INTRODUCTION
I suggest you all use Google Translator for the French, I am not translating anything too much time.
Ooh la la mon peuple, it is that time of the month again!! I tell you, what a month, these are indeed the best of times and the worst of times. As I have admonished times and times again, if you are saved remain saved. If you are not what are you waiting for? Who can ignore such a great salvation? As Peter would say, Where can we go? Jesus, you have the gift of eternal life.
On to world events!!
Ooh la la, Nike has turned the advertisement world on its head by taking a principled position Just Do It Mr. Kaepernick might not be playing in the NFL this year but he certainly won't be forgotten. His face will be all over. We can conclude that Nike ‘Just Did It’ What are you waiting for? ‘Just Do It’.
Over there in La Maison Blanche things are moving along as projected, I don’t know about you but I know this new book by Bob Woodward from the Washington Post called Fear I have to read. On a more sombre note though, I am really concerned about the approximately five hundred South American children that are still in custody that no one in the US seems to be concerned about. I am wondering if there is a more sinister plot to all of this. Why would you want to separate children from their parents and then send the parents back to their countries without their children? Something is very wrong about all of this. Is there a church still in America?
Then, I see that Dominion never lasted very long for Pastor E.A. Adeboye in Nigeria he is now back to Stronger Than Your Enemy Part 8. Lord help my Holy Ghost, I will say no more.
Ooh la la here am I back in St. Catharines. I left here on July 30 and returned on September 5. Just to collect my mail, get my passport and leave the country for la dernière fois. When I walked into my brother’s immaculate house the place looked like a whirlwind had passed through. Then I went into the basement and the gentleman’s well furnished place was a mess. Immediately, in my Spirit all I heard was malice, spite and foul play. He said that the rain had come in. Many a nights when I had walked home after a shower on my first visit the place was immaculate. I just put down my bag took up my two pieces of mail that the criminals were after. I was getting a cheque from the United States of America from United Airlines who deliberately damaged my suitcase which was stolen from the shelter in New York with all the things I took to New York. For one month the representative at United Airlines tried to get me to take the cheque in Canadian dollars. I informed him that I did not want any weak currency. I would spend the money when I reached Europe if I had to pay any fees to change the cheque in Canada. They finally sent the cheque in US dollars, if it was stolen by the nazis as they were planning as per usual then they would have to present identification to prove that they were Raphleta Taylor.
On my way to the bank I cursed every Canadian I saw in sight and those I did not see. I told them they were envious and grudgeful and the lowest form of life was a Canadian. I said ‘I thought the Amoeba was the lowest form of life but they were lower than an Amoeba. Then I went on Social Media and advertised what the criminels had done. The next day I saw all these funny looking Jamaican men coming around I was not surprised.
I told you all from the beginning that this was a serious criminal cartel. When I really realized that Jamaican Politicians and Businessmen were involved and to the extent my heart sank. The only run in I ever had with a Politician was instructive. My exposure to them might not have been extensive but I am a Jamaican and I have read the newspapers. When I realized that all of you have taken money from this criminel cartel and that is why you all have abandoned my daughter and I to them I said ‘God You are my refuge’. He is still my refuge. The people in Montreal and Quebec protected me as best they could without destroying their friendships. My jacket was stolen in Montreal. I had it over my bag and by the time I reached la bibliothèque I was looking for it and it was nowhere to be found. People, by the time I went on Social Media and broadcast. When I left the library and was going home there was my jacket lying on the seat in Berri UQAM Metro Station. I should have said thanks to whoever was responsible for that. It is my only jacket all the rest have been stolen. They relieved me of the other one somewhere else in Canada. If my stomach was not so turned against Canada I would have lived in Quebec City. Loved it!!
I am just waiting to get my passport to move along. People have their contracts I am not in the least interested in anyone’s contract. All my life in Jamaica I have never had anything from any Politician.When The Hon. Omar Davis was Minister of Finance and I wrote requesting that he sold me my house for pennies on the dollar instead of the rich Texan, they ignored my letter. Then they turn around and sold my house behind my back. Another incident my telephone Blackberry Bold was stolen out of my living room at 20 Annette Crescent by the crooked Mayor Desmond 'illiterate 'McKenzie and the 'dutty labourites'. The Financial Services Commission (FSC) advised that the directives from crooked Politicians are more important than the evidence provided. Any Politician that wants to, can make a contract on my life it is their business, my father was gunned down in the most violent elections in 1980 in Jamaica. Come and enforce your contract. My daughter and myself have been physically, sexually and mentally abused. To live is Christ to die is gain. Whether I live or die it is all the same. Jesus and Him crucified.
I was wondering why God had me return to Canada when He knows that I detested the place so much. Now I am realizing why. A lot of people have been hurt and defrauded by the criminals attached to these Politicians in Canada that I wasn’t aware of. I am realizing that this thing has gotten out of hand. You criminals in Canada need to return the house and monies of that Portuguese lady from 25 - 35 Trailwood Drive off Hurontario Street in Mississauga. I am not going to let it go until justice is done. I hope you perverts have not ravished the lady also. Your criminality knows no bound. Those people whom you have defrauded like Althea Mott single and persons who are ill. You all are like piranhas and leeches. I am also thinking about my friends from St. Vincent, I pray that God will keep them. Those people need their monies for their children back in St. Vincent. I am speaking to you crooked Hazel McCallion, crooked Bonnie Crombie and Dr Jekyll Crombie. You white witches of Rosehall, you are both worse than blood sucking vampires who prey on vulnerable victims. I really hope none of you have ravished anyone male or female one thing I have come to realize is that you are all perverts of one type or the other. I also remember what you did to that young man at Dover Crescent. Your government have encouraged people to become worthless taking drugs and living off ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program) and welfare so that you can manipulate them and increase the value of your portfolio in these pharmaceutical companies. I know because you have recommended the same path to me because you want to lock me down even offering special diet. You sick worthless people. Even if that special diet included oxtail, shrimps, stew peas, ackee and saltfish, mackerel run down, roast beef, roast pork, curried goat and butter fish, along with Irish Moss, soursop and carrot juices I would not be interested.
