Exod. 25:17-22,
“You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold [Gods nature]; two and a half cubits shall be its length and a cubit and a half its width[2 ½ + 1 ½ = 4 cubits, pointing to the fourth day from Adam, the resurrection of Jesus, also pointing to Gods man-child, His two witnesses]. And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work, you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim at the two ends of it of one piece with the mercy seat [Christ and His first-fruits as one nature]. And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another; the faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat [the first-fruits lives centered upon Christ Jesus]. You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark, you shall put the Testimony [Christ nature] that I will give you. And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel [Christ the head and His first-fruits many member body become God’s nature unto all the earth]”.
“Cherubim” is the plural word “KERUV” which has the meaning of a “covering angel.” In this, we see the greater expression when two angels covered and guarded Jesus the Christ as His body lay quietly in death.
John 20:12,
“And she saw two in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.”
Thus, the resurrection of Jesus from His death on the cross, becomes a focal point concerning the establishing of Gods kingdom upon this earth. All the types concerning the ark of the Old Testament represent and are fulfilled in Jesus Christ and the Christ who also lives in a first-fruits remnant. These first-fruits become a visible expression of Christ as He makes an appearance through them. These first-fruits, at the time of Christ appearing are those who become the manifesting kingdom of God in the earth. God’s kingdom, prophesied and foretold of, is now in the earth to make its appearance in covering the whole earth. Therefore, who are the first-fruits who become the visible expression of God and the Christ in establishing that Godly kingdom?
The mercy seat, was hidden behind a veil which was a woven cloth of blue, purple, scarlet, and linen with cherubim woven all over it. At this veil, there were four pillars of wood overlaid with gold. This “wood” speaks of “man,” but man overlaid with “gold” representing the “divine nature of God.” The number “four” speaks of “tribulation” or the completion of the progressive change that each member of Christ body experiences in becoming the first-fruits entering into the heavenlies of God, the Holy of Holies.
The veil that separates the man from God represents the “flesh nature” of the man. In this, the man breaks through the veil, the flesh nature, as a re-entry into Gods presence, His Holy of Holies and typed by the Garden of Eden. Remember that fallen man’s own beast nature keeps him from this realm called Eden. Also, remember that God has promised, He has ordained and He has supplied the way for the man to return and dwell within Eden. Dwelling in Eden speaks of Gods ordained purpose for man to return and then go beyond Eden into immortality. With the “tree of life” pointing to and speaking of eternal life, it is the “flaming sword” of God that guards the way to this eternal life. The flaming sword is God’s word that changes the man. The word ordains, and protects the way to immortality.
Gen. 3:24,
“So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the Garden of Eden [pointing to the Christ and His return, head and body, to affect His kingdom in the earth], and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way [no flesh or carnality of the fallen nature can enter] to the tree of life”.
Note, that it is of a necessity that man must pass through the flaming sword of fire. This passing is the only way God has made available (Christ Jesus God’s Word) to re-enter into life from the death realm. This death realm is that which has separated the man from God. Upon the pathway called Christ Jesus, man begins partaking of the immortal realm of God.
Luke 12:49-50,
“I [Jesus] came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!”
“Fire” speaks of and represents tribulation for cleansing.
Note that fire changes the consistency of anything physical. The fire of the Holy Spirit is the instrument used by God to bring any and all necessary changes within the soul. These changes become the necessary transition taken to partake of the fullness that God has made available.
Matt. 3:11-12,
“I [John the Baptist] indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
God has used many different types within His word that speaks to His people as a spiritual revelation. These truths, when revealed by the Holy Spirit, allows understanding to support Gods purpose according to His eternal plan. This truth is as the truth written in the writings of Ezekiel as he received a vision from God. (Read Ezek. 1:1-18).
Ezek. 1:10,
“As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle”.
These living creatures or beasts as depicted here represent the soul of man. As a fallen soul, men’s soul consists of four fallen areas that reveal the functioning character of the man. Men’s nature, wherein his soul, consists of the mind, the emotions, the will, and the desires.
- The mind of man is pictured as an eagle. The eagle is the bird that flies in the heavens with keen eyesight in which to observe the earth for prey. Man, like unto an eagle, with a fallen mind, soars high into carnal imaginations. This carnal mind is always searching the carnal world for ways and experiences that take him further away from God.
- The emotions of man is pictured as a lion. The lion, known as the king of the beast, rules through the emotions as a ruling factor of men’s makeup. Fallen man, in responding to the carnal mind, allows his emotions to rule him. As a beast, it seeks the realm of death; living a life that is without true rest, living a life torn apart by emotions.
