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Before proceeding further, we need a bird’s-eye view of God’s building in the entire Scriptures, especially in the first two books, Genesis and Exodus. The sixty-six books of the Bible contain many things, but we must be clear concerning the overall view of the central matter. What do we see when we look at the entire Bible with a bird’s-eye view? One central thing stands out—the building. If we do not have a view whereby we see all things related to this matter of building, we do not understand the Scriptures. We may read and reread, but we do not have the proper understanding. We are just like one who is confined in a narrow cell, restricted by his narrow, human vision. We must have a heavenly vision to be clear about the whole of the Scriptures.
With such a view the first two books of the Scriptures reveal clearly the things related to God’s building.
Remember the picture in Genesis 1 and 2, the first picture related to God’s building. There we saw a tree with a flowing river, and out of that flowing river came gold, pearl, and precious stone, the materials for God’s building. By carefully considering that picture in the light of the whole Bible, we realize that it portrays God as life to us. If man partakes of the fruit of the tree of life, he receives God into him as life; then God’s life flows within that man, transforming him into precious materials.
In the garden of Eden, Adam was a piece of clay. But in the New Jerusalem, the saints are precious materials. There are no men of clay there. The twelve gates of the holy city are named after the twelve tribes of Israel (Rev. 21:12), but the outstanding thing concerning those gates is that they are all pearls (v. 21). The twelve tribes of Israel originally consisted of men of clay. The twelve foundations of the city are named after the twelve apostles (v. 14), that is, Peter, James, John, etc., but these twelve foundations are made of twelve kinds of precious stone (vv. 19-20). These apostles also were originally pieces of clay. How could the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles become pearls and precious stones? The answer is that they all must be transformed. In the garden of Eden man was nothing but clay. But in the New Jerusalem he has become not only stone, but precious stone, as well as pearl and gold—three precious items.
In the beginning of the Scriptures, there is a corporate man made of clay, containing nothing precious. But at the end of the Scriptures, there is another corporate man, a greatly enlarged corporate man, a city. And in this city there is nothing of clay or earth. Everything is gold, pearl, and precious stone. All have been changed through the work of transformation. In the past God accomplished His work of creation in six days, but in order to transform man He has used at least six thousand years. All Christians are in this daily process of transformation.
Why do Christians suffer? Many of us have a mistaken concept concerning suffering. We feel that we must have done something wrong, so we must suffer. Yet frequently we have not behaved wrongly, and still we must suffer because such suffering is necessary for our transformation. Many Christians are too raw. They must be cooked and even burnt; others must be pressed—all that they may be transformed. Throughout my entire Christian life I have had much enjoyment of the Lord, but on the other hand, I have experienced trouble upon trouble. I need the troubles if I am going to be transformed.
We have seen that God’s purpose and intention in creation was to have a group of people as the center of His creation. God intended to have the corporate man to express Him and to represent Him by dealing with His enemy, thus recovering the lost earth. But Satan intervened and damaged man. Satan captured man and carried him away from God’s purpose and then utilized him to raise up a counterfeit of God’s intention. This issued first in the city of Enoch, a counterfeit of God’s building. It is God’s purpose to transform man by the flowing of His life into precious materials for His building. But Satan crept into the garden of Eden and stole this man, usurping him to build a city in opposition to God, a counterfeit of God’s building.
Most of us today do not realize the real meaning of the fall of man. The enemy’s goal in causing man’s fall was to utilize the fallen race to construct a counterfeit in opposition to God’s purpose. God intended to build man into a corporate expression of Himself, but Satan kidnapped this man and utilized him as material for a counterfeit city. Thus, immediately following the fall of man in Genesis 3, the city of Enoch was built by the fallen race in Genesis 4. All sinful things were invented there. The city of Enoch was the source of all the evil occupations of the human race—warring, pleasure, amusement, polygamy, and all fleshly enjoyments. How much corruption and sinfulness have come out of that city! The city of Enoch was the very center of the first civilization; it was the first culture invented by the fallen race. God could not tolerate that, so He sent a flood to judge that generation. But before destroying the city, God asked Noah, a righteous man who walked continually with God, to build a structure absolutely different from Satan’s counterfeit (Gen. 6).
