March 31, 2013

From Gary V. Womack... THREE TABERNACLES


THREE TABERNACLES

Mk. 9:1-13 The transfiguration of Jesus with 
                  Moses & Elijah.

He took Peter, James & John on a high mountain.

Why Peter, James & John?

Mk. 10:35-40 James & John misunderstood the 
                     nature of the kingdom in seeking 
                     for places of prominence at Jesus' 
                     side.

Mk. 8:27-33 Peter made the good confession, 
                   then was rebuked by Jesus for 
                   denying that He should be put to 
                   death. This showed a worldly view of 
                   His kingdom.

Later, in Paul's defense of the inspiration of the gospel as not from men, he referred to these 3 men as "pillars" of truth in the church:

Gal. 2:9 "and when James, Cephas, and John, who 
              seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace 
              that had been given to me, they gave me 
              and "Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, 
              that we should go to the Gentiles and they 
              to the circumcised."

But for now - these men needed to learn this valuable lesson.


JESUS' GLORIOUS APPEARANCE

Jesus was transfigured before them in brilliant light.
Listen to Paul's defense before King Agrippa - in his recounting his encounter with the risen Christ while on the road to Damascus:

Acts 26:13-14 "at midday, O king, along the road I 
                        saw a light from heaven, brighter
                        than the sun, shining around me and 
                        those who journeyed with me. (14) 
                        And when we all had fallen to the 
                        ground, I heard a voice speaking to 
                        me and saying in the Hebrew 
                        language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you 
                        persecuting Me? It is hard for you to 
                        kick against the goads.' "

He is described as "the express image of" (the Father) "the Majesty on high"
Jesus is described as being "God" and having "Divine Authority."

Heb. 1:3-4 "Who being the brightness of His glory 
                   and the express image of His person
                   and upholding all things by the word of 
                   His power, when He had by Himself 
                   purged our sins, sat down at the right 
                   hand of the Majesty on high, (4) having 
                   become so much better than the 
                   angels, as He has by inheritance 
                   obtained a more excellent name than 
                   they."

Express Image = [charakter] (eng. characteristic) "A stamp or impress, as on a coin or a seal, in which case the seal or die which makes an impression bears the image produced by it, and vice versa, all
the features of the image corresponds respectively with those of the instrument producing it." (Vines)



God created us in His image

Gen. 1:26-27 "Then God said, 'Let us make man in  
                      Our image, according to Our likeness
                       let them have dominion over the fish 
                       of the sea, over the birds of the air, 
                       and over the cattle, over all the earth 
                       and over every creeping thing that 
                       creeps on the earth.' (27) So God 
                       created man in His own image; in the 
                       image of God He created him; male 
                       and female He created them."



What Peter, James & John saw was our future state in glory

when we receive our "new body" that is conformed to His glorious body.

Phil. 3:20-21 "For our citizenship is in heaven, from 
                      which we also eagerly wait for the 
                      Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (21) 
                      who will transform our lowly body that 
                      it may be conformed to His glorious 
                      body, according to the working by 
                      which He is able even to subdue all 
                      things to Himself."

Transform - transfigure [metamorphoo] "To change into another form" (Same as in Mk. 9:2)

1 Jn. 3:2-3 "Beloved, now we are children of God; 
                   and it has not yet been revealed what 
                   we shall be, but we know that when He 
                   is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we 
                   shall see Him as He is. (3) And 
                   everyone who has this hope in Him 
                   purifies himself, just as He is pure."

1 Cor. 15:35-ff Sown a physical body - raised a 
                        spiritual body.


MOSES & ELIJAH

Moses' & Elijah's earthly departures were shrouded in mystery. Moses died at Mt. Nebo on Mt Pisgah:

Deut. 34:1-6 "...no one knows his grave to this 
                         day."

Elijah was taken up alive in a chariot of fire: (as he was separated from Elisha)

2 Kgs. 2:11 "Then it happened, as they continued 
                     on and talked, that suddenly a chariot 
                     of fire appeared with horses of fire, 
                     and separated the two of them; and 
                     Elijah went up by a whirlwind into 
                     heaven."

50 sons of the prophets insisted on looking for Elijah against Elisha's will:

2 Kgs. 2:17 "Therefore, they sent fifty men, and 
                     they searched for three days but did 
                     not find him.

Their appearance showed them as being alive in the spirit. Demonstrated.

Listen to Jesus' teaching of the Sadducees regarding the resurrection.

Mt. 22:23-32 "God is not the God of the dead, 
                       but of the living."

Rom. 14:9 "For to this end Christ died and rose and 
                   lived again, that He might be Lord of 
                   both the dead and the living."

Why Moses & Elijah?

Moses led Israel out of bondage - was giver of the law - a type of Christ

Hear Stephen's address before the Jewish sanheidrin:

Acts 7:35-39 "...The Lord your God will raise up for 
                         you a Prophet like me from your 
                         brethren, Him you shall hear."

