Coming Out Of Our Camps (i.e. Denominations/Divisions) To Meet The Lord In The Cloud
“Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17/NASU)
In the final section of this study, we will see that the instructions of the Lord for the high priest before entering the holy of holies on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16) is our instruction for entering His presence at the end of this age. As the Lord said to Moses, “There, above the cover [mercy seat] between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.” (Exodus 25:22/NIV) It was above the mercy seat, in the air, in the glory cloud that the Lord said He would meet with the high priest and reveal His will for His people.
Deuteronomy 6:20-23 – In Moses’ instructions to the Israelites, right before they crossed over into the Promised Land of the Lord, he tells them, “He brought us out from there in order to bring us in, to give us the land which He had sworn to our fathers.” This is the original intent of why we were brought out from the bondage of sin. It was to bring us into the Promised Land of our spiritual inheritance in Christ.
I also see in this a picture for today, of the church being brought out from the religious houses of bondage that have enslaved God’s people to a system that actually keeps them from entering into the presence of the Lord at the end of this age. As what occurred in Egypt, the corrupt pulpit-pharaohs must be dealt with by the strong hand of the Lord so that His people may come out from the control within their divisions (i.e. denominations) and be made ready by the Holy Spirit to be brought into His wedding feast.
20 "When your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What do the testimonies and the statutes and the judgments mean which the Lord our God commanded you?'
21 then you shall say to your son, 'We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, and the Lord brought us from Egypt with a mighty hand.
22 'Moreover, the Lord showed great and distressing signs and wonders before our eyes against Egypt, Pharaoh and all his household;
23 He brought us out from there [i.e. Egypt, the “house of bondage”] in order to bring us in [i.e. the “Promised Land”], to give us the land which He had sworn to our fathers.'
NASU
Exodus 19:10-17- The people of God were told to consecrate themselves in preparation to meet the Lord. So must we in this “month of mercy.” The Lord is coming back for the spotless Bride that, after hearing His trumpet like ministers, has answered the midnight call to “come out to meet Him.” (Matthew 25:6) They have in obedience and anxious anticipation prepared their hearts by faith. The others within the camp of the church who heard but did not do what God willed, will not enter into His glorious presence but will be cast into great tribulation where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth with the wicked (see the Bible study Outer Darkness). They are the foolish virgins who will not be allowed entrance into the wedding feast of the Lamb (Matthew 25:8-13). Notice that on the “third day,” when it was time to meet God, there was a “thick cloud” and a “very loud trumpet sound.”
10 The Lord also said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments; [see the Bible study Consecration]
11 and let them be ready [“firm, stable, established, to prepare, to be ready”] for the third day [see the Bible study The Third Day], for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
12 "You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, 'Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.
13 'No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether beast or man, he shall not live.' When the ram's horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain."
14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people, and they washed their garments.
15 He said to the people, "Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman."
16 So it came about on the third day, when it was morning [the dawning of light in a new day], that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.
17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. [We too are now being led out of our “camps,” our denominations, in order to be made ready, as the high priest was on the Day of Atonement, to meet with God.]
NASU
Leviticus 16:2-4 - See the note below.
2 And the LORD said to Moses, "Tell your brother Aaron that he shall not enter at any time [6256- “appointed time, proper time, season”] into the holy place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.
3 "Aaron shall enter the holy place with this: with a bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.
4 "He shall put on the holy linen tunic, and the linen undergarments shall be next to his body, and he shall be girded with the linen sash, and attired with the linen turban (these are holy garments). Then he shall bathe his body in water and put them on. [We have been commanded to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 13:12-14, Colossians 3:12-14)]
(NAS)
This passage deals with the requirements of the Lord for the High priest before entering the Holy of Holies, behind the veil, on the Day of Atonement. First of all, he did not enter at any time. It had to be at the Lord’s “appointed time.” And so it is for us at the end of this age, before the fulfillment of the final Day of Atonement. We are to prepare to enter into the Lord’s presence, cleansing our hearts by faith, and by bathing the Body of Christ (His willing Bride), who is our High Priest, with the washing of the word of truth (Ephesians 5:26). It was not to be at any time, but at the “appointed season” of the Lord.
