Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (I Peter 2:5)

There are many dwelling places in the Father's house.

"If it were not so, I would have told you."

If Christ were to remain as the only room in the Father's house the dealings of God with the believer would not be nearly as intense and exhaustive as they are. Because we are being made rooms in the Father's eternal Temple, God works, works, works with us continually. The seemingly endless training and testing are portrayed by the various measurements included in the vision of the Temple of God that was given to the Prophet Ezekiel.

When the Body of Christ has been built to the standard of perfection and unity that God requires for His dwelling place, the Head will return and raise His Body from the dead. The Divine standard of maturity and completion is expressed as "the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."

When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. (Psalms 102:16)

"I go to prepare a place for you."

Where did Christ go? He went to the Father.

Before that, He went to Gethsemane and Calvary. The Lord Jesus Christ went to the cross in order to prepare a place for us in the Father. Then He rose from the dead and sprinkled His blood upon and before the Mercy Seat in Heaven. After that He poured out the Holy Spirit of God and gave gifts of ministry to the members of His Body. All of this was done in order to prepare a place for us in the eternal dwelling place of God.

It was not possible for any human being to become part of the House of God while Jesus was alive on the earth. In order to become part of the House of God we must become part of Christ. How can one person become part of another?

Christ Himself is the Way to the Father.

In order for any individual to become a part of Christ, a part of the eternal Temple of God, his sins must be forgiven. All relationships with Satan must be severed. The effects of sin must be healed. His personality must be transformed by being made one with the Personality of Christ.

In addition to this, Christ Himself had to be broken so the saint may be grafted on the Personality of Christ. The door into Christ was opened when the soldier pierced His side with the spear.

Christ was cut open, the believer is cut open, and wound is placed against wound. The "tape" of the Holy Spirit is wrapped around the two until healing occurs and the disciple becomes one with His Lord. The wounding and grafting occurs at a critical point in our Christian growth.

"I go to prepare a place for you."

To Gethsemane, to an unjust trial, to the cross, to Hell; and then up from the grave Christ arose to sprinkle His blood upon and before the Mercy Seat in Heaven.

The blood upon the Mercy Seat satisfies the Divine justice. The blood before the Mercy Seat prepares the way for us into the Presence of God Himself.

Christ sprinkles us with His blood and gives us of His body to eat and His blood to drink. The eternal Temple of God is constructed from the body and blood of Christ.

The ascended Christ gave ministries and gifts to His Body so the Body may be formed in His image and made one in Christ in God. The Body of Christ is the eternal Temple of God. The Temple requires extensive, elaborate preparation and refinement.

To be continued.