School of the Spirit (8th April, 2021)
Topic: Understanding the Everlasting Father
Minister: Rev. Kayode Oyegoke
Everlasting life is the life of the Holy of Holies or the life of the Most Holy. The Most Holy life has two degrees of life - the first is everlasting life, which also leads to Eternal life (the second). The whole tabernacle in the old testament, including the outer court, holy place and most holy place, are all referred to as the tabernacle of congregation because the whole nation of Israel congregated about the tabernacle. It is a dwelling place; a place where God can be found.
God decided to dwell (tabernacle) among the Israelites. He could have come to them in His raw state but their response showed that they preferred to remain people of the congregation instead of becoming the tabernacle themselves. God said that before he could tabernacle among them, He must make a covenant with them; but they could not make a covenant with Him. As such, He only helped them to create a remedy to substitute the actual dwellingness that he intended because Israel could not take His original plan. This was why He wrote on stones and kept the stones in a box called an ark.
If God had put the ark directly in the midst of Israel, it would have hurt them. Therefore, He housed it instead. However, the Israelites did not have the capacity to congregate around it. The essence of the house around the ark was to filter the life force that was coming from the ark. The raw ray of the shekinah could not be shielded by the tent. The tent was supposed to act as a refracted membrane to slow the life down. What would come out was to come out from the Holy of holies but because Israel could not take it, God asked that they shield it again.
According to physics, when a ray of light coming from a medium meets with an obstruction, it breaks down into different colours (to form a prism). As such, this shows us that the light is not actually of one particular colour but different. The light breaks at different degrees. When the light of the Shekinah is coming into the holy place, it breaks and turns into flame, thus becomes the burning light. We have an example of this on earth - when objects that come from outer space break into our atmosphere, it turns into fire.
The raw life of the ark cannot get to someone who does not have the ability to carry it. God kept putting partitions from one place to another to help people, by shielding them from the raw light of the Shekinah. God had to cover Himself with thick clouds at Sinai because the light would have licked out the Israelites naturally, not because He did not want to reveal Himself to them. However, Moses had something in him that could bear that level of glory. This was why Satan contended for his body. Moses’ body went to heaven. While some men (the seventy elders) were also allowed to come farther than the rest of the Israleites, they chose to stay at the base of the mountain. God only permitted them to see His feet. It took these seventy elders to carry what was upon only Moses; God divided the spirit that was upon Moses amongst these men.
Elijah’s bones also trapped the anointing such that it was able to raise dead bones. The anointing is a very stubborn spirit. It is faithful to him unto whom it is commissioned; it does not leave him just like that. Some anointings are gentle while some are not. Some people, even in the new testament era, still have the anointings of the old testament order because they have not yet developed Christ.
Prophets are ‘babies’ of God. They know how to cry out to God. The spirit upon them is a prevailing prayer spirit. This was why God quickly attended to Elijah as he cried out to God when he was on the run from Jezebel. God sent His angels to provide food for Elijah and even comforted him with the knowledge that there were more prophets which He had preserved for Himself. The food that was given to Elijah was not an ordinary meal; and he needed to eat, for the journey was still far (1Kings 19:7).
The tabernacles are actually compartments of life. The life that is nearest to the ark is everlasting life. God is eternal life; thus, the ark of God is also eternal life. Everlasting life is also a form of eternal life because it is eternal life that sheds everlasting life. Everlasting life is the ray of eternal life; the light of eternal life is everlasting life. In the scriptures, light means understanding, enlightening, doctrine, substances, essence and persons. These rays of light are an image; the image of eternal life. An image can be written or dotted. Image is the transfer of molecules being collected on a body.
Outer court is mainly referred to as life, while the Holy place is a higher life called peace. As one progresses beyond these two, one meets with a yet higher life called everlasting life. This life is not in the outer court. This life is called everlasting because any being that possesses it cannot be killed by the adversary. One in the outer court can still be killed by the dragon by his tempting him and winning him over. Even though the life of the fullness of the life of the outer court is not an ordinary life, it can still be overcome by the dragon. The life at this level is not as enduring as that of the dragon.
