Note: The original title of this presentation was simply entitled, “The Only Way”, but some may have been confused with this title assuming it was merely another study on the only way of salvation, which we all know comes to us through faith in Christ Jesus our Lord, and him alone. However, this study is not in reference to our common salvation but rather to show us by what means or way the scriptures indicate entrance into the “Heavenly Phase of the Kingdom” is obtained.

Most believers, having been erroneously taught are under the false impression that all believers go to heaven. However, a careful reading of the Scriptures will reveal that this is not the case that not all believers are destined for a heavenly inheritance, but only such as have been called to such and only after they have met certain conditions (Heb 5:4; Rom 12:1; Psa; 50:5).

Understand all who are NOT called are NOT lost, but instead will take their share with the rest of mankind in the “Earthly Phase of the Kingdom” following the completion of the Church and the establishment of the Lord’s kingdom here on earth, Paradise restored.

With this particular study however, we will be concentrating specifically on how entrance into the Heavenly Phase of the Kingdom is obtained and how it is pictured or illustrated in the Scriptures. Luckily, for us the Lord has graciously supplied for us an excellent pin picture of this as outlined in the Tabernacle, which the Apostle Paul assures us foreshadows the complete process for us.

As stated in one of our earlier posts:

“The Tabernacle is the key to the divine plan, which alone explains the “mystery” of this Gospel age, which is the church and her special call to the privileges of sacrifice now and of glory by and by.” The thought clearly is that the house of servants under Moses, and all which pertained to it was designed by God to be a testimony, or a setting forth by types, of things which would take place later on a much higher and grander scale — “a shadow (the type) of good things to come (via, the antitype).” Heb 10:1

In this study we will be taking a look as some of these “shadows”, as they relate to the Tabernacle as well as their anti-types. No other Apostle expressed more the importance in understanding the Tabernacle and its various services and ceremonies than did the Apostle Paul; in fact, he considered it key to understanding the means by which entry is made into the body of Christ and into the spiritual or heavenly phase of the kingdom.

“The Camp, the Courtyard, and Tabernacle distinctly separated and differentiated into three general divisions represent three distinct classes blessed by the atonement.

The two parts of the Tabernacle (The “Holy” and “Most Holy”) represent two conditions of one of these classes.

“The Camp represented the condition of the world of mankind in sin, needing atonement and desiring it and its blessings; however indistinctly it analyzes its cravings and its groaning’s. These were typified by the “Camp,” the nation of Israel, and were separated from all holy things by the curtain of white linen, which represents to those within a wall of faith, but to those without a wall of unbelief which hindered their view of and access to the holy things within. There was only one gateway to enter the “Holy Place” or “Court”; the type thus testifying that there is but one way of access to God—one “gate”—Jesus. “I am the way . . . No man comes unto the Father but by me.” (John 14:6) “I am the door.” (John 10:9)

In the typical tabernacle picture the camp consisted of the various tribes of Israel encamped about the tabernacle, the professed people of God, outside of this laid the Gentile nations. This condition of things continued even until our Lord’s Day, with all the Jewish people who professed to be in harmony with the Lord constituting the camp while the Gentiles remained without. Today things have changed; today the camp does not consist of the Jewish people but rather the Gentiles, the Lord having cast off his natural people because of their disbelief opened the door to the Gentiles. This situation of matters is of course only temporary, and so we read,

“Blindness in part is happened unto Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in; and so all Israel shall be saved” saved from its blinded condition and alienation from God, and placed in a position to attain eternal life under the conditions of the Millennial age.

However as was with respects to the Jews so too with regards to the Gentiles today, the camp consisting predominately of nominal professors, the professed people of God, i.e. the professing Christian Church, “those who proclaim they are Jews (the true “Israel of God”) but who are not…” (Rev 3:9; Gal 6:16).

“The “camp” condition at the present time, we could not think would represent the world in the broad sense, but rather the worldly church. It would represent all those who with more or less desire wish to be in accord with God and who profess his name (believers in general), but through ignorance or superstition or love of the world are not in the proper attitude of heart to receive the deep things of God, the spiritual things at the time in which this spiritual work, the work of Atonement, is being carried on. We do not understand that these were ever begotten of the Spirit. They are merely moral or outward Christians, (i.e. “Nominal Christians”, Christians in name only, “having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof” 2 Tim 3:5) alas the Christian world, Christendom.” (R4607:2)

“The Courtyard, represents the condition of Justification, entered through faith in Christ, the `gate.’

Into this `Court’ only Levites (typical of justified believers) were allowed to come.

These had access to the `Brazen Altar’ and to the `Laver,’ and did service in the `Court,’ but had no right as merely Levites (believers) to go into the Tabernacle; no, nor even to look into it. (Num. 4:19, 20)

This shows us that even though someone may be a believer, a professed follower of Christ nevertheless they may still not be able to see (to comprehend) spiritual things, this because as of yet they have not been begotten of the Holy Spirit to a new nature, the spirit nature, and as such they are still natural men lacking spiritual insight. As it is written, “The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit . . . neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor. 2:12–14)

In the `Court’ all things were of copper (mistranslated brass or bronze), to indicate that the class admitted there were justified men. The Court does not represent the condition of the spiritual class during the Gospel age, though the priests (the spirit begotten) in sacrificing and washing, used it also.” (T18, 19)

“The `Courtyard,’ 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.

This will be further elaborated upon as we continue with this study.