THE FINISHING – THE GLORY – BENJAMIN RISES

There is a clear pattern in scripture that shows that when the work is finished, the Glory comes. Once Moses had finished the work of constructing the tabernacle, the Glory of God filled it: 

“So Moses finished the work.  Then the cloud covered the meeting and the glory of God filled the tabernacle.” Exodus 40:33-34

It is quite astonishing and hard to grasp, that the unlimited, omniscient, transcendent, and eternal God, would possibly choose to take up residence within an earthly structure. However, God chose to place His Glory in the restricted space of the tabernacle and the Temple of God, where His Presence was apparent and palpable. The Presence of the Lord was so thick that Moses himself was unable to enter.

“Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” Exodus 40:35

This same pattern can be seen in the building of Solomon’s Temple. Solomon followed every detail of the blueprint his father David received from the Lord. The scriptures record that God gave David specifications of the blueprint in writing, revealing that the work had to be according to the Lord. When the temple was finished, the priests brought the Ark of the Covenant into the Holy place where they removed its poles showing that it was to become God’s permanent resting place. When the priests withdrew the Glory came.

“When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord.  And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled his temple.”  1 Kings 8:10-11

The Shekinah Glory of God filled Solomon’s Temple once the work had been completed, just as it had filled the Tabernacle in the wilderness when it was completed. It was the finishing of the work according to God’s plan that brought the supernatural outpouring of God’s presence. The Glory comes upon the finished work!  

This pattern is also seen in Ezekiel’s temple. After eight chapters of specifications for the building of the temple, the very last verse of this book declares over the Temple and the City: YAHWEH SHAMAH, “THE LORD IS THERE.” God crowns it with His Glory and Presence.

As born-again believers, we have now become the Temple of God, and the pattern remains! The Holy Spirit works through sanctification to bring us into this place of completion.  God’s plan has always been to COMPLETE US WITH HIS GLORY as He has promised in His Word to take us from Glory to Glory.

At the very beginning of my walk with the Lord, He showed me Isaiah 40:4-5 as the process of sanctification that He takes us through corporately and individually. It is a holy work He does in His people that concludes with Glory.

“Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth; The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together….”

The High places of pride, the low places of unbelief and discouragement, the crooked places of error that do not line up with the plumb line of God’s Word, are brought together to form a straight path, illustrating the way of the Cross that leads to Glory.  The rough places made smooth is the very last phase of the work that is the finishing or polishing of His saints, where He works to bring them forth, shining in the Glory as a vessel indwelt in fullness with the manifest Presence of God. The Glory of the Lord SHALL be Revealed! This is the promise of God!

There is a Glorious army being finished and polished, now massing at the borders of the Promised Land. They are led by the Commander of the Armies of the LORD and are poised to conquer and take the land of Promise with the SHOUT of the King among them. They are a new breed modeled after the tribe of Benjamin.

BENJAMIN RISING

Benjamin is a warrior tribe representing the new breed arising for the hour. Jacob had twelve sons representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Each tribe was distinct in its gifting, anointing, and God’s purposes. Benjamin was the youngest son born to Rachel during very hard labor.

“Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor…” Genesis 35:16

Rachel’s labor represents the hard travail His people go through to birth the purposes and will of God in the Earth. Rachel died during the travail to bring fort this son.

“And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.” Verse 18:

Rachael wanted to call the child Ben-Oni meaning son of my sorrow, because of her great travail. But Jacob intervened and called him Benjamin meaning son of my right hand or son of my strength.

We are not to focus on the trial and the sorrow of giving birth but rather we are to look to God and what He is doing in it to bring forth strength and authority in us.  Benjamin comes forth in travail as the son of the Father’s Right Arm—son of His strength—IN ORDER TO RULE.

Before Moses’ death, he speaks a prophetic word over each of the twelve tribes of Israel; of Benjamin he said:

“The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety (refuge and security) by Him, who shelters him all day long; and he shall dwell between His shoulders.”  Deuteronomy 33:12

The position between the Lord’s shoulders is one of authority, rule, and headship—one of Government. Both Jeremiah and Paul were from the tribe of Benjamin. These were men who displayed the character, disposition, and anointing of great leadership, power, and possessing the endurance prepared for the last days. I heard the Lord say, I am returning through the tribe of Benjamin.

Paul and Jeremiah born from the tribe of Benjamin—the son of God’s Right Arm, represent the apostolic/prophetic warrior tribe prepared to usher in the Return of Christ.  The right hand of God also represents the Double portion blessing belonging to the Firstborn son.

“Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.” Genesis 48:17

God’s Right Arm also represents strength and power in battle:

 “Your right hand, O LORD, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has dashed the enemy in pieces. Exodus 15:6

“…among the mighty men, helpers of the war.  They were armed with bows and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, they were of Saul’s brethren of Benjamin. 2 Chronicles 12:1-2

God’s Right Arm also represents victory in battle:

“You will capture all your enemies. Your strong right Hand will seize all who hate you.” Psalm 21:8  

“As your name deserves, O God, you will be praised to the ends of the earth. Your strong right hand is filled with victory.” Psalm 48:10

“For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because You favored them.” Psalm 44:3

Benjamin goes before as A LEADER FOR THE LAST DAYS. A great throng of Benjamin leaders is now being raised up as the generals who will lead the battles of the last days and lead the procession of the King up to His Throne—to prepare the way of the LORD. These leaders are the strength of God’s right arm, birthed in travail for such a time.

Interestingly in Psalm 68, which is a picture of the end time procession of the King up to His Throne in Jerusalem, we see Benjamin at the head, leading the tribes of Israel ahead of Judah.

“Your procession has come into view, O God, the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary… There is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them, there the great throng of Judah’s princes, and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.” Psalm 68:24,27

There is a time and season for every purpose under heaven. God’s purpose in Benjamin is for the last day campaign to bring forth the King’s Return. God is now doing the finishing work of polishing His people…making the rough place smooth…getting us ready for His Glory to be revealed in us!

The city assigned to Benjamin was Jerusalem, the great City of the King; they lead the procession of the King up to Jerusalem.  LET BENJAMIN NOW ARISE—SON OF MY RIGHT ARM!