In the beginning God created a pristine garden and a perfect man (Genesis 1:26). This perfect pre-fallen man was a tri-parti being: body, soul and spirit. His perfection was a body clothed in righteousness, a soul that housed the dwelling place of God, and a spirit that constantly communicated with his Creator. Take note, because His people are returning to this heavenly sweet spot, which is our primordial state AS IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING.
Let’s review the “cherubim” classification for the New Living Creature of Melchizedek before we go into how the shekinah glory (His Dwelling Presence) remains in you and me. Please refer to the TAKING ON COMMON UNION series: http://wp.me/p2k1dQ-i9.
Scripture tells us that CHERUBIM:
[1] Mark the spot for us returning to our pristine primeval state. They stand at the entrance of the Garden of Eden with a flaming sword which turns every way to keep the way to the Tree of Life (Gen. 3:24).
[2] Mark the Dwelling Place of God, because He “dwells between the cherubim” (Psa. 80:1). In God’s Dwelling Places that have been built here on earth (Tabernacle, Temple and the New Jerusalem), cherubim are the most frequently sculpted, engraved, & embroidered figures made according to a heavenly pattern given by the Lord Himself (Exo. 26:1, 26:31-33; 36:8, 36:35; 1 Kings 6:29-35; 2 Chron. 3:7).
[3] Carriers of God’s throne, which is the seat of His divine glory as well as His royal power (1 Chron. 28:18). Cherubim make up the foundation of His fiery chariot throne that bears God’s Kingdom here on earth (Dan. 7:9; Ezek. 1:22-28; 10:1). God’s royal priests set out for the goal of the high calling to become just like Yeshua — the High Priest of the eternal order of Melchizedek. His Melchizedek Company is the Messenger that will facilitate the kingdoms of this world becoming the kingdoms of our Lord, and His Christ (Rev. 11:15).
This is the context that is essential to understanding the requirements needed for the Lord’s special dwelling presence to stay. His shekinah literally requires holiness. People have tried to boil holiness down to a formula of dos and don’ts, but that will always miss the mark because holiness is a love issue. Doing what Scripture prescribes for holiness taps into the prerequisites for which God’s Presence can dwell among us, but we must always take into account that His people’s hearts must be totally engaged when we seek to lovingly obey Him.
Believers in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob need to consider that the shekinah glory dwelt in the midst of Israel for generations: “The people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption of sons; theirs the divine glory…” (Rom. 9:4). First century believers understood the biblical holiness requirements, which facilitated God’s dwelling presence. When the Holy Spirit fell at Pentecost, the church experienced His manifest presence. They additionally sustained a multi-generational revival for more than three hundred years, because they understood how to live in God’s presence.
For the church to sustain His awe-filled presence today, we need to accurately grasp His minimum requirements for purity and their relevant application in our lives. Please let us learn from history, so we don’t repeat it. God’s dwelling presence departed from the Christian church when the pagan holidays were assimilated into it. Historical proof is seen in the departure of daily miracles from among them. Scriptural proof is spelled out in Ezekiel 8-11. We are not going into this passage in detail today. Please note, as you personally read it that God’s presence slowly and sorrowfully departed, for He longs for His people to repent so His presence may return or remain.
“Son of man, do you see what they are doing … things that will drive Me far from My sanctuary?” (Ezekiel 8:6). The four idolatrous practices listed in Ezekiel 8:3-5, 9-12, 14, 16 originated in Babylon, and the Bible says that they are detestable to God. BTW – These all have to do with pure worship. Today, we will only peek at the fourth and most detestable practice in His eyes that drives Him far from His sanctuary: “So He brought me into the inner court of the LORD’s house; and there, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east, and they were worshiping the sun toward the east” (Ezekiel 8:16 NKJV).
The fourth and most detestable practice was performed in the inner court of the house of the Lord between the porch and the altar. The inner court symbolizes those who are intimately acquainted with God. The porch is a place of traversing back and forth. It can be akin to a heaven and earth connection. The altar was a platform of sacrificial worship, where worshipers endeavored to meet with their God. So these twenty-five or so men, who were bowing down to the sun with their backs toward the temple of the Lord, were His close companions. They were people who knew and loved the Lord; yet they still grievously bowed down to and worshiped the sun, whether they acknowledged the fact or not.