The adversary is a dragon that ‘drags on’; he is a dragger and can stretch in life. He is a warrior and he likes warring with beings using his everlasting life. All the emissaries who are under him can war with the other types of life. There are other spirits under satan who can overcome lower forms of life. As such, the dragon does not need to wage such wars. The reason why some of those who have had a measure of Christ will not wait is because they were fought and were overcome by the enemy. What the devil mostly uses are human beings who are also not ordinary, and have a measure of life that can overcome what is inside saints.
We should be careful because we also have tendencies to become antichrists. We should not quickly condemn those who do not respond to this light of Christ right now because every man has his own season. If God grants some people speed, they will go farther than some of us spiritually. On the other hand, there are some other men who will see this light and willingly begin to go against it. Such men fight Christ and fight his doctrine.
We show that we love God by keeping His commandments and not by physically crying out, as some Christians do (1 John 5:3). We should fellowship with the word because the Godhead have put everything about themselves in their doctrine. A true lover will hear the voice of God.
We should be addicted to the word and not play with doctrine because doctrine is what we are commanded to do. Every life has a commandment attached to it and each level of life is obtained by obeying its commandments.
“Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.” (1John 2:24-25).
There are other promises that come before this promise. Every promise that has to do with the covenant is life. The average Christian does not see spiritual grace for living as a promise. Instead, the things we call promises are the things that the devil promises. Satan shielded men from the original promise of God. When man was chased from the garden of Eden, we kept progressing in sin and sin continued to reign (Rom 5:12).
We only see sin as fornication and other works of the flesh; and this is how sin wants us to think. We even derive joy from being able to overcome this level of sin. Sin can make you think you are better than some people, when you are not performing some (particular) acts. However, these acts are just a fragment of the whole body of sin. The sin of the first man (Adam) was not obvious, unlike the ones men do in our time. We are limited because of a definition that satan has given us about sin.
Adam’s sin was disobedience but it was beyond physical disobedience; it was spiritual. He brought in a way of life into the earth. When satan came to our universe, he did not tell Adam the things that he is doing now; he did not tell Adam that he was going to rule him. He only showed Adam a fragment of what he could enjoy and that way, Adam signed an agreement with a ruthless fellow.
Adam’s disobedience was beyond not heeding to God’s instruction. Adam’s disobedience was a bargain that opened the door to a life that was seeking entrance into our universe. Adam’s temptation was that sin presented itself to be promising. Thus, his action brought in a deadly being, even a cruel and wicked bargainer. Adam made a pact with the devil who does not desire to leave this realm and is stubbornly fighting to remain.
The tree of the knowledge of good and evil must have been very appealing to the eyes of man; while the tree of life may have appeared ordinary. As a woman, Eve naturally liked things that appeal to the eyes and was drawn towards the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The fruit may have called out to her, subtly imploring her to eat of it. Adam must have resisted for some time until he gave in; and God would have known when Adam’s consecration began to wane. Adam did not make the decision to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in one day; it happened gradually. Adam had made up his mind to partake of the tree even before Eve took it, ate of it and gave to him. Eve probably did not know much about the tree because she was not physically present when God gave the instruction. She came under the influence of the tree, was overpowered by it and ate of it. Notice that when she ate of it, her eyes were not open until Adam ate it.
For instance, when a little child is given a huge sum of money, he reacts indifferently because he does not know the value; unlike a mature person who is tempted and attempts to begin to resist the temptation. The child is not drawn towards the money because he is not in the same realm where the money works. This is what God seeks to do in us; to pull us away from the wrong environment where earthly things have a grip upon our souls.
The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is a promise; while the tree of life is also a promise. The tree of life is raw eternal life; it has both leaves and fruit. The leaves come before the fruit and the leaves are required to make the fruit. The leaves of the tree of life are for the healing of the nations (Rev. 22:2). Note that the Bible states that it is for the healing of the nations, not the City. This refers to the nations that will come into the City, that is, the nations that will be in the new earth at that time. The tree of life emerged with the City when it came out of heaven from God. Thus, this City has the tree of life in its midst; it is a paradise (Rev. 2:7).
