"Let me show
you, says the Lord, that which shall come forth
at the close of this age. It is even that which you read
about in my Word. And what says it? 'Christ loved
the church and gave Himself for it; that He might
sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water
by the word, that He might present it to Himself a
glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any
such thing; but that it should be holy and without
blemish.' (Ephes. 5:25-27). Hear now the voice of the
Seventh Messenger speaking. Seven is the number of my
church—those who have been called out of this world and
joined to me; therefore I speak in the power or essence
of the number Seven to those who will hear my
voice and become a part of that which I am preparing to
bring forth. For the time is now, and all things are
leading up to the coming forth of this glorious
church.
You will
notice that it is a glorious church that I will present
to myself; I will not present it to myself and then make
it glorious. It will be glorious on earth before it is
glorious in the Heavenlies. Let me take you, therefore,
to my Word and unveil the type that I have enacted to
portray this glorious church.
You shall
turn to the 28th Chapter of Exodus and there behold the
High Priest and the garments that were made for him. It
is written that the garments were ‘for glory and beauty’
(28:2). They were especially fashioned that the High
Priest might minister to me in the priest's
office. Now hear my word! The garments portray the glory
and beauty which is to come forth in my church in this
last day, for the High Priest and the garments are one
picture of that which shall be fulfilled in a people who
have been completely joined to me. The
High Priest is a type of the entire Body of Christ, both
Head and members. The primary fulfillment of the
ministry of the High Priest was realized in the person
and ministry of Jesus Christ: His life, death,
resurrection and glorification. But the complete
fulfillment is to be manifested in the 'mystery' of His
Body—that people who shall show forth His glory and
beauty on the earth, and then be joined unto Him in the
heavenly Kingdom: who have been made ONE with Him in His
high priestly ministry; who are 'members of His
Body, of His flesh, and of His bones'
(Ephes.5:30).
This unity is
portrayed in the Psalmist's picture of the anointing oil
which was poured on the head of the High Priest and
flowed down on his garments. ‘Behold, how good and how
pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious ointment on the head,
that ran down on the beard, even Aaron's beard:
that went down to the skirts of his garments' (Psalm
133:1-2).
In order to
show that the garments of glory and beauty with which
Aaron was adorned represent the ministry of a glorious
church on earth, I would call your
attention to the ceremonies enacted on the great Day of
Atonement. There you will notice that the High Priest,
in order to minister beyond the veil, which is a type of
the heavenlies, divested himself of his beautiful
garments and changed into garments of pure white from
head to foot (Lev. 16:4). These white linen garments
were to be worn only in his ministry beyond
the veil, and when this was finished he
removed them and put on his regular garments (Lev.
16:23). Now what does this portray? It portrays the fact
that when the Body of Christ has finished its ministry
on the earth, there shall be a 'putting on' of
changed and translated bodies which will no longer be
flesh and blood but flesh and bone (Luke 24:39). Such
bodies or garments are for those who are completely
clothed in the white linen of righteousness (Rev. 19:8,
14). In their own native heavenly realm, these changed
bodies glow with a soft white light. But behold the
type! The garments of glory and beauty made for the High
Priest out of materials of blue, purple, scarlet, gold
and precious stones, were for ministering in the Holy
Place outside the veil, picturing conditions
on the earth. Therefore a glorious church must come
forth on the earth before entrance beyond the veil into
the heavenlies.
[The Clothing in
Detail]
Now let us
examine each of the articles of clothing or apparel with
which the High Priest was clothed, and in doing so I
shall unveil that which will come forth in the people of
my choosing. First, I would have you note that it was
Moses who was commanded to make 'holy garments' for
Aaron (Ex. 28:2), and it was Moses who placed the
garments on Aaron at the time of his consecration
(Lev, 8:6-9). Here again is a double type. Even as the
High Priest was a type, both of Christ and His Body, so
is Moses a type of Christ and a certain portion of His
Body. Basically, the garments of 'glory and beauty'
portray provisions of Christ in His atoning and
redemptive work, but the adorning or bringing forth of
the glorious church is also dependent on the
ministry of certain chosen ones who make up the Moses
company in contrast to the Aaron
company.
