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Five Essential Bible Truths – Part 5
The Temple of God

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The Ark of the Covenant

Physically, the Ark of the Covenant was a small box of acacia wood, overlaid with gold, about 3 feet wide by 5 feet long and three feet tall. (Exodus 25:10) It had two rings on each side through which poles enabled the priests to carry the Ark from place to place without touching it. The top surface of the Ark was called the atonement cover or “mercy seat.” (Compare KJV Exodus 25:17; 26:34, 30:6 with later translations.) Two golden angel figures (cherubim) stood on the top of the box. (Exodus 25:20) The Israelites regarded the Ark to be the most holy piece of furniture because the Shekinah Glory hovered between the two cherubim. (Exodus 25:22) A few items were kept inside the Ark. These items were the Ten Commandments that God wrote on two tablets of stone, a bowl of manna and Aaron’s rod that budded. (Exodus 31:18; 40:20; Exodus 16:33; Numbers 17:10) The ceremonial laws, which God later dictated to Moses, were placed in a “pocket” attached to the outside of the Ark. (Deuteronomy 31:26)

A Hidden Ark

The ark was located inside the Most Holy Place of the temple. The High Priest was the only person allowed to see the Ark and he could see it just once each year on the Day of Atonement when he entered the Most Holy Place. When preparing the Ark for travel, the veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place was used as the first layer of protection around the Ark. Then, the Ark was completely hidden from view by a blue covering. (Numbers 4: 5,6) When traveling, the Israelites had to keep a radius of about a thousand yards (seven tenth of a mile between them and the Ark. (Joshua 3:4) As the priests prepared the Ark for travel, they always approached it by walking backwards.

The hidden Ark conveys a profound truth about God and sin. Before sin defiled the human race, God communed with Adam and Eve face-to-face in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:8) However, when sin separated man from God, sin and sinners could not survive the glorious presence of God. (Exodus 19:21) Therefore, God hid Himself from man. At Mt. Sinai He covered Himself with dense darkness so He could be close to His children without His glorious Presence consuming them. (Exodus 19:18; 20:21) The darkness at the time of Christ’s death was also a covering from the Presence of the Father. (Matthew 27:45) God is very near, but we cannot physically see Him because of sin. When Moses wanted to see the One with whom he spent so much time with, God would not allow it. (Exodus 33:20) Consider the paradox: The natural eye cannot see God, but the eye of faith can behold His Presence! (2 Kings 6:17)

The Ark was hidden in the Earthy tabernacle to illustrate how God’s ways are hidden from the natural or carnal eye of man. (1 Kings 3:14; Psalms 95:10; Isaiah 55:8; 1 Corinthians 2:14) Just as man cannot see (or discern) the Heavenly Ark (and Heaven’s order), so the children of Israel could not see the Earthy Ark. Why then, did God hide the Ten Commandments within the Ark? God understands man’s tendency to worship something tangible. He did not want people worshiping the Ark or the stones of the law. Instead, He wanted His people to absorb the ways of His law into their hearts and worship Him, the benevolent Creator!

The Bible predicts a very sad time in the future when the Heavenly Ark of the Covenant will be displayed to the people of Earth! This marvelous wonder in the sky happens at the conclusion of the seventh trumpet. “Then God’s Temple in Heaven was opened, and within His Temple was seen the Ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightening, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm.” (Revelation 11:19) Why does God display Heaven’s Ark to the people of Earth at that time? By showing the Heavenly Ark, God confirms the reality and authority of His holy law to all people. He presents the legal basis of His forthcoming torment on the wicked, which comes in the form of the seven last plagues. (Revelation 15:1; Revelation 16)

Just as God reveals the Heavenly Ark of the covenant to the people of Earth, I believe God will also reveal the secret hiding place of the earthy Ark of the Covenant. In this manner, God will also display His covenant to Earth’s inhabitants. It seems logical that God would reveal the Earthy Ark when the judgment of the living begins – right after the great earthquake marking the beginning of the seven trumpets. This would also verify the accuracy and legitimacy of Old Testament history.

