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Why I Will Not Receive the COVID-19 Vaccine

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I am in the high risk category for COVID-19, but I’m not taking the coronavirus ‘vaccine’ and I suggest you don’t either.

US Vice President Pence getting his COVID-19 jab

Here are my reasons:

1. Inadequate Testing

Normal vaccines take up to 10 years to develop. Drug companies rushed this ‘vaccine’ through testing, so nobody knows what long-term effects it might have.

While the CDC downplays the mRNA risk, the fact is this is “the first-ever mRNA vaccine brought to market for human patients.” In the linked article, Israeli Doctor Tal Brosh compared it to inserting a USB drive into a computer to run a program, except in this case you’re inserting genetic programming into your body.

DNA

2. It’s Not a Vaccine; It’s Genetic Modification.

The ‘vaccine’ isn’t a vaccine, since it’s not made from the (weakened or inactive) virus.

Instead, it incorporates new mRNA technology. It modifies your genes. They call it a vaccine to make it sound less scary… like a flu shot.

No, I don’t trust Bill Gates, big pharma, and the globalist cabal enough to inject their mRNA programming into my body.

3. Nanobots

Suspicion is growing that Nano-particles in COVID vaccines are the cause of rare allergic reactions.

I’m not worried about having such an allergic reaction. But, there are two reasons why I’m very concerned about Nanobots in COVID-19 vaccines. 

  1. Nanotechnology is so new that its risks are unknown.
  2. I don’t trust that the vaccine makers didn’t add nefarious ‘Trojan Horse’ Nanobots into the vaccines, to be activated later. If you’re not familiar with Nanobot technologies, watch this 30-second Nova video, then do a Google search for Nanobot or Nanotechnology and you’ll be shocked.

4. ‘Trust Us, We’re From the Government’

“The government of any nation is only trustworthy if its leaders have integrity and morality.” As a result, during my adult lifetime I’ve never been able to trust my nation’s government.

Soon, I believe the COVID pandemic and its collateral damage will force all nations to subordinate themselves under a global government and a global, digital currency.

Globalists, led by the World Economic Forum, make no secret that their Great Reset is coming to all nations in 2021. Don’t be surprised if Nanobots injected (via vaccine) into billions of people are part of their plan.

If all this sounds paranoid to you, think about how our orderly world disintegrated during the last year. The pandemic (and other crises) destabilized the world economy, ‘locking down’ all developed nations… Then read the first and last commandments on the Georgia Guidestones and you’ll wonder if these things really are accidental, or if they’re planned.

5. Prophetic Implications?

I’m skeptical of some recent prophetic ‘teachings’ that the COVID-19 vaccine is somehow related to the ‘mark of the beast.’ But I’d be remiss if I didn’t discuss it as a possibility and a potential concern.

Some people believe angelic powers revealed many modern scientific breakthroughs to men. According to the Book of Enoch, these Watchers instructed ancient, sinful mankind in various secret arts and technologies, such as weaponry, cosmetics, mirrors, sorcery, astrology, etc. So, there is precedent for this concept.

Regarding the vaccine, the concern is that the vaccines’ genetic modification capability could result in genetic pollution similar to what happened in Genesis chapter 6, when the angelic Watchers cohabited with human women and produced the nephilim race of giants. Then, to cleanse humanity’s bloodline from this genetic perversion, God destroyed all animal life on the entire planet, saving only Noah, his family, and the animals in the ark during the flood.

Conclusion

Therefore, for all these reasons, I’m won’t allow myself to be injected with the COVID-19 ‘vaccine,’ and I encourage you to follow my example.

“Be Blameless and Harmless” in the Great Tribulation | Philippians 2:15

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This morning the ‘still, small voice’ of the Holy Spirit spoke to me concerning how we will overcome our spiritual adversaries in the coming Great Tribulation. He said, “blameless and harmless,” reminding me of Philippians 2:15.

“Do all things without murmurings and questionings: that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life; that I may have whereof to glory in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain neither labor in vain. Yea, and if I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all: and in the same manner do ye also joy, and rejoice with me.” (Philippians 2:14-18 ASV)

As you can see, the apostle Paul associates being ‘blameless and harmless’ with the “day of Christ,” which is coming soon. He also associates it with being offered-up as a sacrifice, which I’ll discuss below.

Blameless and harmless, praising God

Blameless and Harmless

Blameless

Why must we be blameless?

Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but it’s against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12)

Therefore, our enemy is not evil people. It’s not the government, or liberals, the deep state, or the Chinese, etc.

Devil

Our enemy is the Devil, that ancient serpent, “The Accuser” and the evil spirits (principalities and powers) who follow him. According to Revelation 12:10b, The Accuser is even now accusing us continually before God in heaven.

