LAST DAYS OF THE CHURCH

Chapter 3

THREE PARTS OF THE CHURCH

As explained briefly in a previous message, the church made a transition from it being the light of the world, to not shining any light into the world. A separation of the clean and unclean was being made by God and not man.

The beast system, which has always been with us, has now been giving a life, like never before, trying to deceive the saints of God during this time of great darkness.

OVERVIEW OF THE CHURCH

We mentioned early in the message of the three parts of the church. These parts can be seen in:
· Noah's ark with 3 stories, and Noah's three son's
· The construction of the tabernacle(3): holy of holies, inner court and outer court
· The materials(3) in the tabernacle and temple of: gold, silver and brass
· The three different kinds of meat offerings and burnt offerings
· The nation of Israel: priesthood, Levites and congregation
· The 5th - 7th days (3) of creation, the 5th - 7th church ages, the 5th - 7th seals, the 5th - 7th trumpets and the 5th - 7th vials

The types in these passages will not speak perfectly to an area, because God is often speaking to: the true church, the false church, what the adversary is doing, how we are to combat the adversary and then sometimes it is what he is not saying. All this is sometimes in the very same passage. It is these 3 areas of the church that he is speaking to.

You might still be wondering why it is important to understand this. We have all seen how God has tried, tested or rejected his people in our lifetime. Often times we question why he allows things to come into our life if he loves us. The process in our lifetime has been gentler and more patient with us. But in these last days, that is not the case anymore. There is a quick process that must be done as he judges the saints during this time, which will then place them in his kingdom that is to come, according as they have made themselves ready.

I referred to these three parts in this message as:
· Firstfruits - those that have made themselves ready,
· Defiled - those that have defiled themselves in some manner, and
· Rebellious - those who have tasted the heavenly gift and have become disobedient.

SHADOWS and TYPES OF A THREE PART CHURCH

Remember that God has split the church into three parts and has dealt with each part differently depending on: its obedience to the Word of God, its resistance to defile itself with the world and its refusal to bow down to a perverted image of Christianity, that was not portrayed by Jesus Christ or was preached by the Apostles.

Re 16:19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

This scripture has a duel meaning because the Church and Babylon both are called that great city in the book of Revelation. But we are only interested in the Church here.

One Type from : THE MEAT OFFERINGS IN LEVITICUS

The example of the firstfruits of the meat offering shows, we must all go thru the refining fire and the purifying process of carrying the cross, or dying with the Lord Jesus in our life.

Lev 2:14-16 And if thou offer a meat offering of thy firstfruits unto the LORD, thou shalt offer for the meat offering of thy firstfruits green ears of corn dried by the fire, even corn beaten out of full ears. And thou shalt put oil upon it, and lay frankincense thereon: it is a meat offering. And the priest shall burn the memorial of it, part of the beaten corn thereof, and part of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof: it is an offering made by fire.

A second part of the offering was brought, for some reason, to the priest differently. It also was not dried out by the fire, as the manner of the firstfruits was dried by fire. This part had to go into the oven, or furnace of afflictions to be accepted. This is what happens when we do not allow God's fire to cause us to die out to; sin, our lust and our will that is contrary to God's, so that he may preserve us. Therefore we must be afflicted and tried in a different manner, to bring about the perfection and acceptance of our offering unto the Lord.

Lev 2:4 And if thou bring an oblation of a meat offering baken in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil.

That brings us to the last or third part, which for some reason was cooked in a pan or open flame and which then was broken into pieces. God's doesn't want us to be like Ephraim; a cake not turned, where strangers devoured them and yet they would not return to the LORD, nor seek him during the time of their afflictions from God.

Lev 2:5, 6 And if thy oblation be a meat offering baken in a pan, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mingled with oil. Thou shalt part it in pieces, and pour oil thereon: it is a meat offering.

2nd Type from: THE BURNT OFFERINGS IN LEVITICUS

First, if it was a sheep or goat from the flock that was offered, then it was killed at the altar. This is the nature and manner of the firstfruits group, they allow God through his Word and the ministry to bring us to the place, where we are crucified with Christ, but yet we live. When we stay close to the Altar of God we take on; his nature, his vision, we are washed, we are purified and giving garments of white.

Le 1:10-13 And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish. And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar.

Secondly, is the offering of a bullock of the herd, which is similar to the defiled group. This offering was willingly offered at the door of the congregation and was necessary for an atonement to be made for him. There are people and even times in our life, when we are willing to serve the Lord, but we will only go so far in our dedication. This offering was at the door still looking into the things of God, but could not make it or stay at the altar to allow God's finished work in their life.

Le 1:3-4 If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD. And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.

That brings us to the last or rebellious part which is spoken rather clearly about it in...

Le 1:14-17 And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons. And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar. And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes. And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

We see God burn its head on the altar and wring the blood or life out of it at the side of the altar. The crop or the Word of God is plucked away, with its feathers or glory and are put on the east side of the brazen alter. There they will be cast out of the camp with the ashes. The wings or light and revelation are taken from it as the fowl is then put on the altar.

THE "REBELLIOUS" WHO COME INTO THE CHURCH

As mentioned earlier, the rebellious or unclean who came into the church was spoken of by Peter in..