The name “Ark of the Covenant” is used 33 times in the Bible. It is also called the “Ark of the Testimony” 13 times. The words “covenant” and “testimony” refer to the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 40:20; 16:34; Deuteronomy 4:13) God revealed the truth about His ways in the Ten Commandments. They give testimony to what God regards as righteous and unrighteous and He has offered life to all who submit to the terms and conditions of His covenant. (Ezekiel 18:9) The Ten Commandments are unchanging and eternal. God wrote the Ten Commandments on two tablets of enduring stone to illustrate two areas of responsibility for man: One tablet defines man’s duty to God (commandments 1-4) and the other defines man’s duty to man (commandments 5-10) The Ten Commandments are a divine revelation which define the moral codes of life and all humanity is bound to them. The Ten Commandments separate people who are submissive to God from those who are not. The individuals who allow God to transform their rebellious (sinful) hearts into willing submissive (harmony) with the Ten Commandments will receive eternal life. This transformation happens through the indwelling power of Christ – it cannot be humanly produced. (John 3; 1 John 5:12,13; Hebrews 8:10-13) The Earthy tabernacle illustrates that God’s biggest dilemma is not getting man to Heaven, but instead, putting the ways of Heaven within the heart of man.

When God created this planet, He built everything according to law. If Gods ways were not in harmony with law, all Heaven would be moving toward destructive chaos (as this world demonstrates) and God’s ways would never make sense. To identify Himself as the eternal “I AM” is no small claim. (Exodus 3:14) This title can only be everlasting if God’s ways are without conflict, orderly, and according to law.

The Mercy Seat

The golden atonement cover (or mercy seat) formed the top of the Ark. On the Day of Atonement, when the high priest entered the Most Holy Place, he would eventually sprinkle blood on this part of the Ark to illustrate atonement for the broken law. (Leviticus 16:14) “The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 3:23) Notice what Paul says: “In fact, the law requires that nearly everyone be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 9:22) Therefore, blood was sprinkled on a broken law because all have sinned. (Romans 3:23)

The Ark of the Covenant represents the character of God. The Ten Commandments require uncompromising justice and the atonement cover offers grace beyond measure. The balance between God’s justice and God’s mercy is defined as divine love. This is why John says, “God is love.” (1 John 4:8) God placed the Ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place because His character is the most important thing He owns. (Leviticus 11: 44,45) He will not allow anyone to bring reproach upon His Holy Name without severe consequences. (Exodus 20:7) God is King over the universe. He established a parallel schematic of the Earthy/Heavenly temples to inform man of the orderly process that He follows, not only for man’s salvation, but also to clear His Holy Name of suspicion. Remember, through libelous and scurrilous charges, Lucifer caused one-third of the angels to harbor suspicion and malice toward God.

The Laver

“Make a bronze basin, with its bronze stand, for washing. Place it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it. Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it. Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die. Also, when they approach the altar to minister by presenting an offering made to the LORD by fire, they shall wash their hands and feet so they will not die. This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.” (Exodus 30:18-21) 

The bronze basin (NIV) or laver (KJV) has practical and spiritual lessons associated with it. On the practical side, the text reveals how God required a state of physical purity, orderliness and cleanliness among those that served in the temple. The ever-present “desert dust” soiled their hands and feet of the priests who served in the temple and God required them to wash before entering the tabernacle (tent of meeting) so they might be clean. On the spiritual side, the application of water to the hands and feet reveal man’s perpetual need to be “made clean” of sin from time to time. Sin (like desert dust) defiles our hands and feet and we, like the priests of old, need to be made clean!

Notice the words of Jesus to Nicodemus, “Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” (John 3:5) Some people misinterpret this verse to make it say that a person must be baptized in order to be saved. This is not true. The thief on the cross was not baptized, nor salvation comes through rites, sacraments or works. (Ephesians 2:8,9) Rather, the willing application of water (being born of water) reveals submission to the purifying experience of God’s sanctification. In other words, Christians need to be “washed of sin” from time to time as they travel along the road of life. Baptism marks the first washing. Then, the periodic washing of one another’s feet as our Lord commanded, serves as a “miniature baptism” representing that we are made clean by water from a basin (laver). The ordinance of foot washing reminds us who we are, servants – not masters. (See John 13: 6-8.) It is easy to forget that our righteousness is as “filthy rags” in God’s sight. (Isaiah 64:6) Yet, we often allow pride and selfishness to taint our attitude toward others.

