The Assorted Colors of Pentecost

Shortly after finishing the main portions of Jesus the Baptist on September 30th 2006, I revisited my notes and felt compelled to include some of the missing points that went behind the panorama of the main work. Since I did not want to leave any of them out, I packaged as many flavors and colors of ideas swirling around in the background as I could into this one collage. I pray that your senses are refreshed and blessed in the Lord as you read just a few of the many colors that emanate from the spectrum of Pentecost.

The Multicolored Tongues of God

One of the major claims of Jesus the Baptist is that unknown tongues are covenantal signs in the same category as the lasting signs of the three great Covenants in Scripture. This is an extremely significant statement, because if they are analogous to these other lasting signs, then questioning why God chose them is analogous to questioning why He chose the rainbow, circumcision, and the Sabbath. Such hypothetical questioning is difficult to ponder as it brings to mind the words of Isaiah "who has understood the mind [or Spirit] of the LORD or instructed him as his counselor?" (Isaiah 40:13). Although it may be impossible to know why God chose any and all these signs, we do know from Scripture that they are definitely God's intellectual and supernatural property.

God identified personally with these signs calling them, "my rainbow," "my covenant in your flesh," and "my Sabbaths" (Genesis 9:13, 17:13; Exodus 31:13). Similarly, the word of God identified "my Spirit" as the agent and enabler behind the gift of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Joel 2:28-9; Acts 2:4, 17-8). Peter's words affirm this ownership: "I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy" (Acts 2:18) as do the words of Jesus: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about" (Acts 1:4b). This latter Scripture not only affirms God's ownership of the Pentecostal experience, it uses covenantal terms to describe this ownership.

Although not recorded in Scripture, it would be proper for God to call tongues "my tongues" for two reasons. First, because He created previously unknown tongues at Babel to begin with: "the LORD said, 'if as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other'" (Genesis 11:6-7). Second, because God overtook the lips and tongues of men to speak to unbelievers in the New Testament:

"Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people" (Isaiah 26:11)

"In the Law it is written: 'Through men of strange tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me,' says the Lord." (1 Corinthians 14:21)

Unknown tongues from their onset originated from the supernatural and according to the apostle Paul continue to abide in this realm. He attributed speaking in unknown tongues to the spirit and not the human mind, saying that when one speaks in unknown tongues the spirit prays and utters "mysteries" (1 Corinthians 14:2, 14). In fact, according to him, those who speak them can be rightfully accused of being out of their minds (1 Corinthians 14:23).

"In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words." (1 Corinthians 2:11b-13)

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." (Romans 8:25-27)

Scripture affirms that Holy Spirit-enabled unknown tongues and the three well-established covenantal signs are not the intellectual property of man. They originate from the creative mind and Spirit of God and do not reflect the natural inclinations of man.

The Evangelistic Colors of Tongues

Although attempts to understand the reasoning behind God's choice of tongues may prove futile, understanding their broad significance to evangelism, prophecy, and the priesthood is possible when using a covenantal context.

The first covenant was a global one. Its continuing sign, the rainbow, has a worldwide range of visibility, and its promise applies to "all living creatures of every kind on the earth" (Genesis 9:16). The rainbow bears resemblance to the gospel messenger mentioned in Revelation 14:6: "then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth--to every nation, tribe, language and people." The rainbow is literally a midair messenger to the whole world-to people of every color (i.e., nation, tribe, language) of the good news that God will not again flood the earth.

The Lord's Baptism in the Holy Spirit and tongues bear the same resemblance, because they represent the power to witness the gospel message of Jesus to every nation, tribe, language and people. In his last words on earth, Jesus himself links the Baptism of the Holy Spirit to worldwide evangelism:

"…You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:5, 8)

Approximately ten days later, tongues are also linked to worldwide evangelism¹:

"They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language...'we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!'" (Acts 2:3-11)

In the terms of the covenantal rainbow, Acts 2 depicts a midair sign, a gospel message, a worldwide audience, and a spectrum of languages. Acts 2, thus, shows an intimate relationship between the Lord's Baptism of the Holy Spirit, tongues, and worldwide evangelism.

