That I may dwell among them… Ex 25:8Part Three

Holy of Holies

Three Parts of the Tabernacle

Study Approach: Grace vs. Faith

• Path of Grace

God Unto Man

Following the order of revelation.

Begin at the Ark of the Covenant.

• Walk of Faith

Man Unto God.

Begin at the gate of the Outer Court

Grace

Faith

Holy of Holies: Characteristics

• In the Tabernacle

10 x 10 x 10 Cubits

• In the Temple (1 kings 6:20)

20 x 20 x 20 cubits

• In the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:6)

1200 stadia x 1200 stadia x 1200 stadia

• Three equal measures – Perfection; Trinity

• God’s dwelling place in the midst of men

• Unapproachable, except by the High Priest once a year

• No natural light

• No flooring – Furniture kept on the ground

• Not the levels of holiness: But the separation that prevents men to get to God

Ark of the Covenant: In the Holy of Holies

Ex 25: 10 – 16

"And they shall make an ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits shall be its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height. And you shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and shall make on it a molding of gold all around. You shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in its four corners; two rings shall be on one side, and two rings on the other side. And you shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, that the ark may be carried by them. The poles shall be in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it. And you shall put into the ark the Testimony which I will give you.

Composition of the Ark of the Covenant: Acacia Wood

Shittim or Acacia (incorruptible) wood and overlaid inside and outside with gold

• Strong, resilient wood • Grew in desert climates• Survived harsh environment because its

roots grew very deep.  • The tree itself never grew tall. (15-30 ft)• Not affected by disease nor animal

infestations • Insects would not borrow into it.

A picture of humanity of Christ: Had no sin; Did no sin; Could not sin

• Is 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground:

Composition of the Ark of the Covenant: Gold

• Royalty: King of Kings• Glory: God's brilliance, and splendour• Unchanging and incorruptible.

The Spirit of God never changes, but is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

• The gold is the picture of Jesus Christ as God Himself in unchanging glory.  

• Heb 9:4 having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.

Ark of the Covenant: Most complete type of Christ

• Ark rested on the ground – Jesus came to the earth

(Jn 1:14)

• The ark went before the people - Jesus went before them

• Jesus kept the law. Matthew 5:17 "Think not that I am

come to destroy the law, or the Prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Romans 8:3-4

• Phil 2:6-7 – Wood gave the form, and gold pictures deity

Contents of the Ark of the Covenant: Tablets of Law

• Heb 9:4: Tablets of Law, kept in the Ark. – Law was kept in Christ

• Ex 24:12 The Lord said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction."

• Ex 32:19. Second set represents Christ, who did not break the law

• Gen 49:10 -Christ the King. • Heb. 8:10 - Written in our hearts

Contents of the Ark of the Covenant: Golden Pot of Manna

• Jn 6: 31 "Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”– This pot of manna kept as a memorial did not perish or rot– In Christ there is no corruption

• Jn 6:35 “Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst”.

• Prophet: Christ brings the Word of God.

• Num 17:8 “…behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds”.

• Num 17:10 – “And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels”;

• Priest: Picture of Christ. Represents man to God.

• Resurrection: Budding is the picture

and assures us that He is our High Priest

Contents of the Ark of the Covenant: Aaron’s Rod

Mercy Seat: In the Holy of Holies Ex 25:17

• Made of Pure gold. (No wood)

• Cherubims of beaten gold. Single piece.

• God’s dwelling

• Perfect fit: Placed on top of the ark. God’s mercy to His people– 1 Sam 6:19 – looked in by moving the

mercy seat. – Consequence of Law without Mercy

Rom 3:25 – Jesus our Mercy Seat Greek word: 'hilasterion'. God presented Christ as a propitiation or 'mercy seat'.

Heb 9:24 - Faith on the High Priest. No Israelite actually saw the priest approach God on their behalf.

Heb 1:3: The work is complete. Only one seat in the Tabernacle and it is taken.

Veil: Picture of Christ Ex 26: 31-33

And thou shalt make a vail [of] blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with Cherubims shall it be made:

• Fine linen and with no seam– Picture of complete holiness and righteousness of

Jesus Christ– Jesus revealed perfect holiness of God, and– Standard man must attain to meet God

• Four colors– Blue: Heavenly– Purple: Royalty– Scarlet: Sacrifice– White: Righteousness

• It was not the beauty of the veil, nor Christ’s earthly life but the renting that made entrance possible

• Cherubims: Man cannot enter the presence of God Protecting Man from God.

Renting of the Veil

• Mark 15:38 - And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

• Top Down: Work of God• Torn in Two: Complete work• Legend: to mend. Man’s desperate attempts to please God.

• Heb 10:19-20 - Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

• 2 Cor 3:16 - But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.

– Veil divides: Today, Christ divides. (Mt 10:34).

• Limited Atonement: Inner veil that was rent not the gate; the door; nor the tabernacle – Promises of God is limited to those inside

Jesus Christ: Our Perfect Mediator

• Heb 9:11 - High Priest But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come – The Christian’s 911

• Heb 9:12 -- Sacrifice. “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood …”

• Heb 10:19 -- Veil: Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh Way

• Heb 9:15 – “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament…”

Way to God Opened: But don’t take for granted

• Heb 9:7

But into the second [went] the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and [for] the errors of the people:

• Heb 10:22-25

(Faith on our High Priest): Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

(Hope that is sure): Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;)

(Encouraging one another): And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

(Fellowshipping together) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is];

(With urgency) but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Our future dwelling Place: New Jerusalem

Rev 21:1-7 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God.  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Holy of Holies: The dwelling Place

Rev 21:22-27

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb [is] the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

What about you? Will you be there?

…and if you will be there, are you excited toshare with others the GOOD NEWSGOOD NEWS

and be involved in the

Great Commission