We have concluded the historical portion of the spiritual progression of humanity, so now we face the task of providing a narrative for yet-to-occur events.  Foreseeing this need, we have painstakingly reconstructed the spiritual history of humanity from biblical patterns in order that we may have confidence that the sequence of future events suggested by these patterns will actually be the spiritual future of humanity.  Thusly prepared, we will discuss the yet-to-occur culminating events of spiritual day/age 5 in the last sections of this chapter.

We resume the journey of the Israelites in the wilderness as they leave God Almighty’s mountain and travel to the edge of the Promised Land.  This leg of the journey is a pattern for the training and discipline of the entire church in preparation for the end of the church era.

In the following table, Moses is a type for the Holy Spirit, Aaron is a type for those moving toward sonship (Section 5.7), and the congregation of Israelites is a type for the church.  In addition, Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron (Num 26:59) who previously had led Israelite women in celebrating the crossing of the sea (Ex 15:20-21), is a type for leaders of denominational organizations within the church.

In the pattern of the Mosaic tabernacle, the golden altar in front of the veil behind which is the Holy of Holies represents saints during their trials, testings, and discipline (Section 5.6) and its cloud of incense represent prayers of those saints.

After nearly a year at God Almighty’s mountain, the Israelites departed for the Promised Land.

Now it came about in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth of the month, that the cloud was lifted from over the tabernacle of the testimony; and the sons of Israel set out on their journeys from the wilderness of Sinai.  Then the cloud settled down in the wilderness of Paran.  Numbers 10:11-12  NASB

Moses’ brother-in-law, not having participated in the exodus from Egypt, was unwilling to depart upon the journey to the Promised Land.

Then Moses said to Hobab, the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out to the place which the LORD said, ‘I will give it to you’; come with us and we will do you good, for the LORD has promised good concerning Israel.”  But he said to him, “I will not come, but rather will go to my own land and relatives.”  Numbers 10:29-30  NASB

Here then we have an indication that some who have not seen or embraced the vision of the new direction for God Almighty’s people will resist and reject it.

Some Israelites complained during the journey, and the Lord sent a consuming fire.

The people began complaining out loud to the LORD about their troubles.  When the LORD heard them, he became angry, and fire from the LORD began to burn among them. It destroyed some people on the outskirts of the camp.  Numbers 11:1  GOD’S WORD

Here then is an indication of a refining fire of God Almighty burning away the complaining spirit of those in the church who are on the outskirts of the new movement.

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  1Peter 1:6-7  NASB

The refining fire is also characterized as discipline from our heavenly Father.

and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD,  /  NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM;  /  FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES,  /  AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.”  It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?  …  All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.  Hebrews 12:5-7,11  NASB

God Almighty’s discipline will address the inherent self-will of members of the church, especially of those moving toward sonship.

Others complained over the lack of meat, preferring the food of Egypt rather than the manna from heaven.

And the rabble who were among them had greedy desires; and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, “Who will give us meat to eat?  We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, but now our appetite is gone.  There is nothing at all to look at except this manna.”  Numbers 11:4  NASB

Here then is an indication that there will be those in the church who will disavow God Almighty’s new direction (manna from heaven) and insist upon the old, church order (fish, melons, onions from Egypt).

The response to this rebellious attitude was composed of a carrot and a stick.  First, God Almighty’ Spirit was sent to support those on the journey (carrot).  The Holy Spirit was poured out upon elders of the congregation and they prophesied.

Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him [Moses]; and He took the Spirit who was upon him [Moses] and placed Him upon the seventy elders.  And it came about that when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied.  But they did not do it again. Numbers 11:25  NASB

Here then is an indication of a cadre within the church, led by the Holy Spirit, who will assist in the spiritual growth for those in the church and especially those in the sonship movement.  The seventy are reminiscent of the seventy sent before Jesus to prepare for His arrival in a new city (Luke 10:1).

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  Romans 8:14  NASB

Two in the camp also received the Spirit and prophesied.  Joshua, the attendant to Moses, attempted to suppress those two who were prophesying.

But two men had remained in the camp; the name of one was Eldad and the name of the other Medad.  And the Spirit rested upon them (now they were among those who had been registered, but had not gone out to the tent), and they prophesied in the camp.  So a young man ran and told Moses and said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”  Then Joshua the son of Nun, the attendant of Moses from his youth, answered and said, “Moses, my lord, restrain them.”  But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake?  Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!”  Numbers 11:26-29  NASB

Here then is an indication that there will be efforts by some church leaders, motivated by jealousy, to control and/or exclude some of those participating in God Almighty’s movement.  The two within the camp, foreshadowing the future appearance of the Two Witnesses (Rev 11), suggest the Holy Spirit coming upon some who are deemed inappropriate to participate i.e., Jews.