But, when we are blameless, The Accuser and his evil followers will have nothing to accuse us of, and therefore they’ll have no right to remain in heaven. The blamelessness of YHWH’s witnesses (martus, martyrs) will cause our enemies to ‘lose their place‘ in heaven. Michael and his angels will then cast them out of heaven and down onto the earth.

So, there are two reasons why our blamelessness is important to complete God’s plan of salvation:

  1. Blamelessness testifies to our successful transformation from sinner to saint. It glorifies God because of His successful work of forgiveness and grace in our life. As long as we abide in carnality and sin, the Holy Spirit’s transformational work of sanctification isn’t complete.
  2. Our sacrificial offering (Psalm 110:3) must be pure, without blemish or defect.

(I realize these topics may will generate more questions, but the answers are well beyond the scope of this short article. For the background theology behind what I hinted at here, read the free PDF booklet, The Overcomers’ Treasure Map.)

Is it Possible to be Blameless?

Some will ask “Is it possible for us to be blameless?” Many religious people say ‘nobody is perfect,’ and ‘everybody sins every day.’ But these sayings aren’t true. They’re the enemy’s lies.

Instead, concerning the possibility of attaining perfection, the apostle Paul had the attitude we should have:

“I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should embrace this point of view.” (Philippians 3:10-15 BSB)

Be Perfect; Press On to Take Hold; Strain Toward What’s Ahead…

God’s plan of salvation makes it possible for us to attain perfection and sinlessness. It’s not only possible, but YHWH expects us to press into blamelessness, as these verses prove:

Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:7-8 BSB)

You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed. (1 Thessalonians 2:10 BSB)

…so that He may establish your hearts in blamelessness and holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. (1 Thessalonians 3:13 BSB)

 …in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace—spotless and blameless in His sight. (2 Peter 3:13-14 BSB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. (Ephesians 1:3-4 BSB)

Harmless

Speaking of Jesus, our High Priest in heaven, the Book of Hebrews states:

For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens. (Hebrews 7:26 NKJV)

Harmless: Without Any Desire to Hurt or Harm

‘Harmless’ in Hebrews 7:26 comes from the Greek word akakos. As you can see below, Akakos means someone who is innocent, without any desire to hurt or harm.

Regarding being blameless and harmless, Akakos is the Greek word translated 'harmless'
Strong’s Reference

Harmlessness Isn’t Weakness

As He was dying for our sins Jesus prayed,

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

During His earthly ministry Jesus exemplified harmlessness. But that doesn’t mean He was weak in any way… The same Jesus who gently welcomed the children frequently scolded His disciples. The same Jesus who touched the leper and healed him whipped the moneychangers as He overturned their tables in the temple.

Being harmless doesn’t mean we’re always happy, smiling and positive. It means our intentions are always pure toward another person’s benefit. It means we only want other peoples’ welfare, regardless of how they hurt or wrong us.

Being harmless is how we fulfill these commands:

I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:44)

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. (Proverbs 25:21)

Bless those who persecute you. Pray for those who mistreat you. (Luke 6:28)

Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people. (1 Thessalonians 5:15)

Overcomers are Blameless and Harmless

The 144,000 Overcomers

“The end-time harvest of the earth, for which God has been patiently waiting since the First Eon, is a holy people who overcome sin through His Spirit living within them. According to Revelation 14.4, the firstfruits of the coming end-time harvest will be 144,000 morally flawless disciples of the Lamb, with 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel. They’ll completely fulfill all the requirements of God’s law by growing daily into the fulness of the stature of Christ.” (The Overcomers’ Treasure Map, pg 93)

The 144,000 are blameless and harmless. They’re overcomers, who overcome Satan, the world system, and their own carnal desires. The apostle John saw them on the heavenly Mount Zion with the Lamb–their resurrected Messiah. About the 144,000 John wrote,

“They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They have been redeemed from among men as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. And no lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.” (Revelation 14:4-5 BSB)

Conclusion

We’re living in the end of the age. The fulfillment of end-time prophecies is imminent, including:

  • The Great Tribulation
  • The manifestation of the sons of God
  • The end of the Serpent’s reign over the earth
  • The destruction of all nations (Daniel 2:44)
  • The first resurrection of saints
  • God’s final harvest of souls
  • The Messianic kingdom for 1000 years
  • The final judgement of all mankind

How can you be on the right side of these end-time events? Be blameless and harmless, and follow the Lamb wherever He goes.

The Meaning of Pentecost for Christians

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For Christians, Pentecost has two fulfillments, symbolized by Israel’s early rain and latter rain.