The Prophetic Colors of Tongues

An intimate relationship also exist between tongues and the office of prophets. One unlikely hero of the Bible and his robe proves that such a relationship exists:

"Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours." (Genesis 37:3 KJV)

Joseph's robe was not distinctive merely because it was finely ornamented, it was distinctive because it distinguished Joseph as a prophet. It set Joseph apart from his brothers and spoke to his election by his earthly father. It also spoke to his prophetic giftings and his election by a heavenly father. Joseph was essentially clothed by his father with a multi-colored sign - physical evidence that befit the fact that God spoke to and through him:

"Listen to my words: 'When a prophet of the LORD is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams.'" (Numbers 12:6)

However, the robe's prophetic symbolism did not end there. When Joseph's brothers turned on him and stripped the robe from him, they unwittingly foreshadowed symbols of baptism and the Great Atonement:

"So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the richly ornamented robe he was wearing - and they took him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it." (Genesis 37:23-24)

"Then they got Joseph's robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. They took the ornamented robe back to their father and said, 'We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son's robe.'" (Genesis 37:31-32)

The fact that the cistern was empty of water is an important point. In its emptiness it represented a baptismal chamber (tomb) that would be found empty of its occupant². After eight of Joseph's brothers pulled him out of the cistern and sold him to the Midianite merchants, his brother Reuben returned to find the cistern empty.

"When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes. He went back to his brothers and said, 'The boy isn't there! Where can I turn now?'" (Genesis 37:29-30)

"but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, 'Woman, why are you crying?' 'They have taken my Lord away,' she said, 'and I don't know where they have put him.'" (John 20:11-13)

It is no coincidence that the Word of God distinguishes Joseph's robe exactly three times in exactly the same manner (verses 3, 23 and 32). Neither is it a coincidence that his robe is first mentioned along with his prophetic dreams, then along with the cistern and finally along with the blood of a goat. These three instances point to a three-part baptism in spirit, water, and blood. They also point to the future ministry of priests, especially during the Day of Atonement³:

"He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and take its blood behind the curtain and do with it as he did with the bull's blood: He shall sprinkle it on the atonement cover and in front of it. In this way he will make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been. He is to do the same for the Tent of Meeting, which is among them in the midst of their uncleanness." (Leviticus 16:15-16)

After the robe was covered with the red blood of a substitutionary sacrifice, its full range of colors were complete. It was now a garment of rainbows and a picture of Atonement. It was now a multi-colored tongue speaking a message of the redemptive plan of God.

The coat of many colors and Joseph's dreams make for beloved Sunday School stories. With each stroke of a child's crayon, a heavenly Father still speaks to believers about the relationship between clothing, colors, the prophetic, baptism, and tongues.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17)

The Priestly Colors of Tongues

Hundreds of years after the episode of Joseph and his brothers, a new multi-colored garment would be fashioned that would speak a similar message as his robe. This time, the heavenly lights seen in Joseph's dream, would be emblazoned on the garments of Israel's High Priest. Now not only would Joseph's brothers be immortalized by colored stones, but so to would all the promised offspring of Father Abraham including modern day believers. The promised ones of Abraham would shine like stars in the night sky from the Priestly mantle:

He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." (Genesis 15:5)

The sacred garments of the High Priest present an even more complete picture of Atonement and baptism than Joseph's robe. From their colorful threads, to their sacred stones, to their gold settings and mysterious bells, the High Priest's garments speak a message of baptism, Atonement, and even tongues. They are a clothing immersed in power, holiness, and significance.

"When they go out into the outer court where the people are, they are to take off the clothes they have been ministering in and are to leave them in the sacred rooms, and put on other clothes, so that they do not consecrate the people by means of their garments." (Ezekiel 44:19)

In as much as baptism, Atonement, and tongues flow from the Throne Room of God, so too are the glories of God's throne embedded within every thread, stone, gold setting and bell on these garments. It is no exaggeration to say that almost every facet of these garments speaks "baptism," "Atonement," "tongues," and "Throne Room."

"These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests ...

... Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions—the work of a skilled craftsman. Make it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. It is to be square—a span long and a span wide—and folded double. Then mount four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row there shall be a ruby, a topaz and a beryl; in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and an emerald; in the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst; in the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper. Mount them in gold filigree settings. There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes." (Exodus 28:4, 15-21)

The colors, stones, gold settings, and bells are elements of a recurring theme throughout Scripture. Other such elements include fire, water, blood, thunders, lightnings, winds, rain, rainbows, floods, seas, and colors. All are found in visitations to and from the Throne and all have something to do with baptism and Atonement. Furthermore, all are represented faithfully in the garments of the High Priest. The reason for this recurring theme and setting is simple. Baptism and Atonement flow from the Throne of God as do the images and colors conveyed by the Priestly garments:

"And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire" (Revelation 15:2a)

"Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." (Revelation 5:6-10)

"From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal." (Revelation 4:5-6a)

"I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal" (Ezekiel 1:4)

Take for instance, the blue ephod robe of the High Priest. In this one robe was a pictorial representation of baptism in water. The High Priest would thus be clothed and immersed in baptism while ministering before the Lord and for his people:

"Make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth, with an opening for the head in its center. There shall be a woven edge like a collar around this opening, so that it will not tear." (Exodus 28:31-32)

The golden bells around the hem of the High Priest's robes, on the other hand, represented the voices of God's Spirit. These visible audio devices faithfully echoed the many forms of God's voice: from the visible thunders streaming from God's Holy mountain, to the visible tongues of fire heard and seen at Pentecost, and finally to the rushing waters, rainbows, and double-edged swords radiating from the mouth of the one who sits upon the Throne.

As the High Priest would walk in his garment of baptism into the earthly rendition of God's Throne Room, the bells would chime and rumble in percussive, repititious sounds just like the voice of the Seven Thunders. This is exactly what unknown tongues in the Lord's Baptism in the Holy Spirit are. They are the flashings of lightnings, rumblings, and peals of thunder from the Throne. They are the multi-colored voices of God's Spirit. They are voices that can be seen.

"The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe. Aaron must wear it when he ministers. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the LORD and when he comes out, so that he will not die." (Exodus 28:34-35)

"When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die." (Exodus 20:18-19)

"Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking." (Ezekiel 1:28)

"When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, 'Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.'" (Acts 8:14-19)

"Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke." (Revelation 10:1-3)

The breastpiece of the ephod bespectacled with its own rainbow of precious stones was yet another representation of baptism. The Lord, through the power of the Holy Spirit, would enable the precious stones on its front and the Sardonyx stones on its shoulder straps to glow as if they were on fire from within. The High Priest or onlooker would then interpret, or hear, God's voice according to how these multi-colored stones glowed.

"Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions" (Exodus 28:15a)

"When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, 'Bring the ephod.' David said, 'O LORD, God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me. Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, tell your servant.' And the LORD said, 'He will.' Again David asked, 'Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?' And the LORD said, 'They will.'" (1 Samuel 23:9-12)

"David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God. Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, "Bring me the ephod." Abiathar brought it to him, and David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?" 'Pursue them,' he answered. 'You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.'" (1 Samuel 30:6-8)

High Priest Speaking in Rainbows and Tribes as the Holy Spirit Enables

Thus, the High Priest would wear a garment of power that had visible evidence of God's voice in the form of multi-colored stones on the front and Sardonyx stones on top each representing a tribe that would glow, or speak, as the Holy Spirit enabled...

"Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: 'Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!' Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"" (Acts 2:5-12)

From the Day of Pentecost up to the present day, the Lord is still placing a mantle of priestly power on His children. He is still speaking through a new garment and a new priesthood to a world that is lost. His children are still prophesying as living stones in a multitude of colors, the colors of every tribe and nation on earth. These living stones are still declaring the wonders of God as the Holy Spirit enables them through unknown tongues - tongues that glow and move by the fire of the Lord's Spirit:

"I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." (Luke 24:49)

"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them" (Acts 2:1-4)

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9)

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor." (Isaiah 61:1-3)

One Rainbow Many Colors

It is interesting to note that Pentecostal phenomena on the first day of the early church's life united believers from around the then known world. In fact, in the book of Acts it mentions seven times that the believers met in one accord in the midst of great miracles and Pentecostal activity. That said, it becomes ironic that something meant to unify believers, proven to span denominational lines, and key to countless revivals of these last days can still disunite believers.

"Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: 'Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?'" (Acts 2:5-8)

On the Day of Pentecost, God reversed the confusion of the tongue that He began at Babel and brought the world together to build not a tower of man, but a fluent household of God.

