A Definitive Study of the Church & Its Attendees
Ministerial Branches, Church Members, or Attendees?
The popular Doctrine and Practice of Church Purity does isolate the mandate of separatism as a requirement for Ministerial Branches of the Church and or “Church Staff”, as some call it. As a result of this erroneous isolation, purity, holiness, and separatism is practically irrelevant to the status of regular “Church Members”, as some call them. Or, while obligating Church Members to loose standards of holiness, the Church Members assemble and congregate with what the scripture would call a mixed multitude of the clean and the unclean (2 Cor. 6:17-18), the righteous and the wicked (1 Cor. 5:13), the unleavened with the leavened (1 Cor. 5:6-8), or, if you will, the wheat and the tares (Matt. 3:10-12), and the list of inordinate mixtures could go on (Ezek. 22:26, 44:23). Take note, my reader! What was and is metaphorically communicated in the aforementioned comparisons has been exhaustively set-forth as a doctrine in scripture through clear, definitive, and indisputable non-metaphorical argumentation; namely that, The Church is “A Clean Place”!
What is a Clean Place?
So… what is “a clean place”, you wonder? Well, throughout all the differing stages of redemption found in Biblical Church History, the Church has been identified as a people known as the “assembly” and “congregation” of the LORD, and, in the widest sense, these people were born into, living within, and abiding by the rules (Lev. 10:10, 20:25, Ezek. 22:26, Lev. 7:21, Num. 19:20) of The Land of Israel & Judah, The Kingdom of God, The City of Jerusalem, and Mount Zion, and, finally, it must be noted that the focal point of this people and the reason why these places were clean, sin-separated, and holy, was because therein abides GOD via the Temple, Tabernacle, House, and Sanctuary of God. In other words, the Church is a clean people who gathered together in a clean place via an assembly or a congregation, whether in the Old Testament, the New Testament, or the Consummation.
Upon hearing this, the Modern Church would rashly argue that the command, “Touch not the unclean thing”, is an Old Testament commandment which bears no relevance to the New Testament Church. My reader, the apostle of THE GENTILES wrote to the Corinthian Church, saying, “Touch not the unclean thing” (2 Cor. 6:17)! So, apparently, the question remains for us to answer: is our local Church “A Clean Place”? Upon due consideration of 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1, and the like, one is forced to conclude that the Church of the New Testament is named and understood by the same titles as the Church of the Old Testament, and, if the Church of the New Testament is superior to the Church of the Old Testament inasmuch as it is the reality of the old-time shadows, parallelism exists between the two. Therefore, if the Church of the Old Testament (a shadow) was exclusive, the Church of the New Testament (the reality) is equally as exclusive. The shadow did portray the real image in its shadowing, you know! That was its purpose. Therefore, the shadow is like the real image, in reality. There is a shadow-to-reality parallelism on purpose, according to the unsearchable wisdom of God! Thus, in an attempt to comprehend the rules of Church Purity and congregation exclusivity, we need to understand the shadow-to-reality actuality of, “Touch not the unclean thing!” To prevent confusion, scripture is explicit enough to name names. By name, the peoples of the World were expelled from the Church of the Old Testament because it was “a clean place”. Hence, because the Church of the New Testament is also “a clean place”, parallel exclusivity applies.
Upon hearing this, the Modern Church would rashly argue that the command, “Touch not the unclean thing”, is an Old Testament commandment which bears no relevance to the New Testament Church. My reader, the apostle of THE GENTILES wrote to the Corinthian Church, saying, “Touch not the unclean thing” (2 Cor. 6:17)! So, apparently, the question remains for us to answer: is our local Church “A Clean Place”? Upon due consideration of 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1, and the like, one is forced to conclude that the Church of the New Testament is named and understood by the same titles as the Church of the Old Testament, and, if the Church of the New Testament is superior to the Church of the Old Testament inasmuch as it is the reality of the old-time shadows, parallelism exists between the two. Therefore, if the Church of the Old Testament (a shadow) was exclusive, the Church of the New Testament (the reality) is equally as exclusive. The shadow did portray the real image in its shadowing, you know! That was its purpose. Therefore, the shadow is like the real image, in reality. There is a shadow-to-reality parallelism on purpose, according to the unsearchable wisdom of God! Thus, in an attempt to comprehend the rules of Church Purity and congregation exclusivity, we need to understand the shadow-to-reality actuality of, “Touch not the unclean thing!” To prevent confusion, scripture is explicit enough to name names. By name, the peoples of the World were expelled from the Church of the Old Testament because it was “a clean place”. Hence, because the Church of the New Testament is also “a clean place”, parallel exclusivity applies.
The Assemblies of the Church
The Church Assemblies of the Old Testament
In reference to the assemblies of the Church in the Old Testament, this meant: every individual’s name who attended the assembly was written in the Book of Life; and, this being the case, this population of people were identified as “the upright” and “the saints” (Ps. 89:7) who were assembled in separation from “the mockers” (Jer. 15:17); and to be in separation from “the mockers” meant, in principle, the assembly was exclusive to “holy” and “clean” people and, therefore, “profane” and “unclean” people were excluded (Ezek. 44:23-24).
The Church Assemblies of the Consummation
In reference to the assemblies of the Church in the Consummation, of course, the continuation of these ideals is further confirmed: so, all the attendees of the assembly will be “holy”, “washed”, “purged” (Isa. 4:2-6), “saved” (Rom. 11:26), and “meek” (Matt. 5:5, Ps. 37:11); this being the case, all “the sinners”, “the wicked” (Ps. 104:35, Prov. 2:22, Isa. 13:9), and the “unbelieving” (Rev. 21:8) will be utterly expunged from the assembly of the Church. Seeing that this was and will be the code of assemblies in the Church via the Old Testament and the Consummation, would the assemblies of the New Testament Church be any different? Surely what was and will be, is no different than what is. The stages of redemption and expressions of the Church build and progress in unanimity from the Old Testament, the New Testament Gentile Church Age, unto the Consummation. They do not and cannot contradict one another.
The Church Assemblies of the New Testament
Even so, in reference to the assemblies of the New Testament Church, this meant: its attendees were in the Book of Life (Heb. 12:23), free from willful sin (Heb. 10:24-27) “sprinkled”, and “washed”, (Heb. 10:19-27). This being the case with the assemblies of the Church in every age, surely we can expect the same criteria to characterize the congregations of the Church, right?
The Congregations of the Church
The Church Congregations of the Old Testament
In reference to the congregations of the Church in the Old Testament, this meant: they were “the congregation[s] of God” (Neh. 13:1-3) that were bound by one supreme “ordinance” (Deut. 33:4-5, Num. 15:15) which necessitated that every individual in the congregation was holy (Num. 16:3, Lev. 19:2), “righteous” (Ps. 1:5), saintly (Ps. 89:5, 149:1), and belonging to God (Ps. 68:10, 74:2); hence, this congregated people was separated from all the accursed things and people who brought contempt upon the congregation (Josh. 7:13, Ezra 10:11-14). Therefore, all those whom God spoke of and named in various ways throughout scripture, saying, for example, “A…shall not enter into the congregation” (Deut. 23:1-8), were expelled – and this list of names included: “the adversary”, “the heathen” (Lam. 1:10), “the ungodly”, “sinners” (Ps. 1:5, Num. 15:30-31), “evil doers” (Ps. 26:5), “the dead” (Prov. 21:16), “vain persons”, “dissemblers”, and “the wicked” (Ps. 26:4-8, 12).
The Church Congregations of the Consummation
In reference to the congregations of the Church in the Consummation, of course, the continuation of these ideals is further confirmed: so, all the attendees of the congregation (Jer. 30:20) of the Church will be “Priests”, “Ministers” (Isa. 61:6, Rev. 20:6, Jer. 33:17-22), “Levites” (Isa. 66:21, Jer. 33:17-22), “Kings” (Rev. 5:10), and “Children of God” (Rom. 8:21).
The Church Congregations of the New Testament
Just as all citations have thus far proven, the attending congregants of the Church in the New Testament must harmonize with the criteria heretofore named, so that: the attendees of the congregation of the Church are Jesus’ “sanctified” “brethren” (Ps. 22:22, Heb. 2:11-12), and no one else! Hence the prayer, “Our Father” (Matt. 6:9, 1 Tim. 2:8).
The Locations of Church Gatherings
Having just examined the persons who congregated and assembled, specifically speaking, let us turn and gaze upon the locations in which the Church gathers: The Land of Israel & Judah, The Kingdom of God, The City of Jerusalem, and Mount Zion. In summary, the people of the Church in the Old Testament, the Consummation, and the New Testament were, will be, and are identifiable by the rules enforced at these various locations.
