The LORD has always a unique way to teach us HIS ways. Some time ago He was drawing my attention to the topic: The rapture.
Well, I had read quite a bunch of books about this issue and all the different aspects are known to me. As I said the Holy Spirit often has a unique way to teach – and this was just the way HE treated me.
I started asking HIM how HE is looking on this issue and HE started to teach me. HE is the best teacher available, but when HE started the lesson I was quite perplexed – HE started with explaining me HIS “Three in Oneness” (hard to catch for us, but a fact we have to take by faith).
I was amazed – I never imagined a connection with the rapture and the “Three-Unity” – total off my mind, but you will see that the principle of “Three-Unity” holds the key for important understanding.
HE is one God – and though He is one, He is three, too. I can’t explain how that is working, but I know it is that way by faith. (Hebrews 11:1) logical reasoning won’t bring us any further, because God just pointed out one single way to grab spiritual truth – faith.
I will repeat now just the way HE taught me.
The first thing is the trinity of God. Though being one God He has "three fractions" or “three persons”:
The “Three-Unity” of God
God the father - is above everything He is the highest in ranking. HE is the omnipotent, everlasting creator and ruler of the whole universe.
John 10:29
God the son - is sent by God the father. HE received from the father. Only a higher can give to a lower.
Luke 10:22 / John 5:36-37 / John 14:28
God the spirit - is under command of the father and the son. HE is the lowest in ranking of authority.
John 15:26
Though being three fractions (persons) they're one God.
John 10:30
Well, I had no difficulties with this lesson. This was well known to me, but without hesitation God continued just opening the next lesson.
The “Three-Unity” of Man
The second example for the principle of “Three-Unity” is man. We're made after God's image and because HE has a “Three-Unity” we're three in one, too:
Genesis 1:26
We will find the same difference in ranking when we look at man as God had designed him, originally.
Man's decision to obey Satan instead of God caused the death of the spirit. To be dead in the eyes of God means, that the order in ranking isn't existent anymore. I will describe now the order of ranking as God made it in the beginning.
The spirit of man - was designed to rule over soul and flesh(our physical body).
The Spirit is the only part of us that can have a connection with God.
To use a picture:
The Spirit is like our eyes. Without our eyes we're still living, but we're blind! We can feel, hear and smell but we have no chance to see the light.
Though sensing our picture of the surrounding reality is wrong - we need to see to know the true reality!
When man bowed to Satan's promise his Spirit died. In God's eyes every man is dead now. God can't reach us anymore - like we can't communicate with physical dead.
The soul of man - was designed to submit under the spirit. But now, spiritual dead, the soul took over the spirit's part. Man was now directed by his feelings, his ability of thinking.
The body of man - is the lowest in ranking. If we would separate the body from the rest of us there would be now difference to animals - just wild, brutal fighting for survival - archaic, animal like existence.
The disorder in man, caused by the death of the spirit, is so big, that often man can't submit the body under his soul. In that case man became more brutal than animals. No creature ever performed such incredible cruelty against nature and its own kind - than man!
When the LORD finished this lesson I told him, that this was nothing new for me. He didn’t pay any attention, continuing to the third chapter. And here I got alerted; I started to understand purpose and direction of this lesson.
The Three Unity of Israel
The 11 tribes of Jacob – the biggest part are the ordinary people. They are on the lowest stage in spiritual ranking. They received the land, and had been in direct contact with the daily affaires of human life.
The tribe of Levi - they did not possess the land as their brothers. They received 48 cities with the surrounding pastures. They received the tithe and a part of the offering. Their job was to serve in the sanctuary and teach God's law to the people. Their spiritual ranking was, though smaller by number, higher than the others.
Numbers 35 / Joshua 21
The priests (descendants of Aaron, Aaronites) - the smallest group. They even had no cities. Their inheritance, like all the tribe of Levi, was the Lord. They received the first-fruit and the offering. Their destination was written on a golden plate on their forehead: Holy to the Lord!
They were the smallest group in Israel but they had the order to be the connection between God and the rest of the people. They had the call to rule God's people in righteousness and truth.