Those who have ears to hear, and respond favorably in faith by putting on holy garments of fine linen, just like Aaron was required to do on the Day of Atonement, will receive the favor of God, be spared from His wrath, and joyfully enter into His presence and live (Hosea 6:1-3).
According to Revelation 19:8, “the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” Remember, this spoke of the preparation of the Bride of Christ for the marriage of the Lamb. The Bride will then be taken behind the veil where the marriage will be consummated and the two, Christ and His Bride, will then finally become one in Him!
As in Jewish customs, the outer veil will then be removed by Jesus, revealing to the world the exact identity of His Bride (see the Bible study called The Inner Tunic). She will then rule the nations in the millennium with the authority of her Husband, Jesus Christ.
The Appearing Of God, In The Cloud
1 Timothy 6:13-15 – Paul says that the “appearing” of the Lord will come at “the proper time,” which by definition means “a fixed and definite time, opportune or seasonable time, the right time.” As we’ve seen, this “proper time” is connected with the festivals. Remember, Paul told us, “Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17/NASU) As we just read in Leviticus 16:2-4, this place was pictured in type in the Old Testament within the tabernacle of the Lord.
13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate,
14 that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing [2015- “a manifestation, an appearing”] of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 which He will bring about at the proper time [2540- “a fixed and definite time, opportune or seasonable time, the right time”]…
NASU
Exodus 33:7-9 – This passage refers to the “tent of meeting” that Moses, and everyone else who sought the Lord, would enter into, “outside the camp” (see Hebrews 13:10-14), to meet with Him. Once the Tabernacle in the wilderness, with its “tent of meeting” was set up, the temporary one pitched by Moses outside the camp was never used again and is never mentioned. Notice that a pillar of cloud would descend when the Lord spoke with Moses. This same cloud was in the holy of holies. I see it as a picture of those who are “caught up together” to meet the Lord “in the clouds.” He will descend to meet with us, “and so we shall ALWAYS be with the Lord.” Hallelujah!!!
7 Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp.
8 And it came about, whenever Moses went out to the tent, that all the people would arise and stand, each at the entrance of his tent, and gaze after Moses until he entered the tent.
9 Whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent; and the Lord would speak with Moses.
NASU
Other “Cloud” Verses
Matthew 24:29-31 – At the beginning of this chapter the disciples had asked the Lord, “what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” This was a small portion of His response.
29 "Immediately after the distress of those days "'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'
30 "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.
31 And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
NIV
Acts 1:6-9 – Right before His ascension, when He was lifted up into a cloud, Jesus told His disciples that there was “a fixed and definite time, opportune or seasonable time, the right time” that the Father had set for “restoring the kingdom of Israel.”
6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time [5550- “denotes a space of time, season”] You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?"
7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times [5550] or epochs [2540- “a fixed and definite time, opportune or seasonable time, the right time”] which the Father has fixed by His own authority; [I believe, though, it is now time for us to know because it’s the “appointed time/season” for us to know.]
8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up [1869- “to raise up, raise on high”] while they were looking on, and a cloud received [5274- “to take up and carry away”] Him out of their sight. [The ascension of Christ.]
NASU
Revelation 11:7-13 – In this passage John shares with us details regarding the two witnesses that the Lord will give power to, “and they will prophesy for 1,260 days [3-1/2 years].” After being dead for 3-1/2 days, the “breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet.” Terror fell on those who saw them. “Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here.’ And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.”
7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them.
8 Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.
9 For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial.
10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
11 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them.
12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.
