By this time the reader may be protesting that God would never divide His Church into a Most Holy and then a Holy Wife.

Consider the Tabernacle of the Congregation. The Tabernacle of the Congregation is a symbolic portrayal of the Kingdom of God, the new heaven and earth reign of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Courtyard of the Tabernacle represents the saved nations of the earth.

The Tabernacle building itself speaks of the Church, the Wife of the Lamb. The Tabernacle building is divided into the Holy and the Most Holy. The Holy Place speaks of the "sisters," of the eighth chapter of the Song of Solomon. The Most Holy Place signifies the firstfruits of the Bride.

Every member of the saved nations, every member of the Holy Place, and every member of the Most Holy Place will have within him or her a portion of Christ. Thus there shall be thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and one hundredfold.

There are major types in the Old Testament that indicate the division of Israel. For example, the story of Gideon. The story of Gideon and his three hundred well may be the strongest of the Old Testament types referring to the coming of the Lord. Notice that the victory over the enemy came at the hands of a very small number of Israelites. The three hundred gained the victory and then the remainder of Israel joined in.

Another very powerful type of the division of the Church is found in the separation of the Ark of the Covenant from the Tabernacle of the Congregation. All through the rule of David the Ark was kept in a tent in Zion in Jerusalem while the Tabernacle and the remaining six furnishings were located at the high place in Gibeon—a city outside of Jerusalem.

Then there is the period of time when David governed only Judah, prior to his rule over all Israel.

Then we have the three superior mighty men, then the thirty, then the remainder of the warriors of Israel.

We see the multitude, the seventy, the twelve, and then the three who were permitted to witness the scene on the Mount of Transfiguration.

There are lesser types, such as the two spies (witnesses) who preceded Israel into Canaan.

We would have to turn away from the types of Scripture if we were to maintain there is no scriptural basis for the concept of a firstfruits of the Church gaining the victory in advance of the balance of the Church.

To those who would say we are promoting "elitism" we would respond by stating that the Kingdom of God is not a democracy. Indeed there are elite in the Kingdom, there are greatest and least in the Kingdom. In fact, there will be those who sit at Christ's right hand and left hand when He appears in His Kingdom.

We are not, however, encouraging little groups of believer who prophesy marvels to one another and spend the remainder of their time criticizing the large assemblies. God's elite are found in many places, including the large churches.

To be continued.