  1. In the early rain, God gave us the Holy Spirit as ‘the earnest of our inheritance.’
  2. In the latter rain, we’re going to experience ‘the manifestation of the sons of God.’

The Early Rain Pentecost

The apostle James directly connects this symbol of Israel’s early and latter rains to the Lord’s return.

Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the early and latter rains. You too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.

James 5:7-8

Early and Latter Rains

People in ancient Israel understood agricultural examples. They knew:

  • The early rain softened the hardened earth, enabling farmers to plow and plant their seeds.
  • The latter rain ripened the grain, just in time before the big harvest.

The first-century Pentecostal outpouring of God’s Spirit was the early rain.

Early rain Pentecost
photo by e-watchman.com/jesus/

In the early rain, God gave us the Holy Spirit as ‘the earnest of our inheritance.’

The Earnest of Our Inheritance

ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession

Ephesians 1:14

This raises two questions:

  1. What is an earnest?
  2. What is our inheritance?

Earnest of Our Inheritance?

An earnest is a pledge or down payment. It proves the buyer’s full intent to complete a transaction. In this case, it is God’s guarantee to us that He has accepted us and He will bring us into our inheritance.

What is Our Inheritance?

If the Spirit’s Pentecostal outpouring 2000 years ago was the earnest (or pledge) of our inheritance, what will our full inheritance look like?

Our Inheritance Includes Redemption

The Spirit of God is now “the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession.”

Redemption is: “The purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom.”

https://biblehub.com/topical/r/redemption.htm
How Were We Redeemed?

What did God pay for our ransom? God redeemed us by the blood of Jesus. At the throne of YHWH in heaven, this is the song the elders sing to the resurrected and glorified Lamb of God:

Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You redeemed for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.

Revelation 5:9
What are we redeemed from?

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Titus 2:14

The Greek word for iniquity literally means ‘without law.’ It means living outside the boundaries of God’s moral will for us. Since the early rain of Pentecost, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us out of iniquity and into holiness.

Pentecost, the Law, and the Spirit

Fifty days after Moses led Israel out of Egypt, God made the ‘Mosaic Covenant’ with Israel at Mount Sinai. This is when God gave Israel the 10 Commandments, writing His law on tablets of stone, “inscribed by the finger of God.” (Exodus 31:18, Deuteronomy 9:9)

What are we redeemed to?

Under the New Covenant, God now writes His law on our hearts, fulfilling Jeremiah’s prophecy:

Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant they broke, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD.

But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Therefore, since the Day of Pentecost, as we walk according to the Holy Spirit’s leading in our heart God ‘redeems us from all iniquity, purifying to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.’ (Titus 2:14)

Our Inheritance Includes Sonship

all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Romans 8:14
All of creation
Inherit All of Creation
Inherit All of Creation

The sons of God will inherit all of creation:

And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.” And He told me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life. The one who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son. But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.

Revelation 21:5-8
Jesus’ Younger Brothers

For eternity Jesus will look upon these sons of God, whom the Spirit conforms to Jesus’ image, as His younger brothers.

be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.

Romans 8:29
Summary of Our Inheritance

Therefore, if you walk in the Spirit you will overcome iniquity and God will conform you to His image. Then, you will inherit all things and be recognized throughout creation as a son of Almighty God, a brother of Jesus. This is your inheritance if you choose to become a son of God.

The Hope of Redemption

The early rain Pentecost gave us the earnest of our inheritance, but we earnestly desire the total consummation of our redemption, the redemption of our bodies. As Paul wrote,

We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time. Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Romans 8:22-23

The latter rain Pentecost will soon bring us closer to this goal.

The Latter Rain Pentecost

In the early rain Pentecost God gave us the Holy Spirit as (1) the earnest of our inheritance, and (2) an indwelling guide to conform us into His moral image.

For almost 2000 years Jesus patiently waits for the latter rain Pentecost to bring his bride to spiritual maturity, “to the full measure of the stature of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13)

His wait is almost over.

What to Expect in the Latter Rain Pentecost

  1. The latter rain Pentecost will ripen the Bride of Christ into maturity, “to the full measure of the stature of Christ.”
  2. The latter rain Pentecost will result in the glorious ‘manifestation of the sons of God.’ They are the 144000 ‘firstfruits’ of the global harvest at the end of this age.
Manifestation of the sons of God during Pentecost
photo from heartlight.org

Pentecost is a ‘Firstfruits’ Festival

The Feast of Pentecost is also known by other names, one of which is ‘Firstfruits.’ Here’s a list of names for the Feast of Pentecost:

Blow the trumpet at Pentecost
  • Feast of Weeks (Exodus 34:22, Deuteronomy 16:10, 16)
    • This is because (every year) Pentecost is celebrated 50 days (7 Sabbath weeks plus one day) after the day God resurrected Jesus’ body from death.
    • Feast of Shavuot (Hebrew word for Weeks)
  • Feast of the Harvest of the Firstfruits (Exodus 23:16)
  • Firstfruits of the Wheat Harvest (Exodus 34:22, Numbers 28:26)

Pentecost Related to Jubilee?

