Exodus by Elder Vernon Johnson

Footnotes:

(17) foursquare Four Square

The term, "four square," implies precision. For something to be four square the four sides must all be the exact same length and the four corners must be exactly 90 degrees. The works and buildings of man are almost never that precise. The most precise instruments and machine measurements have some tolerances.

Seven times in the scriptures we read of things that were to be four square. The first time is in Ex. 27:1, "And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long and five cubits broad; the altar shall be four square: and the height thereof shall be three cubits. This brazen altar was where the burnt offering was made. There was to be a continual fire burning in the brazen altar and the lamb or other sacrifice was to be burnt on this brazen altar. Of course this ceremony typifies the sufferings of Jesus on the cross for his elect people.

The second time four square appears is in Ex. 28:15, 16, "And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work Foursquare it shall be being doubled" This breastplate of judgment was worn next to the heart of the high priest when he went into the holy place. The names of the twelve tribes of Israel were inscribed on twelve stones that were arranged in rows on the breastplate of judgment. Thus the
high priest bore the names of the children of Israel upon his heart in the breastplate of judgment when he went into the holy place for a memorial before the Lord continually. This typifies the Lord Jesus Christ bearing the elect family of God in his heart when he entered heaven itself offering his own blood for their sins and this offering being accepted of the Father.

The third time four square is mentioned is in Ex. 30:1, 2, "And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon of shittim wood shalt thou make it. A cubit shall be the length thereof and a cubit the breath thereof;
four square shall it be: and two cubits shall be the height thereof: the horns thereof shall be the same." It was upon this golden incense altar that the high priest burned incense when he went into the holy place. According to Rev. 8:3, 4 this ceremony pointed to the intercessory work of Jesus Christ interceding on behalf of the elect family of God; "And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand." This harmonizes with Rom. 8:34, 35 where we are assured that Jesus Christ is at the right hand of God making intercessions for all the elect.

The fourth time foursquare is mentioned is in 1 Kings 7:31. We are told that in the buildings of the temple there were ten bases. Also upon the bases there were borders and engraved upon the borders were cherubims, lions, and palm trees. The borders were foursquare. The cherubims speak of heavenly messengers; the lions speak of kings; and the palm trees speak of victory and rest. Thus the scriptures given to us by God thru the heavenly messengers tell us of our King Jesus, who thru his redemptive work has gotten the victory over sin, death, hell and the grave for his elect and thus they have peace with God thru our Lord Jesus Christ and furthermore they are made kings and priests to God.

The fifth time foursquare is mentioned is in Ezek. 40:47: "So he measured the court, an hundred cubits long, and an hundred cubits broad, four square; and the altar that was before the house." While various chambers and buildings and the inner court was restricted to the priests, high priest, and prince, the outer court was open to all the people. This outer court was foursquare. The scripture tells us God's elect are a great multitude that no man can number, yet the kingdom of God is said to be a little flock. Today, carrying out the true worship of God is a little flock, yet God's elect are an innumerable host which no man can number and will ultimately have a home in the glory world.

The sixth time foursquare is mentioned is in Ezek. 48:20, "All the oblation shall be five and twenty thousand by five and twenty thousand; ye shall offer the holy oblation foursquare, with the possession of the city." This holy oblation of land that was offered was for all Israel. Of course Jesus offered himself as a lamb without spot or blemish that all the elect family of God will have an holy possession as heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Thus we live in hope of an inheritance that is incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, but is reserved in heaven for you.

The seventh time foursquare is mentioned is in Rev. 21:16, "And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth" The city consists of God's elect family. Rom. 8:29, 30 describes this foursquare city: "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." Thus God's elect people lie in the midst of God's predestination, calling justification, and glorification.

Notice the precision of this covenant. All that God chose without the gain or loss of one are predestinated, called, justified, and glorified. Truly only God could be this precise so that none are lost, but all he chose in Christ before the foundation of the world are justified by the blood of Christ, called into spiritual life and glorified in the resurrection of the body at the last trump. May God be glorified for his wonderful works toward the elect of God.

(18) Three Three

The number three is associated in the scriptures with the subject of the Godhead. It is no coincidence that the word, "Godhead," appears exactly three times in the scriptures:

1. Acts 17:29 "Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device."

2. Rom 1:20 "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:"

3. Col 2:9 "For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily."

Based on reference 2 above, the Godhead is both invisible and clearly seen. It is invisible to the eye, yet clearly seen by the things that God has made.

The Godhead is stated for us in 1 John 5:7 "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." The Godhead and how three are one is one of the great mysteries in the scriptures. No man will ever be able to mine all the depths of this great mystery.

The Godhead with the associated number three, yet one, is seen by the things that God has made. The number three, yet one, is God's signature on the things that he has made. All great artists sign their work. Furthermore, product manufacturers place their name on their products. Writers place their name on their books, etc. Most things of value, the authors or manufacturers want you to know who was responsible for them. God has placed his signature on all that he has made and done.

We see this pattern of the Godhead throughout the material universe in which God created. We see this pattern of the Godhead in the writing of the bible. We see this pattern of the Godhead in the things that God has directed to be made or done. We see this pattern of the Godhead in the works of God. We see this pattern of the Godhead in the worship service of the church and in the ordinances of the church. It would appear that God has placed his signature (three, yet one) on everything that he has made and done.