13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
NIV
The Last Supper; A “Rehearsal” Dinner For The Wedding Supper Of The Lamb
As I was working on this study, I saw one of the Hebrew definitions for the word we interpreted in English in Leviticus 23:2 below as “assemblies,” and I immediately saw the following revelation; that a “sacred assembly,” which was part of the required instructions of the Lord for His feasts, was a rehearsal dinner, in type, for the final fulfillment of them. The first four feasts, Passover, Firstfruits, Unleavened Bread, and Pentecost were all fulfilled in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Why then would the last three feasts of the Lord, the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles also not be fulfilled at the end of this age, on their day? It is my personal conviction that they will.
Leviticus 23:1-4 – See the note below.
1 The Lord said to Moses,
2 "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'These are my appointed feasts [4150], the appointed feasts [4150] of the Lord, which you are to proclaim [7121- “to call or cry out, to utter a loud sound”] as sacred [6944- “holiness, a sacred place or thing, separateness”] assemblies [4744- “a public meeting, a calling together; also, a rehearsal”].
3 "'There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the Lord.
4 "'These are the Lord's appointed feasts [4150], the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times [4150]…”
NIV
OT:4150 mowed` (mo-ade'); or moed` (mo-ade'); or (feminine) mow`adah (2 Chron 8:13) (mo-aw-daw')
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from OT:3259; properly, an appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for a definite purpose); technically the congregation; by extension, the place of meeting; also a signal (as appointed beforehand):
KJV - appointed (sign, time), (place of, solemn) assembly, congregation, (set, solemn) feast, (appointed, due) season, solemn (-ity), synagogue, (set) time (appointed).
(Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon)
an appointed place, an appointed time, a meeting
a) an appointed time
1) an appointed time (in general)
2) a sacred season, a set feast, an appointed season
b) an appointed meeting
c) an appointed place
d) an appointed sign or signal
e) the Tent of Meeting
What came to me, after reading the passage above from Leviticus, was what occurred during the “last supper” of Jesus with His disciples. Per what occurred with the fulfillment of the spring feasts through the death and resurrection of the Lord, I believe there is a “last meal” with the Lord, the Bread of Life, that will occur before the fulfillment of His final, fall feasts. Everything before has been a “rehearsal,” so to speak, of that which should prepare us for the public, manifested event. To be a part of it though, there must be a full heart-consumption of the main course; the Lamb of God.
To “proclaim” these “appointed feasts” of the Lord, that it’s time for them to occur, is “‘to call out loudly’ in order to get someone's attention so that contact can be initiated,” (Vines) The purpose of a loud proclamation with the blast of the shofar was to make known to the people of God that it was time (i.e. “the appointed time or season”) for its appearing. The blowing of the shofar every morning during the month of Elul, is a picture of the raising of a voice “like a trumpet” (See Isaiah 58:1 and Revelation 1:10), preparing the children of Israel for the upcoming High Holy Days (the Feast of Trumpets, and the Day of Atonement).
Trumpet-like ministries have been sounding out loudly now for quite a while, telling God’s people to seek their hearts and repent, if necessary, so as to be prepared for what is coming. The response of Christians to the call of God in the time we have left will, like the wise and foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), determine our destiny, whether that be of entering in to the wedding feast of the Lord, or being shut out and going through the tribulation with the rest of the world. This very moment we are all choosing whom we will serve, before the impartial justice of God is poured out on everyone. As the writer of Hebrews said;
“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth [i.e. received Christ], no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God [see the Bible study A Christian Becoming An Enemy Of God]. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ and again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
(Hebrews 10:26-31/NIV)
The Hebrew for “assemblies” is miqra' (mik-raw'). It’s defined as “a public meeting, a calling together; also, a rehearsal.” I believe that the “last supper” was a wedding rehearsal, in type, a “sacred assembly” of sorts that, in type, reveals the heart preparation necessary for God’s favor over us in the public manifestation (i.e. fulfillment) of His final feasts.