The Land of Israel & Judah in the Old Testament
The people of the Church in the Old Testament were identifiable by the rules enforced at these locations in a strict and exclusive way, naming names. According to Doctrinal Rule, the people who populated The Land of Israel & Judah were exclusively: “the upright”, “the perfect” (Prov. 2:21), those who put their “trust” in the LORD (Isa. 57:13), “the faithful”, “he that walketh in a perfect way” (Ps. 101:4-8), and those who were “clean” (Isa. 52:11). The people who were eradicated from the Land of Israel & Judah via the Death Penalty were: false prophets (Ezek. 13:9), rebellious Israelites (Hos. 9:3), “the wicked” (Nah. 1:5, Ps. 101:8), “the transgressors” (Prov. 2:22), “the rebels” (Ezek. 20:38-40), unconverted and forbidden “strangers” (Hos. 7:8-9, Isa. 1:7), “a froward heart”, “whoso privily slandereth his neighbor”, “him that hath an high look and a proud heart”, “he that worketh deceit”, “he that telleth lies”, “wicked doers” (Ps. 101:4-8), “the uncircumcised”, and “the unclean” (Isa. 52:1). The same rich and peculiar identity of the people is demonstrated a-new in each of the aforementioned titles or places of the Promised Land.
The Kingdom of God in the Old Testament
From a different angle of emphasis, the identity of the Church in the Old Testament is revealed by the term, The Kingdom of God, which was in fact The Land of Israel & Judah, and, as you will soon see, the people who dwelt therein were exclusive from the very beginning according to Doctrinal Rule. The Land of Israel & Judah became a settlement of the Israelite people BECAUSE God was KING: of a people, a territory, by Law, through Government, by war through battles in which God commanded and fought! The commissioning of the battle by the KING reveals the exclusivity of the Church in The Kingdom of God: “thou shalt save alive NOTHING that breatheth: but thou shalt UTTERLY destroy them”, “thou shalt consume ALL the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have NO PITY upon them… (Deut. 20:16-17, 7:16). In other words, God was saying that the native inhabitants of the Promised Land were exceedingly great sinners (Lev. 18:24-30, 20:22-27, Deut. 9:1-5), and because the Promised Land had been chosen by the KING as His Dominion, the Church, sinners had to be eradicated from the domain.
There were no sinners allowed in the Church – in the places or among the people where the Church gathered before God – according to the Dominion of the KING. If Israel allowed the native inhabitants to live and, thus, they were allowed to settle within the Promised Land at the same time as the conquering Israelites, the result was a mixture of saints and sinners in the Church --- a thing which God forbade at the pain of death! The KING said, “it will surely be a snare unto [the Church]” (Ex. 23:33, 34:12, Deut. 7:16, 25, 12:30, Num. 33:55, Judges 2:3). To be “snared” meant that they would eventually “perish” on account of this inordinate mixture (Josh. 23:13, Deut. 7:4, 20:18, Ex. 23:33, Deut. 7:26). The settlement of the Israelites in the Land of Israel and Judah was, in fact, the settlement of the Church; and because this settlement would be accomplished by war to the establishment of a Kingdom, Church Purity was demanded in the language of war (Ex. 23:23-24, 31-33, Ex. 34:11-17, Num. 33:51-56, Deut. 7:1-6, 16-21, 25-26, Deut. 12:1-4, 29-32, Deut. 18:9-14, 20:16-18, Josh. 23:1-16). Even so, on the contrary, Church Impurity was expressed in the following words and the like: “Judah…could not drive out” (Judges 1:19, 21, 27-28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34). God’s warnings proved true and, indeed, the remnant of sinners who mixed in the Church did utterly destroy the Church, according to scriptures (Judges 2:1-15). Therefore this people, the Church, must be sanctified, holy, and sinner-free… or else God would forsake them (Josh. 7:11-13). All sinners, Canaanite Sinners or Israelite-turned-Canaanite Sinners must be killed and thereby expelled from the Church, The Kingdom of God (Deut. 13:8-9, 11, Deut. 13:5, 17:7, 12, 1 Cor. 5:13, Deut. 18:10, 13, 2 Cor. 6:17, 7:1, Deut. 29:18, Heb. 12:15, Hos. 7:2, 4, 7-10, 1 Cor. 5:2, 6-7, Ps. 106:34-39).
The unholy and sinful chaos which ruled within once-born mankind worldwide – it was unwelcome in Israel. The passions and persons of hell were given their boundary point---stopping at the borders of Israelite settlements which encompassed the entirety of the Promised Land (Isa. 26:1-2, 60:18-19). My reader, Israel was sanctified to God as a “peculiar” and “separated” people (Ex. 19:5, Deut. 14:2, Lev. 20:24-25) above all other peoples on the face of the earth! Like the crest of earth was appointed by God and fixed with immovable fortitude before the whelming and untamable sea, the borders of Israel were appointed to withstand the untamable chaos of depravity that it would pass no further (Zech. 2:5, Isa. 4:5, 60:18-19, Psalm 48). As God “gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not pass His commandment: when He appointed the foundations of the earth” (Prov. 8:29), even so, likewise, God gave sin and sinners His decree that they should not pass into the camps, settlements, cities, or Lands of Israel – when He appointed the foundations of The Kingdom of God amidst the people of Israel (Isa. 26:1-2, 60:18-19). That which was expelled without would die if it was found within. Therefore if, in an overarching sense, the Church was known to be holiness unto the LORD according to the rules of the location, The Land of Israel & Judah, and by the rules which were consistent with the title, The Kingdom of God, then surely the more specified regions within these wider areas are holiness unto the LORD in like manner of exclusivity!
There were no sinners allowed in the Church – in the places or among the people where the Church gathered before God – according to the Dominion of the KING. If Israel allowed the native inhabitants to live and, thus, they were allowed to settle within the Promised Land at the same time as the conquering Israelites, the result was a mixture of saints and sinners in the Church --- a thing which God forbade at the pain of death! The KING said, “it will surely be a snare unto [the Church]” (Ex. 23:33, 34:12, Deut. 7:16, 25, 12:30, Num. 33:55, Judges 2:3). To be “snared” meant that they would eventually “perish” on account of this inordinate mixture (Josh. 23:13, Deut. 7:4, 20:18, Ex. 23:33, Deut. 7:26). The settlement of the Israelites in the Land of Israel and Judah was, in fact, the settlement of the Church; and because this settlement would be accomplished by war to the establishment of a Kingdom, Church Purity was demanded in the language of war (Ex. 23:23-24, 31-33, Ex. 34:11-17, Num. 33:51-56, Deut. 7:1-6, 16-21, 25-26, Deut. 12:1-4, 29-32, Deut. 18:9-14, 20:16-18, Josh. 23:1-16). Even so, on the contrary, Church Impurity was expressed in the following words and the like: “Judah…could not drive out” (Judges 1:19, 21, 27-28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34). God’s warnings proved true and, indeed, the remnant of sinners who mixed in the Church did utterly destroy the Church, according to scriptures (Judges 2:1-15). Therefore this people, the Church, must be sanctified, holy, and sinner-free… or else God would forsake them (Josh. 7:11-13). All sinners, Canaanite Sinners or Israelite-turned-Canaanite Sinners must be killed and thereby expelled from the Church, The Kingdom of God (Deut. 13:8-9, 11, Deut. 13:5, 17:7, 12, 1 Cor. 5:13, Deut. 18:10, 13, 2 Cor. 6:17, 7:1, Deut. 29:18, Heb. 12:15, Hos. 7:2, 4, 7-10, 1 Cor. 5:2, 6-7, Ps. 106:34-39).
The unholy and sinful chaos which ruled within once-born mankind worldwide – it was unwelcome in Israel. The passions and persons of hell were given their boundary point---stopping at the borders of Israelite settlements which encompassed the entirety of the Promised Land (Isa. 26:1-2, 60:18-19). My reader, Israel was sanctified to God as a “peculiar” and “separated” people (Ex. 19:5, Deut. 14:2, Lev. 20:24-25) above all other peoples on the face of the earth! Like the crest of earth was appointed by God and fixed with immovable fortitude before the whelming and untamable sea, the borders of Israel were appointed to withstand the untamable chaos of depravity that it would pass no further (Zech. 2:5, Isa. 4:5, 60:18-19, Psalm 48). As God “gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not pass His commandment: when He appointed the foundations of the earth” (Prov. 8:29), even so, likewise, God gave sin and sinners His decree that they should not pass into the camps, settlements, cities, or Lands of Israel – when He appointed the foundations of The Kingdom of God amidst the people of Israel (Isa. 26:1-2, 60:18-19). That which was expelled without would die if it was found within. Therefore if, in an overarching sense, the Church was known to be holiness unto the LORD according to the rules of the location, The Land of Israel & Judah, and by the rules which were consistent with the title, The Kingdom of God, then surely the more specified regions within these wider areas are holiness unto the LORD in like manner of exclusivity!
The City of Jerusalem in the Old Testament
Even so, narrowing our focus of study, the Empire City of the Kingdom of God - The City of Jerusalem - was known by Doctrinal Rule in Old Testament Israel as: “the City of our God”, “the City of the Great King”, and “the City of the LORD of hosts” (Ps. 48:1, 2, 8)! And because the Presence of God was valuable to the people of Israel and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the people determined to “cut off all the wicked doers from the City of the LORD” (Ps. 101:8) so as to secure the presence of God (Ps. 101:2). With all scripture heretofore considered, applied, and fulfilled, the inhabitants of The City of Jerusalem were not “the wicked doers” (Ps. 101:8), “the adversary”, or “the enemy” (Lam. 4:12). By no means! On the contrary, every citizen was a saint, every sinner they did morally hate (Deut. 23:1-8, Num. 15:30-31), and judgment was the filter of the populous who passed through the Gates (Isa. 26:8, Ps. 48:11, Zech. 8:16-19)!