Who are these
that must be brought to a place of power and authority
ahead of the coming forth of the glorious church? They
are the ‘manifested sons' who will put on
immortality and be no longer subject to death. And
because of their spirit-powered ministry, they will be
used mightily to bring the rest of the Body of Christ
into a place of spiritual unity and power. There will be
a two-fold manifestation: 144,000 firstfruit saints
shall be translated at the beginning of the tribulation
period. They will have the ability to appear and
minister to the saints remaining. A much smaller
group will put on immortality in physical bodies,
remaining on the earth to minister in a realm of power
to help bring forth the glorious church. Although the
beginning stages are even now evident in many places,
the full glory of the church will not come forth until
the tribulation period has begun.
[The
Ephod]
The first
garment mentioned in the order of instructions for
fashioning was the ephod. (Ex. 28:6-14). From the
perspective of your God, this was the
basic garment of the High Priest's clothing. The ephod
was the outermost garment covering the upper body.
It was the most decorative item of his apparel. More
than anything else it was the mark of his office. The
ephod was made of two pieces of variegated material—of
gold and blue and purple and scarlet and fine twined
linen—joined together at the shoulders and slipped over
the head. It was fastened around the body by means of a
belt-like sash woven as a part of the garment. A part of
the ephod were two engraved stones, set in gold
filigrees and sewn on the garment where the
shoulder pieces came together. (Ex. 28:9-12). Also an
integral part of the ephod was the breastplate of
judgment (Ex. 28:12-30). It was made of the same
variegated material as the ephod. The material was
folded twice forming a pouch about 9-1/2 inches [24 cm]
square. It was secured to the ephod in front, over the
heart, by being tied with chains of gold at the
top. The chains were slipped through rings of gold,
which were sewn on the borders at the top of each side
of the breastplate, and fastened to filigrees on the
shoulder pieces. It was secured to the ephod at the
bottom by ribbons of blue. The ribbons were slipped
through the rings of gold, which were sewn on the inside
borders at the bottom of the breastplate, and tied to
other rings of gold sewn on the sides of the ephod just
above the belt-like sash.
Twelve
stones, one for each of the tribes of Israel, were set
in enclosures of gold and attached to the front of the
breastplate, making four rows of stones (Ex. 28:17-21).
Each one of the stones was to have the name of one of
the tribes engraved on it. The two stones on the
shoulder pieces were also to have the names of the
twelve tribes engraved on them, six on each stone. It
was a part of the function of the High Priest to bear
these names on his shoulders and on his heart
when he went into the tabernacle to minister before the
Lord. (Ex. 28:12, 30). Inside the pouch-like enclosure
of the breastplate were placed the Urim and Thummim, by
means of which the High Priest secured direct
answers from the Lord God concerning the affairs of
the nation. The Urim and Thummim were special objects
given to Moses when he was in the mount receiving the
instructions for the tabernacle and the priesthood. They
were received from the hand of the Lord God even as the
original tablets of stone on which were written
the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments were the
basic precepts-in-righteousness which were to form the
foundation for the life of the nation; therefore they
were engraved on specially prepared stones. The Urim and
Thummim, in the possession of the High Priest, provided
the means for direct guidance in the application and
implementation of the basic precepts. They were
therefore an important adjunct to the tablets of
stone. When used by the High Priest they would emit the
basic colors that form light, much the same way that a
prism refracts the light of the sun and breaks it down
into the seven primary colors. The very word 'Urim'
means light. No natural light was needed to use
the objects; the light was within them; but they had to
be used together in order to produce the effect
indicated by the name 'Thummim' which means
perfection. The word shows the basic or primary
answer received for a perfect application and
implementation of the Ten Commandments. There was
no excuse for uncertainty. The mind of the Lord could
easily be received on any question and it would be a
perfect 'break down' of the truth or light given in the
Ten Commandments. These objects will be considered
later, for since all things pertaining to the High
Priesthood were typical, and have their spiritual
counterpart, it is not necessary for you to understand
just how the Urim and Thummim were
used.