Fallen man built Satan’s city, but Noah built an ark according to God’s specifications. It was entirely different from the city both in material and in purpose. It was a full type of Christ in human nature mingled with the Godhead. The ark included His redemption. (The Hebrew word for pitch, which covered the ark, is related to the word expiation.) Thus, the ark portrays Christ with His redemption.
Following the flood, Noah did not attempt to build a city. Rather, he lived in a tent and erected an altar to serve God (9:21; 8:20). This was a miniature of the coming tabernacle which God was seeking.
Not long after the flood, Noah’s descendants fell into Satan’s hands. They were formed as one body and utilized by Satan to build the second city (11:1-9). Babel was Satan’s second counterfeit of God’s building, but God completely frustrated and judged Babel.
Out from the fallen people of Babel, God called and separated Abraham (11:29—12:5) and brought him to an elevated place called the land of Canaan. There God asked him to build an altar. Abraham also lived in a tent, and he served God through the altar (12:7-8). This is an example of that which God is seeking. However, Abraham’s companion, Lot, drifted away from this position into another city. Lot was separated from Babel, the city of idols, but he drifted into Sodom, the city of sin (13:12-13). He is typical of many Christians today. On the one hand, there is the danger of living in the city of idols and, on the other hand, the danger of drifting into sin. From an elevated position Lot could either fall into Babel on his right hand or drift into Sodom on his left. A man standing on a plain, although he falls to the right or the left, is relatively safe, but in an elevated place he must exercise care. If I am standing on a table, I must be careful. From an elevated position the danger of a fall is increased. Lot drifted from this position into Sodom, a city full of sin. But Abraham was kept from falling; he lived in a tent with an altar. His son Isaac (26:25) and his grandson Jacob (33:18-20; 35:7, 21) did the same.
God revealed His purpose for a building more clearly to Jacob. Jacob had become a wanderer in the wilderness with no home and no rest. But one night in his wandering he saw in a wonderful dream a ladder set up with its base on this earth, a base which could be called the house of God and the gate of heaven. He saw the thing which brings heaven and God down to this earth (28:11-22). Praise the Lord, on this earth there can be such a gate of heaven. We need not go to heaven: here on this earth the gate of heaven can be realized. Such a place is called Bethel, the house of God. How wonderful that God could have a house on this earth!
The first mention in the Scriptures of the house of God was in Jacob’s dream. My hope is that we all may have such a dream. Oh, may we all see that presently on this earth there is the possibility of having the house of God!
I received much teaching as a youth from many dear Christian teachers concerning this earth as a foul and God-forsaken place. I was taught that God’s intention is to build something in the heavens. In due time, I was told, we will all be brought to our heavenly home, there to be built up by God, while the whole earth will pass away. However, if we say that the earth will pass away, we must realize that the heavens also will pass away (Matt. 24:35; Heb. 1:10-12). Indeed, the Scriptures clearly state that we will have a new heaven, and we will also have a new earth. And in this new environment God will not be in the new heaven but will come down to this new earth. The New Jerusalem will descend out of heaven (Rev. 21:2, 10). You may prefer to go to heaven, but God prefers to come down to the earth.
Praise God that Jacob had such a dream, that even on this rebellious, usurped earth there is the possibility for God’s house to stand. We must believe that in every city today it is possible to have a Bethel—God’s house. Let us not be misled by the erroneous teachings that say that it is all wondrously in the future and in the heavens, that we cannot have a proper church life on earth today. We cannot find any such teaching in the New Testament. Contrariwise, the Scriptures tell us of a church in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1), a church in Antioch (13:1), a church in Corinth (1 Cor. 1:2), a church in Ephesus (Rev. 2:1), and most of the other cities that the apostles visited. But there is not a single mention of a church in heaven. We must abandon these teachings. The church must be established on this earth as God’s Bethel, God’s expression. Oh, may we have such a dream! We are just like Jacob: we have been wandering long enough. It is time that we stop our wandering and see the house of God established on this earth, even in every city. Hallelujah, it is possible! You can have a prevailing and proper church life in your city, but you must continually dream about this possibility of having God’s Bethel on this earth.
