Who May Ascend the Mountain?
YHVH dwells in a high place (heaven), which is often metaphorically represented as a mountain in the Scriptures. It’s high because it’s higher than man and this earth. Mount Sinai was where YHVH spoke to the Israelites from. Moses had to ascend the mountain to come into YHVH’s Presence. The temple in Jerusalem was YHVH’s abiding place among his people. One always went up to Jerusalem to meet with Elohim at this appointed times. When Yeshua returns, the righteous, newly resurrected saints will go up to meet him — the king. In the Millennium, all nations will go up to Jerusalem to meet YHVH on his feast days.
In Psalms chapters 15 and 24, David asks the question: Who may ascend into the hill of YHVH and abide in the holy place of YHVH’s tabernacle?
YHVH, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart; he who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honors those who fear YHVH; he who swears to his own hurt and does not change; he who does not put out his money at usury, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. (Ps 15:1–4)
Who may ascend into the hill of YHVH? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from YHVH, and righteousness from the Elohim of his salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face. Selah. Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? YHVH strong and mighty, YHVH mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? YHVH of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah (Ps 24:3–10)
What keeps us from the presence of YHVH? It is obvious from this question that not everyone has the right to go up into YHVH’s presence. YHVH as the Almighty Holy King of the universe has established the criteria for who may or may not come up to meet him. Only those people who meet his condition will he allow into his high and most holy presence. Only those who have been imprisoned and blinded by their own pride think that they can waltz into the King’s presence anytime and in any way. This is impudent and presumptive self-delusion. The fact is that YHVH sets the rules and standards, not men. Only those who have died to their own pride and have humbly submitted themselves to do the will of Elohim will he allow into his presence.
Do we really want to do the will of YHVH? Or are we listening to the lie of the serpent who tempted the first man to give in to the lust of his flesh and eyes and the pride of life when he questioned the word of Elohim and said, “Hath God [really] said?” That is to say, you do not really have to obey YHVH. You can pick and choose for yourself what you want to do or not do with regard to his commandments.
The older generation of carnal man Israelites couldn’t enter the Promised Land because of their stiff necks and hard hearts of rebellion and wilfulness. When it suited them, they obeyed YHVH. When it didn’t, the did not. Like our ancient forefathers who died in the wilderness, we need to have the hard and fallow ground of our unrepentant and prideful hearts needs tilled up (Jer 4:3; Hos 10:12). Our hearts need to be circumcised. The filth of this world that has wrapped itself around us needs to be cut off. We need to be cut to the heart and repent of for disobeying our Creator and Father in heaven (Acts 2:37). We need to put off our lukewarm, carnal Laodicean ways (Rev 3:15–20).
We must ask ourselves an important question: Is Yeshua really the Lord or Master of my life, and do I really obey him, or only when it doesn’t get in the way of the things I would rather do?
YHVH-Yeshua is coming back for a bride spotless and loyal bride who has not defiled herself by fornicating with the world and its ways. A bride who will follow the Lamb of Elohim—her Heavenly Bridegroom wherever he goes (Rev 14:4). What does it really mean to follow the Lamb wherever he goes?
Yeshua demands that he be first in the life of his disciples—his betrothed bride. What did Yeshua mean when he said, Lose your life (John 12:25), deny yourself to the exclusion of all others, pick you cross and follow me (Matt 16:24)? This involves a serious commitment and is much more than a mere casual acquaintance.
There is a group of saints in the last days who will be walking righteously with Yeshua. They are the 144,000 king-priests of righteousness, who are not defiled or spiritually polluted by this world (Rev 14:4). They have YHVH Elohim’s seal of approval and ownership stamped on their foreheads (Rev 7:2–4). They keep the commandments of YHVH and have the testimony or faith of Yeshua (Rev 12:17; 14:12). This is the real bride of Yeshua! He is not coming back to marry a phony, hypocritical cold-hearted, lukewarm bride who is only halfheartedly committed to following him. YHVH will allow the former, not the latter into his presence.