Vision and Purpose                                             Zion Pentecost Mission                                             "Temple of the Nations"                                         Bro. Tobin E. Hitt, Evangelist                                 2303 BrandFarm Dr. S. Burlington, Vt. 05403 Origin After 10 years of denominational pastoral ministry, on May 19, 2006 Bro. Tobin E. Hitt received a vision showing how the God of Israel, sees our worship of Him and His Son, our Lord and Messiah, Jesus Christ. While this vision was also part of direct call on Bro. Tobin’s life, upon reflection, it suggests several important reminders about our worship as the Body of Christ and our role as missionaries of Christ’s salvation to all the world. Vision and Discernment There were three altars in a well ordered, spacious, and raised sanctuary, with a gold shroud enveloping the background expanse of the entire sanctuary. The left altar (when facing the sanctuary from the congregation) was the incense altar according to Exodus 33,1 (Compare heavenly altar of Rev. 8,3). Above this altar were billowing clouds, representing God’s presence in answer to the present day prayers of God’s people and the prayer groan of all creation for final deliverance, when all creation will worship, or “see” Him, as he really is. The altar to the right, on the same parallel line as the incense altar was the Altar of Holocaust of similar proportions. This altar in Temple times was (for ventilation reasons) either in the middle or open court in front of the roof enclosed Temple (1Kings8,64). The complete burning of the sacrificial animal symbolized the desired expiation of the worshipper’s sins and his life offering. This corresponds to Revelation 6,9 the martyred, purified, white robed souls of Christians, under a heavenly altar after giving their whole life, their immolation, their whole heart for the mission. So this altar corresponds to the altar of the human heart so to speak, the rending of our hearts not our garments (Joel 2,13), the faith sacrifice of ourselves to God, no matter what happens. This Hebrew typology of holocausts is now the Christian typology of burning with the very love of God (Kathryn Kuhlman comes to mind), of being consumed by God, but not ever flaming out, or losing the divine life of God’s presence in us. This Christian holocaust offering by the faither also corresponds to a baptism by fire (Lk.3,16), either by martyrdom or a burning bush personal encounter that empowers service for the salvation mission. The center altar, set further back in the sanctuary was the altar of sacrifice of Ezekiel 45,18ff. This altar received the sacrifice of Jesus, on the cross, which Hebrews 13,10 refers to “as our own altar.” We remember here that the blood on this cross-altar, the altar of Babylon so to speak, was the purest altar there ever was. This altar and this sacrifice still speak, still wash away sin, and give the new life of redemption. This mercy altar is available until the day of judgment (cf Hb. 10,25). This blood on the altar sacrifice, on Jesus, is central in our time of mission prior to judgment, because it holds back the blood of God’s wrath on the world, the devil and the flesh, and all sin. Above these three altars the vision included a dynamic interchange of earthward lighting bolts (God’s judgment), and overflowing bowls of the blood of God’s righteous (heaven’s judgment). This earthward wrath is held off by the blood of mercy that rises off this center altar, and to a lesser extent by our Moses like intercessory prayers for God’s mercy and more chances to please God. This interchange is part of the intensifying cosmic battle whereby the dragon and a third of heaven have turned wicked and come earthward intent on devouring weak Christians and thereby keeping them out the final body of Christ (cf. Rev. 12,3). The pulpit of this sanctuary was directly in front of the altar of sacrifice on a lower level (the same level as the congregation). The preacher stood on an image of the sacrificed yet risen lamb of Revelation 5,12ff. This suggests that the ministry of adequately preaching salvation to all nations prior to the judgment must reflect the new risen self, the humbled self, instead of our old proud self that was crucified with Christ (cf. Romans 6,6). Name Reveals God’s Priorities The Name that came for this sanctuary, which need not be physically represented by anyone, was Zion Pentecost Mission, a.k.a. Temple of the Nations, that is, not a physical reproduction of any Jerusalem Temple, but an invitation to non Jewish Christians to cherish and better understand our Jewish roots and the entire word of God which was written almost exclusively (save Luke and Acts) by Jews for Jews. Why Zion? Zion is God’s Hill in Israel, His power and faith base on earth. Likewise it is Israel’s power and faith base, a.k.a. the citadel of David (2Sam. 5,7). More broadly, and according to the message of the vision, it is the “place” of all true earthly Holy Ghost empowered strength, a “place” that God wants to us all to visit and experience so that we will all receive this Zion faith strength. Zion is also, and will literally be, the place of final rebirth for all faithful people after judgment, for Jews and non Jews, as well as the focal point of the kingdom of Christ and his one day unified and overcoming people: “But of Zion it will be said, ‘Everyone was born there,’ her guarantee is the most High. Yahweh in his register of peoples will note against each, ‘Born there’, princes [non Jews] no less than native born [Jews, Zionists]; all make their home in you.” (Ps. 87,5) “Zion” is also the “Jerusalem from above” (Ga. 4,25), where all those who have saving faith are born as soon as they begin living by faith. And Zion is also the actual place from which they will reign and rule after the coming of Christ in judgment. See Zechariah 14,4; and especially verse 6: “and all his holy ones with him.” (ie angels and saints of heaven) Zion also refers to the ultimate and just vindication and restoration of faithful Israel and the faithful of all the nations  and this vindication includes reigning from physical Israel (Zechariah 2,5ff). Not from heaven, not from the USA, not some city in Europe, not from New York, but an etrenal reign that institutes eternal earthly justice for all the saved within Jerusalem. Jeremiah at 23,6 prophesies that this reign will take on the just characteristics of our universal messiah: "In his days Judah will triumph and Israel live in safety. And this is the name he will be called. 