“A Voice for the Gathering Saints”
Duane Stewart
www.avoiceforthegatheringsaints.org
“From Preparation to Fulfillment”
Part one of two
Rev. 10:3-4, “And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roared: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not”.
Rev. 10:7, “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets”.
Within the scope of events that are taking place upon the earth today, we are facing a season, in God, which shall bring forth world changing happenings and events. In this, the Christian community is finding itself in great need. The need is to escape a mind-set that has gripped the church into believing only in a God of the far-off future and in a God that is okay with a compromising people. While God is an eternal God, He is a God of the past, of the present and the future. God’s desire is for the Christian community to know, by experience, the God of the now and to know His purpose for His people during this present season. Just what is it that God is doing today and what is it that He requires of His people in the now? The word of God makes it clear that His purpose today is as it has always been, to make for Himself a people in which to dwell and then to manifest Himself through them. In bringing fulfillment to this desire, God chose to establish the law of the seed. In fulfilling this law, which is a seed bringing forth after its own kind; God first prepared the ground, planted the seed, then watered and nurtured it with the full expectation of bringing forth a good mature harvest. Nevertheless, this harvest, in its growing stages, has become a mixture of wheat and tares because of an enemy that has also sown his seed among the field of wheat. Thus, as maturity comes, the difference in each seed reveals that there is a need for a separation of the tares from the wheat. In this, with the tares removed first, there is now a first-fruit Man-child Company who appears being the wheat to manifest the fullness of God’s purpose. In the appearing of this first-fruit man-child, they now are to gather in the rest of God’s harvest, those left because of the removal of the tares.
In observing the movements of God that He manifests through this time of harvest, what is it that we are seeing in Him? When speaking of the first-fruit man-child company, they are now to come forth in this season, with the fulfillment of the necessary time of preparation and separation. If this were so, what is it that God requires of them? In considering man’s ways, we should also consider that the condition of the world is one where anarchy is among us with persecution becoming more and more common against God’s true people. Therefore, God in purifying His people, through judgment, He is now ready to establish the coming forth of His kingdom on this earth. Heb. 12:1-2, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doeth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God”.
In the completing of God’s will and purpose, and knowing that the natural man with his outward religious laws could not gain the place of man’s inheritance, God instituted a new covenant. This new covenant, not subject to the laws of the carnal man, is now able through Jesus Christ and the cross, to birth a new creation man. This man becomes the fulfillment of God’s stated eternal purpose. Heb. 8:10-13, “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel [the spiritual man, the true son’s of Abraham] after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts [mans soul]; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his brother, saying know the Lord: For all shall know me from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, a new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayed and waxed old is ready to vanish away”. Thus, a new creation man, one who has allowed the cross to slay the old man’s nature, his fallen character, while allowing God to write a new nature upon and within the soul, the seat of man’s nature. This nature is alive to God and fulfills His purposes in a full measure.
Could it not be that the conditions of the world as we know them today are even now declaring the season of God, which is sounding out this new day? This is the day in which the book of Revelation describes as the revealing, the opening up of the seven sealed thunders. These thunders are the mysteries of God, in the form of seven blowing trumpets. With six of these seven sealed mysteries of God already revealed and with the increasing activities coming forth now, we should note the results of these unsealed mysteries and their fulfillment. This will speak to us of the time that is upon us for the opening up of the seventh sealed mystery. With the number six, used by God to denote “man”, already having been opened up, it begins to speak that now it is time for the ending of man’s rulership over the earth. This also speaks of man coming to his death to the sin nature that he might now begin to live in and according to the nature of Christ.
With the first six opened mysteries, which had there beginning during the time of the early upper-room church, they have progressively been being opened until today, when we are now standing before God in preparation of the final seventh sealed mystery to be opened. God uses the number seven to declare the time for man’s completion, his perfection and his fulfillment. Therefore, through the first six sealed mysteries, one at a time progressively opened for its season, with revelation and understanding given to bring God’s man to his time of completion and perfection. These opened mysteries have given to receiving men the understanding needed until they now stand during a time for man to become the manifestation of all seven mysteries. This means that Christ is becoming a corporate man, manifesting God’s fullness in His completed purpose for creation. This speaks to us of God’s progressive work in the completion of His creation, male and female He made them.
