Men of Renown
Part iv
Beyond Korah and Company
There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. (Genesis 6:4) And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5)
Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: (Numbers 16:1) And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: (Numbers 16:2)
  This series called Men of Renown will begin with these verses in Chapter 6 of the book of Genesis because it is the perfect scene setter for whatever and whoever follows. Genesis 6 verses 4 and 5 are an accurate definition of men of renown.
 The phrase ‘men of renown’ occurs in the Bible only two times. The second and last mention can be found in the 4th book of the Pentateuch in the book of Numbers, Chapter 16. This last mention of ‘men of renown’ goes beyond the definition of ‘men of renown’ and expands what ‘men of renown’ are not only capable of, but what lurks in the inner most recesses of their thoughts.
  In order to fully understand this article, I suggest that you do not begin with this article Part iv, but first read Parts i, ii, and iii.
God’s Response
Death and Life
Judgment and Deliverance
 Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces. (Numbers 16:45)
And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun. (Numbers 16:46)
And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. (Numbers 16:47)
And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed. (Numbers 16:48)
  What word was used in this 16th Chapter of Numbers more than in any other chapter in the Bible? Why is this one particular word the key to the message of Numbers Chapter 16 in Korah and his company of traitors? What was the first sin of the sanctuary? How does this first sin relate to our age? How does this particular word in Numbers Chapter 16 connect to our time frame?
And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun. (Numbers 16:46)
Take a Censer
  We are about to wade toe deep into a bottomless river flowing with spiritual water and wealth from the written breathing Word of God. Stay with me as we learn more about our Almighty God. We will be pulling on a number of threads at the same time, let us follow the leading of the Spirit of God for I am not sure of the pathway ahead.
And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring [it] within the vail: (Leviticus 16:12)
And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun. (Numbers 16:46)
  The phrase ‘take a censer’ is only recorded twice in the entire Bible. The location of these two phrases is very easy to remember because they are located in the 16th Chapter of Leviticus and in the 16th Chapter of the book of Numbers. If you are interested in why this number 16 is used by the Spirit of God to draw our attention to the message of the censer, I suggest you read the first article of men of renown. This number connects the order of God with the responsibility of man (six is the number of man) to keep the governmental order of God. The number ten (10) symbolizes God’s perfect order that nothing more can be added to make it more perfect, that all is complete, and no more can be done or fulfilled to make it more perfect. As the first dual number in two digits complete the end of the single digit, it also begins a new sequence of a double digit. Number 10 COMPLETES the cycle, and nothing more is necessary for its completeness. One example would be that the antediluvian period or age was finalized or completed in the tenth generation from God to Noah. (It would be nine (9) generations from Adam to Noah). Since ten is the number of man’s responsibility, we can understand that our fingers (10), and our ten toes (10) represent our work and our walk-in action. We are responsible to God individually and collectively.
  The book of Leviticus is based not only on the role and duties of the Levitical priests, but it is also based on how man can approach a Righteous and Holy God by sacrifice. In Leviticus Chapter 16 God set His proper order in how the Aaronic priesthood should be carried out, and in Numbers Chapter 16 we have all of the above and the failure of man to maintain God’s perfect order in the performance of the duties of the Levitical priesthood.
The Censer
  Take a censer . . . A censer was an empty vessel, pan or container that was filled with hot burning coals and the ashes from these coals. What made a censer important was what was placed in it. However, please notice that God’s golden censer had very special coals. Scripture describes two kinds of censers: brazen and/or gold. (Brazen and/or brass always denotes judgment while ‘gold’ always represents the righteousness of God.) The ‘brass’ and the ‘gold’ both speak of God’s righteousness; however, there is a distinction between these two metals. Gold speaks of Him in all His glory over all things, the outward manifestation of the righteousness in all His attributes. Brass, however, speaks of God’s righteous dealings in judgment with man in his lost state. The brass manifests righteous judgment, and a place of justification.
  I find it extremely interesting that the book of Numbers (and our Chapter 16) has more references to ‘censer’ than any other book in Scripture. You may not find this interesting, but I do: the plural word ‘censers’ is recorded eight times only in the Old Testament; the word ‘censer’ (singular) is mentioned nine times in the Old Testament and three times in the New Testament for a total of twelve times.