Since the
ephod was the basic garment of the High Priest, let me
show you what it typifies. All the garments of the High
Priest portray various aspects of the human
tabernacle which houses the spirit begotten of God.
Just as the tabernacle pitched in the wilderness
consisted of two basic parts: the outer court and the
tent enclosure; so are there two parts to that which
houses the human spirit: the outer physical body, and
the inner soul body. Contact by the human spirit
with the Divine Spirit is made through the vehicle of
the soul. The soul partakes of the life forces of the
physical, but is a much more highly tenuous vehicle
which is sensitive to impressions from the spirit world.
Since the ephod was the garment which enabled the High
Priest to communicate with Deity, it is a type of the
soul of the born-again Christian. Before the soul can be
a medium for communication with the Divine, it must
first be cleansed from the defiling effects of sin; this
is effected through the blood of Jesus Christ. Then it
must be infused with Divine life, making it possible for
its forces to be oriented God-ward, and providing the
means for its complete restructure in the likeness of
the Son of God. A soul which is steeped in sin is
naturally attuned to the vibratory impingements of the
enemy - Satan. It is extremely susceptible to the
thought-impressions and desire-pulls of invisible evil
forces. Therefore, in order to become a medium for
Divine-human communication, it must be thoroughly
purged and purified, so that it will receive and
entertain only those vibratory influences which are
uplifting and edifying.
I shall speak
to you concerning each part of the ephod and its
accompanying breastplate, and show its typical
meaning as it pertains to the soul of the
born-again Christian. To be 'born again' means to be
regenerated within by the incorruptible seed of
Christ (I Pet. 1:23, James 1:21), receiving LIFE into
the soul; and causing the soul to become a
deathless vehicle for the human spirit. In the
unsaved person, who has not received LIFE through
Christ, the soul is subject to death even as is the
physical body (Ezek. 18:20, Matt. 10: 28). But in the
saved person, the soul has been flushed through with
eternal life, and in the event of the death of the
physical body, the soul then becomes a functioning body
or vehicle for the spirit in the celestial realms. Now
the powers or functions of the soul, which constitute
man a living personality in the objective world,
can be used either independently of God or in subjection
to the mind and will of God. The purpose of this word of
revelation is to show how the soul becomes attuned to
Divine life and consciousness, becoming no longer a
vehicle for self-expression, dominated by
uncleanness through the powers of darkness; but a
vehicle for the expression of the very nature and being
of the Christ of God.
After the
initial cleansing of the soul through the blood of
Christ, and the receiving of LIFE through the
incorruptible seed, a point of contact has been
established within the soul which becomes a conductor
for the Spirit of God to flow to energize and uplift.
Also, since the 'seed' which has been engrafted into the
soul is from the glorified body of the Son of God, it
contains all the essence of His very nature and being,
and thus becomes a 'perfection vortex’ for the
complete restructuring of the fabric of the soul
into His likeness. Therefore the Living Word (the
engrafted seed - the Christ within) and the Spirit (the
Holy Spirit) work together to weave and furbish with
'cunning work' (Ex. 28:6) the 'ephod' or soul garment of
the born-again Christian. The basic material for the
ephod was fine linen. This fine linen is a type of the
righteousness of Jesus Christ (Rev. 19:8) which is
imparted to the soul by the Word and the Spirit (I Cor.
1:30, Il Cor. 5:21, Rom. 8:4). The soul is 'made
righteous' only through Christ; there is no other way.
The righteousness of Christ which is first imputed to
those who believe in His atoning work, causing them
to be justified freely by His grace (Rom. 3:22-24,
4:5-11, 22-25), must thereafter be imparted and 'woven'
as an integral part of the fabric of the
soul.
Other
elements are also to be 'woven' into the soul-fabric, as
indicated by the fine linen being supplemented by gold,
blue, purple and scarlet (Ex. 28:6). The 'gold'
represents tried and proven character which comes only
through the crucible of experience, as the grace of
Christ, working by means of the Holy Spirit, causes one
to rise above temptation, pressures, and various
fiery trials, weaving in the beauty of steadfastness,
patience, and faithfulness, without bitterness, wrath,
or turning back (Rom. 5:3-5, James 1:2-4, I Pet. 1:6-8,
Heb. 10:35-39). The blue in the ephod is a type of
heavenly aspirations: that which causes one to set his
mind on things that are above where Christ is
seated at the right hand of God the Father (Col. 3:1).