The last supper, which was a Passover seder, was actually a wedding rehearsal that the Jewish people understood, later, through their marriage traditions. By definition, a rehearsal is “a private performance [i.e. the last supper] or practice session preparatory to a public appearance.” (Merriam Webster) In other words, it’s a time of practice in order to prepare for a public demonstration; it’s no longer hidden, but something for all to behold. It’s been said that “practice makes perfect.” In this case, it’s absolutely true. The perfecting of the Body of Christ draws near, but not for all. Only the wise virgins who hear the call and have put into practice the will of God (i.e. His truth; 1 John 1:6) will enter into the joy of their Master whom they have faithfully served. Those who have ears to hear and ignore the Spirit’s call, continuing to practice wickedness instead of separating from it so as to be the bride without spot or blemish, will be cast out into the place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 7:21-27, Romans 1:28-2:11, Ephesians 4:17-24, Hebrews 5:14, 2 Peter 1:10, Revelation 22:11). (See the Bible study Outer Darkness.)
The Marriage Offer Of Christ In The Last Supper
Matthew 26:17-29 – The thing I need to focus on especially during this “last supper” of Jesus with His disciples is the offering of the cup to them. This was actually a Passover seder, which means “order.” It’s where we get our custom of communion from (1 Corinthians 11:23-25). (See the Bible study Communion And The Cup Of Redemption.)
17 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to make preparations [ for you to eat the Passover?"
18 He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed time [ is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.'"
19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
20 When evening came [don’t miss that this supper took place at the end of the day; we are now at the end of this “day,” or age], Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.
21 And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me."
22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?"
23 Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.
24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."
25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you."
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.
28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
29 I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."
NIV
Mark 14:12-14 – In Mark’s description of the same event, Mark adds a couple more details of the disciples encounter with the man that would lead them to the place of God’s choosing. See more in the note below.
12 And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed, His disciples said to Him, "Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?"
13 And He sent two of His disciples, and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him;
14 and wherever he enters, say to the owner [3617- “the head of a family, master of a house, householder”] of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is My guest room [2646] in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"'
15 "And he himself will show you a large upper room furnished [4766- “to spread”] and ready [2092- “prepared, opportune, seasonable”]; and prepare [2090- “to make ready”] for us there." [This is a picture of being led to those who possess good heart-soil that has been prepared for the Seed, who is Christ (Galatians 3:16). They have a guest-room made ready for the Lord within them. They have been prepared by the Holy Spirit to receive Christ’ new birth within them. If we will listen, He will lead us to these people.]
16 And the disciples went out, and came to the city, and found it just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.
(NASU)
Guest Room
A room for the lodging of guests (Mark 14:14; Philemon 22). The Greek word translated as guest room means “a lodging or resting place.” A few houses of Palestine had rooms set aside for use by guests.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Guest-Chamber
kataluma [2646], akin to kataluo (see Note above), signifies (a) "an inn, lodging-place," (Luke 2:7); (b) "a guest-room," (Mark 14:14; Luke 22:11). The word literally signifies "a loosening down" (kata, "down," luo, "to loose"), used of the place where travelers and their beasts untied their packages, girdles and sandals. "In the East, no figure is more invested with chivalry than the guest. In his own right he cannot cross the threshold, but when once he is invited in, all do him honor and unite in rendering service; cf. (Gen. 18:19; Judges 19:9, 15)." These two passages in the NT “concern a room in a private house, which the owner readily placed at the disposal of Jesus and His disciples for the celebration of the Passover... At the festivals of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles the people were commanded to repair to Jerusalem; and it was a boast of the Rabbis that, notwithstanding the enormous crowds, no man could truthfully say to his fellow, `I have not found a fire where to roast my paschal lamb in Jerusalem,' or `I have not found a bed in Jerusalem to lie in,' or `My lodging is too strait in Jerusalem'" (Hastings, Bib. Dic., GUESTCHAMBER and INN). See INN.
