Many people wonder what is third day worship and how does it correlate to the modern church. In the pattern of the tabernacle, the entrance to the courtyard, known as the outer court, then progressed to the Holy Place, the inner court, then to the Most Holy Place otherwise known as the Holy of Holies. All the people were permitted to enter into the tabernacle courtyard or the outer court, and many of the sacrifices and rituals were performed in the Holy place or the inner court, by the priesthood. The Most Holy Place or the Holy of Holies was only visited once a year by the High Priest with the threat of death if not deemed worthy by a pure and repentant life. So we see the masses in the outer courts, and the select priesthood in the inner courts with only one allowed in the Holy of Holies where the tangible Presence of God resided.
Another way to look at this is in our physical body, the Tabernacle or Temple of God. If we are the Tabernacle of God, the outer level would be the flesh, the inner level would be the soul (the mind, will, intellect, and emotions) and the third level would be the spirit. Consider this next verse.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4
We also might think of the first day in context of the Church as the joy of our salvation, the second day as the workings and giftings of the Holy Spirit and the third day as entering His Presence and into the realm where His Glory manifests. Many first day worship songs are about the salvation experience and the Cross of Jesus. I believe the second day worship enlists the workings, giftings, and leading of the Holy Spirit, including the prophetic song of the Lord.
1 "Come, let us return to the Lord.
He has torn us to pieces
but he will heal us;
he has injured us
but he will bind up our wounds.
2 After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will restore us,
that we may live in his presence.
3 Let us acknowledge the Lord;
let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
like the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6:1-3
According to this scripture, the second day he will revive us. And the third day is about restoration that we may live in His Presence. I believe third day worship is about the very Presence of God upon the worship and Worshippers as well as entering the realm where His Glory is tangible, fresh, and fully manifesting. This is where I believe the people come into true, deep worship and personal encounter with the Lord. Third day worship is about the Holy of Holies, where few dare to enter, and it is about the Throne Room of Heaven where He resides, in essence, worship on earth as it is in Heaven. This worship is not prepared in the limelight of the people, but in the secret hidden place to the Audience of One. Instead of the art and the act of worshipping the Lord, it is more about being in the Presence of the Lord, being not doing. And in this place, He will appear...he will come to us... This is about personal encounter and visitation.
One last thought..
8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. 11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. Exodus 33:8-11
When Moses went into the Tent and the glory filled the entrance of the tent, the people stood in the entrance of their tents and worshipped the Lord. Moses met face to face with the Lord as a friend. Maybe the people are not worshipping because the leaders are not going into the Glory of the Lord and meeting face to face in personal encounter with the Lord? I believe as this revelation of third day worship goes forth to not just leaders but the Church, there will be another atmosphere filling the Church, that of Heaven on earth! This lesson is not exhaustive but begs further study and pursuit for the hungry worshipper who knows there is more!
See you in the Throne Room!
Raelynn Parkin, Bride Song Ministries
BridesongMinistries.org