Moving along on a more happy note people, Quebec, Quebec La Belle Province. I tell you people hindsight is always one hundred percent. All my days in Canada I have always wanted to go to Ottawa or Quebec on most of my applications I have always put Quebec as my second province of choice for relocation. I am so sorry I did not pack my bag and move along. Now as I feel like moving I move. I don't have a chick to worry about. I am so excited and wants to get everything quickly on paper I have to calm myself to write.
Leaving Ottawa I took a bus to the farthest point east near highway 417. Then as I was walking a lady who said she was married to a Jamaican picked me up. It would seem the crooks in Jamaica sent her. She dropped me at a point along the way. As I was walking towards my destination two rouge policeman stopped me one with tattoo all over him and the other dirty like some drug addict. They told me I could not walk along the highway and offered me a lift. So I chronicled my journey along Transcanadienne from British Columbia to Ontario. They insisted that I had to take a ride with them and put my things in the back of the car or I would be ticketed. I said I will take the ticket and add it to my collection because I was not going to take any ride with them. In the process of our conversation another car pulled up and of course they were going to Montreal. They took me to Montreal and left me at Montmorency one end of the island. By the way people it is île de Montréal, Montreal is an island. When I realized what happened I did some exploring and then got on a bus, then another after going around and around I ended up at Bourassa Metro Station. I decided to explore again. While walking along the road a rascal pretending to be a Rastafarian stopped me and asked if he could help and he had what I wanted. I said ‘Hold on, let me give you some of what I have’ and pulled my knife on him. He rode off quickly. I said ‘Come back here.’ He rode faster, I was mad. Everywhere I go these criminals keep sending these rascals to offer me narcotics. The next day I tried to find my way out and then in frustration just went to the Metro and took the train downtown to Berri UQAM after questioning a number of persons. I am amazed at most people in the city how they can’t give a proper explanation of where they live. When I asked for Centre-Ville - Montreal all people had to say was that it stretches from Berri UQAM to Bonaventure. The centre is really at Bonaventure. Bonaventure is the commercial centre where all the major banks, hotels, major attractions, McGill University, stores, Infotouriste, restaurants and churches are found. I tell you everybody in Canada seems to just be looking a buck, not interested in anything else. I found la bibliothèque at Berri UQAM. Then I went and rode the train. Money? People, Jesus paid it all. The Canadians stole it all. I went to the airport one night. The next time I went and was returning I found out that the bus fare was ten dollars. I knew not, so the driver gave me the cheaper route. Lord help my Holy Ghost. People in these cities know me all they say is look out for the black woman from Jamaica. I only have a little problem when the Nazis turn up.
Let us deal with the politics of Quebec first. They have around six political parties, like most of Canada the liberal party forms the government Parti Liberal Quebecois- They should lose the elections come October 1 based on the current showing in the polls to the Coalition Avenir Quebec. Seems people are tired of the non-transparency of politicians (corruption). One needs to realize that Quebec is a very mature province. They are three hundred and seventy five years old, much older than the Dominion of Canada. Compared to the rest of Canada it is like you are in another world. They are very genteel and polite (subtle). A very good idea that I encountered there was that they were turning all these old churches into libraries, a very fantastic idea. I was actually turning all the United Churches into concert halls. I will now switch to library. They have a fantastic road network and also transportation. If you are a Raphleta Taylor you have to go aux pieds Highway 138 non autobus. They also love their bicyclettes. I remember walking along a path and was blocking a lady riding a bicycle. The lady said ‘Madame this path est pour bicyclettes!’ I just walk and paid her no mind. They do not trouble me I do not trouble them. Lots of restaurants, I can’t believe I have left and not tried the poutine but I had to be very careful about where I ate because of the Nazis and Mafias. I did the house of Parliament lovely architecture. They do not have an upper house. It was disbanded because it became too one sided and was no longer transparent. When I started exploring this topic and what that meant for checks and balances the tour was cut short. The Bronze woman from Jamaica is asking questions again. Lord help my Holy Ghost! The view from the forts in vieux Quebec of the St Laurent fleuve and environs are spectacular. Similar to Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Quebec City is also on a slope.
Quebec City is the first province in Canada and the United States of America that I actually found something to eat under a tree. I raided an apple tree because I ran out of money and an old man sold me a rotten poisoned apple. I ate apples for five days. I also ate some crab apples in Montreal on my return because the Nazis and Mafias decided they were going to break me down by starving me. The shopping in Montreal is fantastic but most of all I enjoyed being in an atmosphere that was completely French. As per usual you know me I know my way around any city once I have my map. One of the tactics of the Nazis and Mafias was preventing me getting a good map and the correct directions. Anyway I ended up giving native French speakers directions. A French gentleman from Africa came to me and said ‘Où est la gare de Bonaventure? Raphleta: Là bas. So they followed me, when we reached I said Ici! The gentleman looked up and smile. Then they wanted directions to the Metro. I said ‘Devant l’escalier. They smiled again. I tell you people I can’t wait to get to France and Switzerland. This French thing and I are like two peas in a pod.
When the older folks and the children speak to me I have no problem because their pronunciation is clear and they do not use superfluous phrases. The Nazis send some people to me and they make a sentence sound like one word and their accents are not so nice. All I say is ‘lentement, s’il vous plait’! Then we have a conversation. Now when people ask me if I speak French I don’t say ‘un peu’ I say ‘quelque’.
In a perfect world it would have been a fantastic experience. I would have gone home at nights and learnt the conjugation of avoir and être using my newspapers. The writing in the Montreal and Quebec journals were fantastic. Then, I would have written down all the new vocabulary, then I would have formulated the questions that stumped me during my conversations. Then I would have listened to the radio and music to practice my oral expressions. Then I would have practiced conjugation of my new verbs using the newspaper. I say, I listened to a service that was conducted in French in St. Mary’s Anglican Church in vieux Quebec. It was fantastic. When the Priest saw that I understood every word he was saying and I sang the French perfectly he started speaking in English and French. I shock most people with the level of my French. Reminds me of my first University presentation as an undergraduate, people’s mouth dropped open. They did not know I could speak. I am sorry I did not record the sermon in English too much to write the French with all the accents. He spoke about ‘fidélité’. May i suggest to my former French teacher that he makes a visit to Quebec a part of his curriculum for his students. I would certainly help the tourism.