Side Note: In Scripture there are seven sins of the sanctuary. The first verse in Chapter 10 of the book of Leviticus is the first of these seven sins and the very mention of the word ‘censer.’ And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. (Maybe one day, Michael Haigh may post his studies on The Seven Sins of the Sanctuary.)
Introduction to the First Mention of Censer
  Many treat the Old Testament from only a historical view as merely being Jewish ceremonies and rituals. It is much more than ceremonies and rituals. The Old Testament reveals man through the eyes and words of God the Holy Spirit, and it also reveals God, and the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the foundation that the New Testament is built on.
Side Note: The connection that ties the Old Testament to the New Testament can be stated simply in two words: Jesus Christ.
  And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:27)
  And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.(Luke 24:44) Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, (Luke 24:45) And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: (Luke 24:46) And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47)
  The Lord Jesus began at Moses with the things concerning Himself. He began with the law of Moses which was much more than just the Ten Commandments. The Law of Moses not only took in the law giving at Mount Sinai, but it also included the offerings, sacrifices, ordinances, materials, objects, and the teaching within the first five books of Moses. All concerned the Messiah. Everything was built on the Christ.
The First Mention of Censer
  The very first mention of censer is recorded in the book of Leviticus Chapter 10, verse 1, And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. The Law of First Mention comes into play here. The first mention of the word ‘censor’ is connected with fire and judgment, and it was not the censer mentioned in the Holiest, but each brother had his very own censer — his censer — a personally owned censer. The strange fire was NOT from the burning coals of fire from off the altar, but from another source.
  Let us follow this phrase burning coals. God had prescribed that the burning coals had to come from off the altar, not any altar, but a very specific altar. It had to come from the brazen altar. In the brazen altar we have the Lord Jesus Christ in picture, and in type. This was the place of justification for the Old Testament saint.
  The brazen altar was the place where all offerings and sacrifices began. There were the offerings: burnt, sin, trespass, peace, meat, and drink offering. These offerings displayed the different aspects of each offering and sacrifice as it related to God’s Savior and Redeemer: The Messiah, Jesus Christ. Although these offerings differed in detail, they were the same in principle and character. There were many fresh sacrifices, many fresh offerings, new wood after wood placed on the altar, fresh new coals after coals, but in the antitype (Christ on the cross) it was all one act in one offering, one sacrifice, one cross, and one judgment for the sin of the world once and for all.
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; (Hebrews 10:12)
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14)
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. (Hebrews 10:1)
For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. (Romans 6:10)
Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28)
  The burnt offering came first in God’s description of these offerings, and with each offering there was a particular form by which the offerer, the victim, and the priest had to abide by. For instance, in Leviticus 6:8-13 all was controlled by ‘the law of the burnt offering.’
Side Note:Â The following references show that each of the sacrifices and offerings had different laws or guidelines that had to be adhered to. I will not get into the details of these offering, but I only what to make you aware that each had a law of its own.
Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This [is] the law of the burnt offering: It [is] the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it. (Leviticus 6:9)
Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This [is] the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the LORD: it [is] most holy. (Leviticus 6:25)
Likewise this [is] the law of the trespass offering: it [is] most holy. (Leviticus 7:1)
And this [is] the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the LORD. (Leviticus 7:11)
And this [is] the law of the meat offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the LORD, before the altar. (Leviticus 6:14)
  God was judiciously precise in all of the actions and details of each of the offerings and sacrifices. The work of His Son HAD to be exact and precise in its representation for a particular reason: all would reflect on the Person of Christ and the work of the Godhead bodily. God’s perfect plan of salvation and redemption demanded a perfect Man to fulfill and complete His perfect plan, and nothing could be accepted that was not true to His perfection.
God’s perfect plan of salvation and redemption demanded a perfect Man to fulfill and complete His perfect plan, and nothing could be accepted that was not true to His perfection.
 Remember this as we go forward in this article as it all connects to the men of renown. All these sacrifices and offerings were to teach them, and us, that in order for man to live not only did something have to die, but God had to accept this the proper sacrifice and substitution. Not just this only, but sin can never be simply just forgiven; first sin had to be condemned and judged THEN after judgment and ONLY after God had accepted the judgment could sin be forgiven, and man be accepted. The teachings through all these sacrifices and offerings were that God accepted the death of another in place of our own death; thus, we learn of the law of substitution.