Deuteronomy 18:2 / Exodus 28:36
Let’s visualize this principle of “Three-Unity”:
Size Ranking
the 11 tribes big low
(chosen out of the nations
to live holy unto the Lord)
Levi smaller higher
(chosen out of Israel to
serve the Lord)
Priests smallest highest
(chosen out of Levi)
But with this lesson God didn’t finish. There is one more lesson – existential for any further understanding.
The Three Unity of The Temple
The plan of the temple David received from God shows, how could it be different, a “Three-Unity” structure, too
The courts - had been the biggest part of the temple. A place every member of Israel was allowed to enter.
The courts of the temple had been the place Jesus Matth.21, 12-13 was cleansing in holy anger.
Matthew 21: 12-13
The sanctuary - was a place only priests and Levites were allowed to enter. To make it clear: You have to be born as a Levite to have entrance here! (This is important we’ll need this truth later)
The ranking in holiness was higher than the courts.
The Holy of Holies - was a place where the Ark of the Covenant was placed. A place where God himself had his presence. It was separated from the sanctuary by a long veil.
Only once a year, at the Day of Atonement, the High Priest was allowed to enter that place.
Hebrews 9: 1-7
Let's visualize that principle of “three-unity” again:
Size Ranking
the courts big holy
(a place every member of
God’s people could enter)
the sanctuary smaller more holy
(a place for Levites
and Priests)
the Holy of Holies smallest most holy
(a place of God’s
presence)
When God finished this lesson I was able to realize a divine principle:
Every expression of God’s divine character here on earth shows the characteristic structure of HIMSELF – a unity in three fractions!
man – created after God’s own image
Israel – HIS very possession among all the nations
temple – HIS house, the place of HIS presence
(There are more “Three-Unities” to find in God’s word, but God just used these. Even the heavens have a “Three-Unity”. Read 2. Corinthians 12:2)
The old temple isn’t standing anymore. Jesus promised to tear down the old temple and build up a new one - HIS body, the church.
John 2:19
A temple not built of stone but of living men. And now comes the “key-scripture” for further understanding. We are told in Hebrews that the old temple is an image of the new one.
Hebrews 9+10 / 2. Corinthians 6:16-18
Does the today temple, the church, have this same structure as the old one?
We have learned that every thing representing God on this earth is made in a way of a “three-unity”. So the today body of Christ, that new temple of God, is showing the same character as the old one!
How can we describe those three fractions in God’s temple (church) today? There must be differences in the inner life of a believer representing those different stages in holiness.
"Court-believers" - they have entered through the gate Jesus – Jesus is the gate we have to go through in order to become a part of the new temple - into the temple. By Jesus' death they have free access and are members of God’s people now. Though being God's property, they are just allowed to enter the courts, because to enter the sanctuary the "right of entering" (Salvation) isn't sufficient - here you need a "birthright" (Rebirth). At the courts there's a lot of trading and mingling with the world they should have left behind. They are saved, but haven’t become a new creation yet.
"Sanctuary-believers" - they aren't satisfied with just being saved. They hunger and thirst for more. They regard their wickedness and long to have divine order in their lives. They hunger and thirst for a life after God's original design.
Nothing will still that hunger - till they got it!
Let’s remember the statement about the service in the sanctuary: No one can enter here, except he is a Levite.
This is the same with the new temple, there is no easy entry for anyone, except you are permitted by birthright.
Does this somehow sound familiar to you? Do you have an “Ahh”- experience as I had when God got me to this point?
There we see Nicodemus coming to Jesus by night asking for the way to enter into the kingdom of God (The new Temple)
But we have learned that no one can enter the sanctuary - except he is a born Levite.
John 3
Jesus was replying that he is a scholar in Israel and he should know it. (Well, I have to confess I didn’t know the answer of this particular question till the day God started this lesson. But now, by God’s grace we can answer.)
You can’t just enter in, you have to be born for the entering right – you have to be born again! You have to become a total new creation – a Levite of the New Covenant!
When Nicodemus asked how that can happen, Jesus was pointing towards the wind – the Ruach Ha Kodesh – the Holy Wind – the Holy Spirit.