I participated in another church service at the Catholic Church in St. Anne de la Pràde, the city of the same name. It was the worst church service I have experienced in my life. The Catholics keeps giving people only this little wafer as Communion in Canada which is an indication of their lack of faith and unbelief in what they preach. The body of Christ can never be sick.That is why my bar of soap was stolen in the Catholic Church in Montreal. The Catholics need Priests in Canada people.
We will not forget the police! They started in Repentigny I advised that the criminal record that they spoke of could be found in Chapter 18 of my book. I later advised a lady that they should ask the persons who told them about the Criminal Record about my USBs that were stolen. All the information was on that and that I was experimenting with two other German names Frederich and Helmut. They stayed far away from me. Then I was picked up by a bus outside of Repentigny near St Sulpice. On my way the driver spoke about his adventures in France for five years. He was Russian and of course these people are normally sent with these long stories. You learn to discern truth from lies. Then he came to the crux of the matter in his story, in France he and his friends were harassed by the police because they had nowhere to stay. When I heard that I said yes Raphleta that is the message delivered. They have deliberately set the police on you. I forgot to tell you in Repentigny I got in a bus and there was an old lady there who was sent to deliberately send me in the wrong direction Luckily I realized when I reached the bus stop that Ii was deceived by an ancient. When I got in a bus to get out of the area, I saw the Paramedic coming. They had set up another devious plot to trap me. I got off the bus and that is when the police stopped me as I was walking along. I was ready for them. Back to my story, after I came off the bus I walked until I reached Donnacona. At 2:30 a.am when I was hitchhiking the police turned up. I gave them my ID and told them I hitchhiked all the time. They wished me luck and left. I went to ask the time at the Couche Tard and of course the lady was ready to deceive me by sending me in the wrong direction. I advised her that I did not ask her for direction I asked for the time. I left Donnacona and walked to Port Neuf. While I was sleeping on the grass at the local rest area, with four houses and a road overlooking my location the Nazis did something to my feet and put holes in my socks. That is why I have to leave Canada lack of integrity on the part of all its citizens. I tried to bomb a ride again without luck. These Canadians are very hard.
On leaving Port Neuf I started to do some play acting and protesting ‘Les criminel, ma maison, beaucoup d’argent, ma panties and knives and forks, criminels, criminels’, as I went I was fake crying and repeating myself. I tell you people I was thinking that any French actress that had a Grammy should pass it over to me. I was good. Oliver move out of meh wey!! Then this ancient stopped me and asked what happened. I told her to read my placard, then she asked the three Nazi questions Where are you going? Are you going to walk the whole way? Do you have any money? After all this she said she hoped someone would help me. I said Aujourd'hui, ça commence avec toi!! She drove away and left me. On my way the police Emergency Services stopped me outside of Deschambault, they offered a drive two kilometres down the road and a meal at a restaurant. I declined the offer. Of course they went through all the Nazi questions and finally they asked me if I had a telephone the ultimate Nazi question. I answered my telephone was stolen on November 3, 2017 from my living room at 127 Baycliffe Crescent, Brampton L7A 3Y9 without batting an eyelid. They decided that I was a special case and they should leave me alone. I continued walking on my way through the town I saw some nice home sweet home lamps with their shades. They looked so cute. I would have bought one if I was driving. People in Quebec seemed to be very preoccupied with Antiquities, every little town has an Antiquities Shop and I mean every town. The farms in Grondines seem in need of injection of some life. That was a very dark stretch.
I walked to St Anne de la Pràde a city with the church of the same name. I slept by the river there, did some protesting and on my way out a lady sent by the Nazis gave me a ride to Trois Rivières. A very ancient city gets it name I think from the three rivers that meet there similar to Ottawa, the Ottawa River, Rideau River and St Lawrence River. After spending one night I decided to leave. I took a bus instead of, the driver dropping me at Point Lac he took me back to Trois Rivières. I had to walk all the way back to Point Lac. One of the things I am learning is how to depend on the leading of the Holy Spirit more and more, because I had the correct route from the night before and I took advice from a bus driver of course I was taken out of my way. The consequence I had a lot of excess walking. When I almost reached Louisville this gentleman gave me a ride two kilometres I said oh yeah! When I reached Maskinongè this lady was sent with her hair flying to give me a ride one kilometre. I said Non, merci!! After that gentleman and his two kilometres I asked everybody one question Combien kilometres? If it was less than ten kilometres ‘J'ai dit n'intéressé pas!! Then another lady gave me a ride to Berthierville. She is originally from Switzerland dropped me off at McDonald’s. I stayed the night and tried to get a ride in the morning. I was familiar with Berthierville because on my way to Quebec City I had walked all the way there. On my arrival the police officers met me with their usual questions. They said you are walking so far your feet must be tired etc I looked at them and said "They are my feet do you hear me complaining'. Then they asked me if I have been through Ontario? I said 'Yes'. They said good night and left me. I got a ride from a couple who were native French speakers. My journey to Quebec City was completed by a young man from Burkina Faso. He took me to an African Store in the town I was not buying so he took me to the Parliament building in Quebec City. An old white fellow had a number of placards with all sort of nonsense I suppose people were expecting that I was going to demonstrate. I ignored him and went to look at the sights. In the car I had to tell the fellow from Africa that I was not a psychic. People seem to be telling people that I can give them a read up. I told him he could do what I did if he gave His life to Jesus and allow himself to be led by the Spirit of God.
