“He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.” Psalms 18:11

“For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me;” Psalms 27:5

“You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man;” Psalms 31:20

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalms 91:1

“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place;” Matthew 6:6

SECRETS AND MYSTERIES

There is only one place where true secrets and mysteries are found, and that place is in the Sanctuary, where things that cannot be seen from the outside can now be seen to exist. There are so many Thomas’s who do not believe unless they see. Yet, they do not take up the Cross of Jesus, which is the key to the entrance of the Sanctuary. So many pick up the Cross to enter the Tabernacle, but then they believe they no longer have to carry the Cross in here - so they lay it down. In so doing they insure they will stay in the Outer Court. Yes, they are reconciled to God, but there are so many secrets, beauties and wonders they will miss.

BENEFITS OF THE SANCTUARY

Reread the all of the verses at the beginning of this post. They all speak of the benefits of living in the Holy of Holies. The smoke, the darkness, and the covering of the Holy of Holies of God is described in all these verses. Do you now see … “He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.” Psalms 18:11 … This is the Holy of Holies the Psalmist is describing.

You’ll miss the fullness of these benefits if you do not dwell in the Rooms of Mystery. You may stay in the Outer Court, but you’ll miss the benefits. “Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits,” Psalms 68:19; You may be able to quote the following verse, but do you understand it applies to those who abide in the Holy of Holies?

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalms 103:2-5

No wonder the Psalmist asks what can he, in return, give to God for all the benefits he received. “What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me?” Psalms 116:12. All these benefits are found in the Sanctuary, yet they are mysteries to all who remain in the Outer Court. However, the answer is simply this, “Take up your cross and follow” Him.

The Psalmist understood the benefit that righteousness before God and we know the Cross brings in our lives. You may remember from previous posts that the Hill mentioned here is the tall, brown, badger skin covered Sanctuary.

“Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” Psalms 24:3-5

YOU IN HIM - HIM IN YOU

The Apostle John writes of what Jesus said, that the Holy Spirit is with you, but He shall be in you (John 14:17). He is with you in the Outer Court, You breathe Him into you in the Sanctuary. Here, in the Rooms of Mystery you find yet another mystery; unknowingly you are living in rooms within the very heart of God and at the same time, He is living in rooms within you.

As I wrote before there are several lifetimes of mysteries herein. I am endeavoring to stir your spirit, so that it can rule your mind. When that occurs you will not fail to recognize the many and various mysteries as you come upon them in your journey. This will eventually become a great joy within you.

Here in the Sanctuary is where you will find the joy of the Lord. Joy that only a few, so far, have found.  You see, the Scripture says it is the joy of the Lord that is your strength, not your joy in the Lord. God has the greatest joy that can be found in creation.

Here are a few of the multitude of benefits found in the Sanctuary.

Help

“May He send you help from the sanctuary,” Psalms 20:2

Power and Glory

“So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,

To see Your power and Your glory.” Psalms 63:2

Procedure

“They have seen Your procession, O God,

The procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.” Psalms 68:24

Understanding

“Until I went into the sanctuary of God;

Then I understood their end.” Psalms 73:17

The Way of God

“Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary;” Psalms 77:13

Strength, Beauty, Honor, Majesty are there

“Honor and majesty are before Him;

Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.” Psalms 96:6

We are to lift our hands and bless the Lord there

“Lift up your hands in the sanctuary,

And bless the LORD.” Psalms 134:2

We are to Praise God there

“Praise the LORD!

Praise God in His sanctuary;” Psalms 150:1

You in Him - Him in you, this is a mystery and as with all Kingdom matters it takes faith to discover them and even more faith to live them.

Blessings,

John Paul

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“Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28

“Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” Genesis 2:15

“Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” … But He was speaking of the temple of His body.” John 2:19, 21

“And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables.” … And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?” Mark 4:11-13

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EDEN

The Earth was raw, and untamed, and Eden was to be the staging ground for mankind’s subduing and taking dominion of it. The man had been created outside the Garden and the woman, who stood gracefully a few feet from him, had been created within the confines of this beautiful estate. She had never known what it was like to be outside in the untamed, and uncharted wilderness, but he, Adam did.

Before God placed him here in this garden and introduced them to each other, Adam had some time to see what he was up against out there. She was here to help him and he needed all the help he could get in order to subdue the Earth. He didn’t even know how big it was - no maps back then, no NASA photographs. All Adam knew was that everything he could see would respond to him and obey him. In time the Earth would be subdued, just as God had told him to do. Somehow, he was to make this planet look a whole lot like Heaven. That it might be here, just as it is there.