Elijah was regarded among the Jews as one of the great prophets. 

Elijah was distinguished among the prophets by those who considered Jesus:

Mt. 16:13-14 "When Jesus came into the region of 
                      Ceasarea Philippi, He asked His 
                      disciples, saying, 'Who do men say 
                      that I, the Son of Man, am?' (14) So 
                      they said, 'Some say John the baptist, 
                      some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or 
                      one of the prophets.' "

Moses & Elijah: authority figures representing "the law and the prophets"

Jesus had declared His coming as a fulfillment of the law & the prophets:

Mt. 5:17-18 (Jesus) "Do not think that I came to 
                               destroy the Law or the 
                               Prophets. I did not come to 
                               destroy but to fulfill. (18) For 
                               assuredly, I say to you, till 
                               heaven and earth pass away, 
                               one jot or one tittle will by no 
                               means pass from the law till all 
                               is fulfilled."

The authority o                       f the Law & the Prophets is seen in Jesus' account of the rich man & Lazarus:

Lk. 16:27-ff "If they do not hear Moses and the 
                     prophets, neither will they be 
                     persuaded though one rise from 
                     the dead."



Moses & Elijah were discussing Jesus' coming death

Jesus' death was not a failure but a fulfillment of His mission according to God's plan.
His death was in fulfillment of the Law & the Prophets - the Law's passing.

Gal. 3:19-25 "The law was our Tutor to bring us 
                      to Christ"

Eph. 2:14-ff The law is abolished in His flesh by    
                    His death on the cross -  His church 
                    is built on foundation of the 
                    apostles & prophets

Col. 2:14 "having wiped out the handwriting of 
                 requirements that was against us, which 
                 was contrary to us. And He has taken it 
                 out of the way, having nailed it to the 
                 cross. "

As we already have seen, Peter & the others, needed to understand this.
(Mk. 8:31-33)



Let us build here 3 tabernacles

Tabernacle = a tent

Were they intended as a dwelling place so the 3 might remain there?

Lk. 9:33 "And it happened, as they were parting 
              from Him, that Peter said to Jesus,
              'Master, it is good for us to be here; and let 
              us make three tabernacles: one for You, 
              one for Moses, and one for Elijah' - not 
              knowing what he said."

Peter was overwhelmed by the moment - irrational in his response. John likewise responded to such a glorious moment irrationally:

Rev. 22:8-9 "Now I John, saw and heard these 
                    things. And when I heard and saw, I 
                    fell down to worship before the feet of 
                    the angel who showed me these 
                    things. (9) Then he said to me, 'See 
                    that you do not do that. For I am your 
                    fellow servant, and of your brethren the 
                    prophets, and of those who keep the 
                    words of this book. Worship God.' "

Perhaps Peter intended them rather as places of worship

1. Why 3 separate tents. They could have dwelled under one tent so all those present could have been together.

2. They were high on a mountain, not likely a place for dwelling - but a good place to go up to worship.

This would have been a sign of carnality in following men & exalting them to the level of God (Christ)

1Cor. 3:1-4 Carnality in following (even great &      
                   faithful) men.

Denominations exist today because men considered great men of faith (?) were followed rather than Christ: John Calvin, Martin Luther, etc..

Do we believe what we do because someone else proclaimed it- or do we believe what we do because we learned & confirmed it by the word?

1 Cor. 3:5-13 No other foundation than Christ - 
                     Take heed how its built on.

Some today say, "Let us start a new church"

Heb. 8:1-6 Christ has all authority as "Minister of the true tabernacle (church) Built according to the pattern.

Failure to build according to the pattern is a failure to duplicate the original.

Jesus proclaimed His kingdom a spiritual one over which death has no power.

Mt. 16:18 (Jesus) "And I also say to you that you 
                             are Peter, and on this rock I will 
                             build My church, and the gates of 
                             Hades shall not prevail against 
                             it."


The voice of God speaks from the cloud

God's reply: "This is My beloved Son. Hear 
                       Him!"

Heb. 1:1-4 God has spoken to us in these last 
                 days by His Son. Hear Him!

This event impressed Peter who later commented on this event:

2 Pet. 1:16-21 The transfiguration gave 
                       confirming evidence of that which 
                       the Law & the Prophets had 
                       foretold regarding Christ -

This resulted in "the prophetic word made more sure" -

With such proofs - we should heed 
(give due consideration to) those prophetic words (represented by Moses & Elijah) as sure as the "morning star" that announces the approach of day -

The summation of the thought - all prophecy (in Old & New testaments) is dependable truth - God insured this by choosing "holy men" (like Moses & Elijah) to speak by the Holy Spirit.




INVITATION

Heb. 2:1-4 Give heed - Don't neglect so great a 
                                     salvation.










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