When I did not get a ride I decided to retrace my steps to Montreal. Along the way another lady picked me up and left me at Lanoraie again.The library would not be open until 4 p.m. It was after 11 a.m. I decided to continue walking nearing St. Sulpice a gentleman gave me a ride to Lavaltrie. The last bus had left and the local coiffure wanted to do my hair so I continued walking. I walked it all the way to Sherbrooke Street, in Montreal. The fifteen bus in Repentigny flew past me. I could not deal with any Canadian malice at that stage so I kept on walking all this way. The one hundred and eighty six dropped me at Honoré-Beaugrand. I took the train to Bonaventure. The next day I used my bus fare to buy food at Walmart. Only at Walmart can those sums give you food. Lord Help my Holy Ghost!! As I have told you time and time again the strategy is to starve me, keep me broke and walk me to death. Hopefully I will get tired and fall in the arms of a man. I wish dem luck!! In Canada I ask no one for anything it is a very hard country.
After spending three nights in Montreal I decided to move on to Ottawa. I spent all of Friday at la bibliothèque of the University of Montreal. I used the computer all day but they blocked my sound. This time the information at the Infotouriste office was not forthcoming. So I took the train to Angrignon and the bus to St. Anne-Bellevue Saturday, September 1. However, there were buses that ply this route during the week. I am learning to stop travelling on the weekend in these remote areas. The buses do not run on weekends. I headed in the wrong direction on Chemin St. Marie east instead of west. I had a nice rest under a tree and ate some crab apple. On my return west a lady gave me a ride over the Galipeault Bridge. Then I was picked up by a couple after some transport people advised that I could not walk on the highway. I said is there a frontage road he said yes and showed me the way. As I was walking along I was picked up by this couple. They left me at the exit in Hudson. I spent the night at the McDonald’s. The couple gave me twenty dollars and a lady in the McDonald gave me five dollars to buy a burger. On leaving the next day, a foolish gentleman tried to trip me up in terms of my directions but I just looked straight into the sun and continued walking west toward Rigaud. At the centre of town I found a Metro and had some good food and had a good nap. On my way out of Rigaud another ancient couple dropped me at the Welcome Centre in Ontario at Point Fortune on the border of Quebec and Ontario. At the centre they told me a lie as per usual, that no one can walk along the highway. I tried to get a ride at the Centre. No one was biting. Then I noticed that the cars began by passing the centre. One thing about the Nazis they have a very good communications system . I took up my things and headed out saying the police are going to have to deal with me because I am going to walk it along the road. Only to realize that the people had lied to me and were trying to entrap me as per usual. Not more than ten minutes into my walk this young woman drove me down who was going to Ottawa. She happens to be a student of Algonquin University who was training to be a wine connoisseur. I told her once she did not imbibe she should be good. We swapped notes on our knowledge of Canada.
I moved out of Ottawa on the fourth, ended up in Stittsville. That ended up in a dead end situation a lady driver with OC Transpo sent me on a very dangerous wild goose chase in the middle of the night, so I returned to Ottawa and took the overpriced Greyhound on the fifth for forty six dollars and thirty three cents to the next city in the same province. Those along the way need infrastructure. There is a bus out of Ottawa Leduc that charges fifteen dollars for a couple kilometres up the road. In the USA this would cost five dollars or they would have no passengers. I see my friend MegaBus now plying Canada when i started on my journey they were only in the USA. Now they are in Canada. People there are a lot of opportunities in transportation in Canada. If you do not push against the status quo it will remain. Let us help John Tory and Doug Ford, go put your proposals together and make your presentations. The Fields are white unto harvest.
To augment my bus fare when I reached Toronto I had to beg some bus fare to St. Catharines. I tell you the Toronto crowd is very hard. Some places I go to it would just take me a couple of minutes to get six dollars in Toronto it took about two hours. I have to relate this funny incident to you. As I was at the GO Station I had bought my ticket and was ready to go I sat between a gentleman who said he was a street cleaner and a lady with her Burrito and her Tim Horton’s cup (people have a problem with me because I do not patronize Tim Horton’s since they told them not to give me a cup of hot water) I sat down and began cursing. ‘This wicked country imagine I came from the third world and you have stolen all that I have. This is supposed to be the first world. Wicked country even my panties and knives and forks and then you all are trying to insult me.What a laugh? Big ‘wutliss’ country. It never fails!!First the gentleman that told me he is a street cleaner got up and said he had to clean under the bridge because it was dirty and got up. I said you need to go to City Hall that is where all the dirt is. Then the lady with her Tim Horton’s cup slowly melted away. I laughed and went to take my train. There is nothing against the truth but the truth.
Well people I thought I was going for my passport but this is Canada a country without integrity. That is the only Canada I know. I have to return to Ottawa to defend my non-citizen rights. I don’t want to say what Saudi Arabia should do with those missiles that they are selling them. Damn hypocrites!!
REFLECTIONS
This is another topic that I have ever heard preached on once and that was by Pastor John Hagee. He had some beautiful illustrations. Let me take some time here to commend this ministry, on my passage through the United States this was the only church where I was blessed financially. A lady saw me put my widow's mite in the offering plate and after church she came up to me and gave me some money. In addition, their Ministry of Helps gave me a ride to the library. When I went to Lakewood Church I had to be watching my bag during service after pad locking it, the first time I went. The second time the security service was removed and an ordinary usher returned. I was allowed to take my bags into the sanctuary. Everyone came and looked and I looked!! At the Potter's House, that was a treat a Minister came up to me and rubbed my back and said 'We are with you'. By this time my bags had been stolen in Dallas and everybody was aware of this. The bus driver on my way to church advised that I could not ride free. Of course he did not know who he was speaking to let us just say I arrived at the church in the bus. However, he said I would not drive on the return journey free. After church I wanted no turbulence so I headed up the road head held high. After about one kilometre I heard someone calling me. I was given a ride to the Metro Station. I thanked the gentleman and went on my way. I have dusted my feet off Dallas. I would not take a free plane ticket to return there. It reminds me too much of New York and Toronto.
