(Source: A Voice for The Gathering Saints)
“Therefore when you see [to see: implying not the mere act of looking, but the actual perception of the object] the abomination of [that which brings on God’s desolating judgments] desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place [where the abomination takes place] (whoever reads, let him understand [observe attentively]).” Herein God declares of the time of fulfillment for the man of sin, the antichrist, and where he desires as a place for his dwelling.
What does the “holy place” speak of to you? Does not the “holy place” point us to a realm of spiritual activity called the Feast of Pentecost? Abomination speaks of the time when that which is an order of spiritual indwelling opens itself to deception. Note and understand Paul’s statement as it is written in 1 Cor. 13:8-10 concerning the lack of true love, that which comes from God. “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail [be brought to naught]; whether there are tongues, they shall cease; whether there is knowledge [knowledge acquired by learning, effort, or experience], it will vanish away. For we know [to acquire knowledge, become acquainted with; hence to come or get to know, learn, perceive] in part [only as received from God] and we prophesy in part [only as directed by the Holy Spirit]. But when that which is perfect [that which has reached its end, nothing beyond; hence perfect] has come, then that which is in part will be done away”.Does perfection fulfill prophecy, tongues and acquired knowledge? Thus, the in-part is no longer needed because that which is perfect fulfills and manifest all that which was in-part.
Note, at this point in our study, that a Day of Atonement was and is established by God for doing away with the in-part. A pointing to a time when the candlestick anointing light goes out because of a time when the abomination of desolation takes place among the spiritual activities in the holy place. That is to say, a realm of religious activity has exchanged the anointing of God’s Holy Spirit while denying its power. This exchange is actively pursuing the ways of the carnal man. 2 Tim. 3:1-5, “But know this, that in the last days [embraces the days of Messiah and His first and second advent] perilous [describing a society that is barren of virtue but abounding with vices] times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanders, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form [external form] of godliness but denying its power [inherent power; the power of reproducing itself]: And from such people turn away”. Note the nature manifesting in this type of religious people. They are manifesting degrees of corruptness and the fallen nature which is the results of Satan’s influence over Eve when man fell in the garden of Eden. A religion that has become darkened as a holy place without any anointing. A place where the light it once had has gone out. These are a people who have but a form of godliness without God’s power. In this, are they fulfilling and pointing to the abomination of desolation?
Here an understanding is needed concerning a time which is upon us for the fulfillment of receiving the promises of God for His people. Heb. 12:22-24 states, “But you have come to Mount Zion [God’s dwelling place within men, His throne-room authority] and to the city of the living God [those prepared as His bride, (read Rev. 21:2 & 9-10)], the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church [called out ones] of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to the Judge of all, to the spirits of just [righteous] men made perfect [to make a full end, consummate], to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel”. Does this not point to a people that made the transition from preparation to fullness? A people who now know the reality of separation from the abominable to the fullness of God’s purpose.
In this, let’s consider the children of Israel and the time of their transition. A time of their leaving behind their wilderness travels as they make ready to transit into the promised land. The old was being washed away, the life-style of familiarity with their in-part journey was to pass away as they entered into the reality of their promise land. In this, we should especially take notice of the river crossing which places them before the challenge of taking the land. They now faced the walled city of Jericho. Could it be you and I of today’s transitional fulfillment, are also facing our own Jericho? In preparing for our Jericho, it becomes important for the Christian Community to recognize and understand that the church of today has been born while in the wilderness journey of transition. In this, we face an important need to know the reality of the circumcision of the heart. Joshua 5:2 & 5, “At that time the Lord said [Joshua 3:7, “And the Lord said to Joshua, this day I will began to exalt [make you great] you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that as I was with Moses, so I will be with you] to Joshua, make flint knives for yourself, and circumcise the sons of Israel again the second time … For all the people who came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness, on the way as they come out of Egypt, had not been circumcised”. Could this point to the uncleanness that exist within today’s church?
So, this points to today’s church that was birthed on that Day of Pentecost 2000 years ago. The church, at that time came out of the world (Egypt) in great power and authority. But liken unto the Children of Israel, the church has known the death of the many during this time in the wilderness. The reason, because of unbelief in allowing doubt and fear to keep them from the promises of God. In this they turned back from their first chance to enter the land. This, like the church of today, have entered into their long wilderness journey. In this journey many have been birthed along the way and likewise must be circumcised of heart. 1 Tim. 4:1, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart[apostatize] from the faith [the living, divinely implanted principle], giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons”. But in this, God has given the church a promise through the prophecy of Haggai 2:7 & 9, And I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the desire of all nations, and I will fill this temple [the body of Christ is His latter day temple] with glory, say the Lord of hosts. … The glory of this latter temple [body of Christ]shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts, and in this place I will give peace, says the Lord of hosts”.