This City was a place in which “the heathen” would NOT come except in the case when the unholy sons of Adam broke through the boundaries which God had ordained by Law that none should trespass (Ps. 79:1, Isa. 26:1-2, 60:18-19). The walls and Gates of this City were not meant as mere barricades of defense in times of war, oh no! They were meant to be of old what they will invincibly and everlastingly become in the Consummation: The Walls and Gates of Salvation (Isa. 26:1-2, 60:18-19, Rev. 21:22-22:5, Rev. 22:11-15)!
This City was a place in which “the heathen” would NOT come except in the case when the unholy sons of Adam broke through the boundaries which God had ordained by Law that none should trespass (Ps. 79:1, Isa. 26:1-2, 60:18-19). The walls and Gates of this City were not meant as mere barricades of defense in times of war, oh no! They were meant to be of old what they will invincibly and everlastingly become in the Consummation: The Walls and Gates of Salvation (Isa. 26:1-2, 60:18-19, Rev. 21:22-22:5, Rev. 22:11-15)!
Mount Zion in the Old Testament
Finally, and with all things considered, what exclusivity of Doctrinal Rule shall we expect existed in what was known in the Old Testament as, Mount Zion? Mount Zion was called the Mountain that God “loved” (Ps. 78:68), and what was so lovable about it?
According to the Doctrinal Rules exhaustively covered in the Chapter, the inhabitants and visitors of Mount Zion were exclusively: speaking in the present tense of that time, “He that putteth his trust in [the LORD]” (Isa. 57:13), he that has “clean hands” and a “pure heart” who has not “lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sword deceitfully” (Ps. 23:4), He that “walketh uprightly” and “worketh righteousness” (Ps. 15:2), that “speaketh truth in his heart” and “backbiteth not with his tongue” (Ps. 15:2-3), He that does not do “evil to his neighbour” (Ps. 15:3), He who hates “a vile person” and “honoureth them that fear the LORD” (Ps. 15:4), “He that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not” (Ps. 15:4), “He that putteth not out his money to usury nor taketh reward against the innocent” (Ps. 15:5), even these people, and none other, did “receive the blessing from the LORD” which was “righteousness from the God” (Ps. 24:5), which was, furthermore, the privilege to circuit Mount Zion and especially appear before God Almighty!
Therefore was Zion remembered by God to be, metaphorically speaking, pure silver and un-mixed wine (Isa. 1:22). This means that The City of Jerusalem and Mount Zion was a “faithful City” which was “full of judgment” so that “righteousness lodged in it” (Isa. 1:21), before the silver became dross and the wine was mixed with water (Isa. 1:22), and after Mount Zion was defiled, God said: “I will turn My hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin” (Isa. 1:25-26). This metaphorical purging and taking away was, in other words, the destruction of “the transgressors”, “the sinners”, and “they that forsake the LORD” (Isa. 1:27-28). Naming names, we know who the people of the Church at Old Testament Mount Zion were.
According to the Doctrinal Rules exhaustively covered in the Chapter, the inhabitants and visitors of Mount Zion were exclusively: speaking in the present tense of that time, “He that putteth his trust in [the LORD]” (Isa. 57:13), he that has “clean hands” and a “pure heart” who has not “lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sword deceitfully” (Ps. 23:4), He that “walketh uprightly” and “worketh righteousness” (Ps. 15:2), that “speaketh truth in his heart” and “backbiteth not with his tongue” (Ps. 15:2-3), He that does not do “evil to his neighbour” (Ps. 15:3), He who hates “a vile person” and “honoureth them that fear the LORD” (Ps. 15:4), “He that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not” (Ps. 15:4), “He that putteth not out his money to usury nor taketh reward against the innocent” (Ps. 15:5), even these people, and none other, did “receive the blessing from the LORD” which was “righteousness from the God” (Ps. 24:5), which was, furthermore, the privilege to circuit Mount Zion and especially appear before God Almighty!
Therefore was Zion remembered by God to be, metaphorically speaking, pure silver and un-mixed wine (Isa. 1:22). This means that The City of Jerusalem and Mount Zion was a “faithful City” which was “full of judgment” so that “righteousness lodged in it” (Isa. 1:21), before the silver became dross and the wine was mixed with water (Isa. 1:22), and after Mount Zion was defiled, God said: “I will turn My hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin” (Isa. 1:25-26). This metaphorical purging and taking away was, in other words, the destruction of “the transgressors”, “the sinners”, and “they that forsake the LORD” (Isa. 1:27-28). Naming names, we know who the people of the Church at Old Testament Mount Zion were.
The Land of Israel & Judah in the Consummation
The people of the Church in the Consummation will be identifiable by the rules enforced at these locations in a strict and exclusive way, naming names.According to Doctrinal Rule, the population of people who will inhabit The Land of Israel & Judah at the Consummation will be a regathered people of Israel and Judah which will become one family by regeneration (Jer. 31:1-14, Hos. 1:11, Ezek. 34:23-24, 37:11) and, thus, by conduct, they will meet the special criteria due to the title: “My people” (Jer. 31:1). Not only will the people, via regeneration, no longer “sorrow ANY MORE AT ALL” (Jer. 31:12, Rev. 21:3-5), but, also, they will never again defile themselves by idols or backslide from salvation (Ezek. 37:23). Likewise, as a consequence, the unified families of Israel will not be divided into two Kingdoms “ANY MORE at all” (Ezek. 37:22). According to the Gospel of Matthew, all of this will be made possible by “the regeneration” (Matt. 19:28) – not the regeneration of the soul, only, but the body and the rest of creation will be liberated, also, by a consummating regeneration that is yet to come (Rom. 8:18-23)! – and, because of this, there will be NO MORE rebels, transgressors, or idolaters in all the Land of Israel & Judah forevermore, and, notably, everyone in the Land will be servants of the LORD in Spirit and in Truth (Ezek. 20:37-42)! Hallelujah! Come Lord Jesus, come! Till all the ransomed Church of God are saved to sin no more!
The Kingdom of God in the Consummation
According to Doctrinal Rule, the population of people who will be in The Kingdom of God at the Consummation (when the Lord Jesus will rule and reign forevermore) has been clearly named: it was written, “the saints possessed the Kingdom” as “joint-heirs” (Dan. 7:22, Rom. 8:17). In summation, they will be few in number like Christ said (Lk. 13:23-30), because they will not be workers of iniquity (Lk. 13:27). This means that they will be “saints” (holy ones) inwardly and outwardly (Dan. 7:18, 22, 27, Rom. 8:17), according to apostolic doctrine. This holiness or separateness means that they were the overcomers of the World (Rev. 3:21) by the power of the Cross (Gal. 6:14). Through the Cross – the power of salvific mortification (Rom. 8:1, 13, Gal. 5:24) – this company of saints lived up to the name, “holy one”, hence they will inherit the Kingdom of God (because they exhibited behavior that “becometh saints” – Eph. 5:3). Undoubtedly, therefore, all unrighteous people will be excluded from the Kingdom (1 Cor. 6:9)! Naming names, this means that all such men are strictly excluded from the Kingdom: fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, the effeminate, abusers of themselves with mankind, thieves, covetous people, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners (1 Cor. 6:9-10), unclean people, filthy people, foolish talking people, jesting people, whoremongers, and the children of disobedience (Eph. 5:3-7), lascivious people, witchcraft users, hateful people, variant people, emulating people, wrathful people, argumentative people (those who practice strife and seditions), heretical people, envious people, murderers, partiers (those who practice revellings), and such like people (Gal. 5:19-21), the non-overcomers, the fearful, the unbelieving, the abominable, the sorcerers, and all liars (Rev. 21:7-8). Glory to the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the World! “For whatsoever is born of God ovecometh the World: and this is the victory that overcometh the World, even our faith” (1 John 5:4)! These are Church Members.
The City of Jerusalem in the Consummation
According to Doctrinal Rule, the population of people who will be in The City of Jerusalem at the Consummation is harmonious to how the work of redemption will consummate: it was prophesied of old, “All Israel shall be saved” (Rom. 11:26)! At this time, not one single man will be able to enter the City of Jerusalem unless he or she is saved! Explicitly, it was written, the walls of the City will be called salvation and the Gates praise (Isa. 60:18-19, 26:1-2)! This mean that within this City and Land, there will be no more sin, uncleanness, idolatry, false prophets, or unclean spirits (Zech. 13:1-2); no more unholiness of any kind and no more Canaanites (Zech. 14:20-21); no more “any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie”, but only those persons whose names “are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Rev. 21:22-22:5); only those persons who were, are, and will be the servants of the LORD (Rev. 22:3), or, “they that do His commandments”, will enter into the City of Jerusalem, because “without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie” (Rev. 22:11-15). Glory be to God! Only those persons who make-up a “righteous nation which keepeth the truth” will enter into the City of Jerusalem (Isa. 26:1-2)! This is the Church.
