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"And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat." [Hebrews 9:5].

"Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forebearance of God." [Romans 3:25].

"And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." [1 John 2:2].

             There is a principle to be found in spiritual truth and experience which can be briefly stated this way: THE HIGHEST ORDER OF ANY THING IS TO BECOME THAT VERY THING. Thus, in relationship to our Lord, whatever it was that was spoken of, be it a door, away, a shepherd, etc. every symbol and type was personified in Him, as He declared, "I AM THE WAY"-"I AM THE DOOR" -"I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD." "If you look for the fulfillment and consummation thereof, look to Me, for I AM."
             Now through these past years the Spirit has begun to quicken to us that this same principle ultimately is to be wrought out in us--that the highest form of praise is not to just lift your hands and say "praise the Lord," but that our very life and being BECOMES HIS PRAISE. The highest form of prayer is not to bow the knee and offer petitions, it is when your whole state of being becomes a prayer, an out-breathing of desire for God's will to be fulfilled in the earth.
             So then, as we progress in our understanding of the truths revealed, and consider these beautiful aspects of truth in Christ, it follows that what we see IN HIM, when we are fully joined to Him, and brought into His fullness, then we also are to become expressions of these various things which are found in Christ, until it shall be said, "because AS HE IS, so are we in this world." [1 John 4:17].
             When we are totally one in Him who is LOVE, and we are fully a partaker of His divine nature, then we shall literally manifest love simply because it is our very nature to do so. Whatever the holy Spirit applies this principle to, for you, as He focuses His illumination upon a thing, to work it into your life, praise God, that vision becomes prophetic of your destiny's throne.
             Now, as we follow on into the thoughts before us, we discover that the word given as "mercyseat" is the same word in the Greek which is given as "propitiation," being the word "hilasterion" and meaning TO APPEASE, TO SOOTHE, TO CONCILIATE.
           We read that God hath given Jesus Christ to be a propitiation for our sins, and we could equally read it, God hath sent forth Jesus Christ to be our mercyseat. All that the "ARK OF THE COVENANT" described in the Old Testament, as a part of the inner sanctuary, the Holy of Holies, is fulfilled in Christ, for HE BECAME OUR MERCY-SEAT.
             As we examine the " Ark of the Covenant," and in particular the MERCYSEAT, there is a truth which we would include here to form the background, that it may lend its glory to the greater vision which we shall be considering. We realize that the Scriptures reveal three manifestations of our God, as Father, Son, and holy Spirit. Now again and again we find a threefold dimension in truth, touching many areas, body, soul, spirit; thirty-fold, sixty-fold, one hundred-fold; etc. Thus it becomes almost natural, once we have gone beyond the surface application or view, to look to see if there are other aspects to be seen, especially if there is an indication that there could be three. So as we read of this Ark, we find there are only two cherubims, instead of three. Let us share with you what the Lord has quickened to us on this.
             Why weren't there three cherubims instead of just two! To begin with, we find there are three great princes listed in the Word of God. 1) Michael, and his name means, "Who is like God ?" He is the great warrior of God, the defender of righteousness. 2) Gabriel, whose name means, "God is mighty," and he is that divine messenger of truth, representative of the work of the holy Spirit, for the Spirit comes to guide us into all truth, and every time you read of Gabriel, he is bringing a message of truth to someone.
             Then the Scriptures reveal another, 3) Lucifer, whose name means "the shining one," or "morning star." This great prince was, Ezekiel 28:14, "the anointed cherub that covereth." But due to the great providence of God, he was thrust into a negative realm. The word "cherub" literally means "ONE GRASPED" or "one laid hold of." Paul picks up the word, and though he doesn't use the word "cherub," he does use a Greek word which means TO BE GRASPED, or LAID HOLD OF, when he says, "I have been APPREHENDED of Christ."
             Thus, when we apprehend one, lay hold of one, grasp them, we could literally say that they have become our cherub for that moment.
