A PLACE IN
THE HOLIEST OF HOLIES
July 19,
1998 pm
MF Blume
Reve 21:9-11 And there came unto me
one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues,
and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the
Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain,
and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven
from God, Having the glory of God: and her light [was] like unto a stone
most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Reve 21:16 And the city lieth foursquare,
and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with
the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height
of it are equal.
Reve 22:1-2 And he shewed me a pure
river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of
God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side
of the river, [was there] the tree of life, which bare twelve [manner of]
fruits, [and] yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree
[were] for the healing of the nations.
1Kin 6:19-20 And the oracle he prepared
in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of the LORD. And
the oracle in the forepart [was] twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits
in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof: and he overlaid it with
pure gold; and [so] covered the altar [which was of] cedar.
Only two things were ever made in the form of a perfect CUBE.
- The New Jerusalem.
- The Holiest of Holies,
or the ORACLE
Each of these two things were
connected, as mentioned in sermons past, with the thought of returning man
into the Garden of Eden.
- The Bible is full of such
illustrations that reveal a message about how God works with the world and
people.
- All these things are in
there to teach us about salvation.
The New Jerusalem along with
the Garden of Eden had the Tree of Life in it.
The Holiest of Holies in the
Temple, of 1 Kings 6, had a barrier of cherubims as did the Garden of Eden.
- Instead of the tree of life,
the Holiest had the ark of the covenant in it.
If you look at a map of Israel,
you will find that the temple was placed in the same position in the City
as the Garden was placed in Eden.
- EASTWARD.
- Clearly the Temple represents
the Garden.
The Garden, the Holiest and the
New Jerusalem all speak about the same desire of God.
- God wants us to be inside
a most holy place where there is eternal life, and where sin cannot enter.
Adam lived there but had to leave
because of sin.
Recall that when God created
Adam, He told him to dress and keep the garden.
- The term KEEP speaks about
PROTECTING the garden.
- He was to protect it from
invaders and from sin.
- But Adam failed and a serpent
found its way inside.
- The serpent caused Adam
to sin and all of them had to be taken out.
- And the Bible teaches that
all of creation fell into bondage because of that event.
Roma 8:20-22 For the creature was
made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected
[the same] in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from
the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together
until now.
- Notice that all of creation
fell with Adam and Eve.
- But one thing did not fall
with them.
- THE GARDEN DID NOT FALL
WITH THEM.
- How could the whole entire
creation fall into bondage with Adam while the Garden of Eden did not fall?
The Garden was not like the rest
of creation.
- It was part physical and
part spiritual.
- It was the place of heaven
joining earth.
Things in Genesis can be seen
to be like seeds which are planted there and begin to grow throughout the
Bible.
- And when we get to Revelation,
these things are fully matured and grown and harvested.
- Notice that New Jerusalem
has the same tree of life that the Garden had, but has WALLS around it.
- The Garden did not have
that.
- Adam was supposed to protect
the Garden.
- Adam was supposed to build
walls.
- He failed, the serpent
entered in, and he was cast out and the Garden was sealed off from him.
BUT JESUS CAME to fix up what
Adam ruined, and to redeem mankind, also.
There was a place we could not
enter into since we left Eden, and Jesus came to do something about it!
John 7:34 Ye shall seek me, and
shall not find [me]: and where I am, [thither] ye cannot come.
John 7:36 What [manner of] saying
is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find [me]: and where
I am, [thither] ye cannot come?
John 8:21 Then said Jesus again
unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins:
whither I go, ye cannot come.
John 13:33 Little children, yet
a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews,
Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
John 14:2-3 In my Father's house
are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare
a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again,
and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.
- We could not go there, but
Jesus said He was going to go there make a way for us to go there so we would
have a place there.
This is talking about the PLACE
THE GARDEN OF EDEN WAS TRYING TO TALK TO US ABOUT.
- And we know that the New
Jerusalem is THAT PLACE!
- There is where the tree
of life is!
- Revelation 21 said that
nothing enters that that is sinful:
Reve 21:27 And there shall in no
wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination,
or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
- And when we see the New
Jerusalem with walls around the Tree of Life, we see the structure Adam was
supposed to build, but instead was built by Jesus Christ!
We can enter the HOLIEST OF HOLIES!
Notice How Jesus described the
details about preparing a place for them.
John 14:2-7 In my Father's house
are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare
a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again,
and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also. And
whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we
know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto
him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,
but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from
henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
- The PLACE He was going to,
He said they knew.
- The WAY to get there, He
said they knew.
- When they asked Him what
he meant, He said the PLACE IS WITH THE FATHER, and the WAY IS THE SON, Jesus
Christ.
The Father was in the Garden,
where He walked with Adam.
- Jesus said He was going
to prepare a place for us where we once were but were thrown out into bondage
from.
Jesus was going to the Father.
John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say
unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and
greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
- WHEN WILL He prepare this
place for us?
- Now?
- Is it DONE?
- Or is it being done?
- Is that place finished
yet?
- When will it be finished?
We hear this read at funerals
as though it is not yet finished.
- But notice the rest of the
chapter.
John 14:18 -19 I will not leave you
comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me
no more; but ye see me:
- This made the disciples
stand puzzled.
- What did he mean the world
would not see Him but they would?
He is still talking about leaving
and coming back again as He did in the first few verses.
Notice what Jesus said, and notice
the question Judas asks:
John 14:21-23 He that hath my commandments,
and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be
loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest
thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him,
If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and
we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
- Judas asked how they would
see Him while the rest of the world would not see Him.
- He gave us a hint in 14:18-19.
- He would not leave us comfortless
but would come to us.
- Then He said He and the
Father would come and make their abode WITH US.
There is one other place where
God spoke of making a dwelling place or an abode among men.
