The Government of God

    For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be uponHis shoulder, and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

    Twelve is the number of the government of God, there are twelve hours that govern the day and twelve that govern the night, twelve months that govern the year, twelve tribes of Israel, twelve apostles and the number twelve can be found in 187 places in the word of God.

    Twelve is considered a perfect number that symbolizes God's power and authority as well as serving as a perfect governmental foundation. Jesus laid the foundation for His New Testament church in His twelve disciples who would become apostles and foundational stones in His spiritual temple.

    This is the "Divine Design" for God's church and unless it is followed the power and authority will be greatly diminished! When Jesus ascended to the Father the disciples had to choose a twelfth man to replace Judas so that the Holy Spirit could come and fill His church.

    You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. I Peter 2:5

FIRE FROM HEAVEN

    And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, "Israel shall be your name." I Kings 18:31

    A prophetic view of the coming New Testament church yet to arrive in the future and Elijah, a type and shadow of Jesus built an altar that represented the twelve apostles! Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal and Asherah to a duel of sorts for both to build an altar and the god who answers by fire, He is God!

    So, they built their altar and laid the bull on it and called on the name of their god from morning until noon but no answer. Elijah began to mock them saying, "Maybe he ismeditating or busy, or asleep or has gone on a journey but by evening still no answer." Then Elijah said to the people, "Come near to me!"

    As Jesus chose twelve living stones so Elijah chose twelve and repaired the altar of the Lord. He placed the wood and cut the bull in pieces and dug a trench around the altar and called for twelve waterpots to be poured on the entire altar, the sacrifice and the wood and then he called on the Lord and fire fell from Heaven signifying the outpouring to come of the Holy Spirit on His church in Acts!

    Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The Lord, He is God! The Lord He is God!" I Kings 18:38,39

THE HOLY CITY

    And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, as clear as crystal. Revelation 21:10,11

    The measurements of the Holy City were astounding with a high wall with twelve gates and twelve angels at the gates and the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. The wall had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

    The city measured twelve thousand furlongs, (Furlong-185 meters=2,220,000 meters) its length, breadth and height are equal. The wall measured one hundred forty-four cubits according to the measure of man and angel. The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.

    The twelve gates were twelve pearls, and each individual gate was of one pearl and the gates of the city were pure gold. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. The city had no temple in it, for the Lord God almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or the moon to shine in it for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.

    And he showed me a pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of the street, and on either side of the river was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there will be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. Revelation 22:1-3

    Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:14

Your servant in Christ, Timothy Laughlin
   Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