The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Inner and Outer Kingdom of God, #5

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 [Pentecost], and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty: (Deuteronomy 16:16)

Corresponding to the three symbols and three facts are the three major areas of redemption that are involved in the developing of the Kingdom of God in man. The third area includes two aspects. Following are the three major areas and the two parts of the third area:

Man being received of God—the altar of sacrifice.

Man living and working by God's Spirit—the Lampstand.

Man becoming the habitation of God—the booth: (1) the transformation of the saint; and (2) the coming of the Father and Christ to dwell in the transformed saint.

The three major areas of redemption are portrayed, as we have observed, in the three symbols of Judaism. The three symbols reveal God's plan for mankind: that man meet God at the cross of Christ; that man live and work in God's Spirit rather than by his own resources; and that man become the eternal habitation of God and His Christ. We enter God's rest as we begin to grasp the fact that we have been created for these purposes, that these are our eternal role and destiny.

No human being has found his reason for existence until he loses his individuality (not his uniqueness or identity) and becomes an integral part of God through Christ. We humans are of temporary significance in the universe until we become part of God. We were created to be an inseparable part of God, the expression of a greater Person. As long as we remain as an unattached individual we are without eternal significance.

Let us look at the typology of the seven feasts of the Lord to better understand the three areas of redemption.

The seven feasts of the Lord were grouped into three important gatherings.

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: (Deuteronomy 16:16)

The feast of Unleavened Bread—man being received of God.

The feast of Weeks (Pentecost)—man living and working by God's Spirit.

The feast of Tabernacles—man becoming the habitation of God and His Christ.

Man being received of God—the feast of Unleavened Bread. The feast of Unleavened Bread typifies our being received of God initially. God always meets man at the cross, at the place of the shedding of blood.

Through the Lord Jesus, God has done for man something man cannot do for Himself. Almighty God has reached down from Heaven and through Christ has provided a way for all who are willing to enter the reconciliation of man and His God.

The first gathering, that of the week of Unleavened Bread, consists of three observances:

Passover (Leviticus 23:5).

Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6).

Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:10).

The Passover. The Passover story is well known to Jews and Christians alike. We Christians have received Christ as our Passover Lamb who was slain for us. We eat His flesh and drink His blood, becoming one with Him. This is the beginning of the development of the inner kingdom of God.

To be continued.