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WELCOME, COME WITH ME INTO THE TEMPLE OF GOD. OBSERVE THE BRAZEN WORKS OF THE OUTER COURT AS YOU WALK BY ON YOUR WAY INTO THE HOLY PLACE. NOTICE THE TABLE OF SHOWBREAD AS YOUR EYES ADJUST TO THE LIGHT OF THE CANDLESTICK. THERE BEFORE YOU IS THE GOLDEN ALTAR AND BEYOND, THE VEIL. SUDDENLY THE VEIL RIPS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM AND BEHOLD, THE ARK OF THE COVENANT AND THE MERCY SEAT WITH GOD'S POWER HOVERING BETWEEN THE CHERUBIM WINGS. COME, STEP INTO THE HOLY OF HOLIES. THE PROGRESSION OF UNDERSTANDING FROM THE ELEMENTARY TO THE ADVANCED PRINCIPLES OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, IS SHOWN IN PAUL'S LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS. THE INFANT DRINKS MILK AND CAN ONLY UNDERSTAND THE TEACHINGS OF "JESUS CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED" (I COR. 2:1). TO THE ADULT CHRISTIAN WHO CAN EAT MEAT, PAUL TEACHES BY REVELATION "THE WISDOM OF GOD IN A MYSTERY, EVEN THE HIDDEN WISDOM, WHICH GOD 2(2316 STRONGS, SEE GLOSSARY) ORDAINED BEFORE THE WORLD UNTO OUR GLORY" (I COR. 2:7). PAUL'S OWN DESIRE WAS TO REACH A GREATER LEVEL OF SPIRITUAL PERFECTION, AS HE DECLARES "BRETHREN, I COUNT NOT MYSELF TO HAVE APPREHENDED: BUT THIS ONE THING I DO, FORGETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEFORE, I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS. LET US THEREFORE, AS MANY AS BE PERFECT, BE THUS MINDED: AND IF IN ANY THING YE BE OTHERWISE MINDED, GOD SHALL REVEAL EVEN THIS UNTO YOU" (PHIL. 3:13-15). HE HAD TURNED RESOLUTELY TOWARD THE PRIZE OF PERFECTION, REPRESENTED IN SCRIPTURE BY THE NUMBER SEVEN (2033 STRONGS, SEE GLOSSARY & 7APPENDIX A). IT PERTAINS TO THE DAYS OF CREATION, THE FEASTS, THE VESSELS IN THE TABERNACLE, AND THE BOOK OF REVELATION. THE INSTRUCTIONS OF PAUL ARE CLEAR AS HE URGES US TO GO BEYOND THE BEGINNING WORKS OF "COMMON SALVATION." "THEREFORE, LEAVING THE PRINCIPLES OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, LET US GO ON UNTO PERFECTION (5048 STRONGS, SEE GLOSSARY, A FINISHER, AS ONE WHO RECEIVES THE PRIZE); NOT LAYING AGAIN THE FOUNDATION OF REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS, AND OF FAITH TOWARD GOD, OF THE DOCTRINE OF BAPTISMS, AND OF LAYING ON OF HANDS, AND OF RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, AND OF ETERNAL JUDGEMENT, AND THIS WE WILL DO, IF GOD PERMIT" (HEB. 6:1-3). "EYE HATH NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NEITHER HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN, THE THINGS WHICH GOD HATH PREPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM. BUT GOD HATH REVEALED THEM UNTO US BY HIS SPIRIT, ---THAT WE MIGHT KNOW THE THINGS THAT ARE FREELY GIVEN TO US OF GOD ---WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST" (I COR. 2:9-16). THE SPIRITUALLY MINDED FIND "LIFE AND PEACE" (ROM. 8:6-9).
WE MUST PRESS INTO THE VERY NATURE OF THE DIVINE (SPIRITUAL) AND PUT TO DEATH THE OLD SENSUAL (CARNAL) NATURE. THE COMPLETE REVELATION (MANIFESTATION, APPEARING, COMING), IS DESCRIBED IN SPIRITUAL TERMS AND SYMBOLS AND IS NOT AN EVENT HAPPENING TO US, BUT SOMETHING THAT WILL HAPPEN THROUGH US. WE MUST SEE THE LIFE OF CHRIST FULLY REVEALED, EVEN AS JOHN WAS PERMITTED TO SEE BEYOND THE NATURAL STATE OF THINGS AND BEHOLD THE FUTURE SPIRITUAL STATE OF GOD'S PEOPLE. IN ROMANS, THE SIXTEENTH CHAPTER, THE SPIRIT REVEALS AN OUTLINE THAT WILL GUIDE US ON A COURSE TOWARD PERFECTION. "NOW TO HIM THAT IS OF POWER TO STABLISH YOU ACCORDING TO MY GOSPEL, AND THE PREACHING OF JESUS CHRIST, ACCORDING TO THE REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY, WHICH WAS KEPT SECRET SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN, BUT IS NOW MADE MANIFEST, AND BY THE SCRIPTURES OF THE PROPHETS, ACCORDING TO THE COMMANDMENT OF THE EVERLASTING GOD, MADE KNOWN TO ALL NATIONS FOR THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH" (ROM. 16:25-26).
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