The second component of God Almighty’s response addressed the complaint of only manna (stick).  God Almighty not only gave them meat but also a plague whereby they had difficulty eating meat.

Now there went forth a wind from the LORD, and it brought quail from the sea, and let them fall beside the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and a day’s journey on the other side, all around the camp, and about two cubits deep on the surface of the ground.  And the people spent all day and all night and all the next day, and gathered the quail (he who gathered least gathered ten homers) and they spread then out for themselves all around the camp.  While the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the anger of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD struck the people with a very severe plague.  Numbers 11:31-33  NASB

Here then is an indication of the difficulty for some in the church to receive or accept the new revelation (strong meat) associated with the movement.

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.  For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness; for he is a babe.  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.  Hebrews 5:12-14  KJV

The maturing sons in this movement of God Almighty, having flourished because of strong meat, will have discernment of both good and evil and will become full age (ready for adoption).

The plague accompanying the meat brought death of the greedy, i.e., those who rejected manna and insisted upon meat.

So the name of that place was scalled Kibroth-hatta-avah, because there they buried the people who had been greedy.  Numbers 11:34  NASB

Here then is an indication of the “death” of the fleshly, greedy, self-willed nature of those who participate in God Almighty’s new movement.

The last event for the Israelites before reaching the edge of the Promised Land involved the siblings Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.  Moses had married a Midian woman Zipporah (Ex 2:21), and they had two sons.  In the following scripture, Moses’ wife is described as Cushite, rather than Midianite, which introduces speculation that Moses took a second wife.  However, there being no collaboration in scripture of a second marriage, we will assume that the disparate descriptions are to emphasize that she was not an Israelite.  Miriam and Aaron complained about Moses’ non-Israelite wife.

Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he had married a Cushite woman); and they said, “Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses?  Has He not spoken through us as well?”  …  Numbers 12:1-2  NASB

Here then we have the suggestion of dissention within the church over who is speaking for God Almighty.  That is, the leaders of established church organizations (Miriam) and those on the path to sonship (Aaron) will voice jealousy over the inclusion of those deemed as outsiders (Cushite woman).

God Almighty, angry with Miriam and Aaron (Num 12:9), affirmed the hierarchy of His dealings with humanity.

He said, Hear now My words:  /  If there is a prophet among you,  /  I the LORD shall make Myself known to him in a vision.  /  I shall speak with him in a dream.  Numbers 12:6  NASB

Here then we have the indication that God Almighty will declare the need for all the various parts/components of the Body of Christ (priests, prophets and sons).  Continuing with the verse, we have a glimpse of the realm of sonship, and it is certainly different than other roles.

Not so, with My servant Moses,  /  He is faithful in all My household;  /  With him I speak mouth to mouth,  /  Even openly, and not in dark sayings,  /  And he beholds the form of the LORD.  …  Numbers 12:7-8  NASB

In response to the discord between siblings, God Almighty inflicted Miriam with leprosy.

But when the cloud had withdrawn over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow.  As Aaron turned toward Miriam, behold, she was leprous.  Numbers 12:10  NASB

Here then is an indication that God Almighty will expose the fleshly, self-willed attitude within the various church organizations.

Miriam suffered her disgrace for seven days before she was healed and restored to the congregation.

But the LORD said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not bear her shame for seven days?  Let her be shut up for seven days outside the camp, and afterward she may be received again.”  Numbers 12:14  NASB

Here then is an indication that God Almighty’s discipline will come upon those who wish to lead God Almighty’s people.  Stating that Miriam’s transgression was worthy of the humiliation of her father spitting in her face is an indication of the reprehensible state of affairs of the various church organizations and its leaders.  The seven days (seven represents human completeness) of healing the diseased flesh suggests a thorough and complete purging of the fleshly/beastly nature residing in church leaders.

Finally, the Israelites arrived at the border of the Promised Land at Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran.

Afterward, however, the people moved out from Haze-roth and camped in the wilderness of Paran.  Numbers 12:16  NASB

Here then is an indication that the disciplining and healing of components of the church is complete and that saints are prepared to enter the spiritual promised land.