We are now speaking of Pentecost in the Revelation. The only place Pentecost is recorded in that book. We have Christ, our High Priest, going in for us. Let’s travel to the old city of Jerusalem, where the Jews have been going through this process year after year. The high priest going in, taking the incense, letting the smoke cover him, coming out again, but alas, the poor waiting assembly receive no blessing whatsoever.

Jesus Christ came down here. He became our High Priest. True, men ridiculed Him and refused to let Him live. They called Him a thief and a robber; and put Him on the cross as such. The Word tells us that it was time for the high priest, the very day he was to go in as he had before and let the smoke of the incense cover him as he went before God. It’s possible today, to go to Jerusalem and see thousands go to the old Jewish synagogue that have rejected Christ, standing on the outside waiting for the high priest to go through his usual procedure. While he offered the incense the people prayed outside. What for? They looked for a day when a Messiah would come, but their traditions and the hardness of their hearts has caused them to miss the Christ of Calvary. Outside Jerusalem, on Calvary’s mountain a young man named Jesus Christ was being nailed to the cross. The cross was lifted and put down in the ground. The hour came for the time of the evening sacrifice. The high priest was ready to go in as always before. But God had something better for His people. The unbelief of some did not make the Word of God without effect. About the time for the high priest to go in, Jesus was hung on the cross. But how do we know it was the time of the evening sacrifice?

WHEN OUR HIGH PRIEST ENTERED IN

The Word of God says there was darkness (as He hung there) from the sixth to the ninth hour. The sixth hour would make it 12 o’clock noon. Their day began at 6:00 o’clock in the morning and ended at 6:00 o’clock at night. There was darkness over the earth from 12 o’clock until 3:00 o’clock when He died. Three o’clock was time for the evening sacrifice. Let’s look back a little, to Elijah when he was on Mt. Carmel and he let the prophets of Baal go through their procedure, but when it came time for the evening sacrifice, we read: 1 Kings 18:29 “And it came to pass when mid day was past and they prophesied until the time for the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. (30) An Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.”

When three o’clock hour rolled around the high priest started in. The veil rent from the top to the bottom. God revealed the fact that no man had torn it, but that it was a divine operation of God on His throne. The people were always outside and never did see what was beyond the veil, but that evening they could look inside and see the mercy seat, they could see the presence of God. If we ever get within the veil and see all the good things there, you will not want to go out any more.

Jesus said, “I am the door. By me if any man enter in he will go in and out and find pasture.” Too many people think they are in. They may be in something, but unless they are born again they are not in the church. Jesus said when you do get in you will find pasture.

The scripture says in the Revelation, “Another angel came and stood at the altar having a golden censer.” Here is our high priest, Christ. “And there was given unto Him much incense.” (He’s still interceding) “that He might offer it, with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.” This golden altar was before the mercy seat, but the golden altar that Christ went before, was the very throne of God. Our High Priest did not go into the second room, the holy of holies, but He went before the very throne of God. He said before He left, “I will pray the father and He will send you another Comforter which is the Holy Ghost or the Holy Spirit which the world cannot receive, (it neither seeth Him or knoweth Him). But you know Him because He dwells in you. He offered His prayer with the prayers of all saints---all the saints of all the ages. What had they been praying for? That the Holy Spirit might come and find its rightful place in the hearts of mankind as God created them from the beginning. It is still the prayer of all saints.

Why do we hold revival services? Not that we may just gain a greater knowledge of God’s Word, but that the Holy Spirit may come in and abide in men’s hearts. That is the prayer of all saints. In Acts 1:14, we see the saints praying there. They continued in prayer and supplication. We read in Luke 1:8, “And it came to pass while he executed the priests office before God in the order of his course, the high priest went into represent the people.” But our high priest went in before the very throne of God and before He left, He said, “Tarry here at Jerusalem. Go to the upper room and pray.”

Zacharias was one of the last of the old priests that went through this procedure. Luke 1:8 (we repeat) “And it came to pass while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the holy place.

The whole foundation of the sounding of this trumpet rests on this message, for this was the last of the old; “And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of the incense. We repeat, Christ went before the very throne of God and the congregation was in the upper room at Jerusalem praying. And the fourth verse said He got His prayers through. “And the smoke of the incense which came up with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.” When it goes up through it will come up before God. “And the angel took the censer and filled it with fire off the altar and cast it into the earth.”

Our high priest offered the incense. He took the empty censer after He emptied the censer, and filled it with fire off the altar and cast it into the earth. And when it hit the earth there were voices. It must have hit people for there were voices and thunders and lightning and earthquakes. And where was the fire? [ The End ]