The tree of life will always be in the midst, just like in Genesis (Gen. 2:9). The tree of the knowledge of good and evil also found its way into the midst of the garden. Therefore, it is also a tree of the midst. The tree of life was closer to the throne, because it is from the throne of God that the water of life issues from (Rev. 22:1). This tree of life is a mini planet that would plant itself in the midst of the earth; and nations will ascend into it because therein lies their healing. In addition to healing, it will also build the nations of the earth after the pattern of the light of the City (Rev. 21:24). However, the nations of the earth will not eat of the fruit of the tree of life, but only partake of its leaves for healing.
All nations of the earth and their kings will bring their glory and honour to the City (Rev. 21:24). This means that they will submit their authority of rule over the people to the City. This tells us that this City is not a mere architectural setup, but a City made up of different kings in their glories. The City is a kingdom of priests and does not need a temple like other cities. God and the Lamb constitute the temple of the City (Rev. 21:22). There will not be compartments of outer court, holy place and holy of holies there because it will transact with God directly. This is what God intended in the first covenant, to dwell amongst His people, the Israelites. But they could not accommodate Him. So, He had to create compartments possessing different grades of life until they attained a life that can house God. Everlasting life is the nearest life to God.
Recall that the scripture says, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you” (James 4:8). Note the term ‘near’. This tells us that God has His ‘near’ and we also have ours. God will not go more than His near. God would have come to us if His coming would not cause us harm; He is quite mindful man. Thus, He is limited in His coming to us because man can be hurt if he is not in good shape to receive Him. God is not like an earthly father whose children can jump into his laps at any time; anyone who does so to God may just cease to exist. God is an eternity shrine; He is a monster of light. He is immortality, powerful and possessing raw energy like our earthly radioactive elements which emits dangerous rays.
You have to possess a kind of demeanor and body to contain the light that comes from Him without being hurt. Even the Seraphims of Glory that surround His throne cover their faces and feet when His train moves (Isa. 6:1-2). The Seraphims did not just do that out of sheer respect but because they were shielding themselves from something. They trembled, and shouted in awe, “...holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.” (Isa. 6:3). The Seraphims had to shout for the smoke to fill the house immediately. Smoke is not glory; instead, it precedes glory. Smoke emanates from the altar of gold. It is not a smoke from wood but the after effect of the holy place. Everything about the holy place should produce smoke that would rise up to God. It is this smoke that goes into the holy of holies, so that as the high priest sprinkles the blood, the Shekinah will appear in the smoke. This is how God operates; He cannot just be approached in His raw state. Although we all came from Him, there is a way we must go back to Him. Even believers who sleep and go to heaven do not get to see God. It is only in the world to come that many men will see God. However, we have the opportunity to see God now; hence, we must take the teachings of the epistle life by which we communicate with God seriously.
We get clothed with armory when we walk in covenant. Armory here does not refer to an armour against satan, but a dressing with which we approach God. There is a specific dressing (substances in our body and soul) that is required to approach God. To approach God without being clothed with such dressing is to be in danger. God is no joke and although He is love, preparation is required to approach Him. We must be seen working and advancing in life to approach God. When we arrive at the Holy Place, a higher preparation will be given to enter the most holy. When we arrive at the Most Holy Place, we have come near to Him. God also approaches us in the Most Holy, coming from the realm of eternal life. Eternal life is still far from everlasting life, but this is the point where it can be said that we have drawn near to God.
God told Israel not to come near to Mount Sinai when He was to descend upon it. When He descended upon it, He covered it with smoke, fire and glory (Exo. 19:18). While God was on that mount, no one else dared come near it. Even when He permitted them to come near, they were frightened by the sound of trumpets that they heard from the mountain. Those trumpets sounded for long (Exo. 19:19). Those trumpets were beings and they needed to sound for God to be properly seated; they were preparing the way for His appearance. Israel saw the live demonstration of God; their ordeal at Mount Sinai was not a light one but was an appearance of Elohim on earth. God did not send an angel; He came by Himself. The four living creatures were on that mountain. Ezekiel had a similar experience with the four living creatures; as they expressed God in themselves through different motions (Ezekiel 1). Ezekiel had this experience in a vision, while the Israelites saw it physically at Mount Sinai. If the Egyptians were there, they would probably see God also. Thus, God had to kill them in the Red sea to prevent them from coming to the wilderness to see Him. God does not reveal Himself to the people of the world, but only to those of His covenant.