I am amazed at how the sheep (sorry Dr. Myles we are the sheep of His pastures etc. Revelation 5 He manifests as the Lion and the Lamb, however we will complete this discussion in the sweet by and by since you don’t like heaven) in the body of Christ are being robbed. Now that I have done this study I feel so educated, all darkness has been dispelled. So much so that I will be following up with the significance of the priestly garments to complete the series. I tell you I decided to start this topic by reading Exodus 25 - 29. In the process I decided that even though so many carpenters are in my family I discovered that I did not like carpentry one bit. Here I was trying to visualize the tabernacle while I read and nothing was coming. All I was seeing were reams and reams of material and wondering how it was being put together. Then the measurements! What does a cubit represent in today’s measurements?
I am amazed at how the sheep (sorry Dr. Myles we are the sheep of His pastures etc. Revelation 5 He manifests as the Lion and the Lamb, however we will complete this discussion in the sweet by and by since you don’t like heaven) in the body of Christ are being robbed. Now that I have done this study I feel so educated, all darkness has been dispelled. So much so that I will be following up with the significance of the priestly garments to complete the series. I tell you I decided to start this topic by reading Exodus 25 - 29. In the process I decided that even though so many carpenters are in my family I discovered that I did not like carpentry one bit. Here I was trying to visualize the tabernacle while I read and nothing was coming. All I was seeing were reams and reams of material and wondering how it was being put together. Then the measurements! What does a cubit represent in today’s measurements?
I read to Exodus 30 and still had no idea how the tabernacle looked until I researched what is the tabernacle? Since I do not believe in reinventing the wheel the article I found was very comprehensive and since this is a very factual topic one can hardly go to the right or left. I more or less just added some of the scriptures, stamped my own personal style and fact check things I was uncertain about. I hope you feel as educated as I do after reading the article and also more concerned about our need for a Saviour.
CRITICAL DEFINITIONS
Tabernacle - The Tabernacle is a visual dwelling. Tabernacle means ‘tent’, place of meeting or ‘sanctuary’. It was a sacred place where God chose to meet his people, the Israelites, during the forty years they wandered in the desert and the wilderness under Moses’ leadership.
Foreshadow - Be a warning or indication of (future event).
Cubit - Generally taken as equal to eighteen inches (457 mm), was based on the length of the arm from elbow to the tip of the middle finger and was considered the equivalent of six palms or two spans. In some ancient cultures it was as long as twenty one inches (531 mm).
Cherubim - A cherubim is an angel who guarded the holiness of God.
THE TABERNACLE
One of the things that this research on the tabernacle reinforced in my mind is the fact that God is very meticulous and a God of attention to details. God does not waste anything physical material or time everything has a purpose. Not even words. I said all of that to say everything about the tabernacle was significant and pointed to God’s ultimate redemption plan for man.
During the forty years that the Israelites wandered in the desert under Moses’ leadership, God was with them. God gave clear instructions to the Israelites for a sanctuary called the Tabernacle to be built; where His Spirit could dwell and where people could gather for worship and to offer sacrifices. Let me repeat every element in the tabernacle was significant.
Even the way the Exodus narrative embeds the story of Israel’s betrayal of God within the Tabernacle narrative is remarkably important to God’s story.
The Tabernacle is a Visual Dwelling
Tabernacle means “tent,” “place of dwelling” or “sanctuary.” It was a sacred place where God chose to meet His people, the Israelites, during the 40 years they wandered in the desert under Moses’ leadership. It was the place where the leaders and people came together to worship and offer sacrifices.
The tabernacle was first erected in the wilderness exactly one year after the Passover when the Israelites were freed from their Egyptian slavery (circa 1450 B.C.). It was a mobile tent with portable furniture that the people traveled with and set up wherever they pitched camp. The tabernacle would be in the center of the camp, and the 12 tribes of Israel would set up their tents around it according to tribe. The instruction on how to build the tabernacle was first given to Moses in the wilderness on the mountains, who then gave the orders to the Israelites.
“…And let them make me sanctuary,that I may dwell among you.” (Exodus 25:8)
“And I will dwell among the Children of Israel, and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them.” (Exodus 29:45-46)
And so God dwelled among His people in the tabernacle in the wilderness. He appeared as a pillar of cloud over the tabernacle by day and a pillar of fire by night in the sight of all Israel Exodus 13 verses 21-22. The people would not set out on their journey unless the cloud lifted Exodus 40 verses 34-37. It was an unmistakably powerful visual statement indicating God’s presence among them.
God knew that the Israelites needed visual evidence of His presence. When Moses went up to Mount Sinai for 40 days and the people did not see or hear from him, they grew impatient and gathered their gold to form a golden calf that they worshipped in place of God. Exodus 34 verse 28 After ten generations of living in Egypt, it was not surprising that the Israelites mimicked the Egyptians in fashioning a visual idol of their own. This act of disobedience demonstrated their need to follow and worship a God who was visually tangible. God’s provision of a tabernacle — itself a splendor to behold — not only allowed the people to sense His presence, but also to see their leader go in to meet with God in a concrete place and not disappear up a mountain.
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness is a Lesson of Unquestionable Authority
The tabernacle was more than just a dwelling place. All the components of the tabernacle were part of an intricate visual aid to illustrate God's relationship with His people. One aspect of this relationship was God’s requirement for complete obedience. God told Moses to create the tabernacle exactly the way He commanded. It was not to stray from God’s blueprint.
“According to all that i shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall you make it.” (Exodus 25:9)
To this end, God gave very specific instructions about the size of each component and the materials the Israelites were to use, as we will see in the following sections of this discussion. These seemingly cumbersome rules were not intended to burden the people, but to show God’s unquestionable authority and holiness, and emphasize that people could only come to God on God’s terms, not on their own. They had to obey reverently not only in the construction of the tabernacle, but also in the way they worshipped. Any irreverence or ritual uncleanness could result in an individual been cut off from his people or in death.
For example, the anointing oil for the tabernacle and the incense for the altar of incense (made from God’s own prescribed formulas of spices) were both declared holy by God and could only be used for the purpose of the tabernacle; anyone else using the same formula for their own consumption would be cut off from Israel (Exodus 30 verses 34 - 38). The special garments for the priests were holy; if they did not wear the right clothing in serving the Lord, they could die (Exodus 28 verses 2, 43).