'Thinking' is an important function of the powers of the
soul. The creative ability of the mind can greatly
determine the warp and woof of the soul's texture.
Through the power of the risen Christ within, the mind
must be quickened to the present reigning of Christ as
Lord over one's entire being, causing the entirety of
one's thoughts to be centered in the continuous
reality of His presence, so that nothing is seen apart
from His providential working. If this concept can be
inculcated and practiced daily, the mind will be
continually renewed and the life transformed, enabling
the 'blue' of heaven's aura to become an integral part
of the soul's beauty (Ephes. 4:23, Rom. 12:2). The
purple in the ephod is a picture of the crowning glory
of one who is to be a king-priest with Christ, to rule
and reign with Him in His Kingdom (Rev. 5:10, 20:6).
Closely related to this, and indispensable to it, is the
scarlet of sacrificial love; the willingness to give
one's all to the Savior in devotion and obedience. For
it is only love poured out that enables the Holy Spirit
to 'weave in' these qualities which partake of the
scarlet and purple of the ‘royal priesthood’ and the
beauties of maturing sonship. (I John
3:16).
[The Robe of the
Ephod]
Before
looking further, at the typical significance of the
ephod, the related garments must be considered.
Immediately under the ephod was a garment known
as the 'robe of the ephod' (Ex, 28:31-35). It was made
completely of blue material. It was slipped over the
head as was the ephod, providing a complete covering for
the upper body and reaching down to just below the
knees. Since it was a more complete covering than
the ephod, it could be seen where it reached down over
the upper arms in the form of short sleeves and where it
reached below the ephod at the bottom. Being of a
coarser material than the ephod, all of one color and
unadorned, it is a type of the physical body which is
the outer covering or 'garment' for the human spirit in
the objective world. This might be difficult to
understand since it was worn under the ephod. But the
garments of the High Priest are seen from the
point of view of contact and communication with
God; and the chief instrument which receives and
transmits thought-impulses, and becomes sensitized
to Spirit awareness and Spirit workings, being
fashioned and adorned with the very beauty and
character of Jesus Christ, is that highly tenuous
vehicle or body called the soul. The soul
interpenetrates the physical body and forms a liaison
substance between the human spirit and the physical
body. Because its consistency is of a finely attenuated
texture, it enables the indwelling spirit to 'seat' or
make contact in the physical body and use the physical
body as an expressive vehicle in the objective world.
Also because of its highly tenuous nature, the soul is
very sensitive to impressions made upon it, much
the same as a sensitive recording instrument; thus
feeling and response function through the soul,
receiving and emitting mental-emotional reactions and
attitudes. It becomes then the sum and substance of a
person's nature or personality; and also woven into its
fabric is the essence of one's character. Since the
beauty and adornment of the High priest's garments were
in the ephod, and not in the robe of the ephod, it
portrays by type that the Christian-priest in the Body
of Christ is to manifest the beauty of Christ's life and
character from the inner man of the heart or soul, and
not be primarily concerned with the adornment of the
outer or physical man (see I Pet. 3:3-4). Also, since
the ephod was worn on the outside and its beauty seen,
while the robe of the ephod was under it and only
partially visible, it portrays the truth that what
others should ‘see’ and be conscious of is the beauty
and glory of the Christ within, shining through in
expression of a soul completely re-shaped and
fashioned in His likeness, rather than the outward or
exterior appearance of the physical
man.
Around the
hem of the robe of the ephod were sewn replicas of
pomegranates made of blue and purple and scarlet.
In between the pomegranates were placed bells of gold,
designed to make a sound as the High Priest ministered
before the Lord in the Holy Place (Ex. 28:33-35). The
pomegranates are a type of fruitfulness because of their
multitudinous seeds. Since they were on the robe of the
ephod they indicate that ‘fruit’ or seed which is
engendered by the life forces within the physical body.