Well, I know this is a little bit disappointing. I know we love to know an answer showing us, what we can do! We made a decision for Christ and decided to be baptized – and now this dependency on a “wind” I do not have under control. A wind that is coming from somewhere going to somewhere – playing with me like a leave in the wind! We don’t like this wobbliness - we want answers. But this is God’s action, we have to accept HIS way, to accept the insecurity of a leave blown by the wind!
But there are unmistakable signs for the activity of God’s wind: Hunger, Hunger for more of God!
God will give the will first and the work at HIS timing. (Philippians 2:13)
God will create a total new creation – a creation with a living spirit again, able to hear HIS voice and to fulfil HIS will.
As God has chosen Levi for the old service, we have to accept HIS choosing for the “New Service”. HE is making the choice – every move outside HIS will is presumption (remember Korach). Though we think we’re serving God, we are against HIS divine order – and this will be followed by God’s judgment.
As God had chosen Levi in the "Old service", HE will choose His vessels for the new one.
Romans 9:16
"Holy-of-Holies-believers" - these are the very rare found disciples of Christ that are not satisfied with the new creation, alone.
By Jesus' death on the cross the veil is torn. If someone is born again nothing can hinder, he has free access to the face of god.
But only a very few chose that way of facing a consuming fire. This few long to be "transformed" into His image.
2. Corinthians 3:18
So they turn their faces towards the Holy of Holies. As closer they get the radiance of God’s holiness starts to penetrate their lives, cutting away every useless branch, parting body and soul.
The consuming fire of God will strip them totally. The heat will go over the human abilities and they will start to live not by normal human functioning anymore. When their own resources will break away, they will experience what is meant by:...to live by the spirit.
These are men and women consumed by God! What will be the result of that process?
They will reach a position of rest and peace. (Hebrews 4, 9-12)
We can describe this “Three Unity” in that way:
Old temple Church Size Ranking
God’s people saved big low (holy)
Levites born-again smaller higher(more holy)
Priests transformed smallest highest (most holy)
This temple is constructed in the same way as the old one – with just this difference its stones are living people.
It is one temple, it is one people, one church - but there are three levels of ranking.
Just a few thoughts to the courts:
In Revelation is said that the courts will be given to the nations, and they will trample over it 42 months.
Revelation 11:1-2
This will be the same cleansing process like Jesus did at His time. Instead of a whip HE will use the nations (driven by satanic power) to trample the courts.
Let's stay a little with that thought.
We are saved by the precious blood of Jesus. This blood is so powerful that all our trespasses of the past, the present and the future are covered totally. Nothing can be added to it.
We are saved for all eternity. But this does not include that we will use that "birthright" in the right way. The most believers like to be in the courts. They want eternal salvation plus the joy of the world.
In the courts you can do that. It grieves the heart of God but He will not recall His promise.
But like we punish our disobedient children God will cleanse His courts, that is perverted into a robbers den.
The Old Temple was destroyed by the armies of heathen. Israel had not returned from their idols. So God allowed the enemy to be successful. The trampling of the courts in Revelation has to be seen as God's punishment of love.
Those that refused "to lay down their lives" for Jesus' sake and preferred the easy life of the court, will face the fury of a fierce enemy.
Paul is saying the same: ... he will suffer loss. But for eternity he will be saved.
1. Corinthians 3:10-16
This time is very close!
When God got me to this point he started to reveal the meaning of Revelation chapter 12. And with all we have learned now every thing is clear. In this scripture lies everything we need for understanding. Here we find the “three-Unity” again, we are able to discern three characters:
The woman - The male child - The rest of her offspring
The only thing disturbing was the question: Is this vision about the church or about Israel?
God solved that quickly!
The Revelation is about the present and future at John's time. He received that vision on Patmos about 70 years after Jesus' birth.
Revelation 1:19
At that time Jesus already had lived about 33 years on that earth, died, rose and ascended to heaven. He is speaking glorified from heaven to John.
So, it's an obvious contradiction to think the male child is Him because Revelation is about the present and future.
Beside this simple logic he wasn't caught up after His birth directly.
It's clear the vision of that woman giving birth to a male child, and her offspring keeping the testimony of Jesus must illustrate something different.