There are some very interesting similarities between the Day of Pentecost and the Year of Jubilee.

  • Both have the same pattern: they occur on the 50th day or year. To arrive at 50 you calculate both as 7 times 7, plus 1.
    • Pentecost is the 50th day, after 7×7 days. The count begins with the festival of the firstfruits after Israel enters the promised land. (Exodus 23:9, 15-16)
    • Jubilee is the 50th year, after 7×7 years. The count begins on the year Israel entered the promised land. (Exodus 25)

My belief is that Pentecost is a foretaste of Jubilee. Just as a year is more than 360 times as great as one day, so (I believe) Jubilee will be 360 times as great as Pentecost.

When is the next year of Jubilee, the 70th Jubilee?

Caution: Don’t Confuse the Two Firstfruits Festivals

The reason why Pentecost is also called a Firstfruits festival is that Pentecost is an extension of Jesus’ resurrection. Let me explain…

There are two festivals called Firstfruits, and they’re both related by Jesus’ resurrection.

  1. Leviticus 23: 9-14 This Firstfruits festival occurs during the week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread. Jesus fulfilled this barley Firstfruits festival by His resurrection.
  2. Leviticus 23:15-21 Then, 50 days after the resurrection, the Pentecost ‘Firstfruits of the Wheat Harvest’ festival began to be fulfilled in the ‘early rain’ outpouring of the Holy Spirit into the disciples in Jerusalem. I say it ‘began to be fulfilled’ because Pentecost has more fulfillment coming in the latter rain outpouring of God’s glory.

The barley Firstfruits festival celebrates the Messiah’s resurrection. It’s also the event that triggers the 50-day countdown to Pentecost, which is the wheat Firstfruits festival.

Jesus said His resurrection is what enables God to send His Holy Spirit to us. So, Pentecost is dependent on (and triggered by) the resurrection.

But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

John 16:7

In summary, there are two Firstfruits festivals (50 days apart) and both are related to Jesus’ resurrection.

Pentecost as ‘Firstfruits of the Wheat Harvest’

One Firstfruit versus Many Firstfruits

The Barley Firstfruit Festival is a Single, Unleavened Offering

There is one sheaf of barley in the barley Firstfruits festival. Since this festival occurs during the week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread, we can be absolutely certain this offering is unleavened.

This single sheaf represents the sinless state of our Passover sacrifice, Jesus. YHWH resurrected Jesus’ sinless body, fulfilling this festival.

The Wheat Firstfruit Festival (Pentecost) is a Multiple, Leavened Offering

In contrast to the single sheaf of unleavened barley, two leavened loaves of wheat bread represent multiple wheat Firstfruits with imperfections in their lives.

Two Leavened Loaves

Bring two loaves of bread from your dwellings as a wave offering, each made from two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour, baked with leaven, as the firstfruits to the LORD.

Leviticus 23:15-17

Jesus was the single, unleavened firstfruit offering in the barley Firstfruits festival.

Since the barley Firstfruit represented a person, I assume these two leavened loaves also represent people. If so, we can learn two things from the two leavened loaves:

  1. It’s a group — not just one person.
  2. They’re not totally perfect and holy. There is leaven in their lives, which represents imperfection.

Who Are the Pentecost ‘Firstfruits of the Wheat Harvest?’

Exodus 34:22 calls Pentecost the ‘Firstfruits of the Wheat Harvest.’ So, who are represented by the two leavened loaves? What group of imperfect people will be the ‘firstfruits of the wheat harvest?’

The Book of Revelation gives us the answer… in the end-time, angels ‘seal’ 144000 disciples of Jesus in chapter 7. They’re called the “firstfruits to God and the Lamb” in Revelation 14:4.

Pentecost’s two leavened loaves represent the 144000 disciples of Jesus in the Book of Revelation. There’s leaven in their lives, so they’re not yet perfect like Jesus. But, like King David, God looks at their pure heart.

Arise, Shine at Pentecost
Arise, Shine!

They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They have been redeemed from among men as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. And no lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

Revelation 14:4-5

For much more detail about the latter rain Pentecostal blessing of the 144000, sometimes called ‘the manifestation of the sons of God,’ watch the video or read my free book at Arise, Shine!

Christian Pentecost – Conclusion

The Feast of Pentecost has two fulfillments, symbolized by Israel’s early rain and latter rain.