It is not until Ezekiel 9:3 that the departure of God’s presence begins. His shekinah glory moves over His fiery chariot throne – a set apart remnant of His people. Then, His shekinah glory is carried by the Living Creature from the inner court to the threshold of His sanctuary. The Lord hesitates there to see if His people will notice His leaving. Will they repent and welcome His manifest presence back? He waits, then in Ezekiel 10:19 God’s glory moves further away to the eastern gate. He waits again. His people still won’t repent of their idolatry, so God’s shekinah glory moves out of Jerusalem (the city of our God) across the Kidron Valley to the Mount of Olives (Ezekiel 11:23). Then God waits again for the people to turn from their idols. Where’s does Scripture say that the Lord will return? The Mount of Olives both spiritually and physically (Zechariah 14:4).
The pagans in the fourth century recognized their own solar cults in the church’s adoption of the Nativity of the Unconquered Sun (Mithra’s Winter Festival). They recognized the church assimilation of their pagan practices in the orienting cathedrals to the east, worshiping on “sun day,” and celebrating the birth of the sun god deity at the Winter Solstice. Throughout antiquity, all sun gods across all cultures celebrated their birthday on the ancient winter solstice – December 25th – before the Roman shift in time. The Catholic Encyclopedia even documents that the Nativity or Mithra’s Winter Festival has a strong claim on our December 25th date. Never mind the fact that Constantine had the Vatican built atop the hill where the Mithras cult worshiped the sun. History records that it had become common practice in the fifth century for worshipers entering St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome to turn at the door, put their backs to the altar, and bow down to worship the rising sun. See Ezekiel 8:16.
When the Lord says that “Christmas will be the golden calf of America,” He is telling us that it is idolatry in His eyes. The Lord has given each of us the responsibility to prepare a place for Him: “Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3). His shekinah glory cannot dwell where there is idolatry; therefore, His dwelling presence can not, and will not, coexist with this golden calf we call Christmas. Idolatry is the crux that determines whether His shekinah glory will merely visit His people or dwell among them. If it’s your heart-of-hearts to be part of Yah’s glorious Melchizedek and Bridal companies, you will have to pass through this fire.
~Robin Main
www.sapphirethroneministries.com
www.santa-tizing.com
www.mysticmentoring.com
Written December 10, 2013 – Sapphire Throne Ministries – Robin Main. Copyrighted – If you are going to copy this, please copy it right by giving attributions to this source.
Originally published => https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=595135333892298&set=a.436008649804968.101323.436004819805351&type=1&theater
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For more historically and Scripturally accurate information on the Golden Calf of Christmas, please check out:
[1] MY PERSONAL TESTIMONY – http://wp.me/p158HG-4E
[2] WHERE CHRISTMAS COMES FROM – http://wp.me/p158HG-1t & http://wp.me/p158HG-2m
[3] BI-POLAR NATURE OF CHRISTMAS – http://wp.me/p158HG-9p
[4] THE LAND OF MERCHANTS – http://wp.me/p158HG-jF
[5] NORTH POLE GOING SOUTH? – http://wp.me/p158HG-kH
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RESOURCES AVAILABLE:
• Ascension Manual book => https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578188511
• Understanding the Order of Melchizedek: Complete Series book => https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Order-Melchizedek-Robin-Main/dp/0998598240/
• MEL GEL Study Guide book => https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578188538/
• MEL GEL Study Guide: Volume 2 book => https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998598232/
• Set of Hebrew Living Letter Flash Cards => https://www.sapphirethroneministries.com/flashcards
• Blazing New Wine of Hanukkah: Bridal Restoration of DNA book => https://www.amazon.com/Blazing-New-Wine-Hanukkah-Understanding-ebook/dp/B010MHNZMK/
• SANTA-TIZING: What’s wrong with Christmas and how to clean it up book => https://www.amazon.com/SANTA-TIZING-Whats-wrong-Christmas-clean/dp/1607911159/
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