Everlasting life is the nearest life to Eternal Life, and it is the life in the holy of holies. The holy place and outer court operate by a holy commandment, which is Christ; whereas God is the commandment by which the holy of holies operates. The commandment of God is the commandment of everlasting life, which is the unveiling of the Father. Although God is our God, He has also decided to be our Father. This relationship we have with Him as Father is not like what is obtainable in the natural with man. God’s Fatherhood sense as a Spirit is different. God’s Fatherhood is a promise and a life. The Father is life everlasting, therefore, those whom He brings to the holiest are those whom He will teach fatherhood and also make fathers. This fatherhood state does not respect gender, as in male or female. When John wrote to fathers, children and young men, his audience included women (1 John 2:12-14). Thus, God’s fatherhood does not refer to a natural gender, but spiritual. The promise is for all - both male and female in the natural. The promise is not gender-biased. God becoming our Father is a promise, but before this promise is fulfilled we must do the covenant.
The covenant are the works of everlasting life – the first work and the last work. The holy place, outer court and the most holy place all have their works. The word ‘works’ means ‘making covenant’; to work is to draw agreement. In the book of Revelation, the works are referred to as ‘love’; that is, first love and last love (Rev. 2:4). This is so because what is being described is the response that the work calls for – love. Anyone who is not truly a lover cannot make the covenant in the most holy.
One of the characteristics of the men of the last days is that they would be lovers of themselves more than God (2 Tim 3:1-4). Things like love for self, combat the covenant of everlasting life. This is a terrible gene that can only be broken by obedience of love to God. This kind of love for self is not the natural self-love every man has but is an affront against the revelation and commandments of God for earth. An example of men who are lovers of themselves are homosexuals, who do not consider others but only care about their own thoughts and feelings. Such people can no longer forget about themselves to worship the Lord. It is this kind of selfish love that destroys many marriages including when every man continues to claim his/her own rights in marriage.
The tie in the holiest of all is a very strong bond. When a man begins to engage the life of the holiest of all (i.e. everlasting life), God begins to draw, to Himself, everything that that man entails, including all he has. This is when such a one carries out work which is the making of a covenant. Such must finish the first love (first covenant) and do the last love (last covenant).
There are two covenants that must be broken until one comes into the holiest of all; the covenant with death and the agreement with hell (Isa. 28:15, 18). Going to hell does not imply a terrible experience, rather, it will be a high life that will catch the love of men. It is a high life that will even be celebrated; but it is called hell because anyone who signs a pact with it will forget God. Death is ‘false’ while hell is a house/shield and together they are referred to as ‘lies and falsehood’ (Isa. 28:15).
God is joyful and pleased with these teachings and with what is happening to us because we are being made immune to these things (hell and death), even before they arrive. No man must come under the power of death and hell, hence, we are being prepared to overcome them. Man does not know what is coming to earth, but we are being kitted up ahead of time. We may not know the import of what is being wrought in us now, but a time will come when we will praise God for going ahead to prepare safety and salvation for us. This is salvation!
This is what Jesus did in overcoming death; He loved righteousness and hated wickedness (Heb. 1:9). Wickedness consists of lies and falsehood, which are death and hell. Death and hell represent the beast and the false prophet. The beast is a lie while the false prophet is falsehood. Death and hell came from the sea and earth respectively (Rev. 13:1, 11). The false prophet and the antichrist came from the earth and the sea respectively. The sea is higher than the earth. Death is the highest operation of sin; a kind that causes someone to totally depart from God. Death is a kind of lie that calls for a love (Rev. 22:15). A lifestyle is coming to the earth that will project high intensive strength; it is a wisdom of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. However, we will overcome it, says the Lord.
The beast is said to have power to overcome the saints (Rev. 13:7); this does not refer to all saints but those saints that have not been immunized. To overcome them means to overpower them, so that they will take his name and what he offers up till a point where they will no longer be interested in God. However, God is coming ahead of time to seal us with His everlasting love.
Adebayo Olalekan Amos - 2 years ago