8 December 2010 (Revee/Shavu'ot) Day #267, 5934 AM
The Burning Table I
Vision of a Covenant-Breaker
Continued from Part 2
Not so long ago we discussed the spiritual legalities concerning the sharing of bread at table and also the nature of the salt covenant. It seems there was far more to this than I had originally supposed.
Four days ago I was awakened in the middle of the night and saw an intense vision. I saw our dining room table ablaze with fire. Flames were shooting several feet high and I could tell that a tremendous amount of heat was being generated. The interesting thing was that the table, like the original Burning Bush, was not being consumed. I was almost in shock at the intensity of it all having only seconds before been, one supposes, in deep sleep. I was viewing the table from the opposite end at which I normally sit. It reminded me of an earlier vision I had seen pertaining to another member of my family who does not live with us and who has resisted Christ for many years.
Thinking that was 'it', I was surprised when a second vision opened, this time of the same blazing table but from the position of where I normally eat my meals. On the surface of the table, to the left and toward the end I had originally been standing at, I saw a young woman being drawn down into the table as though being swallowed up by it. I at once interceded for her and then the vision terminated.
As we know, the meal table is the place of intimate fellowship and - if salt is used in the meal - covenant. Divine fire, as this had to be as the wood of the table was not consumed, has the property of either welcoming, refining or destroying. Those who belong to Yah'shua through trusting in Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) are at home with it and are progressively refined by it. Those who reject Yah'shua as Messiah are ultimately consumed by it if they do not repent, as pictured by the biblical images of Gehenna, Hades and Hell. Those who know this fire respect and fear it because they know it will either justify or condemn them.
I have learned (admitedly somewhat slowly) that when Yahweh communicates a vision of this nature that is often best not to comment at once but leave it for a few days to see if He does something in real time and physical space to confirm and/or explain it. I did not have to wait long. For three days' later I received a letter from the authorities telling me that one of our enemies who was trying to destroy my reputation, my family and ministry had been dismissed by these self-same authorities a second time, and specifically (for those of you who have been following the progress of this ministry over the years) one of the horns of the two white-horned sheep. What had previously happened to the angry black bear in the same prophetic imagery was now happening to one of the horns of the white sheep. I knew then that the choices being made by her were critical and would determine whether or not she would repent and be saved or destroyed.
One thing I have understood is that when Yahweh ignites such a spiritual fire as this that everyone who is in the same covenant passes through it simultaneously because our Father is completely just. The hardest part for believers having to deal with opponents is that we are required to wait (sometimes for a long time) and to suffer so that the same kind of grace can be extended to our opponents as we desire for ourselves. If we are not willing to do that, then we cannot expect Heaven to extend the same to us for our sins and issues...which we most definitely have. Therefore a double blessing follows those who will endure - cleansing for us as well as them (if they will repent). If not, there but waits a fearful judgment (Heb.10:27).
Just as literal fire was commanded for the destruction of physical idols anciently (e.g. Ex.32:20; Dt.7:5,25: 12:3) as well as pagan cities (Josh.6:24; Jdg.18:27), so spiritual fire - then as now - is used to cleanse us of the idols of our hearts. To indicate that this fire is to be burning in the soul of the believer continuously if he is trusting and obeying as he ought, Yahweh commanded that the Temple altars of incense and burnt offering required it constantly under the Old Covenant since Yahweh was the One who started it (Lev.9:24; 2 Chr.7:1-3) and Yahweh is everlasting. Those who enter covenants with Him (as they must if they are to be in right-relationship with Him and maintain their salvation beyond the veil) must therefore be prepared to have this flame burning in them at all times (Lev.6:13), to be increased in intensity as Yahweh wills for His purposes of redemption. You will recall that this fire must be from Yahweh Himself and that all "strange fire" (sent, for example, by the enemy - demonic 'fire', or otherwise human-initiated) is an abomination to Him (Lev.10:1; Num.3:4; 26:61). Anciently, those who caused their children to be passed through literal fire in sacrifice to Molech (2 Ki.3:27; 7:32), just as today those who pass their children through unnecessary hardship and suffering not in Yahweh's, will likewise come under severe condemnation (Mic.7:7).
Those who truly believe in Yahweh our Heavenly Father, in Yah'shua (Jesus) His Son and in the New Covenant Torah of commandments and observances, must dwell in this fire. To be outside of it is to be outside of covenant. This fire represents the imputed glory of Yahweh (Ezek.1:4,13), His protection (2 Ki.6:17), holiness (Dt.4:24), righteous judgment (Zec.13:9) and wrath against sin (Is.66:15-16) which belongs to true believers trusting in the Messiah and walking in the mitzvot or commandments. For this fire is also used descriptively of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) (Mt.3:11; cp. Ac.2:3), as also prophetic inspiration (Jer.4:14: 20:9; 23:29) and of the kindled heart walking in purity. tavnith (divine pattern) and in Yah'shua's emet (truth - Ps.39:3).
This fire has, in truth, been burning hard in my life for some weeks now - painfully, at times, as it must to ensure that my profession of faith matches reality. This must also be true for you who make a similar profession. And it will not cease in its painful work until we are at rest in it, cleansed and purified, so that it becomes our natural home. For this is the heavenly reality. As such, then, it must be viewed as one of Yahweh's most beautiful gifts for its purpose is not, as the short-term might suggest, to harm us, but as the long-term always demonstrates, to sanctify and exalt us, and in so doing bring more glory to Yahweh...which is our ultimate purpose, is it not?
Every choice we make cumulatively forms who we are - our character. Yahweh wants perfect character and will accept no less:
"Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect" (Matt.5:48, NKJV).
If any one dissents from this truth, then they need to repent and get into alignment with Yahweh's will, because if they do not, they must either struggle longer and experience more suffering until they do repent, or they must of necessity be cast out of His presence:
"For Yahweh your Elohim walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you and give your enemies over to you; therefore your camp shall be holy, that He may see no unclean thing among you, and turn away from you" (Deut.23:14, NKJV).
Continued in Part 4
Also see The Burning Table II
Share
|