The Early Rain

In the early rain Pentecost, almost 2000 years ago, God gave us the Holy Spirit as ‘the earnest of our inheritance.’

The Latter Rain

  1. The latter rain Pentecost will ripen the Bride of Christ into maturity, “to the full measure of the stature of Christ.”
  2. The latter rain Pentecost will result in the glorious ‘manifestation of the sons of God.’ They are the 144000 ‘firstfruits’ of the global harvest at the end of this age.

What Do You Think?

Did this article answer all your questions on this topic? Please leave a comment below and tell me:

  • Did this article satisfy you?
  • Or, did it leave you wanting more?

Q: Where can I find more information about Pentecost’s history and Jewish traditions, etc?

A: I recommend Hebrew4Christians.com as an excellent resource for this kind of information.

Measure the Temple of God and the Altar | Revelation 11:1

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Why did God tell the apostle John to measure the temple and the altar, and to count the number of worshipers there? The key is in the words temple and altar.

God's Temple. Measure the temple of God and the altar
Image from Preceptbiblestudy.wordpress .com

Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers there. But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it, because it has been given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months.”

Revelation 11:1-2

So, why did God tell the apostle John to ‘measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers?’ To understand why, you must dig deeper into the words temple and altar.

The ‘temple’ (Greek, naos) only includes the ‘Holy Place’ and the ‘Most Holy Place.’ God told John to count the worshipers because when the full number of ‘living stones’ is attained, God’s Naos in heaven will be complete. These living stones are God’s kingdom of priests who worship at the spiritual ‘altar of incense’ within the Naos–the holy place within our heart.

Continue reading for a complete explanation of these concepts.

Measure the Temple of God, the Naos

What is Included in the Naos?

In the diagram below, the Naos of God only includes the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. (The Holy of Holies is also called the “Most Holy Place.”)

God said the Outer Court is not included in the temple, the Naos of God.

Floor plan of the Temple of God and the Altar

Spiritual Application

Spiritually, you can think of the Outer Court as your body; your heart is the Holy Place; and your spirit is the Holy of Holies, where God wants to dwell.

Most Christians Choose to Remain in the Outer Court

Most professing Christians in the world think they are placating God through their busyness in many religious activities in the Outer Court. They convince themselves that God must be pleased with them because they sacrifice so much for Him. Their sacrifices are real, but they’re on the brazen altar in the Outer Court.

They want salvation, but they don’t want God to change them. They don’t allow God’s Spirit permission to confront their carnality by writing His words on their heart.

this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.

Jeremiah 31:33

Every believer must make this choice–stay carnal or follow the Lamb into holiness. Our carnal, selfish nature doesn’t want to change, and most people submit to their carnal nature’s dominance in their life. As a result, they do outwardly-religious activities, but unless they crucify their carnal nature they cannot become a priest and enter the Naos.

The Holy of Holies

The Holy of Holies is the innermost sanctum, the place where God wants to dwell–in your spirit.

God’s Glory Filled the Temple

Whenever Israel completed building a tabernacle or temple, (according to the pattern of God’s heavenly temple that God revealed to Moses), the Spirit of God filled that tabernacle or temple with His glorious presence. Here’s an example:

And Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and the altar, and he hung the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard. So Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses was unable to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Exodus 40:33-35

Chapters 5 to 7 in the book of Second Chronicles details the exact same pattern on a much grander scale when Solomon dedicated ancient Israel’s most beautiful temple and God filled it with glory.

“And Count the Number of Worshipers There”

manifestation of the Sons of God

God told John to “measure the temple and the altar, and count the number of worshipers there.“

Today, God’s temple is built with ‘living stones.’ When this living temple is complete God will fill it with His glory in an event called “the manifestation of the sons of God.” This is why God told John to “measure the Naos and the Altar, and count the number of worshipers there.”

The Holy Place

A Kingdom of Priests

Ancient Israel included millions of people but God only allowed priests to go inside the ‘Holy Place’ of the Naos. The people of Israel could bring their sacrifices to the Outer Court and they could participate with the priests in making sacrificial offerings on the Bronze Altar. But non-priests couldn’t enter the Naos. In Israel’s tabernacle and temple, only the sons of Aaron could perform priestly duties in the Naos.

However, God’s desire (and His original plan) was always for all of Israel to be a holy kingdom of priests.

And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.

Exodus 19:6

In the living temple God is building today, YHWH will see this desire fulfilled. YHWH’s living stones will be a kingdom of priests.

You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.

Revelation 5:10

Three Items In the Holy Place

The Holy Place within the Naos is where God gave priests illumination and bread. The Holy Place is also where priests continually burned incense that wafted over into God’s presence in the Holy of Holies.

