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Spirit of the Word - Covenant Eschatology - Introductory Note - New Stuff
From The Heavens Declare-Part 3 by Preston EbyA TABERNACLE FOR THE SUN
From the finger tips of our almighty heavenly Father worlds glide forth in their orbits, and mighty stars as numerous as the sands of the sea circle for incalculable ages in their courses with the sweet precision of a diamond watch. The inspired Psalmist penned these words of beauty and truth: "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork. IN THEM HATH HE SET A TABERNACLE FOR THE SUN. Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof" (Ps. 19:1,4-6).
In the days when David wrote these expressive words the word "tabernacle" carried an altogether different connotation than it does in our modern usage. When we were in Israel we saw dotting the landscape the black "tents of Kedar" mentioned in the Song of Solomon, the goat-skin tent habitations of the nomadic tribes which follow their flocks over the hills of Judea. We are accustomed to think of a tabernacle in terms of a temple or other grand and imposing edifice, whereas in the east where the books of the scriptures were written, tabernacles were tents, and so was the House of God, the Tabernacle of God in the wilderness. We view our sturdy houses as places of security and protection from the blazing sun, the chilling cold, the ravaging winds, and the treachery of men; but in the east the tent was the place of habitation, the position of dwelling.
In God's tabernacle or habitation it was not a matter of protecting God from the influences of the external elements, but a matter of a place to draw attention to the fact that He was there. It was the place of His abode, His manifestation, His activity, that His people might behold Him and know that He dwelt amongst them. He inhabited the tabernacle in order to presence Himself with them, not in order to have a shelter for Himself. This concept of the tabernacle as being a DISPLAY to EXHIBIT the glory of God is the thought of the Holy Spirit in Psalm 19. The sun is not contained within the strong walls of some celestial fortress--if it were it would be hidden. It is not concealed, it is put on display for all creation to behold in all of its brilliance and majesty. "In them (the heavens) hath He set a tabernacle for the sun."
There is no truth within the pages of God' s blessed Book more certain than the fact that God is creating a new heavens and a new earth, and the constellations of the new heavens are not made up of the physical stars which comprise the signs of the Zodiac, but of living stars of God's sons formed and fashioned into an order and image through which to influence creation and rule over all things. Beyond question this is the allegory proclaimed by the Lord to the prophet Isaiah, "And I have put My words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of Mine hand, THAT I HAY PLANT THE HEAVENS, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, THOU ART MY PEOPLE" (Isa. 51:16). In commenting on this instructive passage Ray Prinzing wrote: "When God has thoroughly planted His people in the heavenlies, they will be in a settled place, firmly secured by His grace, to DWELL IN HIM, established in His love and grace, no more to be lost or wandering in the emptiness of selfhood. 'But God...hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come He might show (display) the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus' (Eph. 2:4-7).
"Andrew Jukes brings out that this expanse above us is called 'heaven,' that is THE ARRANGER, so called, because this heaven, in ways above our thoughts, is the great agent in arranging everything, and that the word comes from the root 'to set or place.' And there is reference made to the effects ascribed to attraction, gravitation, etc. along with the repulsion, electricity, evaporation, and so on. While we are more acquainted with the effects, than understanding the underlying forces or power which cause these effects. Might also point out how the ancient Greeks derived their word THEOS for 'God,' from the word TO SET OR PLACE, for the same reasons. That HE is the DIVINE ARRANGER, PLACER. In His planting the heavens, God has purposed to bring into ONENESS WITH HIMSELF a people that shall become 'arrangers, placers,' that with Him they might establish His righteousness upon the earth. To be, as Paul brings out so very clearly, 'laborers together with God' (I Cor. 3:9).
"Furthermore, as Paul pointed out, we are made to 'SIT TOGETHER,' or, literally, TO SIT [)OWN WITH HIM in the heavenlies. There is a DIVINE PLACEMENT where we are FIXED in Him. Not running or wandering all over the heavens, roaming about here and there, causing havoc by the exercising of spiritual power where it ought not to be placed. We are not to be 'wandering stars' blazing across the sky in some brilliant display attracting attention, but we are to be placed in our fixed orbit, to be SEATED IN HIM--abiding in the calling wherewith we are called, to fulfill that for which we have been apprehended. God has a place for every one in His great purpose.
"'Thus saith the Lord, He that created the heavens, and stretcheth them out' (Isa. 42:5). Note the word 'created' from the Hebrew BARA with a threefold meaning: to form, fashion, prepare. It covers the whole realm of processing from the initial forming, through the development, until it is fully prepared, brought forth a newly made finished product. Begun, continued, climaxed. And He does it all, as well as totally controlling the time element. That which we read of the vast cosmic order about us, is also applicable for this new spiritual order which is being prepared. 'The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; BY UNDERSTANDING hath He established (prepared) the heavens' (Prov. 3:19). Understanding, from the Hebrew TEBUNAH meaning: skillfulness, discretion, wisdom, understanding. What tremendous wisdom and care, what skill and glorious handiwork is revealed as He marks out, chooses, plans and prepares His elect to be PLANTED IN THE HEAVENLIES. Furthermore, we read, 'I, even MY HANDS, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded' (Isa. 45:12).
