Many of the Christian churches have been at the Lampstand during the twentieth century. Now it is time to move forward to the Altar of Incense.

We of the Pentecostal churches know the glory of Pentecost. The outpouring of the Spirit of God is a joyous experience. It is attractive and brings people into the Presence of God.

We do not know much about the Altar of Incense. Most of us have not been there yet. The Altar of Incense is our last experience before we pass through the Veil into the Presence of God.

Today there are multitudes of believers who have experienced basic salvation, and a somewhat smaller number who have been saved and filled with the Holy Spirit. Now God is seeking those who will move forward to the Altar of Incense. When God looks for people to bear the end-time testimony He considers His whole Church, but particularly those who are worshiping at the Altar of Incense.

But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. (Revelation 11:2—NIV)

God is not going to examine the Outer Court, the people of the world, at this time. This means the nations of the earth will trample the holy things of God underfoot until the time of their judgment arrives. As always, judgment begins with the house of God and then is administered to those on the outside.

We are to eat the scroll containing the Word of God. Then we are charged with prophesying concerning the nations of the earth, including many peoples, their languages and their rulers.

Following this we are examined, especially if we have moved past Pentecost and are worshiping God at the Altar of Incense. All of this is preparation for our role of bearing witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God to the earth.

Now we are ready:

And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. (Revelation 11:3—NIV)

The "1260 days" refers to the forty-two months or three and one-half years of the seventieth prophetic week. The kingdom clock stopped ticking when Christ was crucified, that is, after sixty-nine weeks. The Christian Era has been for the purpose of creating the second lampstand, the Body of Christ.

Because we are at the end of the era "the mystery of God will be accomplished." Christ will be formed in the saints. The saints are the second lampstand. The prophetic clock will resume ticking and the seventieth week of Daniel will be fulfilled.

The first half of the prophetic week will be devoted to the preaching of the Gospel to every nation, the last great witness before the end of the Church Age. The second half of the week will see the rise of Antichrist and the consequent great tribulation.

In order to be properly harvested wheat must have the spring rain and then hot sun. Too much rain ruins the heads of wheat. Too much sun would destroy the heads.

Too much rain of the Spirit ruins the believers. They become soft and foolish, unable to endure the rigors of Kingdom training. Too much pain and suffering makes them gloomy and fearful. There must be a balance.

To be continued.