Priests saw three furniture items in the Holy Place: the Golden Menorah or Candlestick, the Golden Table of Showbread, and the Golden Altar of Incense.

Notice that every piece of furniture in the Holy Place is made of gold. This symbolizes the requirement for holiness and godliness in God’s presence.

a golden menorah
Menorah
The Golden Menorah

The Menorah’s 7 lamps continually provided light inside the Holy Place.

Today, the Holy Spirit gives the light of spiritual revelation within our hearts.

The Golden Table of Showbread

According to the verses below, on every Sabbath the priests placed 12 loaves of fresh leavened bread onto the Golden Table of Showbread. They also placed pure frankincense near the loaves. Later, they ate the previous week’s 12 loaves.

You are also to take fine flour and bake twelve loaves using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf and set them in two rows—six per row—on the table of pure gold before the LORD. And you are to place pure frankincense near each row so that it may serve as a memorial portion for the bread, an offering made by fire to the LORD. Every Sabbath day the bread is to be set out before the LORD on behalf of the Israelites as a permanent covenant. It belongs to Aaron and his sons, who are to eat it in a holy place; for it is to him a most holy part of the offerings made by fire to the LORD—his portion forever.”

Leviticus 24:5-9
Meaning of the Table of Showbread?
Golden Table of Showbread
Table of Showbread
from ChurchLeaders.com

Exactly what the showbread represents is a mystery. Even the famous Jewish rabbi Maimonides confessed, “I do not know the object of the table with the bread upon it continually. And up to this day I have not been able to assign any reason to this commandment.”

I believe the 12 loaves represent the 12 tribes of Israel, and the bread represents Yeshua. He is the living Word of God, the bread of life, the Living Manna who came down from heaven (John 6:32-51).

Frankincense on the table of Showbread?

As I’ll show in the next section, frankincense represents the prayers of the saints, ‘an offering made by fire’ on the Golden Altar of Incense. I believe God commanded the priests to place it on the Table of Showbread for two reasons:

  • To show the relationship between prayer and the bread of God’s word:
    • God said to “place pure frankincense near each row, so that it may serve as a memorial portion for the bread.” So, for our prayers to be effective we must hear God’s voice, His rhema.
  • Practicality:
    • The Table of Showbread was the only surface available in the Holy Place to lay the frankincense for the Altar of Incense.
Today’s Application

Only the priests (Aaron and his sons) who ministered in the Naos could eat this bread. In the same way, only those who minister within the Naos of their heart today receive the living manna of God’s living Word.

Measure the Golden Altar of Incense

God told John to measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers there.

In the diagram below, the Golden Altar of Incense was the closest a priest could get to the physical presence of YHWH, who dwelt in the Holy of Holies. A thick curtain, or veil, prevented priests in the Holy Place from seeing anything inside the Holy of Holies.

Floor plan of the Temple of God and the Altar

When the priests burned incense on the Golden Altar, the smoke wafted into the God’s presence behind the veil. In the same way, our fiery prayers rise up to YHWH whom we cannot see.

High Priest at the Golden Altar of Incense
Golden Altar of Incense
from templestudy.com
The Golden Altar of Incense Represents Fervent Prayers

These two passages in Revelation prove the correlation between the Golden Altar and our prayers:

When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Revelation 5:8

When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets. Then another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer along with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne. And the smoke of the incense together with the prayers of the saints rose up before God from the hand of the angel. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth; and there were peals of thunder, and rumblings, and flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. And the seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.

Revelation 8:1-6

Access to God Opened

Finally, in the diagram below, notice the words in the upper-left where it says “The Veil (taken away in Christ).”

Floor plan of the Temple of God and the Altar

The thick veil (that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies) no longer hides YHWH’s presence from us. This is because YHWH tore the veil in two (from top to bottom) at the moment when Jesus died for our sins.

The New and Living Way Into God’s Presence

As a result, as priests of YHWH we’re no longer limited to ministry in the Holy Place like the sons of Aaron. We can now confidently enter God’s presence by a new and living way:

Therefore, brothers, having confidence for entering the Holy of Holies by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He dedicated for us through the veil that is His flesh, and having a great priest over the house of God, we should draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts having been sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our body having been washed with pure water.

Hebrews 10:19-22

Therefore, since God opened the veil that separated them into two spaces, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies are now one room. Spiritually, this means when YHWH’s kingdom of priests enter the Naos (in their hearts), they enter God’s presence.

Ordination to Enter God’s Presence

Before a priest enters the Naos he must undergo an ordination ceremony (Leviticus 8).