           Lucifer was laid hold of by God for a specific purpose, which now must needs be fulfilled, namely, to become the opposition, the negative force, while Christ, The Son, is the Positive Force. Furthermore, if he was a covering cherub, he had to be covering something, or Someone, and we believe that he was then the overshadowing aurora of glory over the Christ; that light bearer which surrounded The Son, then as soon as he was apprehended, laid hold of, and thrust away from Christ, removed and cut off from Christ, there was only one result which could follow, to be plunged into darkness. Surely, to go out from the very presence of Christ, and the flow of His life, it becomes NIGHT--a realm of death. When the light that is in thee becomes darkness, how great is that darkness! He, who was the covering of light, was removed from the light of Christ, and CHRIST IS THE SOURCE OF ALL TRUE LIGHT, so then this one became the instrument of darkness. As long as this one remains in darkness, his very name is a testimony against him, for it speaks of what he once was, "a light bearer," but now is not fulfilling that place.
             Yet, is not a great part of the deception of the world today because of those who claim to be what they are not-- and to be in darkness, yet claiming to have the light, and able to give forth light. All such "are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." [2 Corinthians 11:13-15].
             Turning our thoughts again to the Ark of the Covenant, we have the two cherubims overshadowing, representing Michael and Gabriel, but the third one, Lucifer, is missing. While we have the manifestation of the Father represented by Michael, and the holy Spirit represented by Gabriel, for THE SON there has to be a different representation, which is THE MERCYSEAT, with its constant sprinkling of blood. It was the BLOOD OF CHRIST, freely poured out for us, which also hovers over and is upon the mercyseat, to complete the triad, in its threefold glory and victory. Two cherubims and the blood all watching over the MERCYSEAT, all guarding the grace and mercy of God, until it shall reach to the ends of the earth, and bring salvation to every man.
             The Divine Warrior shall press the battle to the full, and gain the victory. The Divine Messenger of truth shall spread the glad tidings until all have heard the good news. And the LIFE POURED OUT shall be freely given to every man, thus salvation is the composite work of the threefold manifestation of God, as Father, Son, and holy Spirit.
           Yes, Christ is our mercyseat, He is our propitiation. Now we said that this word "propitiation" means TO APPEASE, TO SOOTHE, TO CONCILIATE. Here is where Christendom's theology seems to go into reverse, for they teach that Jesus is our mercyseat to appease God because of my sin. NOT SO! God did not need an appeasement because God has never been estranged from His creation, but it is the whole creation which has been turned from Him, and must needs be returned. That whole concept that God became angry with His creation, and was about to destroy us all, until the Son was filled with such compassion for us that He seeks to find a way to appease the Father, and thus spare creation, is false. The Son does not have to beg the Father to spare us, for THE FATHER HIMSELF LOVES THE WHOLE OF HIS CREATION, AND HE HIMSELF HAS PURPOSED ITS TOTAL RESTORATION. God so loves the world that He makes all of the overtures to draw us back to himself.
           Wayward mankind is the one that needs to be appeased, conciliated, brought back to God. Man left God, but God has never left mankind. Indeed, "though I make my bed in hell, THOU ART THERE." [Psalm 139:8]. Job, in the midst of his trial, having lost that consciousness of God's presence, for he was so conscious of his own testings, said, "Where shall I go that I might find Him ?" But David, having come into a beautiful revelation and understanding of his God, reversed the question, to ask, "Where can we go that God isn't there?" For though quickenings come and go, feelings come and go, yet the Anointing abides, it continues, and as we progress from dimension to new dimension, the lesser is swallowed up into the greater. "In Him we live, and move, and have our being." He has not left us, but is there to draw us back unto Himself, regardless of how far away our wayward steps might wander.
             Jesus taught this clearly in His "sermon on the mount," when He said, "If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." [Matthew 5:23-24].
             Don't make the angry brother come to you and soothe and appease you, but you seek out the angry brother and appease him, soothe him, and be reconciled to him. Now, dare we say that God demands this of us, but as for Himself it is the other way around, and that though we were the rebellious ones, and turned away from Him, now we must return and appease Him ? Let us not be so foolish.
           GOD IS RECONCILED TO US, HE LOVES US, we are the ones that need to be reconciled unto Him, and come into the knowledge of His love and grace so freely given to us. It is "our sin" that must be dealt with, that God might be revealed to us in all of His love and holiness.