Let's start with:
The Woman:
In the Old Testament God often used the picture of the woman to describe Israel - God's people.
This woman stands for God's people of the new covenant - His church. A people separated from the world, living "Holy unto the Lord".
The woman is dressed with the sun. This symbolizes that she is dressed with Jesus.
Galatians 3:27 / Romans 13:14 / Matthews 13:43
The moon under her feet is a symbol for authority over Satan. To put a foot on someone’s head was a common ritual in former ages. A sign of total surrender.
Romans 16:20
The crown of twelve stars is a symbol for the twelve apostles of Christ. Again we find an obvious parallel between Israel and the church.
The people of Israel came forth from the 12 sons of Jacob. The church came forth from the 12 disciples of Jesus. They are the foundation of billions of believers.
They will shine like the stars forever (see Daniel 12:3).
This woman is the bride of Christ that will be prepared in the Desert. There she will be protected from the enemy. She will have her saviour only. And this total dependence on Him will purify her.
These 42 months of Desert will turn her into Christ’s beautiful bride.
The Devil will try to kill her but God will protect and provide her.
But before the Desert is coming she will give birth to a male child. It is very important that this child is male. This symbolizes that this child is not the bride.
The male child:
In biblical symbolism the sex “male” is only adopted towards God and Christ - and the 144.000 sealed in Revelation. So, what is the "male child" standing for?
Revelation 14:1-5
This is a symbol for the transformed ones. They have been transformed into God's image and this transformation changed their human attribute “female” into God's attribute “male”.
These people lost their identity in God!
They will face a total stripping off of any of human ways of existence. These people lost the basis of humanity.
Because of this changing in their life no man can understand them anymore. They are isolated in a way I can't describe.
Perhaps this will help! The scripture tells us that no human being can see God without dying. They will have turned their eyes towards God. And this facing God will transform them into the image of God.
This process is painful, like the pain of labours. But the woman will give birth to her first fruit. When the last one of the transformed ones is perfected the rapture will take place!
The church of Christ will bring forth a fruit, a people being transformed into God's image. The first fruit of the nations. A first fruit is breaking the womb first, and it was regarded as a very possession of the Lord in the Old Testament.
They will be spotless in God’s eyes. On their foreheads they will wear the names of the Father and the Son engraved into their flesh. Like the priests of the old covenant wore the golden plate: Holy unto the Lord, they will wear the name of the Lord.
Isn’t that fascinating! How every little detail is perfect in place! Look to the perfect teaching of the Holy Spirit. It’s easy and not mystical – plain, simple truth, connected on our understanding about the divine principle of “Three-Unity”.
These 144.000 are the royal priesthood of the New Covenant – the first fruit of the nations.
We will find two times 144.000 in Revelation. The first are the first fruit of Israel (12 x 12.000. 12.000 from each tribe. (Revelation 7).
In Revelation 14 they are the 144.000, the first fruit (firstborn child) of the nations. They are the Priesthood of the New covenant, and the whole creation awaits the revelation of these Sons of God!
If the transformation process is finished (the painful labours are over) they will be caught up into heaven. In Revelation this happens during the seventh trumpet (the last of a total of seven), and Paul is confirming this in 1. Corinthians 15:51-52 as the last trumpet.
The rest of her offspring:
The ”rest of her offspring that keep the commandments of God and keep the testimonies of Jesus” are the “court-Believers”. In Revelation chapter 11 we read that the heathen will trample the courts for 42 months. Here we hear that Satan will fight against them.
Final conclusion:
Woman – Born-Again – Sanctuary
They will not be caught away. They have a place in the “desert” protected by God and nourished by Him. There in the “desert” they will be perfected, purified and formed into Christ’s perfect bride.
Male child – Transformed – Holy of Holies
As soon as the last one is perfected the rapture will take place. A sign for the “woman” to get ready for the desert.
The rest of her offspring – saved – court
They will face the fierce hatred of Satan. The very most of them will be killed or die by starvation if they will refuse to take the mark of the beast.
If they decide rather to die than taking the mark, they will reign with Christ.
(revelation 20:4)
Who received ears to hear, let them hear!
Who received eyes to see, let them see!
Amen