In the ordination ceremony Moses put a sacrificed ram’s blood on the priests’ right earlobe, right thumb, and right big toe. This symbolized a covenant of consecration regarding the priest’s whole life: his hearing, his works, and his daily walk. Paul wrote,

Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Romans 12:1-2

In like manner, before you can enter the spiritual Naos in your heart you must wholeheartedly commit your hearing, works, and daily walk to YHWH. This is required to become ordained as a living stone in YHWH’s Naos.

Doing religious things doesn’t earn any credit with God. Rather, His living word judges every thought and intention in your heart:

The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

The Courtyard Outside the Temple

God told John,

Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers there. But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it because it has been given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months.

Revelation 11:2

The courtyard outside the Naos (‘the Outer Court’) includes the bronze Altar of sacrifice and the bronze Laver of sanctification. The bronze Altar and Laver are symbols that represent the initial steps of our salvation. Our consciousness of sin requires sacrifice and sanctification before a person can enter YHWH’s sacred space–the Naos.

But, unfortunately most professing Christians choose to remain in the Outer Court rather than making the priesthood’s ordination commitment of their hearing, their works, and their daily walk. That is, they choose to remain carnal, molded by the thinking of this world rather than becoming a living stone in God’s Naos.

Deceive Even the Elect?

Who are the elect? The elect are disciples who follow the Lamb wholeheartedly, in the Naos of their hearts.

For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

Mark 13:22

Jesus warned that ‘false Christs’ will powerfully deceive almost everyone. Unfortunately I believe this deception will include those carnal believers who choose to remain in an ‘outer court’ relationship with YHWH.

Conclusion

Measure The Temple of God and the Altar

God told the apostle John to measure the Temple (Naos) of God and the Golden Altar of Incense and count the number of worshipers there.

In the Old Testament the Naos included the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies, but it excluded the Outer Court.

Today God is building His temple with ‘living stones.’ When this living temple is complete, God will fill it with His glory in an event called “the manifestation of the sons of God.”

A Kingdom of Priests

Today God is building a kingdom of priests, who commune with YHWH at the spiritual ‘Altar of Incense’ within the Naos–the Holy Place within their heart. The Veil in the Naos is opened; we can directly commune with YHWH, ‘face to face’ within our spirit–our Holy of Holies.

The Outer Court

Unfortunately most professing Christians choose to remain in the Outer Court (of carnality) rather than making the ‘priesthood ordination’ commitment of their hearing, their works, and their daily walk.

Since the Outer Court is not part of the Naos, people who choose to remain in an Outer Court relationship with God decline the opportunity to be ‘living stones’ in God’s Naos. As a result, Jesus warned that false Christs will deceive them and the nations will trample them during the 42-month ‘Great Tribulation.’

The First and Second Rapture of the Church

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The next big event in God’s plan is not the rapture of the church, at least not as it’s commonly understood. Something wonderful is about to happen in the worldwide Body of Christ. In fact, it will be the most glorious event in almost 2000 years. But the first rapture is not the resurrection event most Christians are expecting, which will occur a few years later.

Rapture of the Church: Victory or Escape?

Rapture = Harpazo

The word translated ‘rapture’ is the Greek word harpazo, which means snatched-up. The apostle Paul experienced ‘harpazo’ when he was ‘caught up’ to Paradise.

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows— was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were too sacred for words, things that man is not permitted to tell.

2 Corinthians 12:2-4

As you know, Paul returned to his normal, bodily existence after this harpazo experience.

Therefore, harpazo means to be snatched up into the spiritual realm, whether your body is snatched up or not. It doesn’t necessarily mean bodily resurrection or transformation.

Two Harpazo Events Coming

The first rapture of the church will not result in our bodily resurrection. It will result in the glory of God radiating from our mortal body. It’s what Romans 8:21 calls ‘the manifestation of the sons of God.’

The second rapture of the church will be our bodily resurrection and transformation. This is our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” in Romans 8:23.

Victory – the Manifestation of the Sons of God

The most important spiritual event since 33AD is the first harpazo–the manifestation of God’s glory in 144000 mature sons of God. This world-changing event will signal three things:

  1. The successful fruition of God’s plan for this age (which extends from Noah’s flood to Christ’s second coming)
  2. The culmination of Christ’s work on the cross;
  3. The approaching end of mankind’s suffering.