(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright (C) 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Jesus is leading His disciples to the place of preparation in this passage. He is going to eat the final Passover meal with His followers. As pictured through Israel’s journey out of Egypt and into the Promised Land, we will finish the way we started; with a complete consumption of the Lamb (see the Bible study Beginning And Ending With Passover). Once again, we will know the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10).
Jesus gave specific instructions to His disciples that they would encounter a man who would lead them to a large upper room that would be ready for them. Jesus leads His disciples today to those with a guest room inside them that is also “furnished and ready.” They are ready to partake of the Passover Lamb of God.
I believe the man carrying a pitcher of water represents the ones who have been cleansed within through obedience to the word of truth and are ready to receive the Messiah in His fullness (Romans 11:25). In these last days before His return, Christ is gathering His disciples, preparing them to partake of the final Passover, the final consuming of the Lamb as we enter our Promised Land, our promised place in Himself (see the Bible study The Third Day Gathering). He is our inheritance. I believe this is what Jesus was speaking of in Revelation 3:20 when He said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.” This is the guest room that has been made ready through a repentant heart (Rev. 3:19), whether that be an unbeliever, or a straying Christian.
This Passover meal is what many refer to as “the last supper.” It was called the Passover sedar, which means “order.” It is the order of God that is missing from modern Christianity (see the Bible study Order In The House). This “order” for the Lord’s salvation, His deliverance of mankind is seen within John 3. To be born again, spiritually, is to be given eyes to see the truth. It represents a cleansed heart through repentance. Like the man carrying a pitcher of water, a guest room has been made ready for Jesus to eat the Passover sedar with His disciple. This leads to the next step of “water and Spirit” (John 3:5) in order to enter in. This is when the true baptism of the Spirit occurs which, by the way, is not tongues (see the Bible study Tongues). Titus declared that “He saved us through the washing of rebirth [i.e. water] and renewal by the Holy Spirit [i.e. Spirit], whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.” (Titus 3:5-6/NIV) The one prepares us for the next, bringing to completion our faith/salvation (James 2:22, 1 Thessalonians 5:23).
By partaking of the Lord’s last Passover sedar/order before His return, He will pass over you when He pours out His wrath on earth. All Christians who do not listen, who do not put their lives in order in preparation for the Bridegroom’s return, will go through the “great tribulation” (Rev. 2:22) on earth. Like the foolish virgins, they did not take serious the present midnight call to prepare themselves through repentance where necessary in eager anticipation of the Lord’s return. They were not “made ready” for the Savior and will not be allowed entrance into the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9).
John 13 – John’s account of the last supper is different from the others. He tells of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples, and more details of Judas’ betrayal.
The Third Cup; The Cup Of Redemption
The cup that Jesus said to drink in remembrance of Him was actually the third cup of four used in the Passover meal order;
The Passover Seder
Seder – means “order”
If possible, the “leader” is the father.
A celebration in remembrance of Israel’s exodus out of Egypt.
Recounts the sacrifice of the lamb and the putting of the blood on the doorposts, so that God would “pass over” the Israelite’s households (Exodus 12:1-13);
The four cups that all participants drink during the ceremony are based on the four promises of God (“I will…”) in Exodus 6:6-7.
There are 18 steps during the ceremony in our Messianic Passover Haggadah (Behold The Lamb) booklet by Stan R. Kellner. Traditionally, there are 15 steps in the Passover Seder.
Step one: Cleaning all leaven from the home (“examining ourselves” in 1 Corinthians 11:28).
Communion is the 15th (finding and eating the hidden afikomen) and 16th (the 3rd cup: The Cup Of Redemption) steps.
