The task at hand is the overcoming of the accuser. He can be overcome only by those who are willing to die to their bodily lusts, their desire for the world, and their longing for importance and achievement. It seems that only a small part of the Church is willing to submit to such thorough pruning.

A work of Divine judgment is necessary, and only those who have been purged of all lawlessness will be able to follow Christ into the tearing down of the kingdom of darkness.

From the days of Samuel to the time of Solomon, the Ark of the Covenant was separated from the Tabernacle of the Congregation.

During the reign of King David the Ark was kept in Zion, a part of the city of Jerusalem. Meanwhile the Tabernacle was located on a hill in the city of Gibeon.

This separation continued until the building of Solomon's Temple. As long as the Ark of the Covenant was not in the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle, the Day of Atonement, the work of Divine judgment, could not be conducted in the Tabernacle. The ceremony of the Day of Atonement included the sprinkling of blood upon and before the Mercy Seat.

We see in the removal of the Ark from the Tabernacle a separation of a warrior-remnant from the remainder of the Church. God will use the warrior-remnant to judge and destroy the enemy. After that, all Israel (all of God's elect) will be able to join in the destroying of Satan and his followers, similar to what took place after Gideon's three hundred men had taken the lead in driving out the Midianites.

If this is true, the remnant being called out today will be subjected to intense dealings of God. Every aspect of their personality will be tested again and again as the Lord judges them. They will be brought close to despair as the Spirit of God uncovers every trace of bodily lusts, every trace of love for the world system, every trace of a desire for personal achievement apart from the Lord.

Those who follow the Lord through the wilderness of judgment, allowing God to wound and then heal them, will emerge from the fire as new creatures. They will be dead-living people in that all they are will have been brought through death and resurrection.

The remainder of the elect will be participating in the customary works of salvation: evangelizing, baptizing believers, assisting people with the new birth and the baptism with the Holy Spirit, encouraging them to consecrate themselves to the Lord. These aspects of redemption are typified by the remaining five furnishings of the Tabernacle: the Bronze Altar, the Laver, the Table of Showbread, the Lampstand, and the Altar of Incense.

As we have stated, the Ark no longer was in the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle but in a tent in Zion.

To be continued.