Only a small fraction of the billions of seed-cells
produced within the body of a normal male are ever used
to beget children. Therefore it should be obvious to all
that there is another purpose for this seed. It is
beyond the scope of this 'word' to fully detail the
hidden function and purpose of this life seed, but
in the coming era of the manifesting sons of God, it
will become common knowledge. And even in the closing
stages of this age, those who are to fully enter into
the glory of the priestly ministry of Christ on the
earth will come to know the mysteries involved. The
‘mystery’ of the pomegranates is closely related to the
golden bells which alternated between them on the hem of
the robe of the ephod. Gold is a type of the Spirit and
things Divine. The bells, functioning as the High Priest
ministered before the Lord in the Holy Place, indicates,
by type, that all of the life forces must be channeled
to the 'gold' of Spirit, ‘that he die not’ (Ex. 28:35).
In other words, this is the key to immortality in
human flesh. It was in the Holy Place OUTSIDE the veil
that the High Priest ministered with these garments -
with the pomegranates and the bells. Thus they portray a
secret for those who would enter into the fullness
of Christ's redemptive work while still on the earth in
bodies of flesh and blood. Even the Lord Jesus alluded
to this mystery as recorded in Matthew
19:12.
[The
Tunic]
Having
considered the robe of the ephod, let me now show you
the typical significance of that garment which was under
it, next to the body of the High Priest. A white tunic,
woven of fine linen, and covering the entire upper and
lower body was placed on the High Priest first. On top
of this was worn the robe of the ephod, and then the
ephod itself was put on last. (Ex. 28:39, 29:5). The
tunic reached to the feet and also covered the arms with
long, tight-fitting sleeves. It was large enough to hang
loose on the body, but was girded to the body by
means of a specially made sash, decorated with various
colors. I have already shown you how the ephod
represents the soul of the born-again Christian, and the
robe of the ephod the physical body. Forming a
connecting link between the highly tenuous soul and
the body of flesh, is what is known as the 'autonomic
nervous system.' The various nerves and nerve ganglia
are represented by the strands of finely twined linen of
which the tunic was woven. This self-acting nervous
system, with its sympathetic and parasympathetic
systems, causes the physical organism to respond
and react to desires, feelings and emotions that arise
as a result of soul-powers resident within. This is why
it is so important to have the right mental-emotional
attitudes at all times. The power of the soul to affect
the condition of the physical body is great. For
example, anger arising in the soul has its effect on
certain organs in the physical body by their being
activated through stimulation of the sympathetic
nervous system. Thus, a wide variety of negative and
destructive emotions and ingrained feelings can greatly
weaken the body's normal functioning and make it
far more susceptible to the inroads of predatory
organisms which are ever ready to take advantage of
areas of weakness in the physical body. The finely
twined linen of the tunic, which covered the entire body
of the High Priest, is an apt picture of the fine and
delicate nerve fibers which act as a communications
system throughout the entire body. No person can
adequately and effectively minister as a
Christian-priest in the service of the Lord without
a healthy influence of soul powers on the physical body.
This comes only as the Christ within is allowed to
control and direct all the mental and emotional
processes into channels that will spiritually uplift,
and increase the flow of the life of the Spirit to the
quickening of the physical body through the sympathetic
nervous system. Otherwise the reactions of
mental-emotional stimuli on the body will be destructive
and harmful.
Although the
tunic itself was entirely of white linen, the sash with
which it was girded was decorated with needlework
of various colors. This again is to portray the typical
relationship of the tunic with the ephod, for the ephod
was variegated with the same colors. In other words, the
ephod, or soul, is closely connected to the tunic, which
represents the autonomic nervous system. Through this
system, the soul affects the body of flesh, or the robe
of the ephod, which was worn between the ephod and the
tunic. Can you not see, my people, that the priesthood
ministry involved the whole man? It is my
purpose that there should be a perfect relationship
between the functions of soul (the mental-emotional
faculties) and the physical body. For only then can the
physical body be a perfectly healthy vehicle for the
priesthood ministry of My saints. Think not that the
physical body was fashioned to be subject to death. It
is a necessary part of the total man in the service of
his God. Its complete redemption is a necessary
part of my total plan for man, and that redemption
provides for the perfect relationship and functioning of
both body and soul.
