The new protocol for drawing near to God
To every occasion there are protocols, procedures and rules to follow, appearing before the throne of God is no exception. It is stated quite explicitly that, “Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible nature, namely His eternal power and deity, has been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:19-20).
The procedure in the earthly tabernacle was a copy of the reality, for, “It was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these (animal sacrifices), but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these, for Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Hebrews 9:23-24).
Since it is the procedure and not the objective that has been changed, it is imperative that we know the formality of the occasion, whether it is formal, semi-formal, or informal, and what sort of gift or offering that is required, so that we can be adequately prepared to approach the throne of grace.
Therefore in approaching the throne of grace we should take cognizance of the nature of the occasion. What can be derived from the scriptures is that before the throne of God is a festal gathering. The apostle John in the book of Revelation wrote saying; “…I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it, and the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty four –elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.
Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing, which are the seven spirits of God; and before the throne there is as it were what looked like a sea of glass, clear and crystal. In the center around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and behind…Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.’
“Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne and who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and worship Him who lives forever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being” (Revelation 4:2-11).
The mood and atmosphere before the throne is one of adoration, thanksgiving, praise and worship, it is a glorious company, for it is written, “For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned. The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear” (Hebrews 12:18-21).
But now, in contrast to the darkness, gloom and storm, we have received the consolation saying, “You have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God, and to innumerable angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the first born, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel” (Hebrews 12:22-24).
The meeting place before the throne is on a sea of glass like crystal. This place is reserved only for those who have the victory over the beast, over his image, over his mark and over the number of his name. They stand on the sea of glass with harps and sing the song of the Lord saying, “Great and wonderful are thy deeds, Lord God Almighty, just and true are your ways, O king of the saints! Who shall not fear and glorify thy name, O Lord? For you alone are holy. All nations shall come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed” (Revelation 15:2-4).
Those who worship the beast are not permitted to enter Mount Zion, the city of the living God. There should be no ambiguity as to who the beast is, because the Prophet Daniel wrote quite emphatically stating; “Those great beasts which are four, are four kings (kingdoms) which arise out of the earth, but the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even for ever and ever” (Daniel 7:17-18).
The beast therefore is a ruling kingdom to whom the dragon (Satan the devil) has given his power, his throne and great authority, the mark and number of the beast pertains to economic and social activities instituted by the beast which unless one becomes a part of, will not be allowed to buy or sell. The image pertains to a symbol of worship which the beast has substituted in place of the true symbol of worship, and whosoever has laid aside God laws regarding worship and substitute it with the symbol the beast has established, are not permitted before the throne of God, because by observing the substitute rather than the reality, they are inadvertently worshiping the dragon who gave his authority to the beast.
The latest on the enforcement of the mark of the beast is that, saving the environment will be used as a scape goat to enforce this mark of the inhabitants of the earth, The question is, will we fall prey to it? The choice is ours to make individually, there is no excuse, you have been warned.
With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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