TABERNACLE

Moses stood back, his hands resting on his hips, looking at the sight before him. He had done it; it was completed. What he had seen in Heaven was now built on Earth. Somehow, he knew that Eden had been built again and as these thoughts raced through his mind, his hands began to rise upward toward Heaven, toward God, the - I AM That I AM. Here in this hot, dusty, desert, God could now be found in the covered tent, the Sanctuary that stood like a mountain before him. It was amazing; man could talk with God again, commune with Him, and even get direction and wisdom from Him. Moses thought to himself, one day the whole Earth will worship the only wise and Eternal God. Why God had placed the responsibility for making that happen into his hands and the hands of this stiff-necked people, Moses still did not understand. Somehow God would receive greater Glory for it, Moses trusted God.

TEMPLE

The disciples looked curiously at each other as they heard Jesus refer to the Temple and how He would rebuild it in three days. They did not know then what they would know in a matter of months. They knew the Temple was the Tabernacle and the Tabernacle was the Garden of Eden. What they did not know was that they were similarly constructed. Deep within them was a place, a spiritual place where God could meet with man. What Jesus said is becoming clearer - the Kingdom begins within you and not out there where it could be easily observed. One day, every ethos on Earth would have the opportunity to commune with God. How? That they did not yet understand, but they would grow in their belief that it would happen.

One day Jesus would tell them the same thing He told Adam and Eve. Subdue the Earth - have dominion. Yes, the words were a little different, but the basis of what they were told was the same. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Jesus did not tell them to go only to the Jews, but to every nation, and yes, earlier He told them to go to the Jew first. What Jesus taught the disciples would subdue the earth and dominion would be had.

This too is one mystery of many mysteries. Yes, mysteries are found in Heaven, they are found in Eden, they are found in the tabernacle and now you know they are found in you - all these mysteries are intricately woven together in the Kingdom coming to Earth just as it is in Heaven.

DEFINING THE KINGDOM AND THE TABERNACLE

I believe, in God’s grand design, He intended there to be a difference between these two Rooms of Mystery in the Sanctuary. There is a reason they are not one room. Even if no one on the outside could tell it. Not even someone standing on a high mountain looking down into the Tabernacle could see into the covered Sanctuary. Why? They have to have “eyes to see” and in the Seeing they have to have a heart to pursue knowing Him more than knowing about Him. Some theologians today still can’t tell there are two rooms, they still just see the one.

Further, no one outside of the Sanctuary knew what was on the inside, under that covering. Unless you went in. no one would know there were two rooms in that tent, let alone what the two rooms contained. But to go in … you have to pursue. This too is part of the mystery Jesus speaks of in the verses written at the beginning of this post.

MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

Thus the area everyone could see was the Outercourt where sin was removed and stains washed away. Only if you accepted this provision could you walk into the covered Rooms of Mystery and behold the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven in the first, and the Kingdom of God in the second. I do not believe it is merely semantics that separates the Kingdom of God from the Kingdom of Heaven - the difference is found in the mystery of why God separated these two rooms in the first place. Therefore, the difference between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God is displayed, to those who have eyes to see, right here in the Sanctuary. The difference between these two rooms will give you understanding. That is why I have called them “Rooms of Mystery” from the very beginning of my postings on the Tabernacle.

KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

The Kingdom of Heaven is first experienced in the Outercourt.  However, the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven as well as the mysteries of the Kingdom of God are found in the Sanctuary. These Mysteries are not found in the Outercourt.

I believe the design, construction, and the furniture of the first Room of Mystery - the Holy Place - represents all that Jesus is as a manifestation of the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. There is a lifetime of mystery to be discovered everywhere and in everything in the Sanctuary.

There are also many mysteries in the Outercourt, but they are open for all to decipher, not so in the covered Rooms of Mystery. There is one mystery found in the Outercourt that is the Key to all the mysteries, and one must learn this to proceed, “You will not be enlightened with understanding of any these mysteries unless you have the Light of the World dwelling within you. You will pass them by and they will remain unnoticed by you.

MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

The second Room of Mystery [Holy of Holies] is where you find the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God. Here is where the very presence of God rests, it is where the Father did all Jesus saw Him doing, subsequently those things Jesus saw His Father doing, He carried out on Earth. Thus, Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing. It is the Holy of Holies or the second Room of Mystery, which is the Throne Room of God to which Jesus ascended to in order to intercede before the Father - for you.

