GOLDEN PROGRESSION
PROGRESSION
From
Passover, To Pentecost,
To
Tabernacles
"We
have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take
heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn,
and the day star arise in your hearts." 2 Peter 1:19
THE
BLOWING OF TRUMPETS: REPENTANCE
In preparation for
this third major feast, Tabernacles, the first day of the seventh month
was set aside for the blowing of trumpets. There was a two-fold purpose
for this. First, the people were alerted to the fact that the most
important day of the year was at hand, namely, the Day of Atonement.
On that day, the tenth day of the seventh month, the high priest would
enter in beyond the second veil, into the Holy of Holies, to make atonement
for the whole nation. If all was in order, Israel could continue
in God's favor for another year. Thus, the blowing of trumpets served
to "set a mood" in the camp, a mood of sobriety and of the fear of the
Lord. The blowing of trumpets represented a call to repentance and
to preparation for the Day of Atonement.
My friends, let him
that hath an ear hear today's blowing of the trumpets. Through an
anointed ministry that recognizes the time of day, the Spirit is bringing
to God's people a strong command to REPENTANCE. Generally, the spiritual
mood in the church camp has been one of lightness, casualness, merriment,
luke-warmness, and in some extremes, spiritual "rioting and drunkenness".
Standards of righteousness are being eroded by modern theology. Many
church systems are falling prey to an ecumenical spirit which not only
promotes a counterfeit, man-made unity, but demands the acceptance of much
false doctrine and spiritual error. The spirit of compromise with
the world is fostering carnality and bringing deception to many.
An increasing number of Charismatic and Pentecostal ministries are becoming
corrupted by a "show business" format, a spirit of entertainment, and the
Babylonish element of "greatness". These realms are characterized
by a "man-centered" viewpoint, a deceptive fleshly drive toward "kingdom"
building, the use of mass psychology, and quite often, a shameful exploitation
of believers in the realm of finances. In other circles, believers
are taught to meet God in a highly emotional, undisciplined soul dimension,
often leading to varying forms and degrees of sensuality. Once again,
"uncircumcised strangers" are being brought into the sanctuary of the Lord,
to pollute it and to cause the glory of the Lord to lift from among His
people. (See Ezekiel 44:7-9) Today's strangers are subtle mixtures
of flesh and soul which are mistaken for "spirit". O, how sad it
is to observe the ignorance and deception which today are swallowing up
God's people by the thousands!
Is it not a time to
"blow the trumpet in Zion and to sound an alarm in His holy mountain"?
(Joel 2:1) Ah, let us make no mistake, the gateway unto the glory
of the fullness of Christ is the gateway of REPENTANCE. Moving beyond
Pentecost will require a deep and genuine wave of repentance sweeping over
God's people, preparing their hearts to meet the Lord in a new way.
Every revival has begun with repentance, and every ascension to a higher
plane in God has required a deep heart-searching and a being brought low
before Him. Verily, our first step toward fulfillment in the dimension
of Tabernacles is a fresh, deep repentance for our carnal state.
THE
DAY OF ATONEMENT: CLEANSING
Great preparation
was required for the Day of Atonement. (Leviticus 16) The condition
that had to be dealt with was that of UNCLEANNESS. "For on that day
shall the priest make an atonement for you to cleanse you, that ye may
be clean from all your sins before the Lord." (Leviticus 16:30) This
cleansing required much sprinkling of blood. A careful study of Leviticus
16 reveals that atonement had to be made for the high priest, for his household,
for all other priests, for all the people, for the holy place, for the
altar, and for the entire tabernacle. O, how precious and needful
is the blood of Jesus! It must be applied, not only as we approach
the outer court, but continuously as we walk in fellowship with Him in
this "narrowing" way. Demand for the cleansing power of the blood
grows even greater as we make an approach to that dimension "beyond the
veil". Service in the Outer Court and Holy Place required only the
washing of hands and feet, but entrance into the Holy of Holies demanded
the washing of the whole body with water. (Leviticus 16:4)
What is the objective
of God for His church? It is nothing short of presenting it unto
His Son a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing,
but that it should be holy and without blemish. To accomplish this,
the ministry of sanctifying and cleansing the church with the washing of
water by the word will be greatly intensified as we approach the end of
this age. At no other time throughout the year were the requirements
of God so demanding as they were in preparation for the Day of Atonement.
And so it is in this present hour. Judgment is already begun at the
House of God. One like unto the Son of Man is making His appearing
in the midst of the golden candlesticks. His eyes are as a flame
of fire. His feet are like fine brass, and out of His mouth proceeds
a sharp two-edged sword. Yes, 'tis the same Jesus, but He comes now,
not to bless and to coddle and to wink at all our carnality, but He comes
as a refining fire, to purify the sons of Levi. He comes now to lay
the axe to the root of every tree that bears no good fruit. Yea,
in His hand is a fan (winnowing shovel), by which He will thoroughly purge
(cleanse) His (threshing) floor and gather His wheat into the garner.
His message can be summarized by 2 Corinthians 7:1: "...LET US CLEANSE
OURSELVES FROM ALL FILTHINESS OF THE FLESH AND SPIRIT, PERFECTING HOLINESS
IN THE FEAR OF GOD". Such is a very real aspect of moving beyond
Pentecost toward the fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles.
by
Sergio Valori
"Feasts"
Writings Continue on Ensuing Pages
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