'Yahweh-is-our-Saving-Justice.' " Isaiah also captures the importance God's just and earthly and eternal earthly vindication of all God's faithful witnesses: "And I shall restore your judges as at first, your counsellors as in bygone days, after which you will be called City Of Saving Justice, Faithful City.' Zion will be redeemed by fair judgement, and those who return, by saving justice. Rebels and sinners alike will be destroyed, and those who abandon Yahweh will perish." Isaiah 1,26-27.    Why Pentecost? The original Pentecost was promised by Jesus and sought by the Jerusalem church. It defined the early and sustained "success" of Christianity as our forbears confounded the religious, political and philosophical powers of that day. Similarly, the Pentecostal Movement has defined the last 125 years of Christianity. It rose up because the church was slumbering vis a vis the mission of salvation, preferring worldly respectability and comfort. And now when this same movement is getting a bit comfortable with it’s own newfound status, God is raising up a committed portion, a movement within the movement, a remnant that wants to build on past success, but also root it more profoundly in the same God that promised to teach us all things. Ongoing Pentecost is always the need of God’s faithful because we are hungering for more and crying out “we want more, enough of baby food, we want to know God as He is! Enough of ourselves- we want the strength of God.” We also cry out for the final Pentecost in Israel when all the saved. Jew and gentile, are within the fire of God, within the permanent Pentecost of God (Zechariah 2,9).  Who better to answer this cry than the Pentecostal movement? Why Mission? There’s a comfort level in so many mundane churches and it is seeping into the Pentecostal “churches.” The Pentecostal Movement is not a church! It’s not a denomination. It’s a movement to get back to the mission of salvation, the blind seeing and the deaf hearing, captives set free, the broken hearted made whole. Idols are literally weaknesses, whereas our mission to serve the living God of Israel makes us strong. Wouldn’t it be odd if the very movement that has so blessed fleshly and weak Christianity ends in the flesh because it drifts too far from the basic mission and strength of Christianity? Only a refocused movement eying the mission of salvation, will yield a movement people ready for judgment. Did Paul join the Christian movement to become a better Paul? No! He joined a mission movement to serve Christ and to make sure the world got it’s chance at mercy just as he did. Did Peter avoid martyrdom in favor of better Roman suits and a bigger ministry? No! He was ready to die for the right reasons right where he was. Only a re-emphasis on mission, faith courage, and prophecy, especially as it relates to Israel, is going to give us the strength to guide God’s people in these difficult days. Reflection Points From the Revelation of this Vision: 1. We, Christ’s body, remember that our worship must always remain in the Holy Spirit and according to the Truth of God’s entire word and ongoing revelation that lines up with that word. Rigidly focusing on the formalism of the past, or overly emphasizing the prosperity of those deemed by man to be already saved and the self improvement of the present, risks becoming a style over substance flaw which tempts us away from the basics of salvation, and our mission to the unsaved. 2. There is an escalating spiritual battle for God’s people. Apostasy is evident as “Christians” pick and choose what appeals to them about God’s word. Mammon increasingly seduces God's people and subverts her leaders. Wars and rumors of war and all forms of injustice increase. Thus, our service in the body of Christ and worship needs to rise up to meet this battle by going both deeper into discipleship and mission and higher into Holy Ghost empowerment, according to the high standard of God’s word. 3.There is still much to be learned (especially in these latter days when both great judgment and renewal are upon us) from loving the Jews and knowing more about the Hebrew forms of worship, and their Christian correlations, and our entire faith patrimony. 4. Avoiding traditional biblical visions of worship (the cross, sacrifice, suffering witness), and their related terms, could be a drag on the growth of Pentecostalism. 5. The Pentecostal movement, it’s prayer and intercession is indispensable to bringing the unsaved to salvation, to proper strength for mission among the body, and for the faith survival of the elect (Rev. 7,4). Based on the aforesaid vision and reflection, and open to counsel, the mission is: To support and commend the Pentecostal Movement and all ministries that are open to the Spirit of God; To rejoice in it’s birth in “Zion”, per Psalm 87,5 in the Jerusalem from above, to seek and elaborate the final birth, the final Pentecost when the body of Christ reign and rule with Christ forever from physical Zion per Psalm 87,5 and Zechariah  2,9; To equip God’s people, the universal priesthood, especially in preaching, for this present season of grace and renovation, of trial and apparent apostasy; To challenge the Pentecostal Movement and the Body of Christ to keep worship creative and open to our day, but not stray from the biblical terms and realities of his sacrificial death on Calvary, or from our heritage as part of faithful and holy Zion; To serve the entire Body of Christ as missionaries who empower the universal priesthood of the faithful to use all the gifts Pentecost; To love the Jews, and all unsaved folks, and represent our one God in such a way that God's compassion, mercy and salvation in Yeshua Ha Mashiach are expressed to them not only by what we say, but by our acts of gratitude and love. To seek out the wisdom and unfulfilled prophecy of the Hebrew Scriptures from Jewish teachers and Christian Jewish teachers to better prepare for judgment and to follow the Holy Spirit. To hunger and thirst and fight for social justice, knowing one day we will have our fill.  Inspirations Jesus, My Older Brother Dr. John G. Lake, Pentecostal Pioneer Dr. Gene Scott, Master Preacher of God’s Creative Word Bro. Morris Cerullo, Apostle of God’s Love Bro. Dave Wilkerson, Prophet of God’s Entire Word Mexican Immigrants Who Hunger and Thirst For God Mons. Oscar Romero, Man of God Who Loved the Flock More than Power Exiles Returning to Israel God’s Learning Channel- Odessa Texas My Faith Children All Who Have Loved and Guided Me with Christ’s Love, Which never fails. Jan. 2008 DOWNLOAD : ZPM1.PDF