[The
Breastplate]
Now let us
look more closely at the 'breastplate of judgment.’
Aaron was to ‘bear the judgment of the children of
Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually.' (Ex.
28:30). This was by means of the twelve precious stones
on which the names of the twelve tribes were
engraved (Ex. 28:21). Primarily this portrays the
judicial sentence which Jesus Christ, the true High
Priest, took on Himself in order that those who
believe in Him might be free. The High Priest's bearing
them on his heart continually portrays the
continuous intercession of Jesus Christ at the right
hand of the Father (Rom. 8:34, Heb. 7:25). But there is
a further meaning as it applies to the life of the
Christian-Priest. Precious stones are cut to
reflect the beauty of light as it casts its beams into
the various color formations - causing each stone to
sparkle with its own unique characteristics. As each
stone on the breastplate was engraved with a name of one
of the tribes of Israel, so does this portray the fact
that each stone is a type of a particular characteristic
or virtue which is to be imparted and 'engraved' into
the very soul structure of every true Israelite. Such
'precious stones' will reflect the beauty of the very
life of Jesus Christ which fills the inner being of
every Spirit-sanctified Christian. The typical and
spiritual significance of every tribe and every stone
should be fulfilled in the inner life of every Christian
who desires to enter into the full priesthood ministry
of Jesus Christ. For every part of the High Priest's
adornment is a portrayal of that which can become an
integral part of the Christian's life and
experience.
[The Urim and
Thummim]
Placed inside
the pouch-like fold of the breastplate of judgment were
the Urim and Thummim. I have already shown you
that these were objects given to Moses by which the High
Priest could discern the mind of the Lord on specific
issues relating to the application and implementation of
the Ten Commandments. But what is their antitypical
significance in the life of the Christian-priest?
The breastplate of judgment with its Urim and Thummim
was an integral part of the ephod. I have already shown
you that the ephod is a type of the regenerated
soul of the born-again Christian. Such a soul has been
'attuned' to the Divine consciousness, and if kept free
from contaminating influences, is increasingly
sensitive to communication from the Spirit of the Lord.
In its basic or fundamental aspects, this communication
is received in the form of impressions, spiritual
discernment, dreams, and the spiritual awareness of
parabolic experiences which are a part of the daily
providential oversight of every Christian. This is the
Christian-priest with the ephod as he ministers unto the
Lord, and as he receives from the Lord communication
beamed through the glands and sympathetic nervous system
into the soul or inner consciousness. To this basic
communication can be added the Urim and Thummim. This
involves an increased sensitivity to the voice of the
Lord, speaking more specifically, and not in general
impressions.
Such
increased sensitivity is first brought about by the
Urim, which means light. The 'light' is the increased
whiteness, or purity, of the soul body, plus the
adjustment by Divine intervention of certain
internal 'cords' which make it possible for reception in
the human organism to be 'stepped up' to a higher
intensity. Thus the ability to ‘tune in' to the
light-rays beaming the 'voice of the Lord' to those who
have come into possession of the 'Urim’ is greatly
increased. The 'Urim' first comes into initial
functioning when a Christian submits himself to the
operations of the Holy Spirit in that which is known as
the fiery Spirit baptism. But most Christians are
so woefully ignorant of the true nature and purpose of
the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and so ill taught on how
to maintain their Spirit sanctification, enabling the
soul to be kept free from defiling influences, that they
receive little benefit from the spiritual operation
of the 'Urim’ within.