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:15) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:17) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18)
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)
  You see, although there were many victims in the sacrifices and offerings in the Old Testament, and new wood replaced wood burned to ashes, and coals replaced spent coals, one thing NEVER EVER was replaced by something new and that was the fire. And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. (Leviticus 6:12) The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out. (Leviticus 6:13) God’s righteous judgment against sin burns eternally. How do I know this? Warning to those who do not like hell and brimstone scenes . . . look away. For our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:29)
And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast [it] into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. (Revelation 8:5) This is the last mention of the word ‘censer’ in Scripture. And if you are feeling brave then read the rest of Revelation Chapter 8.
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:20)
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, (Revelation 20:14) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)
  This brazen altar was the place of judgment in the sin offering, and at this brazen altar the high priest (after washing at the laver) began his journey into the Holy of Holiness once a year (on the day of atonement) carrying a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar and with his hands full of sweet incense (Leviticus 16:12) he put this special sweet incense upon the fire so that the cloud coming from the censer covered the mercy seat upon the testimony (Ark of the Covenant). Then with the blood of the bullock sacrificed on the brazen altar for the sins of the people (Leviticus 16:11) the high priest sprinkled the blood on the mercy seat seven times (Leviticus 16:14).
And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself: (Leviticus 16:11)
And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail:Â (Leviticus 16:12)
And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not:Â (Leviticus 16:13)
And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. (Leviticus 16:14)Â
  This golden censer was FILLED with the burning coals of fire from off the altar. Then a special sweet incense was placed over these burning coals that produced a vapor cloud of sweet incense that covered the mercy seat. What a grand painting God created for us in words and symbolism. Being mere humans of a race of sin, even born-again ones often take the word of God from our limited earthly view. This magnificent section of Scripture from the book of Leviticus (Chapter 16) allows us to see into different realms. We have God’s part, His thoughts, and His governmental order (number 10) then we have man moving through the darkness (number 6) of the Holy of Holies carrying the blood from the sacrificial victim attempting to approach a merciful God, but everything here in the darkness is about God, and for God. This particular space called the Holy of Holies is ALL of God. Mankind has absolutely no place in this scene except for one very important point . . . it is God who provided a way for man to approach Him. This is God’s space, this is God’s realm, this is God’s throne room on earth, and this is God’s inner sanctum: His dwelling place. (His dwelling place was a place where no man could approach without THE blood.)
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22)
For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. (Leviticus 17:11)
  Everything that occurs there in God’s throne room on earth and in heaven represents the heart and thoughts of God. Everything there is about the Center of the heart and thoughts of the Godhead in action: Christ. (Stay with me. This all connects to the men of renown in Numbers Chapter 16.)
Side Note:Â Man was once shut out from entering into the throne room of God. It was through the blood of the sacrifice carried by the high priest into this throne room (only once a year on the day of atonement) could man be accepted to God in this type and symbolism of sin forgiven, and substitution accepted. However, when Christ (the Eternal High Priest) presented His blood on the altar of Calvary then the way into the throne room of God was made available to man. It is recorded three times in the Bible that the veil was rent that blocked the way for man to enter into the presence of God through the sacrifice on the altar of God, and of His Christ.
Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. (Matthew 27:50) And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; (Matthew 27:51)
And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. (Mark 15:37) And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. (Mark 15:38)
And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. (Luke 23:44) And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. (Luke 23:45) And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. (Luke 23:46)
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled (Colossians 1:21) In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: (Colossians 1:22)
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;Â (Ephesians 2:15)
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (Hebrews 10:19)
  Let us look at God’s requirement regarding the things of God in the tabernacle as documented in the book of Numbers. God was very specific in His directives. Every item in the tabernacle was to be covered by a particular covering, God left nothing out of His edicts, even how the priests and Levites were to break down the tabernacle, and even the order of dismantling the things within the tabernacle. Whenever Israel moved their location from camp to camp, God was in the details. The following references in Numbers Chapter 4 are important, especially the words in bold to allow you to understand why the censer and the ashes had particular meaning to Jehovah. Notice that even the ashes from the altar was to be covered with a purple cloth in preparation for their journey to another camp site. I find it necessary to have more references than just Numbers 4:13 in order that you can understand this detailed undertaking by Aaron and his sons. And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon: (Numbers 4:13)
And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, (Numbers 4:1) Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers, (Numbers 4:2) From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation. (Numbers 4:3) This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, about the most holy things: (Numbers 4:4)
And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it: (Numbers 4:5) And shall put thereon the covering of badgers’ skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof. (Numbers 4:6)
And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon: (Numbers 4:7) And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put in the staves thereof. (Numbers 4:8)
And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuffdishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it:Â (Numbers 4:9)
And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon: (Numbers 4:13)
And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, even the censers, the fleshhooks, and the shovels, and the basons, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers’ skins, and put to the staves of it. (Numbers 4:14)
And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation. (Numbers 4:15)
And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertaineth the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof. (Numbers 4:16)
And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, (Numbers 4:17) Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites: (Numbers 4:18) But thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden: (Numbers 4:19)
But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die. (Numbers 4:20)
  Do you understand now why even the ashes from the altar that was placed in the censer was VERY important to God that He specifically directed that a purple cloth would be spread over the ashes? And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon: (Numbers 4:13) These ashes were the burnt remnants of the coals from the sacrifice. The color purple has always denoted royalty. Again, everything in the tabernacle in the wilderness taught of the Godhead bodily. All pointed to the work, suffering, and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ through the Spirit of God by God Himself.
And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his [head], (Mark 15:17)
And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothe And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put [it] on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, (John 19:2)
Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And [Pilate] saith unto them, Behold the man! (John 19:5)
And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. (Mark 15:20)
 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.(Matthew 27:37)
And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. (Luke 23:38)
And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.(John 19:19)
Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. (John 18:37)
  Do I have to write it out for you? Purple, royalty, King of the Jews, King Eternal, To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world. There is another point that should be mentioned: the ONLY article (from all the articles of the tabernacle) that was covered by purple was the ashes!
Side Note: Although the body of Christ did not see corruption, His body did not become ashes and dust: the sin of the race of mankind was judged on His cross, and man, being but dust and ashes, saw his end (in Adam) and his beginning (in the new man) in the death of Christ. Three times in entire Bible we have the phrase ‘to see corruption.’
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Psalm 16:10)
Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Acts 2:27)
Wherefore he saith also in another [psalm], Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Acts 13:35)
  The old man (in Adam) would be no more, and the new man (in Jesus Christ) would become a new race: a spiritual race. Three times in the entire Bible we see the phrase ‘new man.’ The first mention of ‘new man’ teaches us that He abolished IN His flesh the enmity of man, and IN Himself He lead the way for us to be ‘the new man.’
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace;Â (Ephesians 2:15)
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:24)
And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:Â (Colossians 3:10)
  There is much more in the ashes, and in the purple, but I did say that we would wade toe deep and not ankle deep into a river flowing with spiritual water and wealth. Therefore, again, let me repeat this point: the ONLY article (from all the articles of the tabernacle) that was covered by purple was the ashes! Why? The following references should give you a clue.
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (Revelation 19:11)
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. (Revelation 19:12)
And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (Revelation 19:13)
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:16)
  Also, another point to notice about the ashes being covered with a purple cloth is that although they were covered, they still remained smoldering and alive with fire, the ashes were still burning with life and power. The fire from the ashes was NEVER put out. Consider the burning bush at the base of mount Sinai when Moses first encountered the great I AM from the burning bush that was never consumed by the fire. The power of Christ can never be consumed. His endless life can never be extinguished. He can never cease to exist because He is the power of an endless life.
  The ashes of Numbers Chapter 4 are a very small glimpse into the everlasting life within Christ who gave Himself totally in His special divine body prepared for His mission and journey on the earth that He created. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: (Hebrews 10:5) From His smallest physical manifestation as a child in the womb to His smallest spiritual finalization of His mission as His body being spent and His blood flowed out by the fires of God’s judgment against sin. He bore it all. Although the fires of God’s judgment consumed our sin through His spent body; yet His divine body was not consumed.
