Our journey began in the ‘camp’ condition, even as it has been with all men that being with the exception of the Man Christ Jesus who alone was brought into this world, perfect and without sin.

The ‘camp’, represents the state of all mankind,presently sinners all in need of atonement (reconciliation), this is pictured on the “Chart of the Ages” by plane “R”, from the ‘camp’ we entered through the ‘gate’ or ‘door’ (Christ Jesus) into the ‘courtyard’ of the tabernacle, rising to plane “N”, the state of justification, representative of all who have put their faith in Christ, believers in general, typical of the Levite class who rendered service in the tabernacle courtyard area, however this justification is only tentative in nature, NOT actual, it is based solely upon faith, thus it is designated “faith justification” from here most believers do not venture any further content enough with having been brought once again into fellowship and peace with God (Rom 5:1). They are satisfied with this much because little or no sacrifice (suffering for Christ’ sake) has been asked or required of them.

However we do not reach actual justification in this life until first we are willing to figuratively tether ourselves at the door of the tabernacle in full consecration, and are accepted by the Lord as members of his body. Upon acceptance (the merit of his righteousness being applied to us) we are then fully justified and thus able to become joint sacrifices with our Lord, able to present holy and acceptable sacrifices (Rom 12:1) upon God’s altar.

Thenceforth we are no longer recognized in the flesh as men, by God, but being spirit begotten we are new creatures in Christ Jesus, and are represented on the Chart of the Ages as having risen to plane “M”, the spirit begotten plane or condition. In the Tabernacle picture this would be indicated by those who have gone beyond the first ‘veil’ into the ‘Holy’, or the first compartment of the tabernacle proper.

“After having sprinkled the `Mercy Seat’ (literally, the Propitiatory, or place where satisfaction is made) with the blood of the bullock seven times (perfectly)…

`Then shall he kill the goat of the sin-offering that is for the people, and bring his blood within the Veil, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the Mercy Seat and before the Mercy Seat.’ (Verses 14, 15)

In a word, all that was done with the bullock was repeated with the `Lord’s goat.’ It was killed by the same High Priest; its blood was sprinkled just the same; its fat, etc., were burned on the altar in the ‘Courtyard’ also. (It is worthy of notice that while a prime bullock is always very fat, a goat is a very lean animal. So our Lord Jesus, as represented by the bullock, had a great abundance of the fat, of zeal and love for his sacrifice, while his followers, represented by the goat, are lean in comparison.) The body of the `Lord’s goat’ was burned in like manner as the bullock—`outside the camp.’

“The Apostle Paul explains that only those animals which were sin-offerings were burned outside the camp. And then he adds, `Let us go to him without the camp, bearing the reproach with him.’ (Heb 13:11–13) Thus is furnished unquestionable evidence not only that the followers of Jesus are represented by this `Lord’s goat,’ but also that their sacrifice, reckoned in with their Head, Jesus, constitutes part of the world’s sin-offering.

`The reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.’—Psa 69:9

“As with the bullock so with the goat in the sin-offerings: the burning `outside the camp’ represents the disesteem in which the offering will be viewed by those outside the camp—those not in covenant relationship with God—the unfaithful.

The sacrifice of the goat class is viewed from three totally different perspectives depending upon which of three classes one is associated with.

(1) From those likewise within the “Holy” (the fully consecrated condition) though few in number, these sacrifices are viewed as sweet incense rising from the Altar before the LORD (the Golden Incense Altar), penetrating beyond the second vail even to the mercy seat.

(2) From those occupying the “Courtyard” (or the tentative justified condition), a much more numerous class typical of “the household of faith,” believers in general, from their perspective these sacrifices and self-denials are viewed as acceptable to God as pictured by the fat of the “Lord’s goat” which was burnt upon the Brazen Altar in the courtyard, “a sweet aroma to the LORD”.

(3) From those outside the “Camp” a class far removed from God, his “enemies through wicked works” of whom our Lord foretold, “They shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake”, from their perspective these sacrifices are seen as the consuming of “the filth and off scouring of the earth”. (T 61, 62)

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