The Daily Word of Righteousness

Perfecting the Church, #3

And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. (Revelation 21:18)

There is an impenetrable wall between the people who have been called out, and the people of the world. The wall, which is constructed in the personalities of the saints as they learn to overcome sin through the Holy Spirit, finally will be revealed as the wall that surrounds the new Jerusalem. This is why so much emphasis is placed on the wall in the description given in Chapter 21 of the Book of Revelation.

The massive, ornate wall was announced by the Lord Jesus:

If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (John 15:19)

I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (John 17:14)

The Church is the royal priesthood that will govern the nations of the saved forever.

The Tabernacle tent, being placed in the larger area surrounded by the linen fence, represents, as we have stated, the Church. The larger area, the Courtyard, represents those who are saved but who are not members of the royal priesthood. The Church is the center of government of the Kingdom of God. The nations of the saved will be ruled by the greatest government ever to be placed over mankind—the Kingdom of God.

It is obvious that many members of the Christian churches of today have neither the character nor the experience required to rule the nations of the earth. But within the churches on the earth there is a holy priesthood, a remnant close to the heart of Jesus. God first will perfect this chosen remnant, bringing them to maturity and unity and to total union with God through Christ. The godly remnant will experience the indwelling of the Father and the Son through the Spirit.

God will build on the remnant a larger Church until all the elect have experienced the indwelling of God. Then God will enter His perfected tabernacle and from it rule and bless the nations of the saved of the earth. This is the eternal plan and purpose of God.

Let us now examine the Divine program for perfecting the Tabernacle of God that one day will come to dwell among men.

The Tabernacle tent, that which represents the Church, is in two parts: the Most Holy Place, and the Holy Place. In the Most Holy Place was the Ark of the Covenant, with the solid gold Mercy Seat serving as a lid on the Ark. The wings of the two Cherubim of Glory rose up from the sides of the Mercy Seat and overshadowed the Ark.

In the Holy Place were the Altar of Incense, the golden Lampstand, and the Table of Showbread. These portray respectively the prayer and worship of a totally consecrated Church, the work of the Holy Spirit in and through the Church, and the Presence of Christ in the Church.

To be continued.