Mount Zion in the Consummation
According to Doctrinal Rule, the population of people who will be ascending or dwelling upon Mount Zion at the Consummation must be just as the Mountain itself will be --- “HOLY” (Joel. 3:15-18)! The people shall be as the place! God said, “I will place salvation in Zion for Israel My glory” (Isa. 46:13). What a glory! This means that “no strangers” will pass through her any more (Joel. 3:17). No unsaved man! And as a result of glorious and unspeakable judgments, “strange children” will be eradicated from the Mountain (Ps. 144:6-8, 11). The operation of these judgments will begin at the bodily appearance of the GOD-MAN, Jesus of Nazareth, who will return upon the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:4, Acts 1:11-12) and ascend Mount Zion (Rev. 14:1-5) – there to fulfill all the glorious prophecies and promises of salvation in Consummation. This exclusive people, the Church, who will be allowed to ascend Mount Zion, are named in scripture: a “righteous nation which keepeth the truth” (Isa. 25:6-26:2), the people who followed the Lamb “withersoever He goeth”, the “redeemed from among men”, those who were “not defiled with women” and were “virgins” (2 Cor. 11:2-4, Jas. 4:4, Rev. 19:7-8), “the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb”, those whose mouths had “no guile” and whose persons were “without fault” before the Throne of God (Rev. 14:1-5). Thus, the question remains for the Church of the 21st century: “WHO” are we (PS. 15:1, 24:3)? “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8)! These are authentic Church Members according to scripture.
The Land of Israel & Judah in the New Testament
The people of the Church in the New Testament are identifiable by the rules enforced at these locations in a strict and exclusive way, naming names. In other words, the Church of the New Testament is identified and understood according to the rules of The Land of Israel and Judah depicted in the Old Testament and the Consummation. According to Doctrinal Rule, this means that the population of people who are inhabitants of The Land of Israel & Judah in the New Testament are the regenerate: Jews and Gentiles by flesh who have been inwardly regenerated into Israelites in Spirit and in Truth! For this reason, Paul said to the Gentiles, “if ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed” (Gal. 3:29). By the indwelling of Christ via regeneration, every race of man does become Abraham’s seed spiritually speaking, inward Jews legally speaking, and “the circumcision” truthfully speaking (Gal. 3:29, Rom. 2:25-29, 9:6, Php. 3:1-3) – therefore they are, rightly called, “the Israel of God” (Gal. 6:15-16). They are, furthermore, “a chosen Generation, a Royal Priesthood, an Holy Nation, a peculiar People” (1 Pet. 2:9-11, Ex. 19:5), which means that they are “fellowcitizens with the saints” of the Old Testament, and they are, now, “of the Household of God” (Eph. 2:18-19). By the 2nd birth, Christians of all fleshly races are made into natives and ambassadors of the Nation of Israel.
By spiritual position, Christians have come (Heb. 12:22) to the same place which they have been made to sit (Eph. 2:6) - The Land of Israel & Judah (the Heavenly Country), The Mountain of Zion, the Heavenly Jerusalem, unto Join-Heir Thrones to rule and reign with Christ (Heb. 11:14-16, 12:22, Eph. 2:19, Rom. 8:17). All the aforementioned details of identity are true via the inner-workings of redemption which are, in summation: the regeneration (Titus 3:5), the adoption (Rom. 8:15), the Kingdom (Lk. 17:21, Col. 1:13, Eph. 2:6), the resurrection (Rom. 6:4), eternal life (1 Jn. 3:15, 5:12-13), overcoming power (Eph. 2:5, 1 Jn. 5:4), the defeat of death (Rom. 8:2-6, Eph. 2:5), the light (Eph. 5:8), the revelatory sight (2 Cor. 3:17-18, 1 Cor. 13:12, Heb. 11:27), knowing God (1 Jn. 2:4, Jn. 17:3), conformity to Christ (1 Jn. 2:4-6, 4:17), and so on. Therefore, at last! Let us understand the New Testament in perfect harmony with the Old Testament and the Consummation in the matter of Church Purity! Naming names, this means: unconverted “strangers” and “foreigners” are forbidden entrance to the Church (Eph. 2:18-19); for, who else would dare drawn near (Heb. 10:19-23)!? And, furthermore, who else could draw near! The rules of holiness in the Church do not change from shadow-to-reality-to --- the Consummation!
By spiritual position, Christians have come (Heb. 12:22) to the same place which they have been made to sit (Eph. 2:6) - The Land of Israel & Judah (the Heavenly Country), The Mountain of Zion, the Heavenly Jerusalem, unto Join-Heir Thrones to rule and reign with Christ (Heb. 11:14-16, 12:22, Eph. 2:19, Rom. 8:17). All the aforementioned details of identity are true via the inner-workings of redemption which are, in summation: the regeneration (Titus 3:5), the adoption (Rom. 8:15), the Kingdom (Lk. 17:21, Col. 1:13, Eph. 2:6), the resurrection (Rom. 6:4), eternal life (1 Jn. 3:15, 5:12-13), overcoming power (Eph. 2:5, 1 Jn. 5:4), the defeat of death (Rom. 8:2-6, Eph. 2:5), the light (Eph. 5:8), the revelatory sight (2 Cor. 3:17-18, 1 Cor. 13:12, Heb. 11:27), knowing God (1 Jn. 2:4, Jn. 17:3), conformity to Christ (1 Jn. 2:4-6, 4:17), and so on. Therefore, at last! Let us understand the New Testament in perfect harmony with the Old Testament and the Consummation in the matter of Church Purity! Naming names, this means: unconverted “strangers” and “foreigners” are forbidden entrance to the Church (Eph. 2:18-19); for, who else would dare drawn near (Heb. 10:19-23)!? And, furthermore, who else could draw near! The rules of holiness in the Church do not change from shadow-to-reality-to --- the Consummation!
The Kingdom of God in the New Testament
The Church of the New Testament is identified and understood according to the rules of The Kingdom of God depicted in the Old Testament and the Consummation. According to Doctrinal Rule, this means that the population of people who are citizens, ambassadors, inheritors, and possessors of the Kingdom of God in the New Testament are an otherworldly people, by necessity. Testifying to this, Jesus Christ said, “My Kingdom is not of this World” (John 18:36). Though the Kingdom is mysteriously invisible to most of the World, it is revealed to men on the day of their 2nd birth into its jurisdiction (Jn. 3:3, 5); thus to all born again individuals, Christ said: “BEHOLD, The Kingdom of God is within you” (Lk. 17:21)! This people of the Kingdom are fruit-bearing, repentance-keeping, believers who have become Abraham’s seed, no matter their original nationality according to the flesh (Matt. 8:10-12, 3:7-10, Gal. 3:14).
For the establishment of this Kingdom, or, in other words, for the Gentiles to be born again into this blessed lineage so as to become the Church, WAR transpired (1 Jn. 3:8, Lk. 2:34-35): a conquering King took captives by force (Josh. 5:13, Matt. 16:18, 23:15, 2 Cor. 4:3-4, Eph. 4:8-10, Heb. 2:14-16, Judges 5:12, Ps. 68:18, Rom. 5:21, Col. 2:15, Rev. 1:18)! Now, at present, those were rescued by Christ do fight for, with, and in Him (Matt. 10:34, Eph. 6:10-17, Col. 1:18, 1 Cor. 7:22, Rom. 13:11-14, 1 Tim. 1:16, 2 Tim. 4:7) because the battle continues on, still yet, inasmuch as the Kingdom advances upon other souls to save. The Church Militant knows that there are yet more souls to be freed from Satan’s tyrannical laws of sin (Rom. 8:2-4, 6:14, 7:23, 14:17). With war-like preparations of heart, the Christians, in adoration of their King, adhere to the Cross which does violence to all flesh (Gal. 2:20, 5:24, 6:14)! With moral hatred, the King’s Army marches onward to kill all flesh (1 Cor. 15:50, Lk. 14:26, Jn. 12:25, Gal. 5:24)! The BATTLE rages in present-tense combat: Heaven against Earth (Col. 3:5, Rom. 8:13, Php. 3:19, Col. 3:1-3), Light against Darkness (Rom. 13:12, Col. 1:12, Eph. 5:8, 6:12, 2 Cor. 6:14), the Spirit against the Flesh (Rom. 8:1, 4, 6, Gal. 5:16, 24-25, Jn. 1:12-13, 2 Cor. 7:1), the sons of God against the sons of Adam (Gen. 6:2, 1 Cor. 15:22, Rom. 5:12, Gal. 4:29, Rom. 8:7), the family of God against the family of Satan (1 Jn. 3:10, Matt. 10:25, 2 Cor. 6:17-18), and the twice-born against the once-born (John 3:3, 5, 1 Cor. 2:14, Eph. 2:2-3). The CODE of the King’s Army lives and fights so that the Clean prevails against the Unclean and Virginity prevails against Adultery (2 Cor. 11:2, James 4:4, Rev. 14:4). Therefore, like battles of old wherein all Canaanites needed to die in the advancement of the Kingdom of God in the Old Testament, all flesh must die in the advancement of the Kingdom of God in the New Testament. And, like as the climactic finality of redemption in the Consummation wherein, it was written, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 15:20), even so, now, the same rule applies in the Church of the New Testament (Rom. 8:1, 13, Gal. 5:24). This means that the Kingdom’s soldiers are employed with mercilessness and pitilessness to annihilate the flesh unto death for the establishment of Kingdom-wide or Church-wide holiness and purity (in what is called “the perfection holiness” – 2 Cor. 6:17-7:1), and, all of this, for the obtaining of the promises of salvation, or else, like of old, the Church will suffer the promises of damnation decreed by scripture as a threat to all violators of Church Purity. You see, perfect parallelism resounds!
