In the previous Father Talk, ten tests were mentioned but only nine were listed. The one that is missing is the Sabbath law and it was a test of keeping God’s commandments on the Sabbath (Exodus 16:27-30). Some of the Israelites did not keep the law of the Sabbath but went out to look for manna on the Sabbath day. They were to gather twice the amount on the day before the Sabbath, and the manna remained fresh on the Sabbath day. God was dealing with the Israelites not to take the commandments and the laws of God lightly, no matter how small or insignificant it seems in the eyes of men. In the Old Testament the Sabbath law was punishable by death (Exodus 31:12-18). The law of the Sabbath was broken again in the book of Numbers and after death was meted out, God commanded tassels to be made as a reminder (Numbers 15:32-41). This law of the Sabbath was given even before the ten commandments was given (Exodus 16:22-26; 20:10-11).
This law of the Sabbath was the ONLY commandment not repeated in the New Testament. It was fulfilled in Christ, our Lord of the Sabbath, and all who are in Christ can enter into the Rest of God as God rested on the Seventh Day (Hebrews 4:1-4). Some Christians continue to keep the Sabbath and hold one day holier than others but the apostle Paul attributes that to their level of faith; advising each one to walk according to their faith level (Romans 14:5-13, 23). During the time of the book of Hebrews, not everyone has learned to enter into this rest and exhortation is made for believers to enter into God’s rest (Hebrews 4:8-10).
This rest is most of all a spiritual rest in Christ, a ceasing of all our works as God did from His (Hebrews 4:10). This spiritual rest contrasts with the natural “rest” which Joshua was to bring the Israelites into (Hebrews 4:8). This spiritual rest must also be a “soul rest” of the mind, will and emotions for the Bible speaks of being diligent to “enter the rest” and immediately speaks of the living word dividing the soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). There is great rest when it is internal in the spirit and soul, in the heart and mind, like a peace which guards heart and mind (Philippians 4:7-8). The word ‘guard’ is from the Greek word ‘phoureo’ which means to be guarded and protected by a military guard like being in a garrison. The angels and the Holy Spirit surround our hearts and minds when we are in this rest. The experience of it is like being filled in our spirit, souls and body with the peace, love and joy of the Holy Spirit. This three states of heaven is greatly to be desired and greatly to be maintained. It is also a state of continuously being filled with the Holy Spirit, of being filled with the Word of Christ (Ephesians 5:18-20; Colossians 3:16).
Indeed, when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, it is no longer us working but the Holy Spirit who works through us. It would be what Paul experienced when he said that it is no longer him who lives but Christ who lives in him (Galatians 2:20). It would be when he also said that it is not him but the grace of God who works with and through him (1 Corinthians 15:10). Has anyone felt that supernatural energizing when you do whatever God was instructing you to do, and there is this spiritual energy that seems to flow through your bones and body and there is no sense of tiredness or weariness? And all that your spirit and soul is doing internally is just praising and worshipping God. Oh what a glorious joy and power to let Christ flow through you!
Every test that God allows us to go through will always boil down to two criteria: love God and your neighbour; love God’s Word and live only by His word alone. God allowed the Israelites to suffer hunger and fed them with manna, so that they would learn to live by God’s Word and God’s Word alone (Deuteronomy 8:3). Every test is to prove what is truly in our hearts and to bring forth humility in our lives (Deuteronomy 8:2). Our hearts should be set to love God and love our neighbour, and to love His Word and live by every Word of God.
In my encounter with Jesus’ visitation as described in the last Fatherly Talk (8.12), Jesus spoke to me of a final test that is coming forth for all those in this end time move. The years 2022-2023 was highlighted to me and its importance as like the rock cut without human hands striking the feet of iron and clay (Daniel 2:34). I heard a voice cry out:
“Prepare, Prepare, the way for the people! Build up, build up the highway! Take out the stones, lift up a banner for the peoples! Indeed the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the world: say to the daughter of Zion, Surely your salvation is coming. Behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him.’ And they shall call them The Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord; and you shall be called ‘Sought Out’ ( or Those who seek God utterly), a City Not Forsaken” (Isaiah 62:10-12).
And another voice replied and proclaimed:
“For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place: This is My resting place forever! Here I will dwell, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. Then I will make the horn of David grow; I will prepare a Lamp for My Anointed. His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon Himself His crown shall flourish” (Psalm 132:13-18).