Exod 25:8 And let them make me
a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
- The TABERNACLE!!
- THE TEMPLE!
He would leave and make a place
for them, and come back as the COMFORTER and make His abode with them.
- We said that the Garden
of Eden was like a Sanctuary, preserved for holy things and holy people.
- It was the pattern for
the Tabernacle and Temple.
- It was the actual Holiest
of Holies.
- Man was once there and
walked with God the Father.
- But man sinned and had
to leave.
- And God Himself came as
another ADAM in order to undo the damage Adam caused and to redeem man again
so man could return into that SANCTUARY.
- He built the walls.
- He made many mansions in
there.
- After He said He would
prepare a place, He said He would return to them and the world would not
see Him but they would see Him.
- And he indicated that it
was to the Father He was going.
- They could not go there.
- But they would have a place
there soon.
- And when He would come
back He described Himself as being one who would not leave them comfortless,
but would come back to them.
I ask you tonight... DID THIS
HAPPEN YET?
- He said that He and the
Father would come to them and make their abode with them, as though THEY
WOULD BECOME THE TEMPLE.
- Has that happened yet?
1Cor 6:19 What? know ye not that
your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which
ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
Ephe 2:20-22 And are built
upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being
the chief corner [stone]; In whom all the building fitly framed together
groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded
together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
1Pet 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones,
are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual
sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
- I think this has already
happened!!!!
- Jesus indicated to Peter
that He was about to prepare a place for them and it was not yet done at the
time He said it.
Matt 16:18 And I say also unto thee,
That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates
of hell shall not prevail against it.
- Did he already do it?
- How did He go to the Father?
- When did He go to the Father?
- What did He mean that He
was soon going to leave and they could not go with Him?
HE WENT BY THE WAY OF THE DEATH,
BURIAL, RESURRECTION and ASCENSION!!!
He gave us a hint when he would
return and HOW he would return.
John 14:16-18 And I will pray the Father,
and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
[Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth
him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you,
and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, [which
is] the Holy Ghost, ...
- Jesus came back after preparing
a place for us and building His church, IN SPIRIT FORM AS THE HOLY GHOST.
- He would not leave us comfortless,
but He would come to us.
- The Comforter is the Holy
Ghost.
He spoke of the people being
made the Church as though they were a TABERNACLE.
- Look what we read
about the NEW JERUSALEM.
Reve 21:2-3 And I John saw the
holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared
as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of
heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he
will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall
be with them, [and be] their God.
The BRIDE is the TABERNACLE OF
GOD WITH MEN.
THE CHURCH IS THE TEMPLE OF THE
HOLY GHOST.
We are now in the New Jerusalem.
Gala 4:26 But Jerusalem which is
above is free, which is the mother of us all.
PRESENT TENSE.
As if it is already BUILT!
Hebr 12:22-23 But ye are come
unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,
and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church
of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of
all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Jesus said He was the WAY to
the Father.
He said we would be with the
Father and with Him when He prepared a place for us and returned to abide
among us.
That is why you read of the THRONE
OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB IN THE CITY
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said
unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love
him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Reve 22:1 And he shewed me a pure
river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of
God and of the Lamb.
Notice that John invites people
to COME RIGHT NOW.
Reve 22:16-17 I Jesus have sent mine
angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and
the offspring of David, [and] the bright and morning star. And the Spirit
and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come.
And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the
water of life freely.
- He did not say WAIT for
a time in the future when you will be able to COME.
- He said RIGHT NOW "COME"
- RIGHT NOW we can COME and
taste of the water of life freely.
- Where is the water of life?
Reve 22:1 And he shewed me a pure
river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of
God and of the Lamb.
- If we can come and drink
of the water of life now, and the water of life flows out of the city from
the throne, then the City is a NOW thing.
- The city is Built.
- The city is the CHURCH.
Matt 5:14 Ye are the light of the
world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
- They sing a song that goes
like this: "There's a country far beyond the starry sky, There's a city where
there never comes a night."
- NO.
- THERE'S A CITY RIGHT HERE
NOW.
- We are COME to Heavenly
Jerusalem.
- We are the TABERNACLE or
TEMPLE OF GOD.
- Jesus has returned as the
Comforter and the Father and the Son have made their abode with us!
- HE IS IN US!
Jesus rose from the tomb and
told Mary not to touch Him for He did not yet ascend to the Father.
He spoke of going to the Father as the High Priest would go into the Holiest
of Holies.
Levi 16:17 And there shall be no
man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement
in the holy [place], until he come out, and have made an atonement
for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.
- And in Revelation we see
the lamb going into the Holiest, into the Garden, into the CITY where the
THRONE OF GOD STOOD.
Reve 4:2 And immediately I was
in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and [one] sat on the
throne.
Reve 5:6-7 And I beheld, and, lo,
in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the
elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes,
which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came
and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
- He went to the Father to
prepare a place for us.
- How?
- Like the High Priest going
into the Holiest to make ATONEMENT for the sins of the people, Jesus went
to Heaven to the Father to make ATONEMENT for our sins.
Roma 5:11 And not only [so], but
we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received
the atonement.
- Notice the wording here.
- NOW WE HAVE RECEIVED THE
ATONEMENT.
- The high priest entered
the Holiest to make atonement.
- Jesus talkedf to Mary as
though He was going into the holiest when no one could touch Him.
- And Paul said we have atonement
NOW.
- He already went and came
back!
And when the Lamb took the book
notice what was said.
Reve 5:9 And they sung a new song,
saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for
thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out
of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
- Jesus did the Work, and
then the Holy Ghost (Spirit form of Jesus) came back, and the church was
born and when it was built it was built on the rock.
It is DONE!
Would you come NOW to this Holiest
of Holies and find YOUR PLACE inside!?