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. (Exodus 3:2)
And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. (Exodus 3:3)
And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. (Exodus 3:4)
And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. (Exodus 3:5)
Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. (Exodus 3:6)
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. (Exodus 3:14)
  The living smoldering ashes placed in the censer of the tabernacle from the brazen altar were covered with a purple covering as Israel journeyed from camp to camp because these ashes and covering represented The Eternal Royal Power of the Godhead bodily, the great I AM THAT I AM. It represented God Himself as the sacrifice. And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. (Genesis 22:8) It represented the Glory of God cloaked in the ashes of sacrifice and the coals of judgment of that sacrifice. The sacrifice of Christ was memorialized in the ashes: sacrificed, yet alive with everlasting power. The royal purple covering hid the living smoldering ashes of pain and suffering in the cloud of loneliness and darkness from the curious eyes of sinful humanity unable to comprehend what sin cost a Righteous and Holy God — My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
  What God saw and gave of Himself in Christ can be seen from two sides in Ephesians 5:2. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, (our side) and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour (His side). From Ephesians 5:2 we have the offering and sacrifice of God Himself through His manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ looking back to Calvary when He was placed on or laid out on wood that was constructed in a particular order and not randomly placed. Even how wood was placed on the altar had to be in a specific arrangement and order. Genesis 22:9; Leviticus 1:7; 1st Kings 18:33)
  In the following references in Leviticus Chapter 1, we have the perfect offering and sacrifice of the (clean inwardly and outwardly) unblemished God Himself, in type, looking onward to Calvary.
And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, (Leviticus 1:1)
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. (Leviticus 1:2)
If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish:Â he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD. (Leviticus 1:3)
And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. (Leviticus 1:4)
And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. (Leviticus 1:5)
And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces. (Leviticus 1:6) And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire: (Leviticus 1:7)
And the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:Â (Leviticus 1:8)
But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.(Leviticus 1:9)
The Empty Censer
And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. What occurred with these two men in Leviticus Chapter 16 is the base line or foundation for what happened later in history of the religious world of falsely so-called Christianity. Always remember that Christianity takes in all forms of religious cults and organizations that pretends to be of Christ.
  I have deliberately taken time in building this article through Old Testament references to draw out the importance of God’s thoughts concerning ‘censer,’ and ‘strange fire.’
  This first mention sets up some very false theological premises: another way — his censer —your censer — we all can have another censer besides the censer of God that was prescribed by God Himself.
What made a censer important was what was placed in it.
  Remember that a censer was an empty container or pan that was filled with coals, but before being filled with coals it had merely been an empty container. What made a censer important was what was placed in it. And THIS was the problem that Nadab and Abihu had. What they placed in their empty censers led to their death. What they placed in their empty censors led to God judging them with fire. Painfully ironic for them because they brought ‘strange fire’ to God; therefore, He slew them by His Righteous Fire. There was only ONE type of fire that God wanted, and He would not and will not accept another type of fire. God wanted fire from the burning coals from the brazen altar. Again, remember that God (not the devil) is in the details.
Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This [is] the law of the burnt offering: It [is] the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it. (Leviticus 6:9)
Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This [is] the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the LORD: it [is] most holy. (Leviticus 6:25)
Likewise this [is] the law of the trespass offering: it [is] most holy. (Leviticus 7:1)
And this [is] the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the LORD. (Leviticus 7:11)
And this [is] the law of the meat offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the LORD, before the altar. (Leviticus 6:14)
  The false belief that everyone can worship God in their own way, and that there are many roads to approach God leads to the ultimate error that God will accept all forms of worship. (God didn’t accept Cain’s worship.) I have seen many roadside billboards with the words: Go to the Church of Your Choice. (A sweet phrase, but biblically wrong in the knowledge of the holy.) Thoughts like this fill your censer with ‘strange fire.’ Think through the consequences of that phrase. Since God accepts all forms of worship then all religions are accepted by God; thus consequently, God views man’s truth as superseding His truth; thus, consequently, there are many truths; thus, consequently, there can be no one truth regarding how God defines truth, worship, acceptance, and thus, consequently, every man did that which was right in his own eyes. (Judge 21:25) I hate to be the bearer of bad news BUT . . . God doesn’t really care about your opinions or how you view issues that are in His purview. You see, He does not have to agree with you, YOU HAVE TO AGREE WITH HIM. He is the SOVEREIGN, not you. It is His ballpark, rules, and scoring system. God sets the rules, as He did with Adam, and He set the consequences of disobeying His rules, and guess what . . . you cannot win by defying God. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. (Leviticus 10:2)
And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.