Said another way, the Ourtercourt and the furniture therein represent all Jesus did for you. He was the lamb that was sacrificed for you, He descended into the flames of hell so you would not have to, and He baptismally sanctified Himself for your sake. These, and other matters represented in the Outercourt, too numerous to write here, are all things Jesus did and was.

The Holy Place and the furniture therein, which is the first Room of Mystery in the Sanctuary, represents all that Jesus is. He is the Light to a world that sits in darkness; He is the Healer, the regenerator, the provider, the incense, the intercessor, and so much more. These are the mere tips of the mysteries.

The Holy of Holies, the second Room of Mystery in the Sanctuary, represents all that God the Father is - Authority. In order for one to have Heaven’s authority one must have the Father’s heart. I believe the Father’s Heart is one of the things Apostolic Ministry is missing today and why there is so little of miraculous. We have far to many who call themselves Apostles, when all they are, are administrators with charisma, but far too many are not true Fathers.

SUMMATION

The Kingdom of Haven is the Entirety of the Tabernacle, particularly the Outer court which contains the Sanctuary.

The Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven are found in the Holy Place, under the coverings that hide it in the Sanctuary.

The Mysteries of the Kingdom of God are found in the Holy of Holies, under the coverings that hide it in the Sanctuary.

All are available to those who seek Him, but you do have to seek Him, and occupying space is not seeking.

Well, I’ve stepped on enough toes for today.

Blessings,

John Paul

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“And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables.” … And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?” Mark 4:11-13

In the above two verses there are three matters that must be understood and settled before one can leave the Tabernacle and traverse the terrain of the Kingdom - each of them have to do with the Tabernacle. Remember, every Jewish child was brought up knowing about the Tabernacle of Moses. They were well aware that the Tabernacle tied to the Garden of Eden, the Garden of Eden tied to the Kingdom, the Kingdom tied to Heaven (City), and Heaven tied to God. So if you understand one you could understand the basics of everything. For those of you who have friends in the New Age this is the Divine “Unified Theory of Everything” they have been looking for.

MYSTERIES

The first matter to understand is the Mystery of the Kingdom, the other two you might have glossed over in reading this passage. However, I have been hinting at them from the beginning of this blog - when I wrote of the “Rooms of Mystery.” So let’s take them one by one.

First, there are mysteries of the Kingdom and everyone will not see them. No, this is not some new form of Gnosticism, because all who are in the Tabernacle have the opportunity to know them - those who do not understand simply became stuck along the way and at some early point stopped progressing through the Tabernacle. What is sad is that whenever you get stuck, you will always fail to see and experience the glories of what awaited you.

OUTSIDE

Second, if you are on the outside of the Rooms of Mystery you will never understand what is within them. The question then contained in Mark 4:11 is this, “Outside of what? The answer is, found in the word, “Mystery.” Jesus was reminding His disciples that if you are outside the Sanctuary or “Rooms of Mystery” you would miss a lot! Think about it, in the outer court one can see everything in the Tabernacle - except what is within the walls of the covered Sanctuary. The Sanctuary was a mystery to all. The only way one can see what is in there is through the process of “priestly entering.” You as a priest before God, have the authority to enter into those mysteries. Thus, Jesus was inferring in these verses that the Understanding of the Mysteries is found in the Sanctuary. Remember, once again, the Sanctuary is composed of two rooms of Mystery - though it looks like there is only one from the outside. That too is part of the mystery and we will discuss it in the next posting.

KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING

Third, it now becomes clear that within the Sanctuary are keys. Those keys are there to give you understanding of all the parables. As Jesus said, “How then will you understand all the parables” if you do not understand the foundational matters. Verse 12 also indicates that God planned it to be that way. It is part of the Seeking and finding of God. It is also part of the seeking Him with all your heart with the promise of finding Him. If you are seeking Him with all your heart, you will never get stuck in the Outer Court!

Thus, you may see the Sanctuary and know that there are mysteries there, but you will not perceive the mysteries nor the value of the mysteries. You may even hear of what is going on in the sanctuary, but never understand why. You might even discard the mysteries as foolishness, which is what the Pharisee’s did. Yet, it was obvious that Jesus did not hold ignorance as an excuse. That is why I have been laboring to show you that which man has searched for, even though it was right before him all along.

We truly do live and move and have our being in Him, even when we feel like we are grasping.

Blessings,

John Paul Jackson

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