The function and presence of the laver in the Earthy temple indicates that God requires physical and spiritual cleanliness. Yes, He may accept mortals for what we are, but He requires, as a minimum, that we physically clean up before we approach Him. If this is true of the physical realm, what can be said of the spiritual? The Psalmist wrote, “Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.” (Psalms 24: 3,4) No doubt, this text is the basis of the adage: “Cleanliness is next to Godliness.” Before we leave the matter of cleansing the hands and feet at the laver, consider the implication of this verse concerning those who will occupy mansions in the New Jerusalem: “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21:27)

The Golden Lampstand

“Make a lampstand of pure gold and hammer it out, base and shaft; its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms shall be of one piece with it…See you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” (Exodus 25:31,40) The golden lampstand was made of one talent of pure gold (about 66 pounds) and it had seven lamps on top of it. It was placed next to the south wall of the Holy Place, directly in front of the Table of Presence. (Exodus 25:37,39; 26:35) The golden Lampstand represents the agent of God’s light of truth. Matthew 5:14; Acts 13:47) God has a special relationship with the trustees of His covenant. Notice how the Golden Lampstand represents God and His people: First, the Lampstand was made of pure gold that represents God’s agape love for mankind. (Agape love or divine love is pure, unlike human love.) The purpose of any lampstand is light and this was the practical and spiritual intent of the Golden Lampstand. Israel was chosen to be a “light to the world,” to represent God’s love for man. God required the priests to refuel the seven lamps daily with pure olive oil so the seven lights would burn continuously. (Leviticus 24:4) In like manner, the priests were to continuously “refuel” the people with love and adoration for God. The light of God’s truth must never go out and that responsibility uniquely rested upon the priests. If they became negligent or careless in teaching the ways of God to the people, darkness would eventually fill the hearts of the worshipers. Just as God held the priests accountable for keeping the “lamp lights on,” they were also responsible for communicating the “light of truth” to His people. The priests were “keepers of the flame.” Unfortunately, the priests failed and consequently, Israel apostatized. History proves that, “As priests (religious leaders) go, so do the people.” In fact, much of the blame for today’s social rot lies at the doorstep of religious leaders.

Carefully consider the consequences of priestly failure. When THE light of Truth came to the world, the priests of Israel rejected Him. (John 1: 1-11; 8:12) God intended Israel to be a “city of light” to the world. (Isaiah 42:6) He even placed them geographically in the center of the nations for maximum exposure! (Ezekiel 5:5) In spite of all this, Israel’s priests chose the ways of darkness instead of the way of light and the people of Israel followed their example by rejecting the Messiah. This is why God eventually abandoned Israel and raised up new trustees of the covenant – Christians. (Matthew 23:1-38; 28: 18-20)

The Golden Lampstand was intricately and wonderfully made, and the glorious light from Heaven is reflected in God’s PLAN of salvation. God’s PLAN for saving the human race shines like a beacon of light to reveal the ways, love and commitment of Jesus to die as man’s substitute. Yes, this knowledge is the glorious light from Heaven!

The Table of the Presence

“Make a table of acacia wood – two cubits long [44 inches], a cubit wide [22 inches] and a cubit and a half high [33 inches]. Overlay it with pure gold and make a gold molding around it…And make the plates and dishes of pure gold, as well as its pitchers and bowls for the pouring out of offerings. Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me at all times.” (See Exodus 25: 23-30.) This table represents the throne of God. All blessing flow from His throne. The idea that the Table of the Presence represents God’s throne is surprising since in the Earthy tabernacle, the focus was always directed toward the “hidden” Ark of the covenant located in the Most Holy Place. The Shekinah Glory of God dwelt within the Most Holy Place. Therefore, the second room in the Earthy tabernacle was holier than the first room. The veil obscured the Most Holy Place from the view of everyone but the high priest, which indicted its extreme sacredness. These facts have led many people to conclude that the Ark of the Covenant must represent the throne of God. However, here are three reasons why I believe the Table of Presence represents the throne of God:

