere confession of faith in Christ is all that is required, not only to be saved, but to be spirit begotten, they are deceived into imagining that they are assured a heavenly inheritance. (Unfortunately the majority of such will be surprised when they awaken not in the heavenly phase of the kingdom, but rather the earthly phase of the kingdom under the Mediatorial reign).

The blame however for this deceit belongs not to the blind guides alone but is likewise shared by the blind who chose to follow them as the vast majority of professed believers have long since placed far too much faith in the “wisdom of men”, in their ministers, their “guides”, pastors, teachers and etc., these themselves being taught and guided by seminaries, synods, presbyteries, church councils and etc., all man-made man construed institutions. Had they (both) thoroughly examined the scriptures for themselves they would have found that there is no scriptural evidence to support the theory that a mere profession of faith grants anyone spirit begettal.

In the scriptures as taught through the Tabernacle types, which the Apostle Paul assures us is, “a shadow of good things to come”. (Heb 8:5; 10:1; Col. 2:17) only those who had entered into the courtyard, who had recognized the brazen altar as typifying Christ sacrifice, and subsequently washed at the laver and from there gone forth to present themselves at the entrance to the Tabernacle (typifying the surrender of the will, consecration), only these having passed the “first vail” and entered the “holy” are begotten of the spirit. The majority of professed Christians (through their own ignorance and that of those who lead them) have yet to have taken this last crucial step in their courtyard experience, experiencing spirit begettal and a change of natures, and as such they remain of the earth, earthly, “natural men” lingering in the courtyard, in the tentatively justified condition.

Some of these as previous mentioned are content with what they have learned with regards to Christ’s great ransom sacrifice as typify in the Brazen altar and have stopped there, still others have made it as far as the laver and are unsure of what to do next. Such are easily deceived by the blind guides of Christendom.

Speaking of these blind guides and false shepherds (the “rams and the goats”) the Lord states,

“Is it too little for you to have eaten up the good pasture (which resides within the courtyard), that you must (likewise) tread down with your feet the residue of your pasture and to have drunk of the clear waters (of truth), that you must foul (pollute) the residue (the remainder) with your feet (pollute it with your errors and traditions)? And as for my flock (those who were approaching me), they eat what you have trampled with your feet, and drink what you have fouled with your feet… You have pushed with side and shoulder, butted (from the true path) all the weak ones (the lambs, those new to the Christian faith) with your horns (you’re supposed positions of power, authority), and (thus) scattered them abroad (some into the wilderness condition [“outside the camp”] others trapped within the various confines of Babylon [the “camp”], in one of the various enclosures or pens found there).” Ezek 34:18-21

“The ‘Court,’ the justified human condition, is entered by faith only; but while we must retain the faith that justifies, we must do more, if we would experience a change of nature and become ‘new creatures,’ `partakers of the heavenly calling,’ to be `partakers of the divine nature.’

Entering the `Holy,’ therefore implies our full consecration to the Lord’s service, our begetting of the spirit and our start in the race for the prize of the divine nature—the terms of which are faithfulness to our vow, crucifying the justified flesh, presenting our human wills and bodies living sacrifices to God; no longer to seek human pleasure, honor, praise, etc., but to be dead to these and alive to the heavenly impulses. Yet, into this condition also, we still come through Christ Jesus our Lord, who not only opened for us the `Gate’ of justification through faith in his blood, but who also opened the `Door’ (the First Vail) into the Tabernacle, `a new way of life,’ as spirit beings, through and beyond the second vail, by the sacrifice of our justified flesh, hence the two apartments of the Tabernacle, the `Holy’ and the `Most Holy, ‘represent two phases or stages of the new life to which we are begotten by the Holy Spirit.

Again justification means `to make right.’ It does not signify a change of nature, (it) merely means to make right that nature which was …God could not accept us as a sacrifice unless first we were justified … justification must come first for God cannot accept an imperfect sacrifice. We must be made right by the imputation of Christ’s righteousness; and we believe that the very instant after Christ has imputed His merit, the very next minute the Father accepts our sacrifice and grants us the indication that we are accepted by giving us the Holy Spirit.” (Q408; CR349)

NOTE: Let it be understood that not all the “lambs” gathered by the blind guides are taken from the courtyard alone, many are those who having bound themselves at the door of the Tabernacle in covenant relationship with the Lord having passed the spiritual divide, the “first vail” into the “Holy” of the Tabernacle, are likewise taken.

How so say ye, how did the “robbers”, the blind guides get into the “Holy” or “Holy condition” if it is only accessible to the fully consecrated?

You forget that just like those individuals occupying the courtyard condition are free to wander back into the “camp” or wordily condition so too those in the Holy or “spirit begotten condition” are free to wander back into the courtyard and/or the world if they so choose. Keep in mind that this generally applies more so to the newly consecrated, those new to the truth, these being but “babes in Christ” have not spent enough time in the Holy of the Tabernacle partaking of the light of the Holy Spirit (as represented in the Golden Lampstand) nor have they partaken much of the special food prepared for their development as new creatures (as represented in the bread [food] placed upon the Table of Showbread).

Many of these like Lot’s wife “looking back” long for what they have left behind, friends, family, social standing, reputation etc. etc. still others long since accustomed to the structure and control found in the various creed fences are easily corralled once again by the blind guides, totally oblivious of the shackles being placed upon them once again. This applies equally to some of the blind guides themselves some of these are likewise “babes in Christ”, however being poorly fed and developed themselves they have nothing much to offer the “lambs” in their charge except the husk of the doctrines and traditions of men.

The tables of Babylon are full of vomit, filled with every detestable thing (Isa 28:8) therefore no further progress or further development (beyond spirit begettal) could be expected to take place in the child of God whilst still in Babylon. These are the tribulation saints who unless they wake up will soon suffer the plagues coming upon Babylon.

In our next post we will take a look at the second half of the Tabernacle picture, the Tabernacle proper with its two chambers, the “Holy” and the “Most Holy”.