Bethel is not only a place but also a stone. The stone upon which Jacob rested his head is indeed interesting. Jacob set up that stone and poured oil upon it, saying, “This stone... will be God’s house [Bethel]” (Gen. 28:22). The house of God is not only a place but a stone, upon which oil is poured. It is amazing how such a “supplanter” had this wisdom. Only God could have inspired him with this. Jacob’s act and words correspond completely with the entire revelation of the Scriptures. Oil is the symbol of the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead, who comes and mingles Himself with us. The pouring of oil upon that stone signifies God being poured upon His creation.
As God’s creation, we human beings were originally made of clay; we were not a stone. When Peter recognized the Lord Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, the Lord told him, “You are Peter” (Matt. 16:16-18). What the Lord meant was that Simon must have his name changed to Peter—“a stone.” This proves that by believing in the Lord Jesus we may be changed in our nature, changed from clay into stone.
The apostle Peter in his Epistles later revealed that the Lord Jesus is the living stone and that we also are living stones to be built up together as the house of God (1 Pet. 2:4-5). We have been changed in nature. Originally we were clay, but today in Christ we are stones. In Adam we are clay, but in Christ we are stones. Jacob’s act of pouring oil upon that stone signifies the pouring of the Triune God upon regenerated people. Such is Bethel, the house of God. Whenever and wherever there is a group of regenerated persons with the Triune God poured upon them, that is the reality of Bethel, the house of God. This can take place upon this earth today. Oh, do not look for a way to go to a future house of God in the heavens! Claim it today on this earth. Stand upon the dream of Jacob. His dream must be our dream. Tell the Lord, “Lord, I am part of this dream. I claim that even on this earth today, even in my city, You must have a Bethel.” Remember, Bethel is just a group of real believers anointed with the Holy Spirit and built together, believers who have been regenerated and transformed from pieces of clay into living stones, anointed and built into one by the Triune God. Oh, may we realize such a clear vision concerning the house of God!
The main points concerning Jacob’s dream are, first, the possibility that on this earth the house of God can be realized, and second, the oil poured upon the stone to make it God’s house, signifying God being poured upon His people to build them together as His dwelling. Jacob, as Abraham’s third generation, saw God’s complete vision concerning His building more clearly.
God’s enemy, Satan, however, will not tolerate this vision being fulfilled by man. Thus, Jacob’s very descendants departed from the place allotted to Jacob. In his dream Jacob was told by God that the land whereon he slept would be given to his children and that they would be a people in that place. But the city of Babel was on their right, Sodom on their left, and Egypt at their back. They were in a very dangerous and precipitous situation. They made their choice: all of Jacob’s children went down into Egypt, where they became slaves to build Pharaoh’s two treasure cities (Exo. 1:1-11). Jacob’s children did not return to Babel or fall into Sodom; they did not go back to idol worship or enter into a sinful situation; they went to Egypt. For what purpose? They went to Egypt to eat! They had to make a living, to have some enjoyment, some security in life. We must learn from their example. So many Christians today have been delivered from idol worship and kept from sinful things, but it is rather difficult to be preserved from falling into the state of simply pursuing a living. If I were to ask a fellow Christian why he wants to go to Los Angeles, and he replies that it is to obtain employment, then he is exposed. He should be able to say quickly and boldly, “I am going to Los Angeles for the Lord’s purpose.” If otherwise, he is going into Egypt! Los Angeles becomes his Egypt.
Oh, the poor Christians today who only seek for a living, for their personal welfare! They are not involved in Babel (idolatry), and they have not fallen into Sodom (sin), but neither are they in the land of Canaan, the land which God had promised to Jacob and his descendants. They have been usurped and occupied by the king of Egypt, the prince of this world. Satan has enslaved them over the matter of their appetite and their personal enjoyment. So many Christians are enslaved by the enemy for the sake of a living; they are not free from the enjoyments of this world. Thus, they are not in Canaan, God’s promised land. In Egypt, Pharaoh forced the children of Israel to work day by day in mud, to gather straw and stubble to burn the mud into bricks—all for the building of Pharaoh’s treasure cities.