The Wilderness Tabernacle is a Projection of God’s Redemptive Plan
In the New Testament, John writes: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (St. John 1 verse 14) This word “dwelling” is the same word for “tabernacle” in the Old Testament. In other words, God came in living flesh to dwell or to tabernacle among His people. As He walked upon the earth and lived among the Jews, Jesus Christ Himself fulfilled the picture of the Old Testament Tabernacle. In that and many other ways, as we will see, the tabernacle really was a prophetic projection of the Lord’s redemptive plan for His people.
“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.’ ” (Rev. 21:3)
Now, we will walk through the basic layout of the tabernacle and each component of the tabernacle.
Diagrams of the Tabernacle and Basic Layout - Exodus 25 - 26
The tabernacle consisted of a tent-like structure (the tabernacle proper) covered by rug-like coverings for a roof, and an external courtyard (150 feet by 75 feet). The whole compound was surrounded by a high fence about 7 feet in height. The fence was made of linen hangings held by pillars.
The tent (tabernacle proper) was divided into the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. The tent was made of acacia wood boards overlaid with gold and fitted together to form the walls, measuring 45 by 15 feet. On top, four layers of curtains acted as a roof to shield the tabernacle from sun and rain: The innermost layer was woven with fine linen and embroidered with figures of cherubim (angels), the second layer was made of goat’s hair, the third layer was made of rams’ skins dyed red, and the outermost layer was made of porpoise skins. The curtains were pinned to the ground with loops and clasps.
The specific layout of the tabernacle and its courtyard is significant because it illustrates God’s prescribed way for man to approach Him.
The whole compound was surrounded by a high fence with only one entrance. A person could not simply come from any direction into the tabernacle as he pleased — he had to enter through the one gate, which was always located to the east (so that people were facing west when they entered the tabernacle — a direct opposition to the pagan sun worshippers of the day who always faced east). Upon entering the gate, he encountered the brazen altar, where he was to present his animal offering, and then hand the reins over to the priests, who make atonement and intercession for him in the tent.
This setup informed the Israelites that they could only come to God in the way He prescribed. There was no other way. As we will see even more clearly in the following sections, God is using the Old Testament tabernacle to tell us that we, too, must come to Him only through the way He has provided for us — Jesus Christ.
The Gate
There was only one gate by which people could enter into the tabernacle courtyard. The gate was 30 feet wide. It was located directly in the center of the outer court on the east end. The gate was covered by a curtain or screen made of finely twisted linen in blue, purple and scarlet.
The one and only gate is a representation of Christ as the only way through which one could fellowship with God and worship Him. To do this, one must enter in through the gate to the place where God dwelled. Jesus said in his famous “I am” statements:
“Jesus saith unto to him I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father except through me.” (St. John 14 verse 6) and
“I am the door; by me if any man enter in he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture.” (St. John 10 verse 9).
He also said:
“Enter ye in the straight gate. For wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. ” (St Matthew 7 verses 13 14)
The act of entering the gate to the tabernacle was significant to the Israelites. By entering, one could find forgiveness of sin and fellowship with God. The first thing that one saw upon coming through the gate was the brazen altar, which served as a reminder of man’s sinfulness and his need for a blood sacrifice in order to be fellowship with God. One needed to repent and offer sacrifices for their sin. Those who did not repent were not entering this “narrow way.”
The Brazen Altar
The brazen altar, bronze altar, or altar of sacrifice was situated right inside the courtyard upon entering the gate to the tabernacle. The Hebrew root for altar means “to slay” or “slaughter.” The Latin word alta means “high.” An altar is a “high place for sacrifice/slaughter.” The altar stood raised on a mound of earth, higher than its surrounding furniture. This is a projection of Christ, our sacrifice, lifted up on the cross, His altar, which stood on a hill called Golgotha.
The altar was made of wood from the acacia tree and overlaid with bronze (usually symbolic of judgment on sin in the Bible), measuring 7.5 feet on all four sides and 4.5 feet deep. Four horns projected from the top four corners and a bronze grating was inside to hold the animal.
The altar was the place for burning animal sacrifices. It showed the Israelites that the first step for sinful man to approach a holy God was to be cleansed by the blood of an innocent creature. For a sin offering, a person had to bring an animal — a male one without blemish or defect from the flock or herd — to the priest at the tabernacle gate.
“He shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.” (Leviticus 1:4)
By laying his hand upon the head of the offering, the person was identifying with the sacrifice. His sin and guilt was being moved from himself to the animal. The priest would then slaughter the animal, sprinkle its blood in front of the veil of the Holy Place, burn the sacrifice, and pour the rest of it at the bottom of the altar. Blood is a significant agent of atonement*(i.e., covering for sin; click on link to read a more detailed definition) and cleansing in the Old Testament.
“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement upon your souls; for it is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul.” (Leviticus 17:11)
“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood, and without shedding of blood is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22)
Let us listen to a song by Don Moen about the sacrificed lamb - All We Like Sheep.
Let us listen to a song by Don Moen about the sacrificed lamb - All We Like Sheep.
The Significance of the Tabernacle Sacrifices
Although the blood of the sacrifices covered over the sins of the Israelites, they had to perform the sacrifices year after year, for they were not freed permanently of a guilty conscience. However, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, came as the ultimate and last sacrifice for mankind when He offered up His life. As Isaiah prophesied, the Christ would be like a lamb that is led to slaughter and pierced for our transgressions. His blood was sprinkled and poured out at the cross for us. The Bible says much about this:
“And He said unto them, This is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many.” (Mark 14:24)
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by the tradition from your fathers;…but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (1 Peter 1:18-19)
“The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (Hebrews 9:13-14)
“ For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered Himself without spot of God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God ” (Hebrews 10:10, 14, 18)
"For he had made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be in him we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Horns were a symbol of power and strength in biblical times. When the sacrifice was made, blood was dabbed on the horns of the altar, signifying the power of the blood to atone for sins. In the same way, there is mighty power in the blood of Christ. Jesus is the “horn of our salvation” (Psalm 18 verse 2, Luke 1 verse 69).
