DWELLING IN PARADISE (Salvation)
#1/ The first intimacy is the delight
enjoyed by a spiritual soul as it dwells in a glorified body and senses
the delights of this Celestial City. This is the intimacy of
BEING. It will be fulfilled in your glorified body, after the
resurrection.
"May your spirit and soul and body
be perfect and complete
at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Thessalonians 5:23, (Rev.2:7)
be perfect and complete
at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Thessalonians 5:23, (Rev.2:7)
GLORIFIED LIFE (Spirit Baptism)
#2/ The second intimacy is God's
Spirit united with your spirit so that you appear as one person.
Of course, you would not be here without this experience, but after the
resurrection you will also be one with God's Spirit in your glorified
body. Because God's Spirit dwells in every person, and controls
all activities in this eternal Home of the redeemed, He places His
guidance so gently on your mind that you think it is your own desire.
This is the intimacy of SPIRIT or of BAPTISM.
I (John) indeed baptize you
with water unto repentance:
but He that cometh after me is mightier than I,
He (Jesus) shall baptize you
with the Holy Spirit, and fire.
Mat.3:11, (Rev.2:11)
with water unto repentance:
but He that cometh after me is mightier than I,
He (Jesus) shall baptize you
with the Holy Spirit, and fire.
Mat.3:11, (Rev.2:11)
COMMUNION
#3/ Intimacy number three is the
intimacy of WINE. It is a love feast for partaking of God's Spirit
as the New Wine of Heaven.
"You have kept the good wine until
now."
John 2:10, (Rev.2:17)
John 2:10, (Rev.2:17)
SONS OF GOD (Unity)
#4/ Two illustrations will introduce
intimacy number four. As you are now one with God's Spirit, and as
Adam and Eve were originally together as one, so companions here can
unite together, masculine and feminine as one person. After the
resurrection your glorified bodies will be able to unite in the same
way. This intimacy is necessary for worship in the Most Holy
Place. It is called PERFECTION, an important and much needed
intimacy in Heaven. In this intimacy we are called Sons of God.
God made Adam and Eve from one lump of
clay (Gen.2:23). God met with His people at the mercy seat, and
this mercy seat was watched over by two cherubim, both made from one
piece of gold (Exo.37:7-8). Christ and His Bride the Church will
become one (Eph.5:31-32).
A woman should not pray unless she is
covered (1Cor.11:5-6), and a man should not appear before the Lord empty
(Deu.16:16). In this intimacy of Perfection, both of these
requirements are met; the man is filled, and the woman is covered, and
the two as one are accepted to worship in God's presence.
"In the Lord,
the man and the woman are not independent of each other."
1Co.11:11, (Rev.2:26-28)
the man and the woman are not independent of each other."
1Co.11:11, (Rev.2:26-28)
WORSHIP
#5/ These first four intimacies
prepare you to minister in God's presence, because they produce an
ecstasy so sublime that it cannot be contained. And since the
expression of this ecstasy includes all your heart, soul, mind and
strength, it is really worship and must be expressed to God. So
intimacy number five is the intimacy of WORSHIP when united
Spirit-filled companions in the Most Holy Place of Heaven, the very
presence of God, lose themselves in the rapture of wonder, love and
praise to their Heavenly Father!
"Now unto Him who is able to
keep you from falling
and to present you faultless
before the presence of His glory
with exceeding joy,
to the only wise God our Savior,
be glory and majesty,
dominion and power,
both now and forever."
Jude 24-25, (Rev.3:5)
keep you from falling
and to present you faultless
before the presence of His glory
with exceeding joy,
to the only wise God our Savior,
be glory and majesty,
dominion and power,
both now and forever."
Jude 24-25, (Rev.3:5)
REWARD
#6/ After the worshipping saints have
completed their expressions of love to God, they submit themselves
completely to the control of the Holy Spirit, Who carries them up to the
Throne where God breathes upon them. God breathed into Adam the
Breath of Life. Jesus breathed on His disciples the Holy Spirit.
God breathes on His saints in Heaven an exceeding great reward
(everything at one time). This is the intimacy of RAPTURE.
"The Word of the Lord
came to Abram in a vision saying,
Fear not Abram,
I Am your Shield
and your exceeding great Reward."
Genesis 15:1
came to Abram in a vision saying,
Fear not Abram,
I Am your Shield
and your exceeding great Reward."
Genesis 15:1
"O send out Thy Light and Thy Truth:
let them lead me,
let them bring me to Thy Holy Hill,
and to Thy Tabernacles,
Then will I go to the alter of God,
to God my exceeding Joy."
Psalm 43:3-4, (Rev.3:12)
let them lead me,
let them bring me to Thy Holy Hill,
and to Thy Tabernacles,
Then will I go to the alter of God,
to God my exceeding Joy."
Psalm 43:3-4, (Rev.3:12)
THRONE
#7/ The final intimacy is when
companions become one in Christ and in God, the intimacy of DIVINE
LIKENESS.
"At that day you will know
that I Am in My Father,
and you are in Me,
and I Am in you."
John 14:20, (Rev.3:21)
that I Am in My Father,
and you are in Me,
and I Am in you."
John 14:20, (Rev.3:21)
These are the seven intimacies between
covenant companions in this eternal Paradise. And this Paradise is
far better than the Garden of Eden.
When you leave this room, please exit
to your right. One more announcement and then you may rise and be
dismissed. Your Divinely-ordained covenant companion is the lady
to your right!
(End of class)
These companions now enter more
completely into the fellowship of Heaven and into a higher bliss of
worship in the Most Holy Place.
From here these companions will go to
the instructor's Chamber Mansion, which is also located in this
wall of the Temple. That will be our next stop after a brief
introduction.
Lois Hetrick