One day God sent Moses to command the children of Israel to go forth and serve God. When Moses informed Pharaoh of God’s word, however, Pharaoh’s officers were commanded to press the Israelites even more strenuously so that they might not have time to consider going forth to serve God. He accused them of idleness and forced them to work more rigorously for the treasure cities (Exo. 5). But thank the Lord, first by His redemption and second by His salvation, God brought His people out of Egypt (chs. 12 and 14) to the place where they could build Him a tabernacle (chs. 19—25).
We must be clear concerning where we are today. If we look at the whole picture from an overall, bird’s-eye view, we will be clear. We will see that the only proper place for us is to be built up locally as a corporate body to express God and to represent God. And in order to experience such a building, we must be separated from Babel, Sodom, and Egypt—the world of idols, sins, and enjoyment—to a place where we can build God’s dwelling place.
We must have the experience of Exodus. Exodus means to come out of something. The Israelites were a group of people who came out of something. They were brought out of all satanic counterfeits. If you view the scene from on high, you will see all the satanic counterfeits: Babel, Sodom, and the treasure cities. Praise God that the children of Israel were separated, delivered out, and kept away from all these counterfeits. They were brought to a position where they were available for the building of God.
Following Noah’s ark, the next building of God was the tabernacle. The ark was full of significance, but it was not as full in detail as the tabernacle, the all-inclusive type of God’s building.
When the Israelites were brought out of Egypt, their first need was to contact God. Thus, Moses ascended a mountain, where he dwelt in the presence of God for forty days and nights. If we mean business with the Lord concerning His building in these days, we must go into His presence. We must learn to go up to the Lord on the mount; we must do some climbing. We must learn to stay in the Lord’s presence, fellowshipping with Him for some time. Then we will realize the meaning of His eternal building; we will know what God is seeking today. We will see that it is certainly not what today’s fallen Christianity is doing.
During Moses’ extended period of fellowship with the Lord, God instructed him, “Tell the children of Israel to take for Me a heave offering. From every man whose heart makes him willing you shall take My heave offering” (25:2). God wants our offering, our consecration. Consecration always follows fellowship. When you fellowship with the Lord, you must tell Him, “Lord, all I am, all I have, and all I can do are available for You. Lord, everything is ready; point out what You want, and I will give it to You.” After you have been freed from the usurpation of Satan’s counterfeits, you must go to the Lord and spend much time fellowshipping in His presence. During such fellowship the Lord will reveal that you must consecrate to Him all that you are and all that you possess. You must bring an offering to Him. You must not consecrate according to your own imagination but according to God’s direction. Whatever He points out, you must release to Him.
There was a mother once who seemed to love the Lord. She had three sons. One day her third son, the weakest and dullest of her boys, came and offered himself in my presence to become a “preacher.” Upon questioning him, I discovered that the mother had decided that the eldest, the most clever son, should study to be a medical doctor, that the second and less intelligent son should pursue a career in commerce, and finally, that this boy, the least intelligent, was to be “offered to the Lord.” She felt that he was only good enough to be a “preacher.” Oh, that poor mother! We do not have any ground to choose what we will consecrate to God. The Lord will point out what we must offer.
The Lord indicated to Moses the offerings that He desired. The Lord always wants the best. So many dear Christians love the Lord, but with some reservation. They hold back the best for themselves. We really do not have a choice; we must let God point out what He wants. He will choose all the things that fit His purpose—gold, silver, bronze, and eventually the onyx stones (vv. 3-7).
Notice the sequence in the items that God requested: gold, silver, and lastly, onyx stones. This means that from the first to the last everything is precious. If it is precious to you, it is even more precious to the Lord. The Lord never desires what you do not want. If you discard something, the Lord will say, “Forget it, I do not want it either. I want exactly what you want!” If I were an Israelite listening to Moses convey God’s instructions, I would shrink back and even exclaim in fear, “Gold, silver, onyx stones? Oh, these are too precious to me!” Here is the test of our consecration.
