The Daily Word of Righteousness

Three Major Phases, #3

Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty: Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God that he hath given thee. (Deuteronomy 16:16,17)

These dissimilar and widely scattered examples may seem to be unrelated at first glance and their "threeness" coincidental. A closer look may show that many of the examples portray much the same thing and yield further understanding of the meaning of the redemption that is in Christ.

There are three major symbols of Judaism: the Altar, the Lampstand (Menorah), and the booth.

Paul speaks of being "caught up to the third heaven" (II Corinthians 12:2), and so it appears there are at least three heavens. Since Hebrews 9:21-24 informs us that the Tabernacle and its vessels were "patterns of things in the heavens," we may conclude that Heaven itself is in three divisions, and that we can learn a great deal about the redemption that comes to us from Heaven by studying the Old Testament types, as well as by meditating on what Christ has done and is doing in the earth.

The redemption that is in Christ is a mighty work, a broad work, a perfect work. It includes the growth of the believer to spiritual maturity, which is the image of Christ; the growth of the Church, the Body of Christ, to the Bride of the Lamb without blemish; and the setting up of the Kingdom of God on the earth.

The believer is "born again" into the Kingdom of God and baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Church, the Body of Christ. The saint then fights his way, by the wisdom and power that the Holy Spirit gives, into the "throne"phase of redemption. He must "overcome" if he is to rule with Christ and be God's son (Revelation 3:21, 21:7).

In spite of the "threeness" it is one redemption, one Lord Jesus Christ, one blood of the Lamb of God, one God the Father of whom and by whom are all aspects of the one redemption.

There are three "deaths" and three "resurrections." In order to enter each of the three areas of redemption we must die the specific death God has ordained. If we are willing to go through the "deaths" that God has decreed we will receive the accompanying resurrection.

The deaths are just that—deaths. The resulting resurrections are so glorious the deaths soon are forgotten.

"No man can see God and live." Therefore we die that we may live eternally in His Presence.

It is our understanding that the greatest of all revivals of human history is in progress today in the Church of Christ. The third death, which we will be describing with the help of the Holy Spirit, never before (as far as we know) has been called to the attention of the churches as a defined doctrine, to any great extent. Yet, the third death is the one that will bring us into the authority and power the Lord Jesus has promised to His Church.

The doctrine that the Holy Spirit is giving us in these days is not new, actually. It is apostolic. It has been contained in the Scriptures since they were written. There have been many outstanding saints throughout the centuries who have pressed into close fellowship and union with God through Christ. These have been blessed individuals. Now God is increasing the understanding of the Church as a whole. (from Three Deaths and Three Resurrections, Volume I)