Reason # 1 – Name

“Put the bread of the Presence [shewbread, KJV] on this table to be before me at all times.” (Exodus 25:30) The table received its name from the 12 loaves of bread that were placed on it each Sabbath. (Leviticus 24:8) The priests baked the loaves on Sabbath while still hot. (1 Samuel 21: 3-6) At first, this practice seems contradictory to the instructions God gave to Israel in regards to appropriate Sabbath behavior when He forbade them to cook and bake on the Sabbath. (Exodus 16:23) However, this bread was “special.” It represented a sacred offering from the twelve tribes. The presence of “fresh bread” on the Sabbath was to reveal God’s intention to use His servants (the priests) to offer “freshly prepared” spiritual food to His people on the Sabbath. (Matthew 12:5) The Hebrew words involved (lechem – Strongs: #3899 and paneh – Strongs: #6440) mean visible food, having presence, within sight or showing. The idea being conveyed by KJV translators is that the bread was clearly visible – as in “show us the bread.” Thus the name “showbread” (NKJV). The idea presented by the NIV and other recent translations is that the bread represented the presence of God. Therefore, the teaching of God’s presence on the Sabbath through “freshly prepared” words of life is the primary meaning behind the symbol of this bread.

Twelve loaves of bread (for the twelve tribes) and other items were placed on the Table of Presence for the priests to consume at regular intervals. The Table also had cups, bowls and pitchers associated with it. (Exodus 37:16) When a person looks at the Table in terms of the utensils and the food placed on it, it becomes obvious this Table represents “a Kings table.” The priests were invited to eat from the King’s table because they were highly honored. Eating from the King’s table was not only a great honor, but also showed intimacy with the King. It was common for generous kings in ancient times to honor special people by inviting them to eat at their table for as long as they lived! (2 Samuel 9:7) Even the wicked Jezebel captured the favor of Baal’s prophets by feeding them at her table. (1 Kings 18:19)

Eating at the King’s table means having access to the King and his throne. Jesus told his disciples, “And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Luke 22:29,30) Therefore, the Table of Presence in Earthy temple reflected the special privileges of priests. Unfortunately, Israel’s priests did not recognize this great privilege for what it was. They failed to commune with God and they misunderstood their great opportunity. However, Jesus’ life, death and resurrection opened wide the door to all people and the privileges reserved for priests were granted to each believer. Jesus established what is called the “Priesthood of the believer.” Revelation says, “…Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he [the angel] added, “These words are the true words of God.” (Revelation 19:9; 3:20,21)

Since all that we receive comes from God, and Jesus is the Bread of Life (John 6:35) that has come down from Heaven, the Table of the Presence reflects the source of our blessings – God’s throne. From this Table, the Bread of Life is served. So, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

Reason # 2 – Location

The Table of the Presence was located on the north side of the tabernacle. In ancient times, the direction of “north” was regarded as the direction of divine judgment or authority. Destruction and/or judgment always came for the north. Notice these five examples (italics provided):

  • Isaiah 41:25 “I have stirred up one from the north, and he comes – one from the rising sun who calls on my name. He treads on rulers as if they were mortar, as if he were a potter treading the clay.”
  • Jeremiah 1:14 “The LORD said to me, ‘From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land.”
  • Jeremiah 4:6 “Raise the signal to go to Zion! Flee for safety without delay! For I am bring disaster from the north, even terrible destruction.”
  • Jeremiah 46:20 “Egypt is a beautiful heifer, but a gadfly is coming against her from the north.”
  • Jeremiah 50:9 “For I will stir up and bring against Babylon an alliance of great nations from the land of the north. They will take up their positions against her, and from the north she will be captured. Their arrows will be like skilled warriors who do not return empty-handed.”

Notice the location of the Table of Presence: “Place the table outside the curtain on the north side of the tabernacle and put the lampstand opposite it on the south side.” (Exodus 26:35) No matter where Israel moved the Earthy tabernacle, the Table of the Presence always sat on the North side. What does this suggest?

Now, compare the location of God’s throne in Heaven with the Table of the Presence: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” (Isaiah 14: 12-14, KJV) Why did Lucifer conspire to place his throne “in the sides of the north?” Because this is, where God’s throne was located. To underscore the immediate importance of the “north side” location for the Table of the Presence, notice this text: “Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole Earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.” (Psalms 48: 2 KJV) Eventually, god intended to rule the world from Jerusalem (Jeremiah 3:17), and the Psalmist calls its global location, “on the sides of the north” even though the land of Israel is not regarded as located in the north. (Incidentally, because of Israel’s failure, God will reign from the New Jerusalem. Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 3:12)

 

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