“Wolves” in the Courtyard

In our previous post we were discussing the progressive path of those (individuals’ 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 institutions) 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 saith the Lord in respects to these blind guides?

“WOE TO YOU LAWYERS! (Doctors of the Law as they were called then, but now days referred to as Doctors of Divinity nevertheless both 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 so much through your false teachings and misrepresentations that they know not the way).” 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, thus they have been 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).

Continued with next post.