Chapter 10: CONSECRATION

Slowly my mind inched toward consciousness. I opened my eyes. Intense balls of light were hovering before my face. Within these lights were the outlines of spirits the size of hummingbirds.

I was too mellow from slumber to be startled. Instead, I was bemused watching them. While I was looking at these spirits, angels below me in the garden began to sing. Amazingly, they were addressing the rocks, hills, trees, and streams of the Garden of God.

SONG OF THE TWENTY-FOUR ATTENDANTS

O, let us hear you sing of God,

The great Almighty One,

Whose fire of burning holiness

Is seen within His Son.

Come now, ancient hills, proclaim

And streams re-echoing,

And rocks and grass and trees burst forth.

Together let them sing.

His grandeur more than these can tell,

Ancient though they be.

While spanning time as if a day,

He, eternity

But let them sing and let them tell

For they too would proclaim.

They too would clap; they too would dance;

They too would bless His name.

O ancient hills, what do you know?

And trees, what will you sing?

And rocks, what virtues you extol?

And streams, what wisdom bring?

O, let us hear you worship God.

Enlighten through your praise.

Through your instruction, may we too

Behold with steadfast gaze

His splendor borne of purity

His beatific grace.

Passed all created, ‘til like you,

We gaze upon His face.

The song ended. I reached up with my right hand toward the spirits within the balls of light. They scattered. I sat up.

“Anna,” an angel called to me from beneath the tree. I peered down at her upturned face. It was one of the attendants. “We have come to take you to your consecration.” All twenty-four of the white-clad angels began to rise through the branches. They were standing on the air near the juncture in the tree where I had rested. They were smiling.

“Hello,” I smiled back at them, thinking how odd it was that anything could stand on air.

“Hello,” they answered, trying to contain their excitement. ‘Are you ready to go?” “Yes,” I answered. Suddenly my hands went to my face. Realization had rushed in on me. This was the time for which I had been waiting. But waiting for what? And how would it be accomplished? “Yes, I am ready,” I reiterated aloud. I did not want to ask questions. I did not want to prattle. This was much too serious and my love for Jesus much too intense.

The angels helped me to rise. For a moment I was standing high in the tree of life with all of its shimmering leaves and fruit around me.

Instantly we were in a temple complex.

THE TEMPLE

I received only an overall impression of the temple, for I was intent upon that which lay before me. I saw neither side walls nor ceiling. That I do remember. I wondered where the temple stood, but I did not ask.

THE IMMERSION POOL

The angels escorted me to a sunken pool that contained moving water. The water flowed into the pool from an invisible source beneath the floor and flowed out again just as mysteriously. It was accessed by stairs that extended beneath the water’s surface.

The angels led me to the top of these stairs. Then they circled the pool holding above their heads a long sheeting of white linen. This portable curtain extended from their upraised hands to their feet, effectively providing privacy.

“I wonder what this might mean?” I asked within. I had already been baptized after accepting Christ. “I do not need to show again that I have passed from death into life, do I?”

BEFORE MAJOR EVENTS

Then I remembered that those being consecrated (before embarking upon priestly duties) passed through a washing. “Perhaps,” I thought, “a cleansing precedes all major events in one’s life, whether we know it or not.” Even though I did not understand completely, I wanted to respond out of obedience to all that I believed the Lord was asking of me. I determined to enter the pool.

As I started to take my first step in faith, my robe disappeared. Carefully I descended the stairs, entering the pool. The water was about chest high.

The cool, clear liquid flowed passed me. It was soothing. I lowered myself completely beneath the water.

THE BLESSING

When I surfaced, I felt urged to bless the Lord aloud. I said, “Blessed be the Lord God, who cleanses us with the water of the Word.” “Yes,” I said to myself, absolutely amazed by the revelation given by that act of obedience, that cleansing is continual.

I turned around and ascended the stairs. The angels remained holding the white fabric above their heads. They gathered around me closely. Together we walked toward the large altar of burnt offering. I was still hidden within the linen enclosure—dripping wet.

THE ALTAR OF BURNT OFFERING

The angels circled the bronze altar, holding the linen enclosure above their heads. I looked at the coals burning beneath the grate. They were hot.

Nothing was being offered upon this altar because our Lord was the sacrifice of the whole burnt offering on the cross. I looked at the burning coals. No one said what I should do. “It must be a puzzle whose answer I already know,” I said within myself. I began to think. “If Jesus has paid the full price already, then the altar of burnt offering is not something you go around. You must go through it.” As strange as it was to me, I began to walk forward. I passed right through the bronze altar, coals, heat, and all. Incredible!

THE EXAMINATION

On the other side of the altar my Father’s voice spoke audibly within the temple. “Are you willing to live a life of purity, sanctified to Me alone?” “Yes,” I answered aloud, “the Lord being my helper.” “‘The linen breeches,” He said.

Linen breeches appeared. I stepped into them. I supposed that they were a sign of the salvation that had been won for me on Earth. The priests had worn these to cover their nakedness.’ Again my Father spoke, “Are you willing to be teachable, tender, pliable—to stand rightly before Me?” “I will, Christ being these through me,” I said.

“The tunic,” He said.

A linen tunic dropped over my head from above.

Again my Father spoke aloud, “Are you willing to be made faithful?” “Yes, Lord,” I answered.

“The sash,” He said. A sash encircled me.

My Father continued, “Are you willing that the whole head [representing the seer] be for Me alone: the mind of Christ, the sight of Christ, the hearing of Christ, the smelling and the tasting of Christ and the response to touch? Are you willing to be holy unto Me alone, with the covering of My Son upon your head?”’ “Yes, Lord,” I answered.