The animal sacrifices bore reference to the Passover lambs, which the Israelites slaughtered in like manner to save their firstborns from the last plague of God's judgment in Egypt (Exodus 12 verses 1 -13). I like manner, as the Passover lambs were eaten after they were slaughtered, some of the sacrificial lambs also were eaten. Just as the sacrificial lambs were sacrificed and eaten, so Jesus' body was sacrificed and "eaten." It was no coincidence that on the night before the Passover when Jesus was crucified, He “took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body’” (Matthew 26 verse 26). Earlier Jesus had taught His disciples:
Jesus Himself is the Lamb of God as well as the Passover Lamb for those who believe in Him. Let us listen to a song by Twila Paris about the lamb of God -Sweet Lamb of God.
* The word atonement carries with it the idea of the just, holy, righteous side of God's nature being satisfied. God's law required death as the penalty for sin. When God saw the death of the innocent sacrifice, he was satisfied that the demands of his law had been carried out. Sacrificing an animal on an altar did not take away the sin. Man was still sinful. The sacrifice only pictured what was necessary for sin to be forgiven—death and shedding of blood. The blood provided an atonement or covering for sin. (Source: The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus by John R. Cross, published by GoodSeed International). Let us listen to another song about the Lamb of God by Kirk Franklin and the Family.
The Laver
The laver, or basin, was a large bowl filled with water located halfway between the brazen altar and the Holy Place. Although God did not give specific measurements for the Laver, it was to be made entirely of bronze. The priests were to wash their hands and their feet in it before entering the Holy Place.
The Laver was located in a convenient place for washing and stood as a reminder that people need cleansing before approaching God. The priests atoned for their sins through a sacrifice at the brazen altar, but they cleansed themselves at the laver before serving in the Holy Place, so that they would be pure and not die before a holy God.
The application for believers today is that we are forgiven through Christ’s work on the cross, but we are washed through His Word. We need to be washed daily in His Word to cleanse ourselves, so that we can serve and minister before Him.
“Husbands love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it; That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:25-27)
“Let us draw near to God with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled [with blood] from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:22)
The Menorah
After washing their hands and feet at the Laver, the priests could enter the Holy Place, which was the first room in the tent of the tabernacle. There were three pieces of furniture in the Holy Place: the menorah, the table of showbread and the golden altar of incense.
The menorah, also called the “golden lampstand” or “candlestick,” stood at the left side of the Holy Place. It was hammered out of one piece of pure gold. Like for the laver, there were no specific instructions about the size of the menorah, but the fact that it was fashioned out of one piece of pure gold would have limited its size.
The lampstand had a central branch from which three branches extended from each side, forming a total of seven branches. Seven lamps holding olive oil and wicks stood on top of the branches. Each branch looked like that of an almond tree, containing buds, blossoms and flowers. The priests were instructed to keep the lamps burning continuously.
“And The Lord spake unto Moses, saying, ‘Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure olive oil for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually. Without the vail of the Testimony, in the tabernacle of the congregation, shall Aaron order it from the unto the morning before the Lord continually: it shall be a statute for ever in your generations.” (Leviticus 24:1-3)
The lampstand was the only source of light in the Holy Place, so without it, the priests would have been moping around in the dark. The light shone upon the table of showbread and the altar of incense, enabling the priests to fellowship with God and intercede on behalf of God’s people. Just as the lampstand was placed in God’s dwelling place so that the priests could approach God, Jesus, the “true light that gives light to every man” (John 1:9) came into the world so that man could see God and not live in spiritual darkness anymore. Jesus said:
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
“I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” (John 12:46)
Jesus is represented by the main branch of the lampstand, and we as believers are represented by the six branches that extend from original branch. Having believed, we are now living as “children of light” (Ephesians 5 verse 8) who draw our source of light from Jesus, the true light. Jesus calls us “light of the world” and commands us to “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5 verses 14, 16). Not only so, but the branches serve as a picture of Jesus’ description of our relationship with him: “I am the vine, you are the branches … apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15 verse 5).
Two other significant symbols that can be seen from the lampstand include the fact that it was made of pure gold (not gold plated) and had seven branches. Pure gold is a representation of the deity and perfection of Jesus Christ, and seven is the number of completeness in the Bible. The believer is made complete by the perfection of Christ.
The Table of Showbread
The table of showbread was a small table made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold. It measured 3 feet by 1.5 feet and was 2 feet, 3 inches high. It stood on the right side of the Holy Place across from the lampstand and held 12 loaves of bread, representing the 12 tribes of Israel. The priests baked the bread with fine flour and it remained on the table before the Lord for a week; every Sabbath day the priests would remove it and eat it in the Holy Place, then put fresh bread on the table. Only priests could eat the bread, and it could only be eaten in the Holy Place, because it was holy.
“Showbread” also was called “bread of the presence” because it was to be always in the Lord’s presence. The table and the bread were a picture of God’s willingness to fellowship and communion (literally speaking, sharing something in common) with man. It was like an invitation to share a meal, an extension of friendship. Eating together often is an act of fellowship. God was willing for man to enter into His presence to fellowship with Him, and this invitation was always open.
Jesus exemplified this when He ate with tax collectors, prostitutes and the sinners of Jewish society. But this was more than just a gesture of friendship on earth. Jesus came to call sinners to Him, make them right with God, so that they could enjoy everlasting fellowship with God.
“Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof and not die.” (John 6:35, 49-50)
God so desires our fellowship that He was willing to come to earth from heaven as our “bread of life” to give eternal life to all those who would partake in it. At Jesus’ last Passover meal with His disciples, Jesus described Himself as bread again:
“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.’” (Matthew 26:26)
Jesus’ broken body is our only access to fellowship with God. Today, we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, or communion, to remember this important truth. And today, as in the day of Moses’ tabernacle, God still desires to have fellowship and sit down for a feast with His people.