For the establishment of this Kingdom, or, in other words, for the Gentiles to be born again into this blessed lineage so as to become the Church, WAR transpired (1 Jn. 3:8, Lk. 2:34-35): a conquering King took captives by force (Josh. 5:13, Matt. 16:18, 23:15, 2 Cor. 4:3-4, Eph. 4:8-10, Heb. 2:14-16, Judges 5:12, Ps. 68:18, Rom. 5:21, Col. 2:15, Rev. 1:18)! Now, at present, those were rescued by Christ do fight for, with, and in Him (Matt. 10:34, Eph. 6:10-17, Col. 1:18, 1 Cor. 7:22, Rom. 13:11-14, 1 Tim. 1:16, 2 Tim. 4:7) because the battle continues on, still yet, inasmuch as the Kingdom advances upon other souls to save. The Church Militant knows that there are yet more souls to be freed from Satan’s tyrannical laws of sin (Rom. 8:2-4, 6:14, 7:23, 14:17). With war-like preparations of heart, the Christians, in adoration of their King, adhere to the Cross which does violence to all flesh (Gal. 2:20, 5:24, 6:14)! With moral hatred, the King’s Army marches onward to kill all flesh (1 Cor. 15:50, Lk. 14:26, Jn. 12:25, Gal. 5:24)! The BATTLE rages in present-tense combat: Heaven against Earth (Col. 3:5, Rom. 8:13, Php. 3:19, Col. 3:1-3), Light against Darkness (Rom. 13:12, Col. 1:12, Eph. 5:8, 6:12, 2 Cor. 6:14), the Spirit against the Flesh (Rom. 8:1, 4, 6, Gal. 5:16, 24-25, Jn. 1:12-13, 2 Cor. 7:1), the sons of God against the sons of Adam (Gen. 6:2, 1 Cor. 15:22, Rom. 5:12, Gal. 4:29, Rom. 8:7), the family of God against the family of Satan (1 Jn. 3:10, Matt. 10:25, 2 Cor. 6:17-18), and the twice-born against the once-born (John 3:3, 5, 1 Cor. 2:14, Eph. 2:2-3). The CODE of the King’s Army lives and fights so that the Clean prevails against the Unclean and Virginity prevails against Adultery (2 Cor. 11:2, James 4:4, Rev. 14:4). Therefore, like battles of old wherein all Canaanites needed to die in the advancement of the Kingdom of God in the Old Testament, all flesh must die in the advancement of the Kingdom of God in the New Testament. And, like as the climactic finality of redemption in the Consummation wherein, it was written, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 15:20), even so, now, the same rule applies in the Church of the New Testament (Rom. 8:1, 13, Gal. 5:24). This means that the Kingdom’s soldiers are employed with mercilessness and pitilessness to annihilate the flesh unto death for the establishment of Kingdom-wide or Church-wide holiness and purity (in what is called “the perfection holiness” – 2 Cor. 6:17-7:1), and, all of this, for the obtaining of the promises of salvation, or else, like of old, the Church will suffer the promises of damnation decreed by scripture as a threat to all violators of Church Purity. You see, perfect parallelism resounds!
The City of Jerusalem in the New Testament
The Church of the New Testament is identified and understood according to the rules of The City of Jerusalem depicted in the Old Testament and the Consummation. According to Doctrinal Rule, this means that the population of people who are the children of The City of Jerusalem in the New Testament are saved (Gal. 4:25-26, Heb. 12:22), persecuted (Heb. 13:13-14, 2 Thess. 1:4-5), strangers to the earth (1 Jn. 2:6, 16, 4:5, 5:19, Titus 2:11-14), lights in the world (Php. 2:15), and rulers in the world to come (Mk. 10:30, Lk. 18:30, Heb. 2:5, 6:5). In harmony with this identity, and notably, the entire lifespan of these individuals on earth is called sojourning, mere sojourning! They are sojourners! Rightly said, because these people are citizens of the Heavenly City, Jerusalem (1 Pet. 1:17, Heb. 12:22, Mk. 6:21), the same place where they long to be (Ps. 137:1-9, Isa. 62:6)! You see, they “desire a better country”, “wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God” (Matt. 10:32-40, Heb. 11:16). They are godly because they are born of the City of God (Ps. 48:1, 8), and sinners are worldly because they are born of the World (1 Jn. 4:5-6, 2 Cor. 4:4, Eph. 6:12).
New men belong to a New World, the “New Jerusalem” (Rev. 21:2), the “New Heaven and a New Earth” (Rev. 21:1), where dwelleth Him who said, “Behold, I make all things NEW” (Rev. 21:5). Even so, God is “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY” (Rev. 4:8), His Spirit is a “Holy Spirit” (1 Thess. 4:8), and those that walk in Him are “holy” (Heb. 12:48), therefore they are not strangers, but citizens and friends of “the Holy City” (Rev. 21:2). None other “may enter in through the Gates into the City” (Rev. 22:14)! This holy people of the Church, they are not friends of the World nor are they adulterers against God (Jas. 4:4, 2 Cor. 11:2-4, Rev. 14:4), like all the disobedient children are (Eph. 2:2). They are, rather, friends of God and enemies of the devil (Jas. 2:23), and this is their strangeness (1 Pet. 4:1-4). They are “true worshippers” of God, having died to flesh and sin (2 Cor. Jn. 5:23, Php. 3:3, Rom. 8:13, 1 Cor. 1:29). These are heaven-born men and heavenly citizens who are free from iniquity! Therefore, they are recognizable men who are welcomed into the Heavenly Gates of Jerusalem (Lk. 13:24-30, Rev. 3:11-13). “Blessed” are these men, because they “do His commandments” (Rev. 22:14-15), scripture declares! All other men are illegals, foreigners and aliens, therefore they are unrecognizable to God and unwelcomed into the City of Jerusalem; they are eradicated, excommunicated, and non-existent in the Churches of the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Consummation, even so let it be!
New men belong to a New World, the “New Jerusalem” (Rev. 21:2), the “New Heaven and a New Earth” (Rev. 21:1), where dwelleth Him who said, “Behold, I make all things NEW” (Rev. 21:5). Even so, God is “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY” (Rev. 4:8), His Spirit is a “Holy Spirit” (1 Thess. 4:8), and those that walk in Him are “holy” (Heb. 12:48), therefore they are not strangers, but citizens and friends of “the Holy City” (Rev. 21:2). None other “may enter in through the Gates into the City” (Rev. 22:14)! This holy people of the Church, they are not friends of the World nor are they adulterers against God (Jas. 4:4, 2 Cor. 11:2-4, Rev. 14:4), like all the disobedient children are (Eph. 2:2). They are, rather, friends of God and enemies of the devil (Jas. 2:23), and this is their strangeness (1 Pet. 4:1-4). They are “true worshippers” of God, having died to flesh and sin (2 Cor. Jn. 5:23, Php. 3:3, Rom. 8:13, 1 Cor. 1:29). These are heaven-born men and heavenly citizens who are free from iniquity! Therefore, they are recognizable men who are welcomed into the Heavenly Gates of Jerusalem (Lk. 13:24-30, Rev. 3:11-13). “Blessed” are these men, because they “do His commandments” (Rev. 22:14-15), scripture declares! All other men are illegals, foreigners and aliens, therefore they are unrecognizable to God and unwelcomed into the City of Jerusalem; they are eradicated, excommunicated, and non-existent in the Churches of the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Consummation, even so let it be!
Mount Zion in the New Testament
The Church of the New Testament is identified and understood according to the rules of Mount Zion depicted in the Old Testament and the Consummation. According to Doctrinal Rule, this means that the population of people which has ascended Mount Zion in the New Testament is Gentile-Israelite by race, stranger-free by law, ingratiated by unmerited favor, and godly-fearful by nature – therefore they are a holy people (Heb. 12:22, Ps. 24:3, Joel 3:15-17, Heb. 12:18-29, 1 Pet. 1:15-16) who does hear the voice of God from the standpoint of a superior Mountain than Sinai, and they are obedient (Heb. 12:25)! And, in like manner to Sinai, they eat and drink on the Mountain while they see God and live. What a Glory! Harmoniously, the people who were and will be on Mount Zion in the Church of the Old Testament and at the Consummation do, right now, have the same identity in the Church of the New Testament.