Thus, a modern day church is likewise needing to know a circumcision of the heart. For even now we face the time of taking the land, a time of fulfilling and completing our transition, coming out of our wilderness journey. In crossing the river of Jordan our attention is drown to the city of Jericho. Even as with Joshua and the children of Israel, a change of our spiritual diet is upon us. Joshua 5:11-12, “And they ate the old corn of the land[God’s word of His promises verses the manna of the wilderness supply which ceased] on the day after the Passover, unleavened bread and parched [roasted] corn, on the very same day. Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the old corn [being fulfilled with God’s word of promise] of the land, and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year”. Remember, this promised land was given to Abraham and his descendants forever and contained all that was promised. Even with the inhabitants of the land occupying the land, it still, and all it represents, belongs to God’s people. Are we not, the true church, the true seed of Abraham? Even as todays church, the land of promise continued to belong to Abraham. While strangers and foreigners occupied the land, the fruit of the land was still available in the form of God’s promise. While these inhabitants corrupted and perverted the land, it was still God’s promise awaiting for the time for His sons to come forth and occupy to manifest.
Likewise, a blinded church system of today need to know and understand that so called Christians, in a large part, have allowed perverted inhabitants to occupy the land and build their own cities as they touch the things of God. In this, they are becoming a curse to mankind. Jericho, in truth, belonged to God, but strangers occupied it in every form of deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. But, unto a transiting people of today, God is giving them the city, to eventually re-establish it according to God’s intended purpose. Joshua 6:16-19, “And the seventh time it happen, when the priest blew the trumpets [hear God’s trumpet of today], that Joshua said to the people. Shout, for the Lord has given you the city! Now the city [in its perverted condition] shall be accursed [word meaning devoted]by the Lord for destruction, it and all who are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent [hiding God’s Word in her heart]. And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things [remember, Jericho belonged to God, an order of His purpose that had been perverted by carnal man], and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it [this transitional ending required purity]. But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated [holy, set apart] to the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord [certain vessels purposed for God’s treasure house]”.
Note, with attention given to understand, that Jericho’s name means “place of fragrance”. Jericho also was the first-fruits in possessing the land with “place of fragrance’ pointing our minds to the “Altar of Incense” which is our place of fragrance. That is to say, a people allowing themselves, through obedience, to all God’s purpose and to fulfill what the Altar represents. A people coming completely to the end of self, with the sprinkled blood of Jesus upon them, the altar as they become the fragrance before God as it moves into the Holy of Holies. Here, behind the veil, they become a sweet smelling savor unto the Father on that Day of our Atonement. That is to say, a entering into the throne-room presence of God wherein a resurrection and glorification of the whole man is finished to receive their full purpose in God.
Note, God has provided and will finish in raising up again the city of Jericho (that is the place of fragrance). Joshua 6:26, “Then Joshua charged [warned] them at that time, saying, cursed by the man [“ISH” a word meaning, a great man in contrast with ordinary men]before the Lord who rises up and builds this city Jericho, he shall lay its foundation with his firstborn [in the death of his firstborn], and with his youngest he shall set up its gates”.Increased understanding from God is being given as to the restoring of this city. A people who enter into this “place of fragrance” before the Father become a people of destiny. These, once again, through the new birthing of the Day of Atonement, stand in God’s throne-room authority. That is, a people who, as first-fruits, enter into the Feast of Tabernacles to manifest the nature of Christ unto the world.
Note that the resurrection of Jericho (entrance into the Holy of Holies – fullness of God’s promises) is laid upon God’s firstborn, the Christ Jesus who became a sacrifice and foundation for the restoring of God’s created man. Eph. 5:2, “And walk in [points to rest and continuance, denotes being and remaining within] love, as Christ also loved us and gave Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma [consider the Day of Atonement, the moving behind the veil into the Holy of Holies, the throne-room authority of God]”. Also in Heb. 13:15 we read, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise [altar of incense] to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name [nature]”. In building again, the city of Jericho, scripture reveals that Joshua gave this city to Benjamin’s family as part of their inheritance. (read Joshua 18:11-12). Note that Benjamin’s name means “son of the right hand” who was the only full brother of Joseph from their mother Rachel. Rachel was Jacob true love. From these brothers we see Joseph as the type of the Christ. That is the Christ, with Jesus the head, and also His many member younger brother Benjamin, the body of Christ, sons of His right hand, the open gates into God’s world of promise.
Note that while the elder brother Jesus became the curse for us, Gal. 3:13-14, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, cursed is everyone who hangs of a tree), that the blessings of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith”. Thus, the foundation needed has been laid. Now is the time for the gates to be set up and opened. Those of the sons of His right hand are now to know the reality of the throne-room dwelling and establish, through manifestation, His kingdom on earth. That is God’s restored place of fragrance moving into the Holy of Holies. Jericho becoming God’s new Jerusalem, a city with the gates of God’s divine government. Rev. 21:25, “Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there)”.
Yes, transition time is coming to its end. A movement from the heavens is taking place as God fulfills, sets up and opens the gates as they occupy the whole of God’s promises. A people who no longer wonder in the wilderness of in-part understandings nor know the resistance of carnal religious mind-sets. These mind-sets are the strangers and foreigners that have occupied the land as they stood against those who God now says, take the land for now is the time to receive your inheritance. This is God’s place of fragrance which now knows the time of their arising, a moving or birthing into God’s throne-room. Rev. 3:21,“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, even as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne”. God’s first-fruits are now arising as God speaks, come up into my open heavens and I will show you things to come. Transition time and wilderness wonderings are now being fulfilled.