             "0 Lord, why hath Thou made us to err from Thy ways, and hardened our heart from Thy fear? Return for Thy servants' sake, the tribes of Thine inheritance." [Isaiah 63:17].
             If God, Who is our Source of Life and Light, had turned away from us, we would have been immediately plunged into total darkness and death. He is not taking His Spirit out of the earth, the day of grace is not ending, it is all barely beginning. Therefore, though we have but tasted "in part," through the ages to come He will continue to unfold His grace, manifesting it through His vessels of mercy, until the fullness thereof is revealed, and the knowledge of the glory of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea. And ALL FLESH shall see the great salvation of the Lord.
             It is when this "MERCY COMPANY" has fully become, matured in the fullness of the Christ, then shall the completeness of the MERCYSEAT be revealed in the earth. So--as Christ is now "my" mercyseat, in due time we are to become that mercyseat for others, to show mercy unto all men. Wondrous revelations of the grace of God are just about to begin, as God's first fruits shall "bring forth the Headstone with shoutings, crying, GRACE, GRACE unto it." [Zechariah 4:7]. We have yet to hear the full message of grace declared, for we have but received a small glimpse of His grace and of His love towards His creation.
             "Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men." [Psalm 90:3]. Ah, yes, when the Lord turns you away, and your back is toward Him, you face darkness, for the Light is behind you, and you walk in the darkness and shadow of your own selfhood. Then you discover that if the blind lead the blind, they all fall into the ditch. Being turned from Him, to dwell in the shadows and darkness, how then can a man know his own way? "I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in a man that walketh to direct his steps. O Lord, correct me..." [Jeremiah 10:23].
           But He did say, when He turned man to destruction, with every step of our going away, there was inherent within us that call to return, and the knowledge that somewhere down the line there would be a retracing of those steps back to Father's house. For with the turning away, He gave the command, "Return, ye children of men;" Then farther down in the Psalm, after he mentioned the fact that a thousand years were as a day, and a day as a thousand years with the Lord, and I'm sure that the Psalmist must have been amazed at what came forth from his own mouth, as he declared the wonders of the ways of the Lord. Finally, overwhelmed with it all, he asks with deep yearning, "Return, O Lord, HOW LONG ? and let it repent Thee concerning Thy servants." [Psalm 90:13.].
             The Psalmist might have begun to wonder when creation would ever begin to come back--if a thousand years were as a day. "Lord, return? truly we desire to return, but HOW LONG ?" Ah, this bondage to vanity has frustrated and burdened us for so long, and there is that burning of desire for our return to Father's house, to once again dwell in the fullness of His presence.
           We would not charge God foolishly, "For God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own OVER-DESIRE, and enticed." [James 1:13-14]. God does not tempt us with evil, but because we are turned away from Him, walking in our own selfhood and rebellion towards Him, then our own will is foremost before us, instead of God's will which is now in the light behind us, so that walking in our own shadow, taken up with our own will and desire, as this desire is expanded beyond the normal bounds of balance and need, it plunges us into sin, and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death, that complete action of the carnal mind. It is because of this pervertedness of our own self-will and its over-desires that God disciplines us, and purges out this "lust" and brings us back into the true balance which is found in HIS WILL.
           God's goodwill is spontaneous and unchangeable, it does not vacillate according to the merits or demerits of the individual. "God commendeth His love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. -- When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son." [Romans 5:8, 10].
           Now bear in mind that ultimately, becoming completely ONE IN CHRIST, we shall also fulfill this same ministry. It was "while we were yet sinners" that He poured forth His life for us, and while we were enemies He revealed His love to, and for us. Therefore we dare not view any man with the thought, "does he deserve it?" Because there was no way that we ourselves deserved it, we had no merits to claim that love, but it was freely given to us just the same, and we shall learn to freely give in like manner. Furthermore, it says, "not imputing their trespasses unto them..." [2 Corinthians 5:19]. Right now this becomes the hard part, especially if you have been raised with that heavy hangover of condemnation and charging every man with guilt and shame. It was a sin to do this, it was a sin to do that, and we were so sin-conscious that we were not able to kindle any consciousness of forgiveness and love, or to express of HIS mercy.