The Temple, Tabernacle, House, & Sanctuary of God
Having just examined the geographically larger locations and the assemblies and congregations of the populous therein, our study narrows down to The Temple, Tabernacle, House, & Sanctuary of God. The aforementioned places are the same place, but in four different stages of Old Testament redemption. For this reason, our study in this Chapter is more focused and less diverse; meaning, we will examine the rules of holiness pertaining to this location in the Old Testament, in one section, and the rules of holiness pertaining to this location in the New Testament and the Consummation, in another section, instead of using three sections like the former Chapters.
In the Old Testament
The people of the Church in the Old Testament were identifiable by the rules enforced at this location in a strict and exclusive way, naming names. Needless to say, the assembly or congregation of people who were permitted court or building entrance to The Temple, Tabernacle, House, & Sanctuary of God in the Old Testament were HOLY unto the Lord. For this reason, the Sanctuary was exceedingly “amiable” (Ps. 84:1): a place of revelatory, eye-opening experiences where men saw God (Ps. 63:2), His ways, works, and purposes (Ps. 68:24, 77:13), and therefore all saints were compelled to look thereto for help from God (Ps. 20:2). Those individuals who entered and abode therein were blessed, chosen, and caused to approach (Ps. 65:4, Jer. 11:15) unto an otherwise unapproachable place – HOLY PLACE – where everything must be “cleansed according to the purification of the Sanctuary” (2 Chron. 30:19).
Revealing the commonplace introspection that every individual underwent before entering this place, the LORD questioned: “Who then is able to stand before Me?” Even so, God made sure that all impure people were petrified to violate the purity of this place (by immediate and inescapable judgments: Job 41:10, Jer. 7:1-15, Ezek. 9:1-8). Therefore, let us understand! God’s immediate Presence was the people’s sanctification (Ex. 23:20-21, Deut. 4:7, Ex. 33:14, 16, 34:9-10). The place where God and the people met was a “Sanctuary” because of the sanctification of the people and place (Ex. 15:17, 25:8, 20:24). A Sanctuary is a “cleansed” place (Ezek. 45:18) which was ruled by “Laws of purification” (2 Chron. 30:19). Such a place as this required ministers (“them that keep the charge of the Sanctuary” -Num. 3:32), and they too, like the actual place, needed to be purified, cleansed, and sanctified.
The ministers of the Sanctuary were the Levites (which included the Priests). They were the foremost class of holy persons who were, above all, called to stand before God. The Levites, who entered His “Sanctuary” (Ezek. 44:15-16), and the prophets, who stood before God’s special presence (Jer. 15:1, 19), were the shepherds and pastors of God’s people, and according to scripture they were “chosen” for this office because they were “like” God (“a chosen man” - Jer. 15:19, 49:19, 50:44, 2 Chron. 30:22). Everything done at this place were deeds done directly and immediately before God’s Face (Lev. 20:3), thus when or if a Priest or Levite sinned in this place it defiled the Sanctuary and profaned the Name of God (Lev. 20:3, 7-8). Ultimately, if the iniquity was not cleansed it must be eradicated by death (Lev. 20:14). Likewise, the Priesthood could not draw near without the associated “putting off”, “putting on”, and “washing” regulations (Lev. 6:10-11, 24, 26, Titus 3:5, Eph. 5:26, Eph. 4:22-24, Col. 3:9-10, Rom. 13:12, 14). Concerning other ceremonial qualifications, the sons of Aaron were permanently disqualified from the priesthood if they had a “blemish” or were “blind” (Lev. 21:18, 23), and they were temporarily forbidden from priestly orders as long as they were “unclean” (Lev. 7:20, 21:17-23, 22:3, 22:9). Acts of delinquency there did defile the Temple of God and result in death (Lev. 22:3, 9, 1 Cor. 3:17). The Priests and Levites existed in part to instruct all other Israelites to put a difference between the clean and unclean, the holy and profane (Ezek. 22:26, 44:14, 2 Chron. 23:19, 30:22, Neh. 8:7-8, 8:3, Ezek. 44:23-24), because on an individual or nationwide scale of consequence, a violation there resulted in death and annihilation everywhere (Num. 3:38, 19:13, 17:12-13, 18:5, Zeph. 3:4, Jer. 23:11, Ezek. 44:7-9, 8:6, 24:21, 5:11, Lam. 1:10, 2:7, 20, 4:1, Isa. 63:18, Ps. 79:1, 74:1-8, Zech. 9:8-9, 14:20-21)! Hence the terrifying question, my reader! “LORD, WHO shall abide in Thy Tabernacle? WHO shall dwell in Thy holy hill” (Psalms 15:1)?
Marvel at this, and be astonished! NO wicked persons were allowed inside the courts or walls of God’s House (Lev. 20:14)! Can you name the names, my reader? In an OT sense, that is, “no strangers” (Num. 3:38, Ezek. 44:7-9), no “Canaanite” (Zech. 14:20-21), no “oppressor” (Zech. 9:8-9), no “uncircumcised” (Ezek. 44:7-9) were allowed in God’s House! Whether “the enemy” (Ps. 74:1-8, Lam. 2:7), Israel’s “adversaries” (Isa. 63:18, Lam. 1:10), “the heathen” (Ps. 79:1, Lam. 1:10), those unclean by dead bodies (Num. 19:11, 13), or simply put – the “unclean” (2 Chron. 23:19) – all were expelled from the hallowed honor granted to redeemed humanity in that, on earth, they were enabled to stand before God’s immediate and special presence which abode in the Temple! Giving further language to the exclusivity of The Priesthood in Old Testament, these were terms of acceptance or rejection: Aaron’s sons who were “holy” (Lev. 21:7), “anointed” (Lev. 21:12), and “washed” (Ex. 30:20-21, 40:12, Lev. 16:24, 26), having “put on his linen garment” (Lev. 6:10-11) – therefore they were enabled to minister in the Sanctuary, and none else! On the contrary, if any of Aaron’s sons were defiled by dead bodies (Lev. 21:11, Num. 19:13), or otherwise, had “a blemish”, is “a blind man” (Lev. 21:18, 23), or in any regard, had “uncleanness” upon him (Lev. 7:20, 21:17-23, 22:3), they were disallowed entrance into the Sanctuary of God. Ceremonially they needed to be “purified”, “sprinkled”, and in “separation” (Num. 19:13). Under the pain of death, God warned: “Whosoever he be of all your seed among your generations, that goeth unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from My Presence, I am the LORD” (Lev. 22:3).
My reader, if these rules of holiness regulated the people who attended or abode at this location in the Church of the Old Testament, rules which were but shadows of future realities to come, according to scripture, should we expect the New Testament inspired writers to identify and describe Christianity in the aforementioned terms and the like? Of course!
Revealing the commonplace introspection that every individual underwent before entering this place, the LORD questioned: “Who then is able to stand before Me?” Even so, God made sure that all impure people were petrified to violate the purity of this place (by immediate and inescapable judgments: Job 41:10, Jer. 7:1-15, Ezek. 9:1-8). Therefore, let us understand! God’s immediate Presence was the people’s sanctification (Ex. 23:20-21, Deut. 4:7, Ex. 33:14, 16, 34:9-10). The place where God and the people met was a “Sanctuary” because of the sanctification of the people and place (Ex. 15:17, 25:8, 20:24). A Sanctuary is a “cleansed” place (Ezek. 45:18) which was ruled by “Laws of purification” (2 Chron. 30:19). Such a place as this required ministers (“them that keep the charge of the Sanctuary” -Num. 3:32), and they too, like the actual place, needed to be purified, cleansed, and sanctified.
The ministers of the Sanctuary were the Levites (which included the Priests). They were the foremost class of holy persons who were, above all, called to stand before God. The Levites, who entered His “Sanctuary” (Ezek. 44:15-16), and the prophets, who stood before God’s special presence (Jer. 15:1, 19), were the shepherds and pastors of God’s people, and according to scripture they were “chosen” for this office because they were “like” God (“a chosen man” - Jer. 15:19, 49:19, 50:44, 2 Chron. 30:22). Everything done at this place were deeds done directly and immediately before God’s Face (Lev. 20:3), thus when or if a Priest or Levite sinned in this place it defiled the Sanctuary and profaned the Name of God (Lev. 20:3, 7-8). Ultimately, if the iniquity was not cleansed it must be eradicated by death (Lev. 20:14). Likewise, the Priesthood could not draw near without the associated “putting off”, “putting on”, and “washing” regulations (Lev. 6:10-11, 24, 26, Titus 3:5, Eph. 5:26, Eph. 4:22-24, Col. 3:9-10, Rom. 13:12, 14). Concerning other ceremonial qualifications, the sons of Aaron were permanently disqualified from the priesthood if they had a “blemish” or were “blind” (Lev. 21:18, 23), and they were temporarily forbidden from priestly orders as long as they were “unclean” (Lev. 7:20, 21:17-23, 22:3, 22:9). Acts of delinquency there did defile the Temple of God and result in death (Lev. 22:3, 9, 1 Cor. 3:17). The Priests and Levites existed in part to instruct all other Israelites to put a difference between the clean and unclean, the holy and profane (Ezek. 22:26, 44:14, 2 Chron. 23:19, 30:22, Neh. 8:7-8, 8:3, Ezek. 44:23-24), because on an individual or nationwide scale of consequence, a violation there resulted in death and annihilation everywhere (Num. 3:38, 19:13, 17:12-13, 18:5, Zeph. 3:4, Jer. 23:11, Ezek. 44:7-9, 8:6, 24:21, 5:11, Lam. 1:10, 2:7, 20, 4:1, Isa. 63:18, Ps. 79:1, 74:1-8, Zech. 9:8-9, 14:20-21)! Hence the terrifying question, my reader! “LORD, WHO shall abide in Thy Tabernacle? WHO shall dwell in Thy holy hill” (Psalms 15:1)?
