Communion With God Course
Paper by Michael Holden
October 2OOO (Used by permission.)
Two exercises in meditating on the furniture of the Tabernacle
of Moses
The first exercise:
The Bronze Altar
I enter the court through the gate and see, right ahead, the
bronze altar. The ramp is straight ahead of me and I ascend it and stand before
the altar itself. I am high enough to see the bronze grate and standing on it to
my left is Jesus in an ankle-length robe. Flames from the altar are rising to
about the height of His shoulders. The flames are coming from beneath the grate.
He reaches out a hand in an invitation to join Him. I can see that He is not
being burned by the flames, so I accept the invitation, step up, and join Him in
the flames. I do not bum. With Him there is no fear.
The Bronze Laver
Jesus has gone ahead of me to the laver. I see Him moving past
the laver toward me. He stoops down and with His right hand scoops up some water
and splashes me with it, laughing as He does so. I think, "I have been
sprinkled," and go forward and wash my face and hands.
The Table of Shewbread
Jesus takes me by the hand into the Tent of the Meeting. It is
the Holy Place. He lets go of me and moves quickly over to the table of
shewbread. I am surprised when He takes one of the round pieces of bread, breaks
it in two and extending His arm, hands half of it to me to eat. He motions that
it's all right to do so. It is obvious that He is excited to be showing me
around the tent.
The Lampstand
I find myself in front of the lampstand with its flames
burning steady and clear. I can feel the heat on my forehead and as I look at
the flames I am reminded of the pure, refined olive oil that is used for the
lamps and of the pure light of Christ that shines in the darkness of the world.
I do not see Jesus there, but I hear Him say, "And thus shall your spirit
be before the altar of the Most High." We go over to the altar of incense.
The Altar of Incense
A sweet smell arises mingled with the smoke. There is an
awesome presence now. It has become quiet. Jesus says nothing, but indicates
that we are to go together through the veil into the Holy of Holies. We are
covered by the incense. It penetrates my hair, my clothing and somehow
transforms the substance of who I am, making me like Jesus. I am now smelling
like Him. It is the same smell as He has had from the start. Jesus motions. It's
time to go in.
Before the Ark of the Covenant
Here I fall on my knees. Jesus stands at my side, off to the
right. "Father, this is one of ours." I cannot see the Father. He
speaks to Jesus, "Bring him to me that I may see him." I sense that
the Father looks, nods and smiles at Jesus and I realize that I am accepted by
the Father of All, the Mighty One of Israel. I am over-awed.
Jesus leads me out and reminds me that He will introduce all
those who are His to the Father. Later on He says that there will be a great
celebration of all those who have been presented. "You will see all your
loved ones. You will know them. There will be great rejoicing for the Lamb has
come home and will take up His place on the throne with the Father. All will be
made new. All will be restored."
A second visit to the Tabernacle, a week or so later:
At the Bronze Altar
I stand with Jesus on my left and we sacrifice something I
can't see, but He is doing the offering. I ask Him, "Lord, what are we
offering?" He answers, "Your wishes and your desires." I tell Him
that's good that we are offering those things. He tells me, "No, I am
offering them. Don't you remember, you have surrendered them to Me? They are
Mine."
At the Laver
We go to the laver and I wash my hands and feet. I see Jesus
washing His hands. I say, "Lord, I don't understand, why do You need to
wash?" He replies without looking up, "What have I just been
handling?"
At the Table of Shewbread
We stand and look and wait. Jesus says, "Bless the
bread." "Lord, I don't feel worthy." "Feelings have nothing
to do with it. Be in obedience; as I did what I saw the Father do, so you should
do what you see Me do." I obey, "In the Name of the Most Blessed
Trinity, I bless this bread, fine ground for perfection. May it feed our bodies
as the Word of God feeds our souls and brings life to our spirits."
At the Lampstand
Jesus says, "Let your light so shine before men. Michael,
walk in My ways. Be a reflection of Me. Bring a light of enlightened
understanding into the darkness. Burn as a pure light for Me."
At the Altar of Incense
"This is how you are to be before the Father and before
Me, a sweet-smelling sacrifice. Keep yourself holy, open always to My word
spoken to you. Treasure My written word also in your heart. There it will be
safe and will return life to many as you speak it out."
Before the Ark of the Covenant
Jesus now stands at the north side of the ark and I am facing
it. Jesus starts to sing chants of praise and worship. I don't know the words.
"Blessed art Thou, 0 God of Heavens, Mighty One Who rules from a throne of
justice. Holy is Your name, You Who live above the cherubim and the seat of
mercy. Your judgments, 0 God, are merciful. Have mercy on this one, 0 Lord God
of Heaven. He has been cleansed by the word and by washing. He has been cleansed
by My blood and offered to You through Me all his desires and wishes. May they
be acceptable and a sweet-smelling fragrance to You, Mighty One, enthroned on
high." Jesus is interceding for me. I sense the Father's blessing and
commissioning for some future event and understand that whatever He has called
me to do in the future will be successful.
I leave the Tabernacle.
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