For they shall all know me

For Israel, this verse will have a literal fulfillment when they see Christ at His return. The nation of Israel shall almost be at the point of annihilation when our Lord returns; and they shall say, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation" (Isa. 25:9). The whole world will recognize Israel’s awaited Messiah. The scripture says that every eye shall see Him (Rev. 1: 7).

Although, Israel is ecstatic at the coming of their King, their elation turns to shock when they discover that He is the One that they rejected 2000 years ago. Envision Israel as they ask their Messiah, "What are these wounds in thine hands?" He responds, "Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends" (Zec. 13:6). Envision Israel again, when they realize that they were the ones who had pierced Him. It is at that moment that Christ bestows great grace upon Israel and the whole nation bitterly mourns for what they had done.

"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem…" (Zec. 12:10-11).

Yes, Israel shall all know Him. They shall not have to explain to their neighbor who the Christ is. They shall all know Him; the whole world will have to acknowledge Him as Lord. He shall literally sit upon His throne in Jerusalem. People will literally go to Jerusalem to pray before Him in His temple (Zec. 8: 21-22).

Israel enters their promised New Covenant when they see Christ. But what about us – the ones who are already "New Covenant people?" What application does this promise have for us? Well, let us consider some of the things that we have learned in this study: Salvation is ongoing; there is a progression in this walk. Do we really know the Lord in the Outer Court? Undoubtedly, we know Him as our Savior, or perhaps we also know Him as our Baptizer, or our Healer, etc. We know Him by faith. We know about Him and perhaps we have experienced His deliverance in some way. Perhaps, we have even had dreams or visions of Him. Yet, do we really know Him?

The blueprint of the tabernacle teaches man how that he can come to God. We can know aspects of God in the Outer Court, and we can even know greater aspects of God in the Holy Place. Notwithstanding, it was the Holy of Holies where the presence of God (symbolically) dwelt. Whilst any Israelite (child of the kingdom) had the privilege of coming into the first court, not just anybody could proceed into the next court, much less into the inner court. Do you get the point? Desire certainly has a lot to do with it, but God only gives those kinds of desires to those who please Him.

Listen to the words of the psalmist; "Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple" (Psa. 65:4). It is God who chooses us, and it is God who draws us onward from our present position. Much of the Church world is content with their present position. Perhaps that is the extent of their vision; but if we look at the people who really knew Christ, their lives were consumed with "following on to know Him." They had a taste of that communion, but they wanted more!

Hosea said: "Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth" (Hosea 6:3). Does not this verse say something to us? "If we follow on to know the LORD…" It is only the followers of the Lamb that really can know Him. O, let us not be distant followers, but may we be like the bride in the "Song of Songs" who cried out, "Draw me, we will run after thee" (Song. 1: 4).

"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death" (Phil. 3:10). What is so interesting about this desire of Paul, is that he is writing this about 25 years after claiming third heaven revelations (2 Cor. 12:1-4). Very few people who have ever lived have had the revelation that Paul had. In fact, Paul had to be given a thorn in the flesh, (an infirmity) not only to keep Paul humble, but also to keep him from being magnified (by others) above measure.

Paul had been (as it were) in the Holy of Holies in heaven. He had partaken of the hidden manna – the hidden manna is a prize that is given to the overcomer, and it is reserved for those who enter within the veil (Rev. 2:17). Still, the apostle’s quest has not been satisfied. Let us consider the implications of this pursuit, and especially the connotation that it has for us. The veil has been rent, but will we enter in? The apostle Paul posed the same question to the Hebrews. There is a rest for us; there is a Beulah Land for us, but will we enter in (Heb. 4:5-11)? The rent veil simply tells us that we have an access made available for us. Our forerunner has already entered, showing us the way – but this is not a "given." It requires a certain exercise on our part, a certain compulsion!