           Ah, what mercy superabounds in the New Covenant, where one does not impute, does not charge man with sin. Seems as if the very moment we see someone doing what we consider is wrong, we immediately want to brand them as sinners, and heap condemnation upon them for their deed, thus thrusting them farther into darkness, with a guilt complex. Rather, we need to come into that place where we are able to turn on the light, reveal the love and life of Christ, and give them a more excellent way, with power to live righteously. Tell the world the good news, that in Christ they shall find the fullness of life for which they have yearned. But to make this transition, till we are no more condemnation-conscious, but rather become CHRIST-LIFE-CONSCIOUS, this is a process indeed.
             "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." [Hebrews 8 :12] .
             "God be merciful to me a sinner." [Luke 18:13].
             Both times we find this word "merciful" coming from the same root word for mercyseat, or propitiation. There is no appeasement, no soothing if all the time we remember man's sin, and continue to charge them with guilt. But here God says that He will not remember, will not call to mind the iniquity of man, but writing His laws upon their hearts and minds, and giving them power to live a holy life, sin will be erased from the universe.
             The publican, standing in the temple, filled with his own sense of shame, cried out, "God, be the mercyseat for my sin, appease my sins, soothe my  troubled conscience, deliver me from the workings of sin in my life." Praise God, "HE SHALL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS," and also deliver them from all consciousness of evil, so that, we might be only conscious of God and His righteousness.
             Now, the publican did not pray that someone would beg the Father for him, that he might be spared, but he was the one standing in such great need for appeasement, he needed to be reconciled, and thank God, whosoever calls upon HIM, He will in no wise cast out. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that HE LOVED US, and sent His son to be the propitiation for our sins." [1 John 4:10].
             It was our sin that needed to be dealt with, and HE WAS, AND IS ABLE TO DO SO, and bring us into victory. The Son was sent, He is the MERCYSEAT, to take away "the sins of the world." Individually, yes, and for ALL mankind.
             This brings us to another word, portraying another factor of His ministry of love towards us, and that is INTERCESSOR, from the Greek word "entugchano" meaning, TO MEET WITH, CONVERSE WITH, HAVE DEALINGS WITH.
             Again we discover Christendom's viewpoint is just the opposite from the truth, for they have always taught us that Jesus Christ, as the compassionate SON, stands before the throne making intercession, pleading before God for us. Praise God, the Spirit is unfolding truth in ever-increasing rays of glory which magnify His love and mercy, and which releases us from the traditions and carnal creeds of men. We find that HIS INTERCESSION IS TO US-WARD, to bring us to God, WORKING IN US, to meet with us and reveal the Father's heart of love to us, that we might return unto our Creator, and serve Him with all of our heart. All this attention of Christ is DIRECTED TOWARDS US. God does not have to be interceded for us, it was GOD who sent Christ to us, to meet with us, to woo us and unfold to us the good news of our salvation, that we might truly have "peace on earth, goodwill towards men."
              God so loved the world that He gave His Son for us. To wit, that God WAS IN CHRIST, reconciling the world unto Himself. Jesus doesn't have to plead with the Father for the Father to send us mercy and favour, THE FATHER W AS THE VERY ONE WHO SENT THE SON TO REVEAL THAT MERCY AND GRACE TO US.
             We are the ones that need to be interceded with--to be conversed with, to be told of this tremendous salvation, of this life which is for us in Christ. 0, how we need "intercessors" in this hour, not those who weep and wail before God to send salvation, but to ENTREAT MEN TO BE RECONCILED TO GOD, for God has ALREADY prepared salvation for all mankind, only most men are not even aware of it, for they have never been quickened by His Spirit of life, or been told of His love and mercy.
             "Likewise the Spirit also HELPETH OUR INFIRMITIES: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.-Because He maketh intercession FOR THE SAINTS according to the will of God." [Romans 8:26-27].
             The holy Spirit knows what is in the mind and will of God. In our weaknesses we are too limited in understanding, therefore HE HELPS US in our weakness, we are the ones who needed to be conversed with, that He might reveal unto us the will of God, and bring us into harmony with that will. Praise God, the whole realm of the heavenlies stands ready to help our weakness, and to bring us into the life and victory of our God. This is Heaven's great ministry to earth, that we might live!

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