Judgment is not only related to our deeds, lack of condemnation and the forgiveness of sin but also how much of God's light is measured out in our own lives and throughout all creation. How much of God's glory is measured out is a continual process, and Jesus measures it out.

"For by Him (Jesus) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together and have their proper place. (Colossians 1:16-17)

An example: In the beginning God said let there be light. Jesus measured out how much light there would be. The first light was spiritual - it was before the sun and it was measured out. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. (Genesis 1:3)

It is Jesus who both conceals and reveals the glory of God. Through His death and resurrection He has enabled the glory of God to be revealed in us who have received His life and Spirit. It is by Him that rivers of living water flow out of our belly. If we speak of natural light that was brought into being by God that too was measured out, for there was a choice regarding the size of the sun, its mass, and its distance to earth. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made." (John 1:1-3) Jesus Christ the Word is one description of the operation of God by which the infinite light and essence of God is known in this world or any world. The fullness of God is in the word yet the amount of glory that is revealed is measured by Jesus Christ and related to Jesus Christ within us.

Christ in us is the hope of glory, therefore we seek His appearing. There is a judgment. God has clothed Himself. He is both hidden and revealed.

"Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne." (Psalm 97:2) "No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him." (John 1:18)

The creation exists so that God can be one with His creation. God is one; there is none other that truly exists. God is one with His creation in a myriad of ways. God is one and He has concealed the truth and yet is revealing that He is one.

"For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. (Mark 4:22)

God brought forth everything out of nothing that He alone should be given honor; for nothing else truly exists. He alone is worthy of praise and He alone is worthy of honor.

Jeremiah 27:5: "I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me. "God has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Hebrews 1:2-3)

Through the mercy of God, we have been living in the realization that it is God's desire to establish a dwelling place in this world. We are assured by the word of God that a dwelling is His intention - the goal of our life and the direction in which we should proceed. We know that the world is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God and we are anointed and entrusted to participate in the fulfillment of His great plan. We are a people granted a vision of a new heaven and earth, a people seeking to be established in a New Jerusalem.

We have studied the Temple by the Spirit, in type and shadow, and have prepared and are preparing ourselves. The Temple was a unique manifestation of God's dwelling on earth. The Tabernacle in the desert preceded the Temple in Jerusalem. These two buildings represent progressive stages in the manifestation of God's dwelling on earth, because God will have a dwelling within His people. They reveal that God has always intended to manifest heaven and earth joined in a dwelling on earth. "He shall appear to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe.

All things in life are formed according to a pattern. In the beginning Christ created all the patterns required for His manifestation. "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature." (Colossians 1:15) The study of types moved us beyond a means of Bible study or interpretation because it joined us to the work and plan of God from the beginning. It is not Bible history or an Old Testament overview but rather a means to come into the presence of a living God. He made all the patterns, images, and likenesses necessary for His General Revelation and His specific revelation through people.

Jesus showed through His life that it is God's intention to dwell on earth with a people and in a people, where He will be revealed in His glory. Our endeavors will come to fruition in a time of redemption when, as Zechariah prophesied 14:9: "He will be one and His name one." Not only will we intellectually appreciate His intent and desire, the perception of it will permeate all existence. We, from whose bellies flow living waters will experience the prophecy of Isaiah 11:9, "The world will be filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the ocean bed." Amen

*For more information on this topic simply E-mail Michael Brod at: michaelbrod@hotmail.com