Those who are worshiping God at the Altar of Incense are the saints who have pressed past the Lampstand, which typifies Pentecost, and have arrived at the Altar of Incense. The Altar of Incense is the place in Christ where we praise God fervently in every situation; where our life, into which Christ has been pounded as in a mortar, is being poured out in holy worship and service to God.

The Altar of Incense stood in front of the Ark of the Covenant. The holy Veil separated the two pieces of furniture. The Ark of the Covenant represents "that which is perfect," that is, the coming of Christ to us in His fullness. In that hour we will know as we are known because Christ and the Father will be making Their abode with us (John 14:23). There will be no more need for the partial, fragmented manifestations of the Holy Spirit.

We think the saints have been undergoing the judgment of God, the Divine measurement of their lives, over the past thirty years, and that the judgment is continuing as the "Lampstand" (the Body of Christ) is being perfected (Revelation 11:4; Luke 13:32).

We must not lose the vision or become discouraged. God has promised to us the "greater works"—the going forth of the Gospel in the fullness of power to every human being on the earth. An "open door" has been set before us. Let us press in to the full realization of all God has promised.

As soon as God has cleansed us of what is unacceptable to Himself, and has totally reconciled us to Himself, He will pour out on us the double portion of power and glory so we can bear witness of the atoning death, triumphant resurrection, keeping power, and soon coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. (Revelation 11:3)

Here is the worldwide corporate ministry of the Body of Christ during the first half of Daniel's seventieth week, as we understand it. The "sackcloth" typifies the repentance that must be proclaimed during the preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, and also the humility, the lack of religious finery and pomp, that will characterize the saints who bear the latter-rain testimony.

Just before Jesus returns the saints will go forth, two by two in some instances, as in the days when Jesus was on earth. The Lord's witnesses will go to every nation, every city, every village under the heaven. They will heal the sick, cast out devils, raise the dead, and preach the Gospel message: "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand!"

The witnesses will preach with great power throughout the first half of the "week." Then God will allow the testimony to be silenced. But at the end of the week the saints, God's witnesses of all ages, will be raised from the dead and will "ascend up to heaven in a cloud." It is our point of view that this does not mean they will ascend into Paradise, as in the erroneous teaching of the "rapture," but rather that they will be caught up into the clouds, into the heaven immediately above us.

To be continued.