Marvel at this, and be astonished! NO wicked persons were allowed inside the courts or walls of God’s House (Lev. 20:14)! Can you name the names, my reader? In an OT sense, that is, “no strangers” (Num. 3:38, Ezek. 44:7-9), no “Canaanite” (Zech. 14:20-21), no “oppressor” (Zech. 9:8-9), no “uncircumcised” (Ezek. 44:7-9) were allowed in God’s House! Whether “the enemy” (Ps. 74:1-8, Lam. 2:7), Israel’s “adversaries” (Isa. 63:18, Lam. 1:10), “the heathen” (Ps. 79:1, Lam. 1:10), those unclean by dead bodies (Num. 19:11, 13), or simply put – the “unclean” (2 Chron. 23:19) – all were expelled from the hallowed honor granted to redeemed humanity in that, on earth, they were enabled to stand before God’s immediate and special presence which abode in the Temple! Giving further language to the exclusivity of The Priesthood in Old Testament, these were terms of acceptance or rejection: Aaron’s sons who were “holy” (Lev. 21:7), “anointed” (Lev. 21:12), and “washed” (Ex. 30:20-21, 40:12, Lev. 16:24, 26), having “put on his linen garment” (Lev. 6:10-11) – therefore they were enabled to minister in the Sanctuary, and none else! On the contrary, if any of Aaron’s sons were defiled by dead bodies (Lev. 21:11, Num. 19:13), or otherwise, had “a blemish”, is “a blind man” (Lev. 21:18, 23), or in any regard, had “uncleanness” upon him (Lev. 7:20, 21:17-23, 22:3), they were disallowed entrance into the Sanctuary of God. Ceremonially they needed to be “purified”, “sprinkled”, and in “separation” (Num. 19:13). Under the pain of death, God warned: “Whosoever he be of all your seed among your generations, that goeth unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from My Presence, I am the LORD” (Lev. 22:3).
My reader, if these rules of holiness regulated the people who attended or abode at this location in the Church of the Old Testament, rules which were but shadows of future realities to come, according to scripture, should we expect the New Testament inspired writers to identify and describe Christianity in the aforementioned terms and the like? Of course!
In the New Testament & at the Consummation
The people of the Church in the New Testament and at the Consummation are and will be identifiable by the rules enforced at this location in a strict and exclusive way, naming names. The Church of the New Testament and the Consummation is identified and understood according to the rules of The Temple, Tabernacle, House, and Sanctuary of God in the Old Testament. According to Doctrinal Rule, this means that the population of people who enter or abide at this location will be identified and codified with the same terms depicted in the Church of the Old Testament, with equal exclusivity.
In the clean place of the New Testament Church, the sanctification of an earthly place happens whenever the sanctified people of the Church do gather together, and wherever they gather does become a sanctified place because of the presence of the Sanctifying One: Jesus Christ said, “there am I in the midst of them” (Isa. 8:14, Ezek. 11:16, Matt. 18:18-20, Heb. 10:25, Eph. 4:4-6, 1 Cor. 1:30, Php. 1:27, Acts 4:24, Matt. 6:10). Special audience with Christ in this way cannot be apprehended without the Code of the Priesthood in order and without defilement (2 Cor. 6:17-7:1, Isa. 56:7, Matt. 21:13): holy washings, holy waters, blood-sprinkling, beautiful garments, and undefiled conduct (Heb. 10:19-25, Heb. 10:22, 1 Pet. 1:2, Titus 3:5, Eph. 5:26, Isa. 52:1, Rev. 19:7, Eph. 4:26-27, 1 Cor. 3:17, Rev. 3:4). This is because, notably, an order of “Royal Priesthood” continues in the New Testament (1 Pet. 2:9-10, Heb. 7:3, 1 Pet. 2:4-5)!
Therefore, the priests are required to keep the “putting on” and “putting off” regulations necessary for ministry to the King (Rom. 13:14, Gal. 3:27), which means: according to Ephesians 4:22-24, to “put off” the “old man” results in a “putting away” of: lying, anger, stealing, corrupt communication, bitterness, wrath, clamor, evil speaking, malice, and un-forgiveness (see Eph. 4:22-32); according to Ephesians 4:22-24, to “put on the new man” results in a renewal of the entire-man, in thought, word, and deed, because the new man is “created in righteousness and true holiness”, and thus the man speaks the truth, works hard, gives to the needy, and with edifying speech, is kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving (see Eph. 4:22-32); according to Colossians 3:9-10, to “put off the old man” results in putting off of: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication, fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, covetousness, and idolatry (see Col. 3:5-17); according to Colossians 3:9-10, to “put on the new man” results in a renewal of the entire-man, in thought, word, and deed, because the new man is “the image of Him that created Him”, which means that “Christ is all, and in all”, therefore the man is merciful, kind, humble, meek, longsuffering, forbearing, forgiving, charitable, peaceful, thankful, and because he is of a continual mind to meditate on wisdom in his own personal time, he zealously pursues opportunity to teach and sing to others (see Col. 3:5-17)! Let The Code of the Priesthood be understood by all! Those who are arrayed in Christ, these are Priests! And this Christ is, according to the aforementioned beauties of holiness, the Priestly Garment of Righteousness whereby NT saints find boldness to draw near, attend, and minister within the New Testament House of God!
Thereby being enabled to drawn near, it is for ministry (1 Cor. 9:13, Heb. 13:10, 1 Cor. 5:7): the offering of incense (Ps. 141:2, Rev. 5:8, 8:3-4, Isa. 56:7, 1 Tim. 2:1-8, Eph. 6:18-20, Jude 1:20-21) and priestly sacrifices (individually: Rom. 12:1-2, Gal. 2:20, 1 Cor. 15:31, 1 Pet. 2:4-5, Heb. 13:15-16; corporately: Rom. 15:15-19, Php. 2:17-18, 1 Cor. 10:16-17; ceremonial qualifications: “holy”, “acceptable”, “perfect”, “without blemish”, and “sanctified”). All others who dare to draw near are forbidden, unacceptable, and unholy invaders into the NT Holy Place, a crime justly punished in the Old Testament and terrifyingly possible in the New Testament (2 Chron. 26:16-21, Num. 16:35-38, Eph. 2:18-19, Ps. 51:15-17, Prov. 15:8, Isa. 29:13, Prov. 15:29, Heb. 13:10, Prov. 28:9, Lev. 10:1-4, Num. 16:7, 26-27, 31:35, 2 Cor. 6:17-7:1). From another typological vein which is of equal significance to the holy requirements of the Priesthood, and terrifyingly serious, is the fact that Christians are likened to and have become living stones of the Temple of God in the New Testament. Speaking of this, the inspired writers boldly declared that Jesus Christ has become “the Chief Corner Stone” (Eph. 2:20) for the New Testament Sanctuary, and those persons who assemble together within this “Spiritual House” are the “Holy Priesthood”, who also are “as lively stones” “framed together” (see Eph. 2:19-22, 1 Pet. 2:4-5, Ps. 118:19-24, Isa. 8:13-22, 1 Cor. 3:9, 16-17, Heb. 3:6). As the doctrine unfolds with greater and greater significance, it is evident that the saintliness of the Priesthood is a code of equal strictness to the sanctity of the stones of the Temple.