2Pe 2:12-21 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousnes..

These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

Then Jesus said also,

Mt 13:41-42 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity. And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Mt 13:47-50 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind. Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

The people represented here have been turned over to hell and may not find place of repentance; but only the judgment of God coming to them as Judas had. This group of ungodly people in the church is being taken by the wicked one. They will give themselves to worship the Beast and his image, even as God begins to pour out his 7 vials of wrath upon the Beast system and they that worship it.

Let's not forget there is a difference between the ungodly and struggling fleshy saints. The ungodly which come into the church, will not and do not change. The struggling saints, struggle to overcome their fleshly desires, fall many times in there walk with God and sometimes commit the same acts or actions that the seed of the wicked one does.

THE "FIRSTFRUITS" IN THE CHURCH

Another part of the church is those referred to as the firstfruits in Revelation.

Re 14:1-5 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

Do not think that he is referring to a literal 144,000. This number is only used to reference those who were redeemed and have come to the fullness of Christ. Nor should one think that he is referring to the natural Israel, which at one time had twelve tribes that camped around the tabernacle of Moses. The natural Israel has no part of the kingdom of God unless they come thru Jesus Christ, then they become a part of the body which is neither Jew nor Gentile.

You should rather think of the church as the Israel of God, put together to make the whole body of Christ with each tribe or part differing from the other in position, character or anointing. Yet they all have the same Lord Jesus Christ as the center and focus of their life. As God dwelt in the earthly tabernacle built by Moses, He now dwells in the midst of earthly tabernacles, his people. This makes up his kingdom or nation today, which is referred to as the church or body of Christ.

This does not take away from the natural promises of the land of Israel. As the natural seed has no right to the promise of the spiritual kingdom, neither does the spiritual seed have a right to the promise of the natural kingdom; it comes by being born in that kingdom. We can see how God made up the natural kingdom in the Old Testament for our example of the church which is now the spiritual kingdom of God. But now we are complete in him, even in Jesus Christ who is the fire, the tabernacle and the vessels of God which he ministers continually, until the daily sacrifices are taken away. This people are not taken from the earth into the heavens with the Lord during this time, but rather they are given power and revelation to come into a place upon this earth, where they are kept from the flood and the persecution of the wicked one, the serpent.

Re 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

This was illustrated in the times of Noah and his obedience to God. He built an ark or place of refuge according to God's dimensions and not man's. That he might not be swept away and destroyed by the flood that was to come upon all the earth.

The Lord told us that he is going to destroy the wicked in the last days with fire. Not a literal fire that we can cook or heat with, but with the fire of a flood of uncleanness and wickedness coming from Satan. It shall burn and consume all people that are not in the Ark of Safety; the gospel of Jesus Christ. Today it only comes up from the earth of our life as a midst, but in that day he shall cause the flood to break forth from the spiritual powers of Satan and the depths of the earth

Gen 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
Gen 7:12 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.

But let there be a warning here, that does not mean that believers cannot be killed or persecuted. The safety is found not in a natural location but the hiding place in Spirit of God.

For Jesus said in..
Re 12:11 and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Re 12:13 he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
Re 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

THE "DEFILED" IN THE CHURCH

That brings us to the last part of the church, that during this time who will suffer and feel the blunt of the persecution upon the church during this time of great tribulation.

Zec 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried.

I referred to these earlier as defiled, a group of saints or believers who did not make themself ready, nor did they purify themselves while they had an opportunity. They defiled themselves in some way that displeases the Lord. It could be that they built their ark, ..but not according to God's plan. It may be that they built their house, ..but not on the rock or according to God's plan.
This is what has happened to this group of people, which defiled themselves in some way. They allowed the world, the flesh, false doctrines, false spirits, etc to lead them astray. Yet they are God's people and his desire is not to cut them off, but rather to purify them through the fire so they can enter into eternal life.

We see this in the scriptures in…
Re 6:9-11 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

This is a reference to the first great persecution to the church by Roman Catholic Church. It is compared to those who will at the end-time be persecuted by the 8th Beast. We can see a type of this in the Old Testament when God sent Babylon to persecute and scatter Jerusalem the first time and then sent Rome to persecute and scatter Jerusalem the second time, known as the days of vengeance.

This time of great tribulation, becomes the wrath of God on the rebellious group, will indirectly try the firstfruits group and become a time of great affliction on the defiled group.

Re 6: 12, 13 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

Dan 12:10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

Re 7:13-17 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Summary

In this message, the objective was to show the purpose of God with each type of believer that has come into the church. The level to which each believer obeys the Lord, determines how they will be protected, refined or cut off for rebellion against God's leadership in their life in the last days of the church.

These are the three parts that make up the church:
· Firstfruits - those that have made themselves ready,
· Defiled - those that have defiled themselves in some manner, and
· Rebellious - those who have tasted the heavenly gift and have become disobedient.

We see Jesus speaking of judgment toward the rebellious of the church in…

Mt 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Mt 13:49-50 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 22:3-13, The King sent forth his armies to destroy and burn up the city of those who made light of his invitation to the wedding. And then commanding his servants to go into the highway and gather whatever was needed to fill the house.