“The Cup Was A Marriage Proposal”
“In first century Jewish marriage proposals, wine took on a special significance. In the proposal, the tale end of it, after a marriage covenant was actually drawn up and agreed upon by the groom, father of the bride, and the bride, it would be sealed with a toast between the groom and the bride. The groom would pour wine and offer it to his (hopefully soon-to-be) bride, with the promise that ‘This is a covenant in my blood’ or something similar. To accept she would drink it. To reject the request (because hers was the final decision) she would simply return the cup. (‘In the same way, after the supper He took the cup [the third cup of redemption], saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22:20, NIV)”
“The groom, after such a proposal was accepted, would promise not to drink wine again until he saw the bride again, on their wedding day. He would then go to make a bridal suite ready, which was a room attached to his Father’s house [John 14:2-3]. He would stock it and prepare it to make everything perfect, returning to take his bride for their wedding day at a time she would not expect, to foster a sense of expectation and excitement every day that today would be the day she would see her groom coming for her [Luke 12:40, 46]. In the meantime, the bride to be was encouraged to regularly drink small amounts of wine, each time reminding her that her groom would be coming for her [Luke 22:19]. Today could be the day.”
Hebrews 9:11-18 – See the note below.
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation;
12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh,
14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works [NIV- “acts that lead to death”] to serve the living God?
15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called [see the Bible study Many Are Called] may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance [see the Bible study Mishandling The Inheritance].
16 For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it.
17 For a covenant is valid [949- “stable, fast, firm, secure”] only when men are dead, for it is never in force [2480- “to be strong, to have power, to be in sound health, to be able, can”] while the one who made it lives.
18 Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated [1457- “to initiate, consecrate, dedicate”] without blood.
NASU
The power of the covenant is released in our lives when we die to ourselves, our wills, our desires and ambitions, and then seek to know and do the will of God. The writer of Hebrews speaks of the necessity of a death in order for the covenant with God for obtaining eternal redemption (i.e. the eternal inheritance in Christ) to be “valid,” which means “stable, fast, firm, secure.” The security of the believer, then, is dependent upon the security of the covenant. It is always sure and steadfast on Christ’ side because He is faithful (2 Tim. 2:11-13). In regards to us, it is crucial, then, that we remain in a state of being “dead in Christ,” counting ourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:10-12). Otherwise, the covenant is rendered ineffective in our lives.
When we live for our wills, for ourselves without repentance, we make the power of the covenant powerless on our behalf. We are fighting its capacity through the eternal Spirit to conform us to the image of Christ. This is what the Bible refers to as a covenant breaker (Romans 1:31). We are treating the blood of Jesus, the blood of the new covenant, with rudeness and insult, as if it were a commonplace matter. The writer of Hebrews put it this way;
“How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted [“to treat with haughtiness”] the Spirit of grace?”
(Hebrews 10:29/NASU)
By definition, to trample under foot is “to treat with rudeness and insult, or insulting neglect.” This refers to those who, after turning to Christ, turn away from Him with a haughty, prideful spirit to indulge in “willful sin” without repentance or the fear of consequences (see Hebrews 10:26-31). As the writer of Hebrews says, this “better” covenant is not through the blood of bulls and goats but the blood of Christ which makes it even more serious when slighted.
To sum up this entire study, Christians are referred to in the Bible as a kingdom of priests (Exodus 19:5-6; 1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 1:6, 5:10). I believe that we are being exhorted at this “appointed time” of the Lord, during the "month of mercy," to prepare as the high priest was for the Day of Atonement, in order to be ready to enter the very presence of God (i.e. in the holy of holies). Those who listen to what the Spirit is saying to the church right now, and then do what He says will soon meet with the Lord, in the cloud, in the air, as was pictured within the holy of holies.
In these waning moments of this age, may we cry out to the Lord as David did when he said,
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
(Psalm 139:23-24/NIV)
The fall feasts reveal the culmination of God’s purposes on earth to us. It’s time to prepare our hearts by faith so that we are a people who are made ready, eagerly anticipating and looking for the return of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, which I believe draws near. “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come’… ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:17-21)
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