The ultimate
in communication from the Lord can be experienced only
as the Thummim is also working with the Urim. Thummim
means perfection or completeness. It comes
into operation in the human organism only after the
entering into immortality. As long as mortality is
working in the physical body, there cannot be the
ultimate in perfection within the life of the
Christian-priest. Neither can he fully minister
to the Lord in the antitypical adornment of the
priesthood. The 'Thummim ' functioning within
causes certain changes to take place in the glandular
system, enabling the immortal to be attuned to vibration
waves and impulses that are not within the range of the
mortal. The immortal thus not oniy 'hears,' but also
'sees' that which mortals cannot. There is not only an
increased reception of vibratory impulses conveying
the words of the Lord to the inner consciousness,
but there is also the opening up of a whole new realm of
sight perception, as previously unseen visual
impulses convey to the newly keyed receptors a vast
range of color formations emanating from within the
souls of men. This is why it is said of Jesus that 'he
knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of
man: for he knew what was in man.' (John 2:24-25). Jesus
walked on the earth as an immortal, and He could see the
thought formations and emotional patterns which came
forth in vibratory color-tones. Such formations and
patterns vary greatly from extremely ugly and
grotesque to very beautiful. Thus the 'Thummim' added to
the 'Urim' within the immortal makes possible a realm of
experience and ministry far beyond that of the
mortal.
[The Tribal Name
Stones]
There is yet
one more part of the Ephod which needs to be unveiled in
its antitypical fulfillment: the stones on which
were engraved the names of the tribes of Israel, and
which were fastened upon the shoulder pieces of the
ephod. There were two stones, and each one was to have
six tribal names engraved on it. (Ex. 28:9-11). Aaron
was to bear these names before the Lord on his
two shoulders for a memorial. (Ex. 28:12). In Biblical
symbolism, the shoulder stands for strength. (Isa. 9:6).
The High priest bearing the tribes of Israel on
his shoulders is a picture of the sustaining strength of
Jesus Christ, the true High Priest, in the impartations
of His divine life and power to all who avail themselves
of His grace. In its individual fulfillment in the
Christian-priest, the engraved stones upon the
shoulders is a type of the overcoming grace
provided through the strength or power of the Holy
Spirit's infilling. This 'fulness' is portrayed by the
engraving of all of the tribal names on the two
shoulder stones. The stones on the shoulder pieces and
the stones in the breastplate were symbolically
connected by means of the chains of gold which
were secured to the settings of the shoulder stones and
slipped through rings of gold attached to the borders of
the breastplate. Thus connected, both sets of stones
indicate the two-fold work of the Spirit in regeneration
and impartation. The stones in the breastplate are
particularly indicative of the work of
regeneration, and the stones set on the
shoulders are especially representative of that
impartation which comes at the time of the Holy Spirit
baptism.
[The
Mitre]
The final
part of the High Priest's garments to be considered
is the head dress with its plate of gold engraved with
the words 'Holiness to the Lord.' (Ex. 28:36-37). The
head dress, or mitre, was made of fine linen to
portray the totality of the righteousness of Jesus
Christ which 'adorns' the Christian-priest as it
controls every aspect of his being, including the mind.
The plate of gold with its engraving is symbolic of a
special work of divine grace in preparing those who are
to come forth with a ministry that relates to the
Word being 'sealed' within, that the mind of
Christ may flow through to minister LIFE. The ‘gold’ of
the plate signifies a divine work of the Spirit whereby
the 'holiness' or separating to the Lord is fully
accomplished, that the mind might be an open channel for
the living Word of the Lord. This is symbolized by the
fact that the plate of pure gold was always on
the High Priest's forehead (Ex. 28:38). Even so are the
servants of God to be sealed in their foreheads, to be
made ready for a ministry in the power of the living
Word (Rev. 7:2-3).
You have now
seen, my people, how I must clothe you in garments of
beauty and glory, that you might be ready to minister
to me. I am even now bringing my people into a
further understanding of that which has been partially
hidden or veiled, but is now to be revealed. There is
much yet to be made known concerning the priesthood
ministry of my saints on the earth, and as you
are able to receive, I will reveal it to you.
Therefore I call to you to make yourself
completely available to the workings of my Word
and Spirit, that you might be fully adorned for
the mighty end-time harvest which is coming. Let me
fulfill in you all that is portrayed in the
garments of the High Priest. Even so shall
you be used for my glory in the days that are
ahead.”
(End of
prophecy).
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