The Divine Perspective by C. R. Oliver (ebook reader below 3000 .TXT) 📕

Heb 12:18-25
For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. 20(For they could not endure what was commanded: "And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow." 21 And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.") 

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel ... . 

25 Hear the Heavenly Voice 
See that you do not refuse Him who speaks.

Though God retreated from the presence of Eli's lying horde and when He abandoned the Temple in Jerusalem (according to Ezekiel), He did not distance Himself without being within reach. Though He traversed with His Presence to Mt. Hermon during the whoredoms of the Temple clergy, now He stands on Mt. T'Sion in the New Jerusalem and beckons us to His perspective.

NT:4622 Sion (see-own'); of Hebrew origin [OT:6726]; Sion (i.e. Tsijon), a hill of Jerusalem; figuratively, the Church (militant or triumphant):

Notice please the difference between Zion and T'Sion. Oh, there is a vast difference to be sure. One places the Temple mount at the center of interest, while the other places the heavenly prospect at the forefront. We are gathered to Mt. T'Sion. Those who worship the earthly Zion had best take notice. T'Sion is the greater place for gathering. 

Notice the elements of this gathering:

City of the living God-the heavenly Jerusalem
Innumerable company of Angels (so many one can't count them)
The general assembly 
  (Standing in the midst of all of the saints past and present)
          The Firstborn and registered
To God, the Judge OF ALL
To the spirits of just (righteous) men made perfect (completed)
To Jesus, the Mediator of a better covenant and to His blood

The world cannot dismiss this scene as irrelevant. The most relevant perspective of our time and eternity is found here. (Away with the petty concerns of earth, I embrace the true reality.) 

Recently, an evangelist assailed the clergy by saying, "Never in my lifetime have I encountered so many 'proud' preachers. Proud of their accomplishments, they regale in their numbers and the size of their congregations." Alas, from the heavenly perspective of Hebrews they are the ones who are irrelevant! (That same preacher also said he never encountered as many "limp wristed sissy preachers" in his life.)

Revelation 14:1-5
Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

Let us view from a different vantage point. Let us hear from His voice. Let us gather a perspective so solidifying it becomes the foundation for our fellowship. May we spend time in the secret place of the Most High. May we view things as He does and call forth those things that reflect His will. May we never stop repeating, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." May we climb the Mountain of God and stay there until we hear, "You have dwelled long enough in this mountain." Then let us burst onto this holocaust of hell (called modern society) while marching around their walled Jerichos and watch their walls fall. Let us meet the enemies of God with the Sword of Gideon and the recalcitrance of Joshua. Immutable, irrefutable truth coming from our lips, let us stand as those "who have been with Jesus." 


Dr. C. R. Oliver, PhD

For those who wish to increase their Scriptural base, continue with OTHER STUDIES: 

OTHER STUDIES:

Exodus 4:27-31
And the LORD said to Aaron, "Go into the wilderness to meet Moses." So he went and met him on the mountain of God, and kissed him. 28 So Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which He had commanded him. 29 Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel. 30 And Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses. Then he did the signs in the sight of the people. 31 So the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.

Notice: The salutation of Aaron, the holy kiss.
The Word and Signs: brought belief and worship
This was dress rehearsal for Aaron, who would soon take the rod of God before Pharaoh.
We are not told the nature of the miracles ... but they caused folks to believe.

(I believe signs and wonders are still necessary to accompany the Word today.)

Deuteronomy 9:10-11
10 Then the LORD delivered to me two tablets of stone written with the finger of God, and on them were all the words which the LORD had spoken to you on the mountain from the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly. 11 And it came to pass, at the end of forty days and forty nights, that the LORD gave me the two tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant. NKJV 

Now read:

Deuteronomy 10:1-3
"At that time the LORD said to me, 'Hew for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and come up to Me on the mountain and make yourself an ark of wood. 2 And I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke; and you shall put them in the ark.' 

3 "So I made an ark of acacia wood, hewed two tablets of stone like the first, and went up the mountain, having the two tablets in my hand."

Note:

First, the absolute obedience to every detail that God laid out for him.
Notice also he was the sole designer of the Ark, for God did not give a design. 
Remember, Moses is now familiar with what takes place on the mount of God. 
Take note of the cleansing time of 40 days and nights. Before one encounters their Pharaoh, this is the best of preparations. (If you want, then do a word study on "signs" in Scripture; it will be Amazing.)

Hebrews 2:1-4
Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

David Zach responded in an interview for Casual Living trade magazine that as a Futurist, his job had changed. Citing Alvin Toffler's, Future Shock, Zack stated, "Today it is present shock. There is so much change going on that we have trouble keeping up with what has already happened. My work isn't just about telling people what the latest trend is; sometimes it's talking about what hasn't changed."

Elijah summonsed the prophets of Baal to a "showdown on Mt. Carmel," because on that mountain they would have their perspective modified! They would discover "what hadn't changed." 

1 Kings 19:8-9 Elijah's "other" mountain
(Elijah) went in the strength provided by the Lord for forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.

The Lord strengthened Elijah as he fled Jezebel. Then, He took the prophet to the "mountain of God." This mountain had became a historical marker for the people of God. Moses had been there and the burning bush experience took place there.. Now it was Desolate. God could have talked with Elijah anywhere. He chose Mt. Horeb for its significance to His people. There came God's display of power: earthquakes, wind and fire. Then came a still small voice and virtually told Elijah his ministry was over. Elijah had to change his perspective. God revealed to him 7,000 who had not bent the knee and had remained true. He then comforted Elijah with the still small voice and gave him a final commission.

Isaiah 24:21-23 
Couple the following two passages in Isaiah as you review them.

21 It shall come to pass in that day 
That the LORD will punish on high the host of exalted ones,
And on the earth the kings of the earth. 
22 They will be gathered together,
As prisoners are gathered in the pit,
And will be shut up in the prison;
After many days they will be punished.
23 Then the moon will be disgraced 
And the sun ashamed;
For the LORD of hosts will reign
On Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
And before His elders, glorious.


... Isaiah 25:6-8
And in this mountain The LORD of hosts will make for all people A feast of choice pieces, A feast of wines on the lees, Of fat things full of marrow, Of well-refined wines on the lees. 7 And He will destroy on this mountain The surface of the covering cast over all people, And the veil that is spread over all nations. 8 He will swallow up death forever, And the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; The rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken.

          Now Review this: as a true "after the return" passage. Look at the scope of all that is spoken and compare it to the Zechariah 8 passage below. How do the passages differ? (It will be interesting to see your comments.)

Zechariah 8:3-6
3 "Thus says the LORD:
'I will return to Zion,
And dwell in the midst of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth,
The Mountain of the LORD of hosts,
The Holy Mountain.' 

4 "Thus says the LORD of hosts:

'Old men and old women shall again sit
In the streets of Jerusalem,
Each one with his staff in his hand
Because of great age. 
5 The streets of the city 
Shall be full of boys and girls
Playing in its streets.' 

6 "Thus says the LORD of hosts:

'If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days,
Will it also be marvelous in