In considering the activity prior to the unsealing of the seventh mystery, consideration must be given to the types set forth through the pattern given to us in Moses’ tabernacle and these types being fulfilled in completing the whole man, spirit, soul and body. The first type, the mystery denoting salvation, the forgiveness of our passed committed sins, was opened when Jesus died on the foreordained cross. This, typed by the brazen altar set in the outer court of the tabernacle where there was a sacrifice given for man’s sins. Sins are the product of fallen man’s nature that needed the sacrifice for the pardon of those sins and for the overcoming of the sin nature. Here, the spirit of man, separated from living in God’s presence as the results of Adam’s disobedience, is to unite with God’s spirit and to know His presence again. Therefore, man needed a sacrifice for the fallen nature that still dwelt and operated within his soul. This, Christ has done, He is our sacrifice. Thus, the mystery of salvation for sin was available for all who would receive.
Nevertheless, what about the old sin nature that is the makeup of the fallen soul? Herein God continues His progressive work. The opening of the seal concerning the second mystery gives understanding that reveals the necessary steps needed for sanctification and consecration. This seal, typed by the brazen laver for cleansing, is also in the outer court of Moses’ tabernacle. When applied daily it speaks of a cleansing of the old vessel to become useful for God’s purposes alone. Sanctification speaks of the daily activity of repentance, which is progressively purifying the vessel for God’s use alone. The first step toward sanctification taken is the need for water baptism, a type of a covenant with God that points to and identifies us with His death, burial and resurrection. This is the covenant made between the participator and God, when yielded unto it points as a type to becoming complete and fulfilled in Christ. Secondly the need for receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit, the comforter and helper given to abide within man as our source of help in time of need. He is also the revelator who reveals unto the thirsting soul God’s eternal purpose in each vessel. Thus, a pointing to the step of baptism into Christ as a living part of His body, herein the receiving and participating vessel becomes one with Christ.
Does this not point to Jesus’ prayer in John 17:20-21, which declares, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me”. Finally, we are looking to becoming one with Him by a nature change from that of a fallen dead soul separated from God to one alive unto Christ. In this change, man’s nature is becoming one with Christ and His nature. Herein, an act of consecration, established in a people, set aside for God’s purpose. Learning Him and becoming one with Christ to likewise only do and say what we see and hear the Father do and say.
Next, the third mystery being unsealed wherein we are identified as being in a union with Christ that is typed by the golden lamp stand which stands in and moves us from the outer court into the holy place realm. Here we become a people who dwell in the dimension of hope, the realm of an in-part order and ministry, purposed by God to bring to us the light of understanding. This lamp stand types the anointed Holy Spirit vessels that work with God to bring forth only the Father’s will. This enables a people to press onward to the mark of God’s high calling, abiding in a hope of that which is to come, which is for us to become a completed, perfected people.
The fourth mystery is also within the holy place, revealed so man can observe and partake of the table of showbread. This table, when eaten of, is a three dimensional revelation of the Christ and His completed work. In the consuming or eating of this bread of life, our eyes become open to see Him as He truly is. That is, first as the Christ coming within us, to take up His abode within that we might enter into our rest in Christ. Secondly, we began to observe and recognize the Christ that exists in the many member body of Christ. In recognizing, the many member body of Christ, the Christ is within where we receive strength of unity to stand until perfection comes. Christ also helps to stabilize us from error of doctrine as immature children. Eph. 4:13-14, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the slight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive”. Then thirdly, we began to recognize the presence of the Christ that is among us, a presence that quickens us through love as we grow up in Him in all things. Eph. 4:15, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ”. Herein we are being born again as a “living soul”, becoming less and less of that “old fallen dead soul” realm.
The fifth seal upon the opening fifth mystery reveals an understanding of the sin-nature, seeing the need to overcome it as revelation reveals the fulfillment of the altar of incense; this altar also being in the holy place realm of hope. It releases an understanding that Jesus came to save the soul of man and not just a renewal of his spirit. In this, God’s desire is to change the nature of fallen man to a renovated one to manifest the nature of Christ. In this, the new creation man alive in our spirit is to overcome and slay all of the “fallen soul” to become a soul alive and of one nature with God. Man’s soul, made up of four parts is manifesting man’s nature through the mind, the emotions, the will and the desires. Man, in his natural fallen state cultivated his nature from a standpoint of darkness. It is the darkness that covers the earth and gross darkness the people. This darkness has, from birth, formed and shaped the nature that manifest itself through these four parts of the soul. This fallen nature resists God in all His ways as a barrier of carnality separating our soul from the indwelling spirit. The barrier, purposed by God to be broken down, is broken down as Christ breaks through from our spirit to conquer the fallen soul (man’s mind, his will, his emotions and his desires).
What the law of the old covenant could not do, this altar of incense, in the form of the new covenant accomplishes. Recognize that God had already established a Day of Atonement, a time of restoration when this altar of incense was to move from the holy place realm of hope into the next dimension of God called the Holy of Holies, the realm of life. At the opening of this fifth mystery, the mystery of the new creation man becomes an active progression of becoming the word made flesh in the earth again. A birthing comes as the fallen nature dies and becomes a new creation in God’s resurrection power. In this, Jesus, the seed planted within those receiving Him through the Holy Spirit is now to bring forth fruit after its own kind. John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we behold his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth”.
The sixth mystery, opened to reveal the overshadowing of God’s glory, a fulfillment of the mercy seat within the Holy of Holies. The eternal Day of Atonement, made available to the maturing new covenant man, the one coming forth as the man-child of God (altar of Incense birthed into the Holy of Holies). These are His many member sons, the man-child of God’s glory. This is the glory of God, manifesting through the sons, that causes the knowledge of the Lord, His glory, to cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. Isa. 60:2, “For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: But the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee”. Herein, this man-child, the many sons of God, dwell to challenge all darkness in establishing God’s kingdom on the earth. Liken unto Jeremiah, these shall root out, pull down and bring destruction to the kingdoms of this world. Herein these completed (birthed) sons are now throwing down the world’s kingdoms that they might build and plant with God His kingdom on the earth. Jeremiah 1:10, “See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build and to plant”. During this time of great trouble, these standing in the throne-room order of authority are not to be defeated in fulfilling God’s purpose.
We, God’s people are now standing in a season of God when we are now looking for the appearance of the Christ who is to come in the full measure of God’s eternal purpose. The seventh mystery, with the seal removed is to manifest God’s man-child, typed by the Ark of the Covenant that dwells in the Holy of Holies, the throne room realm. The man-child, the manifested body of Christ with the life giving church (His bride) is to incorporate into Christ. Herein the throne-room authority dwells within them to rule over God’s kingdom in all its glory. To this the question asked, where is God’s throne-room and its authority as given to man? Thus an understanding, is not the soul of man his place of restoration? Man, created by God from the dust of the earth, remained but a form of dust until God breathed into him the breath of life. Herein man became a “living soul”, a soul containing the life of God, with God’s nature placed within him. God’s breath, His spirit, contains that which God is, that is His nature. Therefore, God placed within man His nature that the invisible God might manifest Himself through His visible creation. However, when man in disobedience to God fell, man separated from God become as one with a beast nature. A nature without God now separated from God’s throne-room authority. Nevertheless, through the sacrifice of God’s only begotten son, man can now receive and progressively mature into becoming the dwelling place of God’s throne-room authority to manifest the God of all creation. Gen. 1:28a states, “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over … “.
Thus, in fallen man, we see the need for the man to be born again, that is the renovation of the fallen soul, his character, his personality. Again, in considering the fallen soul we see the need, for man without God is truly as a beast with a beast nature. The beastly soul of fallen man is firstly in the fallen mind where scripture likens it to an eagle that is always soaring into heights. Herein, with a restless nature that is always seeking, searching, and looking for meaning to life down any and every avenue available. Secondly, the emotions of fallen man likened unto the lion are a nature that is strong but wild and terrible in an ungodly manner, a destroyer. Thirdly, the will of fallen man likened into an ox, which represents a strong and stubborn will, only doing what is good for self. Then fourthly, the desires of this fallen man likened into the face of a man, being like man who is a creature with very strong desires, mainly for self, but without God, his desires become perverted and corrupt. This fallen man then needs to know the salvation of God, a need for complete change in the soul realm. Heb. 10:39, “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul”.
“To be continued”