The LORD said, 'If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.' So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city." (Genesis 11:6-8)

"The mind of the rash will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear." (Isaiah 32:4)

"Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord." (Ephesians 2:19-21)

"...on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." (Matthew 16:18b)

Not only does the Lord's Baptism and its lasting sign meant to unite a worldwide body of believers on earth, it is also meant to unite heaven and earth as believers speak in the tongues of both men and angels. Thus, it is no exaggeration to say that at this very moment a believer somewhere in the world is praying in a language unknown to him or her, but known to a brother or sister on the other side of the world. Likewise, it is also not an exaggeration to say that at this very moment an angel in Heaven is glorifying the Son of God face to face while a believer on earth is doing the same in that same heavenly language.

Heaven is meant to come down to earth and the diverse parts of the Body are meant to come together when the Lord baptizes individual believers in His Holy Spirit. God's family may come in many colors, but when they speak in colors as the Holy Spirit enables, they become one rainbow.

"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many." (1 Corinthians 12:12-14)

"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.⁴" (Ephesians 4:3-6)

"All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one." (John 17:10-11)

God's Water Colors

As the Apostle Paul stated in First Corinthians, tongues are mysteries uttered from the springs of the great deep of people - their spirits. Once burst forth, stopping them would be tantamount to stopping the floodwaters of Noah's day, tantamount to dimming the heavenly lights of the Priestly Garments, tantamount to extinguishing the fire on Elijah's altar and tantamount to stopping King David in mid dance. It is kicking against the goads, and to use scientific terms, it is "thermodynamically unfavorable."

"For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and as the waters increased they lifted the ark high above the earth." (Genesis 7:17)

"When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 'Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!' 'Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!' Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, 'Teacher, rebuke your disciples!' 'I tell you,' he replied, 'if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.'" (Luke 19:37-40)

"But if I say, 'I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,' his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot." (Jeremiah 20:9)

"David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might" (2 Samuel 6:14)

When the Lord Jesus baptizes people in the Holy Spirit, He immerses and clothes them in a powerful wind and rainstorm. Out of their mouths howls the wind of the Holy Spirit and out of their spirits flow rivers of living water. After baptism, just like the survivors of the Great Flood, people awaken to behold a never-seen-before phenomena. For the first time, they "see" rivers of living watercolors spraying from their mouths⁵. Not only them but all present can see a rainbow that lifts the Ark of God, Jesus, high above the earth and one that speaks the good news that people can be saved from the Flood of Sin and thus have eternal life.

"But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." (John 12:32)

"Jesus answered, 'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'" (John 4:13-14)

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

Colors That Won't Fade

Viewing the Lord's Baptism in the Holy Spirit and unknown tongues as a covenantal act and sign, respectively, answers two longstanding and controversial questions: was the Lord's Baptism in the Holy Spirit meant to persist and are unknown tongues its only evidentiary sign? If the covenantal pattern repeats itself, then the answer becomes "yes" to both questions. Scripture affirms that all the covenantal acts are perpetual and have only one evidentiary sign:

“I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth ... I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth” (Genesis 9:12, 16)

“You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you ... my covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant” (Genesis 17:11, 13a)

This unchanging quality is reflective of God’s unchanging nature. Balaam prophesies of this unchanging nature saying, “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind” (Numbers 23:19). From James we know that, “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." The Lord's Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a heavenly gift initiated and promised by God (Luke 11:13; Acts 1:4, 2:38, 8:20, 10:45, 11:17). God's word promises us that God will not take back His gifts and He will not change His promises. Neither will He allow the ministry of His Spirit to fade in its glory:

"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:13)

"Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!" (2 Corinthians 3:7-11)

1. It should be noted that all the recorded covenants were initiated by God and not by man. Both the Lord's Baptism in the Holy Spirit and speaking in unknown tongues were initiated by God and not by man. Thus, Love for instance would not qualify as a covenantal sign because it does not necessarily originate from the mind and Spirit of God and can originate from the cognition of man as seen in the words of Jesus, “if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them” (Luke 6:32). Tongues in themselves are intimately linked with worldwide evangelism, not only because they represent the languages of the world, but also because their genesis created the need for worldwide evangelism in the first place. As previously discussed, God deliberately confused the languages at Babel and scattered people “over all the earth" (Genesis 11:8). Thus, when God created tongues at Babel, He also planted the seed for: worldwide evangelism, the Lord's Baptism in the Holy Spirit, and unknown tongues. It should also be noted that evangelism in this context is not to be confused with the office of an evangelist, but rather the empowerment to witness that is available to all believers.