What Paul was talking about was not just having more visions and more revelations of the eternal; but to know Him – not to know more about Him, but to know Him as Moses did – face to face. Furthermore, Christ desires that kind of fellowship with us, intimate fellowship. The Lord Himself said: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Rev. 3:20). "The Song of Songs," a little book written by King Solomon, is all about communion with the King. It is an allegory of Christ and His Church. The King reveals just enough of Himself to entice the seeker, then He withdraws, and she desperately seeks to find Him. Toward the end of the book, it become difficult to separate whom is who. She has become so much like the One that she worships that she resembles Him in every way! The more that we know Him, the more we become like Him, and as St John said: "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" (1 John 3:3).

"But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits" (Dan. 11:32). So what is the advantage of knowing God? (Again, we are talking about knowing Him as a friend – John 15:14-15). Actually, the list of benefits would take another volume. In the day of trouble, they are delivered; when they ask, He answers. However, to stay within the context of our opening verse, the people that do know their God shall be those who do the greater works in these last days. The greatest revival of all the ages is going to climax the Church Age. In fact, Jesus promised that the greater works would be done through those who love Him – those who keep His commandments.

Were the greater works accomplished by the early Church? There is no denying the wonderful works that were demonstrated throughout the book of Acts. However, you will not find anything that supercedes the miracles of Christ. In fact, there are miracles in the Old Testament that have yet to be rivaled. When the apostle Paul wrote the book of Hebrews, the book of Acts was (basically) over. (The book of Acts covered about 30 years.) Yet, Paul is telling his audience that the Church must complete the acts of faith. All of the great miracles of the Old Testament (listed in Hebrews chapter 11) were only done in part, or in a figure. The Church must finish the acts of faith, and with greater magnitude – of course, we are looking at the end of the Church Age. Christ always reserves the best wine for last! Consider the following verses:

The point that we are trying to establish is that these "wonderful works" are to be demonstrated through those that know their God. Paul said, that I might know Him, and the power of His resurrection. Symbolically, the "rod that budded" (which was kept in the ark) served as an example of "resurrection power." The ark was in the Holy of Holies (Heb. 9:4). As we have previously stated, we can know Him in limited measure. We can know Him in the Outer Court through the baptism in the Holy Spirit. We could know Him through the greater anointing of the Holy Place (seven candlesticks). However, the greatest anointing is to be found within the veil, "to know Him and the power of His resurrection." Resurrection power is power to raise the dead.

Evan Roberts, the man credited for birthing the Welsh revival, describes in his own diary how he had been seeking the Lord for many months. There was not an inkling that anything was happening. Then early one morning (about 1:30 in the morning), the Lord Jesus Christ walked into his room and communed with him, face to face, for about two to three hours. This went on every morning for months. He describes how that the Lord took the fear of people out of his heart, and how the Lord even healed a speech impediment. This man had entered into something. Later, when Evan Roberts asked the Lord for 100,000 souls, he saw the Lord Jesus hand the Father a check with the number 100,000 on it. He said, "I cashed in that check within the next year."

Just recently, the father of one of my elders passed away. The man had never lived for God, nor had he responded to the salvation message shared with him by his son. Nevertheless, the son continued to ask for his father’s life. His father died on a New Years Eve, after spending his final months in excruciating pain. That night, the Lord gave the son a dream. He dreamed that his father died in his lap, and the Lord said unto him, "See, I have given you your father." So often, we see this in scripture, that God showed mercy to the succeeding generations simply because of the righteousness of the fathers, or because of the relationship that the fathers had with Him. The Lord used David as an excuse not to destroy Jerusalem – centuries after David – "for David’s sake." These are all good reasons for intimately knowing the Lord! Yet, I think the purest intention for wanting to know Him is because we want to be like Him. The apostle John undoubtedly knew Christ better than any other, and that is why he is called the apostle of love; and that is why he had the greatest revelation of all!

In the last part of the Apostle Paul’s aspiration in Philippians 3:10, he says: "…And the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death." Paul truly wanted to identify with Christ in every manner, even to suffering and dying as a martyr. I believe that the Scripture is quite clear on the fact that there are levels of fellowship. Even naturally speaking, we can only have fellowship with one another by virtue of a common denominator. For example, two men that were both on the same battlefield have a certain bonding and communion. This truth carries over into many fields: education; business; domestic life, etc. However, in the context of the Apostle’s desire, Paul knew that the higher degree of fellowship was to be realized through an identification with Christ’s sufferings. When we think of Jesus in His boyhood years, we must imagine a very solitary figure. How many of His peers could Jesus possibly share the revelations of His heart with?

