The idea in the above verse is that God will judge His temple, His Church, with special attention to those who are worshiping at the Altar of Incense.

The judgment mentioned here takes place as a preparation for the ministry of witnessing that is to be given to the Church in the last days.

The Altar of Incense stood just before the veil that led into the Most Holy Place. In Bible symbolism, the feast of Pentecost and the Lampstand of the Tabernacle of the Congregation are equivalent. Both are number four in a sequence of seven elements. Both represent Christ (Messiah) and also those who are anointed with the Holy Spirit.

At the Lampstand of the Tabernacle (at Pentecost to use another figure) we receive the power to bear witness. But it is at the Altar of Incense, the next furnishing after the Lampstand, that we give our life to the Lord so that our worship is a sweet-smelling fragrance. It is at this altar that we say, "Not my will but Yours be done."

If you have been at Pentecost (at the Lampstand) for awhile the Lord is calling you to a deeper walk. You now will realize that you have been trying to use the Lord for one thing or another. At the Altar of Incense you become the servant of the Lord, ready to do whatever He wants.

Are you God's servant or are you trying to make God your servant?

God is calling today to the Pentecostal (Charismatic) people to quit fooling around and find out what God wants us to do. Are you willing to lay down your life at the Altar of Incense?

The reward you get for laying down your life at the Altar of Incense is that God judges you. Now why is this? It is because at this altar you are ready to pass through the veil into the very Presence of Christ. Therefore you must be judged.

Also, God wants to prepare His Church to bring the "again" prophecy that we mentioned previously, the great spring-rain witness to the nations of the earth. The churches are so full of worldliness, lust, and self-will that if God were to place on them the power of the latter rain they surely would do more harm than good to the nations of the earth.

The spring-rain revival, the testimony of the two witnesses, is clothed in sackcloth, not in the five hundred dollar suits of today's "evangelists." The day of the flashy, money-loving ministry is drawing to a close. God and His young men, His warriors, have no use for the hypocrisy of the older generation. They are sick of the shallow game being played. They want God. They want the real stuff!

So humble yourself with us. Bow the knee to Jesus. Shuck off the spineless playing around that passes for Gospel work. If you are not deadly serious about Jesus and have no intention of changing, why not consider another area of activity? Please make way for those who mean business with God.

To be continued.