"'He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people. Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice. And the HEAVENS SHALL DECLARE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS: for God is judge Himself' (Ps. 50:4-6). Declare,--here we have a different Hebrew word from that used in 'The heavens declare the glory of God,' which is meant to recount, to tell with praise, or to celebrate. But now it is the Hebrew word NAGAD meaning: to be in front, thus, TO MANIFEST, by bringing to light, to declare, i.e. to solve, to explain an enigma. All the hidden secrets of His righteousness will be revealed through those whom HE has planted in the heavens. What a union, what a oneness with Him, that HE shares the mysteries of His righteousness with these processed ones, and then places them in position to declare that righteousness. Not just by words, not just by some form of preaching or teaching, but by their OWN TRUE STATE OF BEING. They, themselves, shall be all righteous, and thus become a living declaration of His righteousness. Words fail us to express the wonder of this glorious truth which begins to gleam in our spirit with hope and joy" --end quote.
Again I would emphasize the fact that the Psalmist establishes the position of the sun in the heavens. Of the heavens He says, "IN THEM hath He set A TABERNACLE FOR THE SUN." In the Old Testament as well as in the New, the glorious sun that lights our day is set as a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God. This fact is evidenced clearly by the prophet Malachi, who writes: "But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings" (Mal. 4:2). The sixtieth chapter of Isaiah contains some of the grandest poetry that was ever written in any tongue. The song of Israel's redemption and triumph in this chapter reaches its climax in these beautiful words: "The sun shall be no more thy light by day, neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee, but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God shall be thy glory. The sun shall no more go down, neither shall the moon withdraw itself, for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended" (Isa. 60:19-20). In exquisite words of wondrous promise, the beautiful future of the Lord's people is portrayed. In language surpassing mere human vocabulary, the Lord, who is Jesus the Christ, is portrayed as the sun and the light of His people, and the everlasting light of His radiance is to shine upon the path of the nation, as they behold Christ in His unveiling. This thought is continued in John's description of the New Jerusalem, where the revelator says: "And the city hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine upon it, for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof" (Rev. 21:23). How sublime is this truth of which we speak, and wondrous beyond articulation the knowledge that this mighty Sun, this glorious Christ is found WITHIN OUR SPIRIT. On the individual plane, is it not within the heavens of our own redeemed mind that God has set a tabernacle for the sun!
The shining constellations spreading across the enormous expanse of the heavens represent the Lord's dwelling place in the Kingdom of His new creation people. Cod has set a tabernacle for the Sun (Christ) in the heavens--in the midst of His star-sons. Other passages confirm this truth, such as Isa. 40:22, which states that the Lord "stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out AS A TENT TO DWELL IN." In the constellation of Saggitarius we find the Sign of Ara, which is the altar of the heavenly tabernacle. In fact, all of the symbolisms of Israel's Tabernacle in the wilderness are found pictured in the signs of the Zodiac. Therefore, the heavens represent the Lord's spiritual tabernacle symbolically displayed. Travel back in our ancestral history, to that awesome day when Moses was given precise and explicit instructions by the Lord regarding the design and construction of the Tabernacle of His presence in the midst of His people. This "centerpiece" of the encampments of Israel was a tent, and it was within this tent that Jehovah made His presence known. It was this tent, this tabernacle in the midst of the congregation, that the Most High filled with His glory. We are informed that "the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys" (Ex. 40:38). How wonderful, how blessed this must have been! God arranged the order, the encampments of His people, and in the midst of them HE SET A TABERNACLE FOR HIS PRESENCE AND GLORY!
God has set a tabernacle or tent in the heavens in the which the sun runs its course, a tabernacle speaking of a particular order and the sun's course denoting certain prescribed limits. Furthermore, the Lord states that its geometrical form is a CIRCUIT or circle, and this is further clarified in likening the sun to a strong man running a race which historically was normally done on a race track in the shape of a circle. "His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his CIRCUIT unto the ends of it" (Ps. 19:6). It is now concluded by leading astronomers that the sun, with the entire solar system, actually DOES move through space--it races, in fact, through the heavens at the tremendous speed of 600,000 miles per hour- and not in a straight path, but in such a gigantic circuit, or circle, that it requires over two million centuries to complete it. The sun's circuit IS from one end of the heavens to the other! What a wonderful book is the Bible! Long before astronomers discovered these things they were revealed to God's holy prophets by the Spirit.