In other words, the stones must be “chosen”, “elect”, “precious” (1 Pet. 2:4-8). By essence, this means that they must be incorruptible, glorious, powerful, spiritual, and heavenly (2 Cor. 5:17, Eph. 3:16-17, Col. 3:10, Rom. 2:7, 1 Cor. 15:42-50, Rev. 21:9-22), instead of corruptible, vile, weak, carnal, and earthly (1 Cor. 15:35-50, Php. 3:21, Rom. 7:24, 2 Cor. 5:1). This means, in other words, they are of an acceptable grade, either gold, silver, or precious stones (2 Chron. 24:14, Lam. 4:2, Mal. 3:3, Rom. 9:21, 1 Thess. 5:23), and not an unacceptable grade, which is wood, hay, stubble, or other earthly-objects (1 Cor. 3:12-15, 2 Tim. 2:19-22). If any preacher or person [stone] of the Temple of God is a defilement of wood, hay, stubble, or other earthly-objects, God warns, “him shall God DESTROY” (1 Cor. 3:17). Christians are commanded to keep the House of God without defilement through a purging of all unacceptable stones (2 Tim. 2:21). If saint-to-saint judgment fails to do the purging (2 Tim. 2:21), God brings the FIRE: a Salvific Fire. Some will survive and some will not (Prov. 17:3, Matt. 3:11, 1 Cor. 3:13-15, Num. 31:21-24, Amos 4:11, Jer. 6:28-30, 9:1-9, Isa. 41:21, 48:8-12, Ps. 66:8-15, Ezek. 22:17-22). If the defilement of the Temple pervades the whole House, God will immerse the whole House in what is called, the Baptism of Fire (Lk. 3:16-17, Mal. 3:2-3, Isa. 1:25, Ezek. 20:38, Jer. 6:28-30, Amos 9:8-10, Zech. 13:8-9). Let us understand, therefore, that God will have His House HALLOWED. God’s chosen people, which are as stones, will be a “peculiar treasure” of a holy and glorious grade, a grade representative of the Lord’s Image (1 Pet. 2:9, Ex. 19:5-6, Deut. 14:2, 26:18, Eph. 2:19), or else, my reader, He will burn, refine, melt, purify, purge, sift, fan, sever, baptize, and those who are imperishable will be thus revived.
Henceforth, with the scriptural testimony laid-forth in Chapters 15, 16, & 17 in due consideration, overwhelming evidence begs from the Church one unwavering conclusion. Masterfully, inspired scripture does testify to the doctrines of Church Holiness in every stage of progressive redemption with perfect parallelism, naming names. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches” (Rev. 2:7). Is your name on the list?
In the clean place of the New Testament Church, the sanctification of an earthly place happens whenever the sanctified people of the Church do gather together, and wherever they gather does become a sanctified place because of the presence of the Sanctifying One: Jesus Christ said, “there am I in the midst of them” (Isa. 8:14, Ezek. 11:16, Matt. 18:18-20, Heb. 10:25, Eph. 4:4-6, 1 Cor. 1:30, Php. 1:27, Acts 4:24, Matt. 6:10). Special audience with Christ in this way cannot be apprehended without the Code of the Priesthood in order and without defilement (2 Cor. 6:17-7:1, Isa. 56:7, Matt. 21:13): holy washings, holy waters, blood-sprinkling, beautiful garments, and undefiled conduct (Heb. 10:19-25, Heb. 10:22, 1 Pet. 1:2, Titus 3:5, Eph. 5:26, Isa. 52:1, Rev. 19:7, Eph. 4:26-27, 1 Cor. 3:17, Rev. 3:4). This is because, notably, an order of “Royal Priesthood” continues in the New Testament (1 Pet. 2:9-10, Heb. 7:3, 1 Pet. 2:4-5)!
Therefore, the priests are required to keep the “putting on” and “putting off” regulations necessary for ministry to the King (Rom. 13:14, Gal. 3:27), which means: according to Ephesians 4:22-24, to “put off” the “old man” results in a “putting away” of: lying, anger, stealing, corrupt communication, bitterness, wrath, clamor, evil speaking, malice, and un-forgiveness (see Eph. 4:22-32); according to Ephesians 4:22-24, to “put on the new man” results in a renewal of the entire-man, in thought, word, and deed, because the new man is “created in righteousness and true holiness”, and thus the man speaks the truth, works hard, gives to the needy, and with edifying speech, is kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving (see Eph. 4:22-32); according to Colossians 3:9-10, to “put off the old man” results in putting off of: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication, fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, covetousness, and idolatry (see Col. 3:5-17); according to Colossians 3:9-10, to “put on the new man” results in a renewal of the entire-man, in thought, word, and deed, because the new man is “the image of Him that created Him”, which means that “Christ is all, and in all”, therefore the man is merciful, kind, humble, meek, longsuffering, forbearing, forgiving, charitable, peaceful, thankful, and because he is of a continual mind to meditate on wisdom in his own personal time, he zealously pursues opportunity to teach and sing to others (see Col. 3:5-17)! Let The Code of the Priesthood be understood by all! Those who are arrayed in Christ, these are Priests! And this Christ is, according to the aforementioned beauties of holiness, the Priestly Garment of Righteousness whereby NT saints find boldness to draw near, attend, and minister within the New Testament House of God!
Thereby being enabled to drawn near, it is for ministry (1 Cor. 9:13, Heb. 13:10, 1 Cor. 5:7): the offering of incense (Ps. 141:2, Rev. 5:8, 8:3-4, Isa. 56:7, 1 Tim. 2:1-8, Eph. 6:18-20, Jude 1:20-21) and priestly sacrifices (individually: Rom. 12:1-2, Gal. 2:20, 1 Cor. 15:31, 1 Pet. 2:4-5, Heb. 13:15-16; corporately: Rom. 15:15-19, Php. 2:17-18, 1 Cor. 10:16-17; ceremonial qualifications: “holy”, “acceptable”, “perfect”, “without blemish”, and “sanctified”). All others who dare to draw near are forbidden, unacceptable, and unholy invaders into the NT Holy Place, a crime justly punished in the Old Testament and terrifyingly possible in the New Testament (2 Chron. 26:16-21, Num. 16:35-38, Eph. 2:18-19, Ps. 51:15-17, Prov. 15:8, Isa. 29:13, Prov. 15:29, Heb. 13:10, Prov. 28:9, Lev. 10:1-4, Num. 16:7, 26-27, 31:35, 2 Cor. 6:17-7:1). From another typological vein which is of equal significance to the holy requirements of the Priesthood, and terrifyingly serious, is the fact that Christians are likened to and have become living stones of the Temple of God in the New Testament. Speaking of this, the inspired writers boldly declared that Jesus Christ has become “the Chief Corner Stone” (Eph. 2:20) for the New Testament Sanctuary, and those persons who assemble together within this “Spiritual House” are the “Holy Priesthood”, who also are “as lively stones” “framed together” (see Eph. 2:19-22, 1 Pet. 2:4-5, Ps. 118:19-24, Isa. 8:13-22, 1 Cor. 3:9, 16-17, Heb. 3:6). As the doctrine unfolds with greater and greater significance, it is evident that the saintliness of the Priesthood is a code of equal strictness to the sanctity of the stones of the Temple.
In other words, the stones must be “chosen”, “elect”, “precious” (1 Pet. 2:4-8). By essence, this means that they must be incorruptible, glorious, powerful, spiritual, and heavenly (2 Cor. 5:17, Eph. 3:16-17, Col. 3:10, Rom. 2:7, 1 Cor. 15:42-50, Rev. 21:9-22), instead of corruptible, vile, weak, carnal, and earthly (1 Cor. 15:35-50, Php. 3:21, Rom. 7:24, 2 Cor. 5:1). This means, in other words, they are of an acceptable grade, either gold, silver, or precious stones (2 Chron. 24:14, Lam. 4:2, Mal. 3:3, Rom. 9:21, 1 Thess. 5:23), and not an unacceptable grade, which is wood, hay, stubble, or other earthly-objects (1 Cor. 3:12-15, 2 Tim. 2:19-22). If any preacher or person [stone] of the Temple of God is a defilement of wood, hay, stubble, or other earthly-objects, God warns, “him shall God DESTROY” (1 Cor. 3:17). Christians are commanded to keep the House of God without defilement through a purging of all unacceptable stones (2 Tim. 2:21). If saint-to-saint judgment fails to do the purging (2 Tim. 2:21), God brings the FIRE: a Salvific Fire. Some will survive and some will not (Prov. 17:3, Matt. 3:11, 1 Cor. 3:13-15, Num. 31:21-24, Amos 4:11, Jer. 6:28-30, 9:1-9, Isa. 41:21, 48:8-12, Ps. 66:8-15, Ezek. 22:17-22). If the defilement of the Temple pervades the whole House, God will immerse the whole House in what is called, the Baptism of Fire (Lk. 3:16-17, Mal. 3:2-3, Isa. 1:25, Ezek. 20:38, Jer. 6:28-30, Amos 9:8-10, Zech. 13:8-9). Let us understand, therefore, that God will have His House HALLOWED. God’s chosen people, which are as stones, will be a “peculiar treasure” of a holy and glorious grade, a grade representative of the Lord’s Image (1 Pet. 2:9, Ex. 19:5-6, Deut. 14:2, 26:18, Eph. 2:19), or else, my reader, He will burn, refine, melt, purify, purge, sift, fan, sever, baptize, and those who are imperishable will be thus revived.
Henceforth, with the scriptural testimony laid-forth in Chapters 15, 16, & 17 in due consideration, overwhelming evidence begs from the Church one unwavering conclusion. Masterfully, inspired scripture does testify to the doctrines of Church Holiness in every stage of progressive redemption with perfect parallelism, naming names. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches” (Rev. 2:7). Is your name on the list?
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