Then I saw a vision of thousands upon thousands, tens and hundreds of thousands cloth in white robes, gathering together to worship our Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God. From the East to the West, from the South to the North, a light shone and covered the earth causing darkness to retreat to various places in the North and in the dry places of the West. They stood in the air above the nations and proclaimed the praises of the Lord and angels went forth and divided the earth. Measuring reeds were used to limit the boundaries of powers, authorities and rulers; each in their place. I saw the God of heaven setting up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed (Daniel 2:44). I saw a Throne established and our Lord Jesus, Lamb of God, King of kings, sat upon it and there were set other thrones and it was like the first heaven, the second heaven and the third heaven had become one in the place where the Throne was set. The flow of glory from the third heaven where the Throne seemed to be (in its space and time continuum) descended upon the earth where worship and praise was given. It was like the saints were on the earth and the Throne flowed via three heavens with its presence upon the saints on earth; it was like in three planes of existence – dwelling in the third heaven and simultaneously in the second heaven and in the first heaven. Unlike the seventh heaven where God seats as the power and source of Life of the Universe without a visible “chair” Throne, there was a visible Throne which seemed to be specially manifested (created?) for the visible manifestation of Christ’s rule and reign from third heaven all the way to the first heaven amongst His saints. It was like the earth could not yet contain the glory of God, and God’s Throne manifestation in the third heaven was so powerful that it poured into the second and the first heaven. A highway can be seen which flowed from the third heaven all the way to the earth and its completion was the Second Coming of Christ to the earth. From the seventh to the third heaven the glory of God had expanded and it flowed in fullness towards the third heaven. All the saints have been waiting for this moment to join in the Great March of angels and saints behind Jesus in His Second Coming (Jude vs14).
There was also a great activity of angels and saints in preparing the end time church, the Bride of Christ, for the wedding with our Lord Jesus, the Bridegroom. It almost looks like our Lord Jesus had come forth in His full glory towards the third heaven and the end time church, the Bride of Christ, was being prepared to be raptured into the third heaven (without seeing death) for the wedding ceremony of the Lamb, which all takes place in the third heaven after the Rapture before the Great March to the earth. This end time move was like the final preparations of the Bride of Christ in purifying herself, without blemish, spot or wrinkle for the Wedding Ceremony of the Lamb of God (Ephesians 5:25-29). I understood then the reasons for the saints who had departed remaining in the third heaven; they were all preparing for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb of God. They were also preparing for the full glory of God to be brought forth from seventh heaven into third heaven (liken spiritually to a Great Throne manifestation) and the completion of it by angels and saints working together synchronised with the rock cut without human hands landing on the feet of clay and iron (Daniel 2:44). There was a burst of glorious light of love that flowed from the manifested Throne, where Jesus sat, into all of third heaven, second heaven and first heaven, that manifested into this rock which crushed to powder the whole statute. This solid glory grew, filled the saints and covered the earth. It was simultaneous with the judgment made in favour of the saints to possess the kingdom (Daniel 7:22). The apostle Paul saw this in third heaven as Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, with innumerable company of angels, the general assembly and church of the firstborn registered in heaven (in the heavenly books whose names were written in the book of the Lamb) and the great shaking which shook the earth even as the saints on earth are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:22-28). And the Temple of God and its glory flowed into three heavens (from the third through the second to the first heaven on earth) (Haggai 2:6-9). There were many other things that God spoke of that needed to be done on earth to facilitate this manifestation, of which God has shown but to be revealed when the time is ripe in this cycle of six times seven years (with one cycle behind us).
For now, we must be faithful to prepare ourselves for that which God is about to do. Already we have many written prophecies in the Bible fulfilled before us. We have proclaimed them through some of the messages saying ‘This day it is fulfilled.’ And we have in the coming years the fulfilment of Daniel 2:44, Daniel 7:22; Haggai 2:6-9; Hebrews 12:28 and many more in these end times. Let us pass every test. What are we to do before a great outpouring? Do what Joel instructs and what the apostles did before the day of Pentecost. They spend protracted days fasting and prayer waiting on God (Joel 2:15; Acts 1:12-14). Learn to wait upon the Lord, be entwined with the Lord with all your spirit, soul and being (Isaiah 40:31). Amen.