- The will of man is pictured as an ox. The ox is a beast, while being strong, it is also known for its stubbornness. Fallen man, in desiring his own will and way in all things, becomes a vessel that wars against the ways of God, fulfilling self-satisfaction alone. Remember, God’s ways are higher than the ways of man; therefore, living completely unto self-limits the ways of God in man’s life.
- The desires of man is pictured as the face of a man. Man is the most desirous of God’s creation. Fallen man, in all his desires, observes God’s creation with but one desire. That is a desire to possess and unlawfully receive all that God created. In this fallen desire, man desires to take God’s place and become a god unto self. In this, man desires heaven and hell at the same time.
As a person reads about these same areas of the soul in the book of Revelation, the ability to see the revealing of a changed order manifesting from the soul comes forth. While in Ezekiel’s time, the children of Israel, because of rebellion against God’s ways and His nature, they went into captivity and destruction. Here in Revelation the soul now stands before the throne-room of God as a restored completed soul now manifesting the nature of Christ. (Read Rev. 4:1-10). Rev. 4:6-7 states,
“Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and back. The first living creature was like a lion [emotions], the second living creature like a calf [the will, no longer a stubborn ox, but a calf of a dependent nature yielding to God], the third living creature had a face like a man [desires], and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle [mind]”.
These, with the nature of Christ have become vessels that now manifest Christ nature unto the world.
Thus, we see a people becoming the first-fruits that have broken through the veil of flesh into God’s Holy of Holies, His throne-room. This points to a carnal man changed as he breaks through the veil of his flesh. These become the first-fruits separated unto God for His use alone. God’s people are those who manifest the nature of Christ, as they become the expression of Gods mercy seat. The act of God’s mercy sending these first-fruits throughout the earth is establishing His kingdom of love and peace. Herein the kingdoms of Babylon know destruction and a replacement in being removed.
It was God from His heart that spoke of His manifesting glory coming forth as His knowledge covers the earth as the waters cover the sea. God also spoke of restoring David’s Tabernacle, the tabernacle of manifestation when all men could come and look upon the manifesting glory of God.
Acts 15:16-17,
“After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up; so the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does all these things”.
In discussing God’s purpose for men’s re-entry into Eden, the way is clear. The necessity is for man to go through the flaming sword of God. This increases a knowledge of God’s Word and gives man enlightenment. The man must go through the fire of God in purifying his vessel of all the chaff and tares. The baptism of fire brings man into God’s purposed state of perfection. That is, a being made complete according to God’s purpose for the birthing of the man. In this, man escapes the order the Apostle Paul calls the realm of the in-part. How, but because that which is perfect has come. Perfection as it dwells within you becoming complete according to God’s perfect process.
1 Cor. 13:9-10,
“For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect [Christ complete in you] has come, that which is in part will be down away”.
In all that humanity observes and experiences in the earth during this particular age, events are happening that stagger the mind. These events, while overwhelming at times, are but a prelude to greater events that are in the making. These greater events are reserved in God until He completes what the scripture declares as a people sealed. This is a sealing of man’s mind into the nature, the mind of Christ. Understanding is given, that at the completion of this people’s sealing, these greater events come forth. This speaks of a release for a God given purpose. This is to bring destruction to carnal men’s world that God might rebuild it into His kingdom. Thus, the purpose for God’s first-fruits is the establishing of God’s kingdom in the earth. This kingdom results in God’s mercy seat revealed unto the world as God’s man-child, His first-fruit king/priests come forth to manifest the nature of Christ. These are vessels of mercy affecting the whole of the earth with Gods order and purpose. In all this we say come forth.
Rev. 7:1-3,
“After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four [number for tribulation] winds of the earth that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on the tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and sea, saying, do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God in the forehead [mind of Christ]”.
The question is, are we seeing and living in the time of God when He seals or completely restores the mind of Christ unto these first-fruits? In having a greater understanding of what and who these sealed servants are, consider that God’s first-fruit remnant is the true sons of Abraham. Who are these true sons of Abraham?
Gal. 3:7, 29,
“Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. …And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise”.
Consider that these true sons of Abraham, those of this first-fruit company of God, are to manifest the mercy seat nature of Christ unto the nations. God’s kingdom is established and manifesting through these first-fruits that are now whole and complete in Christ. God’s kingdom has come and the mercy seat is among us. Arise and shine for the glory of the Lord is upon you.