I am not speaking of the doctrine or theology of consecration. My burden is to show why after the lapse of over two thousand years there is still no real building for God on this earth today. It is because some Christians are still in Babel, some are still in Sodom, and many, many others are still being usurped by the king of Egypt. Some Christians, it is true, have been separated from Egypt, yet they are not abiding in the presence of the Lord to seek and realize His desire. Still others, who have been in the presence of the Lord, will not yield to His requests or demands. They will not open their hearts to offer all the best things to the Lord. This is the problem today. Without this offering, how can the building of God come into being? Do you realize that God needs you, including all that you are, all that you have, and all that you can do? Will you bring all into His presence and say, “Lord, here, everything is available; You point out anything, and I agree to give it to You.” Have you seen that from the gold to the onyx stone, including all the items in between, everything that God asks for is precious and the best? If these kinds of offerings are brought to the Lord by us today, His building will be realized.
God further said to Moses, “Let them make a sanctuary for Me that I may dwell in their midst; according to all that I show you, the pattern of the tabernacle...even so shall you make it” (vv. 8-9). God’s desire is to have a dwelling place on this earth. He has planned this; He has a pattern, a pattern according to His pleasure. We must know this; we must realize that God’s intention in the universe is to have a dwelling place built among His people and with His people on this earth. The building up of the local churches today is God’s desire. If we are people according to His heart, we will give our full attention to this matter, to the building of the churches today on this earth as God’s dwelling place, according to God’s pattern, the pattern shown by God’s revelation. When the tabernacle was erected, God’s glory covered it and filled it (40:17, 34). Through such a building God could express Himself on this earth. This is what God is seeking all the time.
When the tabernacle was built, it became the center of the history of Israel’s journeys. For forty years the Israelites concentrated on that tabernacle. Eventually, after many wanderings, they entered Canaan, bringing the tabernacle with them into that land and establishing it there (Josh. 18:1). There they fought many battles, subdued the enemy, and gained the ground—all for the purpose of building an enlarged and more solid dwelling place for God. We remember how David desired to build the temple for God. He was told, however, that the time was not ripe; there still remained some enemies to be subdued. This proves that all the fighting and subduing of the enemy was for the gaining of the ground that God’s temple might be built.
When the temple was erected, it became the center of Jewish history. Later, the Babylonians came and destroyed the temple, bringing the Jews into captivity (2 Kings 25). But after seventy years God initiated a recovery and brought the Israelites back to the proper ground that they might rebuild the temple (Ezra 1). This type of situation was repeated until the time of Christ’s first advent.
Throughout New Testament history, Christ Himself is the tabernacle and the temple on this earth (John 1:14; 2:21). God’s enemy came to destroy Christ by putting Him to death on the cross. But the Lord Jesus told the Jews—those people utilized by Satan—“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). By resurrection Christ built the temple again—not merely His physical body but His mystical Body, the church. From that time the church is the temple of God, and as such, it is the very subject of the remainder of the New Testament. Christ is the subject of the first part, and the church is the subject of the second part of the New Testament. Eventually, following the dispensation of the church, the New Jerusalem will be God’s ultimate building, God’s eternal dwelling place, which is also called “the tabernacle of God” (Rev. 21).
This concludes our bird’s-eye view of the whole of the Scriptures. The building of God is the central matter of the entire Bible. Can you afford another view of the Scriptures? If so, I am afraid that it will not be the main view. Oh, may we not be distracted from the main view!
We must see the vision of God’s building from a high mountain. Otherwise, we will be lost in a maze of minor things. God brought both Moses and the apostle John to a high mountain so that they might have a bird’s-eye view and be so clear concerning God’s central desire. We also must go on high so that we may see the whole scene and not be lost in some of its corners. Not only in Genesis and Exodus, a total of ninety chapters, but also throughout the entire Scriptures, we see one thing: God is after a building on this earth where He may rest and express Himself.