2. The correlation between an empty cistern, empty tomb, and an empty baptismal chamber is profound beyond words. This connection underlines the importance of baptism in water, which is one of three New Testament covenant acts (Salvation and the Lord's Baptism in the Holy Spirit are the other two). Baptism in water involves a burial and resurrection (new birth from the womb of the earth). It is no wonder that Jesus spoke of a "Sign of Jonah" to describe his baptism in the earth and subsequent resurrection, which left the belly of the earth empty (Matthew 12:40) just like the belly of a sea creature in Jonah's account (Jonah 1:7) and even the belly of a cistern in that of Joseph (Genesis 37:29-30).

3. The three special references to Joseph's multi-colored robe and the three-part baptism they represent are reminiscent of the three-part baptism of the Prophet Elijah on Mount Carmel. In Elijah's account, however, the references are reversed. First, the altar was enrobed with the blood of a bull, then it was enrobed with water three times, and finally it was enrobed with the fire of the Holy Spirit. Also of note were the twelve stones that made up Elijah altar. These stones are significant details in that they represent the sons of Jacob, who were in Joseph's dreams and were connected to his robe. The twelve stones are also reminiscent of the twelve multi-colored stones on the ephod, which again point back to the twelve sons of Jacob. Combining all the facets of Joseph's robe and those of Elijah's altar-top experience gives a partial picture of Atonement and baptism. Combining the events of Abraham's test atop Mount Moriah gives an even more complete picture. The following are just a few of the pieces of the picture puzzle of Atonement and baptism found in these three accounts:

• cloud
• God's glory (in the form of fire)
• meet me
• choose one
• goat
• bull
• instead of
• the people from all over Israel
• ram
• burnt offerring
• belt
• bound
• cloak
• ornamented robe (priestly garment)
• twelve stones
• sons of Jacob
• empty cistern (like a mikva)
• jars of water
• blood cover up (atonement)
• altar
• carrying fire (like a censer)
• man's hand
• spices (used for incense)
• ornamented robe (temple curtain)
• black with clouds
• dipped in blood of goat
• seven times
• do it again
• ornamented coat (atonement cover)
• angel of the Lord second time (atonement cover)
• horns and altars
• laying hands
• animal as scapegoat (blamed for Joseph's death)
• all the people
• fell prostrate

As seen above, the picture of the Day of Atonement can be reconstructed using a composite image of the Test of Abraham, the Story of Joseph, and Elijah on Mount Carmel. This composite is just one level of understanding, however, because within it are three pictures within one: a baptism in blood, a baptism in water, and a baptism in Spirit. To see the baptism in blood (salvation), highlight references to eating and drinking, flesh and blood (communion), the grave of the son, beloved son and wood (the cross). To see baptism in water, highlight references to pouring water three times (the Sign of Jonah), water running down the altar, Joseph being put in the cistern and then being pulled out. To see the baptism in the Spirit, highlight references to the wind rising, the sound of a heaven rain, and God speaking.

4. As mentioned in The Unifying Theory of Baptisms, the Lord's Baptism is just one of three new birth experiences into the Kingdom of God, the other two are Salvation and Baptism in Water. All three serve to advance the Kingdom through the life of just one believer. All three coalesce into one baptism - The Great Atonement, which can rightfully be called The Great Baptism. Even within Ephesians 4:6, one can find evidence of this triune baptism: "over all (Water Baptism) and through all (Holy Spirit Baptism) and in all (Salvation)." This concept of three separate and distinct experiences being one is a difficult concept to grasp. An example from marriage may provide better understanding. A marriage certificate or wedding ring proves a couple is married (Salvation), so too does a wedding ceremony (Water Baptism), and lastly the holy union shared by the couple throughout matrimony (Holy Spirit Baptism). All say "the Bride is married to the Groom and the Groom to the Bride."

5. Like any rainbow, the rainbow of languages that comes from the mouths of believers needs three elements: light, water, and the perspective of a person (the light needs to behind you to see a rainbow in front of you). Likewise, the Lord's Baptism needs three elements: Spirit, Baptism, and Believer. Thus, you have the following equation: Spirit (the Light) plus Baptism (the Water) plus Believer (the perspective) equals Rainbow (of languages).

Light the Fire Ministries ©2006