  This first mention sets up some very false theological premises: another gospel — fire — strange fire — another Savior. God had exactly stated that the burning coals were to be taken from off the altar. This was not just any altar but the altar of the burnt offering. The altar of the sin offering, the trespass offering, and the peace offering all spoke of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ in ALL of the different facets of His sacrificial work on the cross of Calvary. And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring [it] within the vail: (Leviticus 16:12) The very first sin of the sanctuary was a great trespass against God Himself and against His Word. These two sons of Aaron (Nadab and Abihu) did not give God nor His Word the reverence and respect that were due their Creator God.
  In the religious field of mind control today many have been overcome with a Savior of diversity. By this I mean, a Savior who fits into the wishes and imaginations of different mind sets; for instance, a savior who could have sinned, or a savior who was just like us, a savior who had no power over sin and therefore unable to keep his followers eternally saved, a gentle savior who never became angry, a savior who was all anger and retaliation, a savior who relinquished his authority to religious organizations, a savior who came to show us how to live a better happy richer life on earth, a savior who was not a savior but a revolutionary, a savior who really did not mean what he said, a savior who could not keep his word, a savior who came to improve mankind, a savior who came to be a lucky charm to be placed on a necklace or on the dashboard of a car, a savior who died a meaningless death since mankind are all such good guys, a savior who died without realizing that mankind doesn’t need to be saved or forgiven. This is strange fire. Most everyone has an opinion about a so-called Savior, but very few actually care or are curious enough to open a Bible (KJV) to find out first-hand about The Savior.
  Then we have the strange fire from another altar of sacrifice. God does not judge, God is all love, God’s love can be manipulated or changed, or bought, or sold. God’s judgment can be held back, or changed, or bought, or sold. All of this is strange fire. Mankind has a blind spot when it comes to religion. He simply cannot get his mind around a very simple fact: religion is not Christianity. He accepts that either everything that he sees and hears concerning ‘the church’ or ‘Christianity’ is the truth, or everything he sees and hears are all lies and fabrication. Oh, how eager man is to throw out the baby with the dirty bath water instead of removing the baby from the dirty bath water and realizing that these are two very separate elements. Christianity is a relationship and a revelation NOT a religion. There is one thing that man does not want to do . . . search out his own heart and see the sin within . . . and agree with God.Â
The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. (Ezekiel 18:20)
But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. (Ezekiel 18:21)
All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. (Ezekiel 18:22) Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? (Ezekiel 18:23)
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;Â (1st Timothy 2:3) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (1st Timothy 2:4) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (1st Timothy 2:5) Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1st Timothy 2:6)
  Be careful and be very aware what you place in your censer that it is of God, and it is His gospel, His Spirit, and His Christ and not another.
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (2nd Corinthians 11:3)
For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. (2nd Corinthians 11:4)
 When Nadab and Abihu took their censers and put fire therein, and incense thereon from a source other than from the brazen altar, they were not only countermanding the command of Jehovah, but they were establishing another means of justification for sins: another gospel, another salvation, another way to God, another way to worship Jehovah God. This was the first sin of the sanctuary by the sons of Aaron, the priests who had access to the things of God. This was not a small or light thing in the eyes of God. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. (Leviticus 10:2)
  This drunken rebellious act (Leviticus 10:8-9) by Nadab and Abihu in their total disregard of God’s direct command can also be seen in those in the Age of the Church who too eagerly accept another means to approach God: another gospel, and another spirit. Do you not see this in the many religions throughout the world? Everyone promoting their own religion as the only way to God while at the same time saying that there are many roads to heaven.
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: (Galatians 1:6) Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (Galatians 1:7) But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8) As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:9)
  Nadab and Abihu (as well as those of us in this day) had become too carelessly familiar with the things of God. God is insulted every second of the day by the lack of reverence and respect that is due the God of creation, the Eternal God, the God of the Universe. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. (Leviticus 10:3)Â
What made a censer important was what was placed in it. What have you placed in your censer?
  There is much more yet to be written on this subject. And as a dog with a bone, I am still chewing on my bone. “If The Good Lord’s Willing and The Creek Don’t Rise” there will be more to follow.
Men of renown is a companion piece to Giants in the Earth series.
© Copyright 2021, Mary Haigh
This article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)