Jesus sat in Herod’s Judgement hall – Paul sat in Herod’s Judgement hall. That was just one aspect of the sufferings of Christ, and yet, not an aspect that many could identify with. Years ago, a very good Christian friend of mine had to go to court over a small amount of insurance that he had received when he was hurt on a job. The court wanted him to pay everything back. They said he was just trying to take advantage of the system. As this brother was sitting in the hall outside of the judges chambers, he could hear them mocking him in the office (they had forgotten to close the door). They were saying that he was just using religion for a crutch, and was looking for a free meal ticket, etc. As the man sat on the bench with sweat beading upon his forehead, he felt somebody else sit down next to him on the bench – somebody that had been there centuries ago. Just then, one of the counselors realized that the door was opened and they looked rather embarrassed as they closed the door. "That I might know Him… and the fellowship of His suffering."

There is one thing that we must understand about martyrdom: it is a calling, and God does not give this calling to just anyone. As we peer into the near future, we observe a little scene from Revelation 6:10-11: Those who have given their lives for Christ, are crying out for vindication. The Lord responds to their cry, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should offer up their lives.

There are situations where martyrdom is a choice. For example, in Hebrews 11:35: "…Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection." Some have rejected the privilege of escape because they sought a better resurrection. One thing is certain, if the Lord’s stamp of approval is not upon the offering, it would be for nothing. Peter was called to be a martyr, but had he gone before his time, it would not have been an acceptable offering. Peter claimed he was ready 36 years beforehand. Actually, there was no grace for Peter to die with Jesus 36 years before the time. Had Peter laid down his life in Gethsemane, the Father in Heaven would have said: "Peter, what are you doing here? I had 36 years of work for you to do on earth; and, Peter; you have a lot of un-mended flaws in your character, and, Peter, that was a terrible departure, flailing and kicking. That was a bad representation of the ‘lamb’ nature!"

That is why one must know the Lord (to become like Him). That is why one must first experience the power of His resurrection – which is power to endure suffering! The wrong desire to be a martyr can just be an ego trip. Some would like to go to jail for Jesus, as long as the TV camera is there to film their noble stand. Some years ago, a dear sister was with a group in Russia. (This was before Russia was opened to the Gospel.) There was also a certain man in the group who had (wrong) martyr tendencies. Their mission was to make contact with an underground group, deliver Bibles, and encourage the underground Church. Judiciously, they waited until the brother was not looking and they left him behind. (He would have foiled the mission.) It was a very difficult connection; they had to evade the Russian SS as well. To make a long story short, they met with the Church; they delivered the goods; and they had a wonderful time in the Lord. When they returned, the other brother was fuming! He had so much wanted to be a martyr! Paul’s desire was God given!

Well, that has been the question that we have been exploring throughout this exposition. Continuing from the gate of salvation: from the initial forgiveness of sins, continuing in the Word, continuing to walk in the Spirit…. The promise of the New Covenant is complete salvation, a new spirit, and a new heart – a heart that desires the commandments of Christ and delights greatly in them. All of this is accomplished as we find grace, and continue! The walk in the Spirit is a lifetime experience, with many responses to His voice, and many dealings that render the "old man" inactive!

How do we know we are on the right trail? Maybe we have not seen the manifested Christ; maybe we have not experienced the mighty power flowing out to the oppressed. The apostle John expresses in very simple terms how we can know that we know Him: "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments" (1 John 2:3). Let not your heart be troubled about all of the ways that you would desire to express Christ. He sees that desire, He hears those who speak often of Him; and when our Lord moves afresh He will empower you to tread down the works of the enemy!

Yes, Israel shall know the Lord when the veil is taken away at the Second Coming, but for us, the time is now! The veil has been rent, and our Lord desires to bring many sons (and daughters) to glory. We can be spectators of the great things that God will do, or we can be participators in it (part of the mechanism). The psalmist put it like this: we can know His ways, or we can merely see the effect of them. Let us cry out to know Him; and if we know Him we will know His ways: