Understanding the Vision

What is Meat?

The definition of meat has evolved over time. Biblically, the term "meat" was used in a broader sense than just clean animal flesh. The word meat was used for bread and edible food in general which included flesh that has been sanctified by the word (levitical dietary specifications). Whenever meat is used to describe edible flesh anywhere in the Bible, clean animals are expressly implied. Unclean animals were not considered to be meat at all. Gentiles and gentile nations were often likened to unclean animals.

What is Meat Spiritually?

To understand this vision, we must read the full chapter context. Peter's dream is about flesh with specific reference to the dietary laws of God. The Bible correctly tells us we cannot eat unclean flesh nor can we drink blood. However, visions are given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so we need to use a spiritual interpretation by rightly dividing the word.

First of all, we are not talking about temporal food here. Acts 10:10 says Peter's temporal food was being prepared below. We can be assured nothing unclean was being prepared below. Peter went to the roof to partake of spiritual meat from above. We are talking about food which comes down from heaven. Straight to the point, this vision is talking about the body and blood of Christ which is the good news of eternal life given to the the four corners of the whole world.

We need to understand the purpose of God's two witnesses (old and new testaments). These are given for one purpose - to restore us to the tree of life. Witnesses must agree. God shows us exactly how He restores us to eternal life:

Peter's vision is not new. Jesus had already told Peter and the other disciples in direct words the meaning of this dream, but Peter did not understand at the time. Indeed, these words are hard to understand, and many are offended by them and turn away. Even Peter only saw dimly their meaning as though scales covered his eyes.

About the time of Passover, after Jesus performs the miracle of the loaves by feeding the multitude, He is giving a sermon on the Sabbath and talks about the food which came down from heaven. This sermon of the Bible is a key and is recorded in John chapter 6: See right column for full verse text.

I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

Now, what vessel of flesh and blood from heaven do we think our Father is calling clean in Peter's vision? Do we imagine that God is referring to the flesh and blood of an unclean eel, a serpent or a scorpion such as Peter saw? Is this the spiritual food our Father gives us when we seek him?

And of which of you that is a father shall his son ask a loaf, and he give him a stone? or a fish, and he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Instead of drawing us away from the Mosaic law, God is drawing our attention to those ordinances. He wants us to comprehend some underlying principles.

For example, in the vision, Peter makes a distinction between common and unclean meat. These are somewhat separate subjects. The Israelites were not allowed to eat unclean meat and neither were any of the gentiles that lived among them. However, the strangers among them could, if they chose, eat common foods such as those clean animals that had been strangled or died of themselves. The Israelites could not eat the common clean animals because they had been called for a holy purpose. See Deuteronomy 14:21.

Also, some things would render a man impure as a result of contact. For example, when David absented himself from dining at the king's table during a new moon festival, Saul, the king, assumed David had become ceremoniously unclean that day for some reason. See 1 Samuel 20:24-26. Peter was boarding with an animal skin tanner when he had his vision. Avoiding contact with the impure carcasses would have been forefront in his thoughts.

The Daily

Yes, eating the unclean flesh of a man and drinking his blood is highly forbidden in a temporal sense, but eating His flesh and drinking His blood is an absolute requirement in a spiritual sense. The body of Christ and His blood brings us to the last supper which itself is drawn from the heavenly table of shewbread shown to Moses.

And you shall set on the table show bread before me always. And you shall make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same. Exodus 25:30-31

Whenever we come to the Lord in the Spirit, any time of day, we are partaking of Christ's flesh and drinking of His Spirit. When God tabernacled with the children of Israel, the table of the presence was always before Him. On that table were twelve loaves of unleavened bread arranged in two piles. Leaven represents sin and malice. There is no leavening contention or strife as to who is greater here. God is no respecter of persons. The bread was eaten by the Levite priests without malice.

Just before the Sabbath, new bread was made by the koathites (koath means assembly). A fragrant oil was poured over the bread. The recipe for this oil was to remain a secret. This was a spiritual oil and not to be used for temporal food. Each Saturday, the new bread was placed on the table as the well-preserved old was removed and eaten. Drink offerings were poured out here as well. The drink was offered to God and the bread was digested in communion by the priests each week on the Lords day.

The table of shewbread was on the northern side of the Holy Place. The seven-branched candlestick was directly behind to the South. When we are eating the word of God, our light comes from the candlestick behind us. From here, the word of God speaks with a trumpet blast of thunder and cuts with the lightning flash of a sharp two-edged sword. For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12.

Embroidered on the ceiling and nearby veils were ministering angels. When we dine on spiritual food, unseen angels are encamped around about and are dispatched to our service on flashes of lightning.

The veils are an important aspect of the sanctuary. This is the door and access-way to God's throne as well as God's access-way to our hearts through His Holy Spirit. We need this communion daily, both morning and evening, to thrive and live abundantly. This is the charge of the Lord.

And they burn to the LORD every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense: the show bread also set they in order on the pure table; and the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the charge of the LORD our God; but you have forsaken him. 2 Chronicles 13:11 (emphasis provided)

Body of Christ

Times were set aside each day especially for communion. In the morning, at the third hour, and at evening, about the ninth hour, a ram's horn trumpet sounded, and the people were called to the oblation. The candlestick and shewbread were located in the Holy compartment of the temple (sanctuary). The Holy and Most Holy compartments represented heaven. Under the old covenant, the people could only eat at the table of shewbread by proxy of the Levite priests. A common man could only enter into the courtyard with his sacrifice. The courtyard represented the Earth. However, the prayers and sacrifices of those present were carried into the Holy compartment by the priests who represented a clean man. The people still had full access to heaven through the flesh and blood of the various sacrifices, drink offerings and oblations.

By observing the sun, at the appropriate time of day, one could lay aside his work and retire to his place of worship to partake of spiritual food. Some retired to their chambers. Others found a place in nature. Abraham built an alter, Peter went up to the roof. John the Beloved, while on Patmos, chose the seaside. No matter where circumstances carry us, we all eat side by side from this pure table. Throughout the land, wherever people were scattered, the body of Christ ate the heavenly manna together.

Some, like Daniel and Peter, hungered and thirsted for more. They included noon and ate from this spiritual table three times a day. In fact, Acts chapter 10 specifically mentions that Peter had his vision about the sixth hour. This would have been the sixth hour of daylight. Ancient ways of reckoning divided the daylight into "suns". There were two rising suns (dawn and mid-morning) and two setting suns (mid-afternoon and sunset). Noon was neither rising nor setting.

Think how perfectly Christ fulfilled the Levitical oblation. He was hung on the cross about the third hour and taken down about the ninth hour. The time between the setting suns (ninth hour until sunset) was when the paschal lamb was killed. After sundown, the lamb's flesh was eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

Food for Thought

On Patmos, the disciple John was seated at the table of shewbread when Jesus gave him the Revelation. We must know about Levitical laws and the tabernacle in order to understand Revelation and all prophecy. How do we know John was feasting from this table when he was in the Spirit?

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet. Revelation 1:10 And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks. Revelation 1:12

Here was John eating at the table of shewbread - the Lord's supper. More than this, he was eating on the day that new bread was set on the table. Even more, he was eating at the time of the oblation. Behind him, the High Priest was filling the bowls of the candlestick with new olive oil and restoring the wicks. In the priestly service, or daily as it is known, this is done twice per day between the suns.

Now, under the levitical order, only the sons of Aaron who were bonafide priests were permitted to be inside the Holy Place to eat from the golden table. Christ was the Lion of the tribe of Judah. John and Peter were not Levi priests. So, why do we see them eating the flesh and blood of the communion table in the presence of the Fathers throne? The answer is that Christ is not a High priest of the Levite order in the heavenly tabernacle pitched by God. Jesus is the High Priest in heaven of the order of Melchizedek. See Hebrews 7. If Jesus is the High Priest of this order, who are the common priests? John tells us very plainly in Revelation 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father.

Melchizedek was the king priest of ancient Salem. After Abraham is given a victory, he has a fascinating encounter with Melchizedek in the king's valley.

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which has delivered your enemies into your hand. And he gave him tithes of all. Genesis 14:18-20 (emphasis provided)

The communion table is our fellowship with our neighbor. We are our brother's keeper. God is no respecter of persons, but there is a hierarchy at the communion table. The order may seem unusual. He who is least is greatest. Whoever is the best servant and shepherd is regarded highest. A good shepherd feeds his flock. This is true in both a spiritual and temporal sense.

John was feeding his flock in Asia Minor by written letter from isolation on that lonely island. It was as though John was saying "I am eating supper with King Jesus. He and these seven ministering angels by the throne extend their greetings. Jesus has some light here He wants to shine on you." See Revelation 1:4. John was a good shepherd.

Abraham was a good shepherd. He gave tithes for the poor. These things come into remembrance as a memorial before the Lord. Moses was a good shepherd. The Bible says he was the humblest man alive. David was a good shepherd, but who was a greater shepherd than David? Of course, Christ is seated at the head of the communion table.

The opening passages of Acts 10 introduces us to a Roman centurion named Cornelius. A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.

Now, the Jews considered the gentiles to be unclean not just because they ate unclean temporal food and drank blood, but because they ate unclean spiritual food as well. Many of the heathen practices would shock us today. Jews would never enter a gentile's house let alone sit at a table with one. This attitude was ingrained in Peter. What is more, the Jews especially disliked the iron yoke of the Romans. However, Peter was unaware that when he went up to the roof at the times of communion each day and was seated at the Lord's table, Cornelius and his family were already sidled up right next to him.

He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying to him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Your prayers and your alms are come up for a memorial before God. Acts 10:3-4

Cornelius had been fasting from temporal food and feasting on spiritual food from heaven. Fasts are cleansing. We fast when we are petitioning the Lord to cast more light on a subject, or we are otherwise requesting a clear answer in some matter. At about the ninth hour, when our High Priest was tending the lamps, here was Cornelius dining at the table in front of Him. A ministering angel is dispatched with lightning speed.

From Bible accounts, it is sometimes terrifying to be face to face with an angel. Cornelius reveals why when he relates a detail he found significant. He told Peter, "A man stood before me in bright clothing."

Spiritually, clean, bright clothes are synonymous with a righteous character. This type of brightness contrasts with our sinful nature of filthy rags. When the light of holiness reveals deep-seated flaws in our character, we become fearful. We get the sense, however, that Cornelius wanted a similar set of clothing. So, in answer to his prayer, God sends him light from seven ministers coming from Joppa including Peter. See Acts 11:12.

Joppa and Caesarea

Caesarea was the major port for Jerusalem and Judea. The city was named after Augustus Caesar. It was also a strategic military stronghold symbolic of the domination of the gentiles during that era.

Joppa (Jaffa) is South of Caesarea. A variant of this word means beautiful brightness (Strong's H3302 ). The evidence is unmistakeably clear that while Cornelius was eating at the table of shewbread, Jesus was pouring on the oil in the seven branched candlestick to his South.

Do all ministers of light come to us in sevens from the South? No, not in a temporal sense, but Acts chapter 10 and 11 are a revelation of the real truth. All light ministered to us comes from the lamp to the South. The South represents a man. In heaven, the man is Jesus. In the North, the Spirit of the Eagle flies. To our West is the alter, the calf, the beast of service, the cherubim. To the East is the door, the way of the Prince, and the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

Three Advents

The number three had special applications to Peter. After the Lord's supper, Jesus tells Peter that before the rooster crows twice, he would deny his Lord thrice. The three days Christ lay in the tomb were especially bitter for Peter. When the resurrected Jesus reveals himself by the lake to the hungry disciples, the Lord tells Peter three times: "Feed my sheep." Because these words were repeated three times, they cut Peter to the marrow like a sword. He must have now remembered the words of Christ:

"I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd." John 10:16

Now, the Lord repeats a sequence of three to him again. This time, Peter's ears are wide open and the scales are removed from his eyes.

In Acts 10:26, Peter tells Cornelius that he is only a man, and this was certainly so. Peter had to be reminded again later about eating the Lord's supper with those that others considered unclean. see Galatians 2:11-21. Jesus, our example, eats at the table with any man who diligently desires to eat of His flesh and drink His blood. His flesh and blood are clean indeed.

The tenth chapter of Acts is a good read regarding communion and God's gift of the Holy Spirit when we seat ourselves at His table. Jesus hungers and thirsts. He hungers for our companionship whether we are Jew or Samaritan. The discourse with the woman by the well is a poignant revelation of the hunger and thirst of Jesus. Why not read the encounter with this woman again during a season of worship?

Conclusion

We all come to God as unclean vessels - both Jew and gentile. If we do not realize our needs, we do not desire to be cleansed. However, when God shows us a character defect, and we see the suffering that is a result, we desire desperately to have that leprosy cleansed from our lives. No one should enter God's temple and eat at His table who wants to remain unclean.

We all have defects from head to toe, but when Jesus washed Peter's feet at the last supper, He said to him " He that is washed needs not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit." See John 13:10. We are covered and hidden in the clean vessel sent down from heaven.

We need to acquire the habit of daily worship at set times each day. The world is round and the table of His presence is ever available. Our time of prayer may be anytime we choose. If we are not accustomed to eating at God's table, we may feel awkward at first, but we need to persist. This is our ticket to eternal life. When Jesus sounds the trumpet from the candlestick and calls out our name from the attendance roll written in the book of life, He wants to sup with us at at His table. Let Him hear our words in reply say "Here am I Lord."

When we come to worship, we need to consider whether we have wronged our neighbor. If so, why not go fix things right away? This is difficult sometimes, but this is what God means by His body. The body of Christ has members from every nation, kindred, people and tongue. Like the branches of the candlestick, we are all grafted into the true vine to make one unit.

God orchestrates so many things in concert on our behalf. One member of the body may have a need over here, and Jesus has already perfectly positioned another member to assist over there. God brings the two together and acquaints them. If we could see how many times God has moved mountains on our behalf already, we would be stunned and awed. The more we respond to His instructions, the more we desire to know Him. The more we know Him, the more we want to be with Him. This is eating His body and drinking His blood. And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. John 17:2-4

God instructs us not to forsake gathering at His table. Hebrews 10:25.The table of shewbread is where mysteries are revealed to us. Here, Christ is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. He speaks to us with a still small voice and a heavenly tongue by the winds and breath of the Holy Spirit. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21.

We do not need levitical priests or papal priests or any human agent to confess our sins. We have a high priest in heaven who "ever liveth to make intercession" for us. If we confess our sins to Him, "He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." When we follow His word each day, His voice waxes louder and louder until that great day of the resurrection - the first day of forever.

Yes, the table of shewbread is where we wrestle with God to conquer bad habits and overcome thorns of the flesh. God gives us the same victories that He gave to Abraham. When we come to sup with Jesus during our worship and Bible study, we are being changed literally. God's Spirit is searching us, changing us, healing us and most of all cleansing us. What God has cleansed, that call not you common.

And he said to them, You know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come to one of another nation; but God has showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Acts 10:28 (emphasis provided)

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20 (emphasis provided)