“The cap,” He said.

The white linen cap enfolded my head.

Anointing oil was poured over my head. It ran down the garment to the hem. Suddenly blood appeared on my right earlobe, right thumb, and right toe. It had to be the blood of Jesus, for His is the only blood in heaven.

The angels dropped the linen enclosure. It disappeared from their hands. The twenty-four attendants indicated that I should move forward. They did not go with me.

As I moved forward, the weight of that which was won by Christ on the altar of the cross came onto my upturned hands. I could see nothing. But I felt this and lifted my hands to wave His sacrifice before the Father.

As I walked toward the entrance to the holy place, I heard the twenty- four elders and the four living creatures begin to sing.

SONG OF THE HEAVENLY COUNCIL

Bring forth the priests unto our God,

He who sits as King.

Loose Your great power o’er the earth,

That Earth like heaven may sing.

Holy God, our great delight,

Swallow sin in darkest night.

Begin, for mercy’s sake, the fight.

O God, begin the end.

Praise to the King who reigns on high,

Zion above will sing.

We hold before You bowls of prayer;

Their tribute too we bring.

Release the seal that they may stand,

Firstfruits here above,

Bloodwashed in the blood of the Lamb,

Gifts of His infinite love.

Our crowns we throw beneath Your feet,

Eternal God of might.

All power, love, and majesty,

Are Yours, great God of Light.

Though standing still upon the earth,

Let them live above,

To join us in continual praise,

Consumed, at last, by love.

Let them walk ‘mid coals of fire;

Hear, great Yah, our prayer.

Let the circle be complete,

O King, beyond compare.

Let them hear and let them speak,

To hallow Your great name.

Let Your glory be visibly seen.

Set their hearts aflame.

Release the Lamb to open above ,

The seal that seals the end,

That righteousness with purest love ,

Might dwell on Earth again.

Holy God, our great delight,

Swallow sin in darkest night.

Begin, for mercy’s sake, the fight.

O God, begin the end.

Their song ended as I crossed the threshold to the holy place. The weight of the wave offering was lifted from my hands.

THE HOLY PLACE

As I passed into the holy place, I appropriated that which symbolized Christ there—the light of the golden lampstand, as well as the bread, wine, and frankincense on the table of shewbread.

THE ALTAR OF INCENSE

I came to the altar of incense before the holy of holies. Because I had passed through the bronze altar, I felt that I must pass through this altar also. It symbolized Christ’s ministry of intercession.

As I began to move through the altar, the aromas of the smoking incense clung to me. I continued to move forward, lifting my hands.

THE HOLY OF HOLIES

I passed the veil, which had been rent at the time of our Lord’s death, and entered the holy of holies. The sprinkled blood of Christ’s sacrifice was already on the mercy seat. The smoke of His fragrant intercession filled that chamber. The unburned spices of the incense that is most holy to the Lord were also present.

Since Christ had paid the full price to gain our access to the Father, I passed through the ark of the covenant.

CONSECRATION

On the other side of the ark of the covenant, the blood of Christ as well as the holy anointing oil was sprinkled upon me and upon the priestly garments.

My heavenly Father spoke to me again: “You are ordained and consecrated unto Me this day, Anna, a priest forever. There is a time of being shut away, however, before you assume your duties.” The angelic attendants appeared after my Father’s admonition.

DRESSING FOR THE CEREMONY

As my Father had said, the twenty-four attendants brought to me the covenant robe, the veil, and the crown.

The headgear of a priest became internal. The breeches, tunic, and sash remained on me. As the angels prepared to dress me, one attendant said, “You come to this union with nothing but the Son of God’s cleansing, His sacrifice, His blood, His aromas, and His anointing.” Suddenly, we heard the blast of a distant shofar. “He comes!” the angels said with much excitement.

The horn blew again.

Quickly they slipped the covenant robe over my head. The garment had the fragrance of myrrh, aloes, and cassia. Mingled with these aromas were those of the spices of the holy anointing oil, of the holy incense, and of the garden. Each aroma was intensified when the embroidered robe was worn. The fragrance was everywhere.

I noticed that the palms of my hands were still stained red from the henna. I supposed that the soles of my feet were still stained also.

The angels placed the borrowed crown of life upon my head. Together they raised the circular, full-length veil. I thought that they would release it to float down upon me. Instead, I realized that my heavenly Father was veiling me by the power of the Holy Spirit.

As it descended, He spoke a blessing over me: “Become thousands of ten thousands, My child.” Suddenly, we heard a shout. Then Jesus called to me from a distance, “Anna!” I turned to look for Him.

“He comes!” the angels said excitedly.

Immediately He burst into view. He was riding the most beautiful white steed I had ever seen. The horse was galloping at top speed. The sight of Jesus knocked the breath out of me. He was wearing white, with a gold crown on His head. He was every inch a king and every inch the desire of all nations.

THE CATCHING AWAY

Without allowing the horse to break stride, He scooped me up and pulled me onto the horse to sit in front of Him. With His left arm He held me securely to Himself.

The angelic attendants clapped and jumped, spinning around with joy.

The white stallion began to climb, up and up over the terrain of Paradise. He galloped on the wings of the wind. It was glorious!

When we reached the sea of glass, the white horse began his descent. He came to a halt at the back of the throne room. AU assembled raised a great shout of joy.

Then cutting through the shout, one lone angel near the throne began to sing:

Blessed is He who comes.

Blessed is He who comes.