So, what’s About to Happen? There are two main things:

  • First, the glory of God will be unveiled in mature sons of God (yes, this includes female disciples). The glory of God will visibly radiate from them. When the nations see this, millions of rich and poor from all nations, including kings, will seek to learn the way of the Lord.
    • This is like the transfiguration of Jesus, and Moses’ face that radiated the glory of God. But, both Jesus and Moses remained mortal and their bodies later died and were buried.
    • This is not the second ‘rapture’ that people are expecting, during which we’ll receive our spiritual, immortal, and incorruptible bodies.
  • Secondly, the unveiling of God’s glory in His mature sons will catalyze end-time events in the spiritual realm, including:
    • The greatest revival in history, producing a harvest of new believers that’s so large the Bible calls it an ‘innumerable multitude,’ and
    • Satan will be cast down from heaven to earth, which will kick-off the Great Tribulation for 3.5 years.
Victorious Saint

Escape?

The sons of God will not escape this world like a thief in the night. No, they’re literally going to radiate the glory of God into every nation of Satan’s realm on earth. They’re going to plunder the strong man‘s house. They’re going to take an ‘innumerable multitude’ from the Devil, in victory.

The second harpazo, the catching-away of the saints (or rapture of the Church) will be on a future Day of Trumpets, at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. Therefore, Christian disciples will be on earth during the great tribulation, all the way up to this Day of Trumpets.

The apostle Paul wrote,

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.

1 Corinthians 15:51-53

Rapture of the Church = Escape from Wrath?

People who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture of the Church often quote this verse:

God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:9

It’s true–God’s disciples will not suffer God’s wrath.

The Devil’s Wrath

But, while God’s disciples will not suffer God’s wrath, they may suffer the Devil’s wrath and man’s wrath. Here’s one verse (of many) that clearly says Christians will be persecuted during this time:

the dragon was enraged at the woman, and went to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Revelation 12:17
God’s Wrath

In contrast, God’s wrath is explained in Revelation chapter 16. In this chapter, 7 angels pour out 7 bowls of wrath onto the earth. This happens after the 7th Trumpet–‘the last trump’ in Revelation 11:15.

So, at the end of the great tribulation, the ‘rapture’ will happen on the Day of Trumpets when the angel sounds the 7th Trumpet of Revelation 11:15.

Afterward, God’s angels will pour out God’s wrath on Satan’s kingdom on earth during the 10 days between the the Day of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement.

Then, the Battle of Armageddon will be fought on the Day of Atonement, when the Messiah King returns with the armies of heaven.

Arise, Shine!

Regarding the first rapture, the manifestation of the sons of God, the prophet Isaiah wrote these promises more than 2500 years ago:

The glory of Yahweh will be revealed, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Isaiah 40:5

Arise! Shine! for your light has come, and the glory of Yahweh has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; But the Lord will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your radiance.

Isaiah 60:1

Nations shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory.

Isaiah 62:2

The Glory of God Unveiled

The Apostle Paul taught us the glory of God is now hidden within our earthen bodies. But, in fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecies, God is going to unveil this hidden glory that now resides in each of His sons and daughters, so that His glory will visibly shine out from them.

Unbelievers, who dwell in deep moral darkness, will be amazed. Millions of people—from every tribe, people, language, and nation—will come to their light, to learn how to know God. We know this because just after the 144,000 sons of God are sealed in Revelation chapter 7, the ‘innumerable multitude’ will wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb. I discuss these two groups in more detail in another post.

What will God’s glory look like?

When God’s glory is unveiled in the sons of God, I believe it will be a supernatural light emanating from the spirit of each member of the 144,000. It won’t be reflected light, like the moon; but the light will originate from within their bodies, like the sun. Its intensity will depend on how much a person has allowed the Spirit to transform them by the renewing of their mind into the likeness of Christ. One will have the faint light of a candle, while another’s light will be very bright.

Daniel wrote,

Those who understand shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and those that teach righteousness to the multitude as the stars in perpetual eternity.

Daniel 12:3

Paul wrote,

Star differs from star in splendor. So will it be with the resurrection of the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:41

Finally, since it’s a spiritual light, I believe it’ll communicate more than simple brightness… in its presence I expect we’ll also sense the indescribably beautiful peace, music, and aroma of heaven, ‘where the flowers bloom forever and the sun is always bright.’

Conclusion: the First Rapture of the Church

As we see the end of the age approaching it’s easy to fall under dread and negativity, thinking about the darkness, trials, and destruction coming to every nation that’s in rebellion against God.

But I see a very positive future for disciples of Jesus who follow Him with their whole heart. Their future will be glorious; full of light and life! They’ll be blessed and fruitful, like a tree planted by a river of living water.

Before the resurrection (second rapture) the glorious manifestation of the sons of God will be the first harpazo event that plunders Satan’s kingdom, resulting in the harvest of an innumerable multitude of souls for God’s kingdom.

The second rapture of the Church (the resurrection) will happen at the last trump, at the end of Daniel’s 70th week.