God has set a circular tabernacle or circuit for the sun, indicating a certain work is to be accomplished within those prescribed limits. This is but a faint shadow of the reality established in the spiritual heavens, typified also in the Tabernacle in the wilderness. For example, the Tabernacle in the wilderness was of a certain size and shape for a specific work, carried forth by the priestly ministry appointed to it. As the High Priest made his ceremonial "rounds" in the tabernacle, moving in priestly function from the Outer Court to the Holy Place and finally into the Holiest of all and out again, so the sun in its heavenly tabernacle makes its circuit from one end of heaven to the other, all the while fulfilling day by day its illuminating and life-giving service.
Around the tabernacle were twelve tribes, each had a standard or ensign. If you walked around the tabernacle, passing through each of the twelve tribes, you would pass through twelve standards or ensigns. This parallels the twelve signs of the Zodiac, for the twelve ensigns of the twelve tribes of Israel correspond to the configurations of the twelve signs of the Zodiac in the heavens. The signs of the Zodiac are the circuit the sun passes through as it moves through the skies. "Tabernacle" means tent or house, hence the signs of the Zodiac are called the "houses" of the sun, because in them He moves, dwells, and fulfills all His circuit. Hear me! The sun, moon and stars are for SIGNS; Jesus the Sun of righteousness is a SIGN; and the sons of God are likened unto the stars and are for SIGNS and wonders. YOU ARE THE PEOPLE THE SUN (SON) OF GOD PASSES THROUGH UNTIL HIS DAY IS ACCOMPLISHED AND HIS PURPOSES FULFILLED IN ALL CREATION. The heavens are the people of the Spirit. The study of the Zodiac is the study of the "house" in the heavens. The sun goes through each of the signs of the Zodiac AND THE SAINTS ARE THOSE SIGNS. This spiritual race is the circuit, and HE is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the goal and the prize. As the Lord arises upon His people and completes His circuit in the heavens, so He accomplishes His plans and purposes concerning ourselves and the universe. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, but is always moving ahead through His circuit, working and moving toward His ultimate purpose, the redemption and restoration of all back into Himself again. And just as" there is nothing hid from the heat" (Ps. 19:6) of the sun, so the Lord ministers to His people in compassion, faithfulness, and all-sufficiency. The sun of heaven is the Lord. The light of heaven is the divine truth, and its heat the divine love; both proceeding from the Lord as a sun. Our omniscient Father sees ALL of your circumstance and need, precious friend of mine, and He will not pass you by without tenderly touching your life with His redeeming, delivering, healing, quickening, restoring rays.
By observing the course of the sun through the signs of the Zodiac, we can understand our current, daily walk, with the outworking of God's processing's in us and in creation. There are various "houses" in God's great house into which and through which the Sun moves on its circuit. Is it not true that there are many mansions, many levels of spiritual life and attainment in God's great Kingdom? Have we not identified with various of these spiritual realms in our forward walk in God? Some of us have camped for a season in the "salvation" house, then in the "deliverance" house, the "grace" house, the "faith" house, the "Holy Spirit" house, the "gifts" house, the "New Testament Church Order" house, the "death to self" house, the "sonship" house, the "reconciliation" house, etc. The Sun (Son) ascended and moved forward in its circuit through each of these houses! We experienced the glory of His arising there, the symbolism of the sign was fulfilled within us spiritually, and there followed a true and glorious ministration of His life from each of these realms to creation--and there still is! He is running His race as a strong man, starting from the distant skies and racing through all the expanse of the heavens, just as we are experiencing Him in this world. Thank God for the tabernacle for the Sun, praise Him for each and every "house" of this tabernacle, how we rejoice in His progressive circuit through the heavens of OUR EXPERIENCE!
The reality that lies behind what is commonly known today as horoscopes and behind the common signs of the Zodiac is an original revelation designed by God -- a revelation not of pagan mythology or superstitious powers., but of the wonderful truths of God's grand and glorious plan of the ages through His anointed Christ, written in the very stars of heaven--this fact being attested to by the faithful testimony of the scriptures "which are able to make thee wise unto salvation"
(II Tim. 3:15)In these twelve celestial signs we have enshrined for us like jewels in a velvet case. the twelve great heavenly laws or principles which we are to pass through and master while we walk our foreordained path on this planet. Each one of the twelve signs embodies a Kingdom of Heaven principle taught in symbol and ritual under the Old Testament administration. It points to a wonderful progression as we begin in Genesis with the promised seed of the woman (Virgo) and end in the book of Revelation with LEO, the conquering Lion of the tribe of Judah! just as the sun passes through each of the twelve signs of the Zodiac in the course of a year, so must we experientially partake of the reality pictured by each sign in our progressive transformation, into HIS likeness.
The Heavens Declare-Part 3 (2nd - 3rd) - BACK
Spirit of the Word - Covenant Eschatology - Introductory Note - New Stuff