“ 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.” (Revelations 3:20)
The Golden Altar of Incense
The golden altar of incense, which is not to be confused with the brazen altar, sat in front of the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. This altar was smaller than the brazen altar. It was a square with each side measuring 1.5 feet and was 3 feet high. It was made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold. Four horns protruded from the four corners of the altar.
God commanded the priests to burn incense on the golden altar every morning and evening, the same time that the daily burnt offerings were made. The incense was to be left burning continually throughout the day and night as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. It was made of an equal part of four precious spices (stacte, onycha, galbanum and frankincense) and was considered holy. God commanded the Israelites not to use the same formula outside the tabernacle to make perfume for their own consumption; otherwise, they were to be cut off from their people (Exodus 30 verses 34-38).
The incense was a symbol of the prayers and intercession of the people going up to God as a sweet fragrance. God wanted His dwelling to be a place where people could approach Him and pray to Him.
“…for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.” (Isaiah 56:7)
The picture of prayers wafting up to heaven like incense is captured in David’s psalm and also in John’s vision in Revelations:
“Let my prayer be set before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” (Psalm 141:2)
“And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer,. and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.” (Revelations 8:3-4)
The golden altar, furthermore, is a representation of Christ, who is our intercessor before God the Father. During His days on earth, Jesus prayed for the believers. He was like the high priest of the tabernacle, who bore the names of each of the Israelite tribes on his breastplate before God. Just before He was betrayed and sentenced to death, Jesus interceded for His disciples and all believers, asking God to guard them from evil and sanctify them by His Word, and that they may see God’s glory and be a witness to the world (John 17 verses 1 - 26). Today, Jesus still is our high priest at the Father’s side, interceding for God’s people:
“..It is Christ that died,yea rather, that is risen again,who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Romans 8:34)
Since we have been forgiven of our sins through the blood of Christ, we also come boldly in prayer in Jesus’ name. When we pray in Jesus’ name, we are praying based on the work He has done and not on our own merit. It is in His powerful name that we are saved and baptized, and in His name we live, speak and act.
“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14)
The horns of the golden altar were sprinkled with blood from the animal sacrifice to cleanse and purify it from the sins of the Israelites (Leviticus 4:7, 16:18). Just as the horns on the brazen altar represent the power of Christ’s blood to forgive sins, the horns on golden altar signify the power of His blood in prayer as we confess our sins and ask for His forgiveness.
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick; and the Lord shall raise him up;and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:15-16)
The Holy of Holies and the Veil
Within the Holy Place of the tabernacle, there was an inner room called the Holy of Holies, or the Most Holy Place. Judging from its name, we can see that it was a most sacred room, a place no ordinary person could enter. It was God’s special dwelling place in the midst of His people. During the Israelites’ wanderings in the wilderness, God appeared as a pillar of cloud or fire in and above the Holy of Holies. The Holy of Holies was a perfect cube — its length, width and height were all equal to 15 feet.
A thick curtain separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place. This curtain, known as the “veil,” was made of fine linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn. There were figures of cherubim (angels) embroidered onto it. Cherubim, spirits who serve God, were in the presence of God to demonstrate His almighty power and majesty. They also guarded the throne of God. These cherubim were also on the innermost layer of covering of the tent. If one looked upward, they would see the cherubim figures. Let us watch a video on the Operations of Angels by Dr. Myles Munroe.
The word “veil” in Hebrew means a screen, divider or separator that hides. What was this curtain hiding? Essentially, it was shielding a holy God from sinful man. Whoever entered into the Holy of Holies was entering the very presence of God. In fact, anyone except the high priest who entered the Holy of Holies would die. Even the high priest, God’s chosen mediator with His people, could only pass through the veil and enter this sacred dwelling once a year, on a prescribed day called the Day of Atonement.
The picture of the veil was that of a barrier between man and God, showing man that the holiness of God could not be trifled with. God’s eyes are too pure to look on evil and He can tolerate no sin (Habakkuk 1 verse 13). The veil was a barrier to make sure that man could not carelessly and irreverently enter into God’s awesome presence. Even as the high priest entered the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement, he had to make some meticulous preparations: He had to wash himself, put on special clothing, bring burning incense to let the smoke cover his eyes from a direct view of God, and bring blood with him to make atonement for sins.
“But into the second room (Holy of Holies) went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:” (Hebrews 9:7)
So the presence of God remained shielded from man behind a thick curtain during the history of Israel. However, Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross changed that. When He died, the curtain in the Jerusalem temple was torn in half, from the top to the bottom. Only God could have carried out such an incredible feat because the veil was too high for human hands to have reached it, and too thick to have torn it. (The Jerusalem temple, a replica of the wilderness tabernacle, had a curtain that was about 30 feet in height, 30 feet in width and four inches thick.) Furthermore, it was torn from top down, meaning this act must have come from above. Dimensions of Holy of Holies - I Kings 6 verses 19 - 20
As the veil was torn, the Holy of Holies was exposed. God’s presence was now accessible to all. Shocking as this may have been to the priests ministering in the temple that day, it is indeed good news to us as believers, because we know that Jesus’ death has atoned for our sins and made us right before God. The torn veil illustrated Jesus’ body broken for us, opening the way for us to come to God. As Jesus cried out “It is finished!” on the cross, He was indeed proclaiming that God’s redemptive plan was now complete. The age of animal offerings was over. The ultimate offering had been sacrificed.
We can now boldly enter into God’s presence, “the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.” (Hebrews 6 verses 19 - 20)
“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil,that is to say, His flesh; …let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.” (Hebrews 10:19-22)
The Holy of Holies is a representation of heaven itself, God’s dwelling place, which we have access now through Christ. In Revelations, John’s vision of heaven — the New Jerusalem — also was a perfect square, just as the Holy of Holies was (Revelation 21 verse 16).
“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;d…But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself..” (Hebrews 9:24-26)
The Ark of the Covenant and Atonement Cover
Within the Holy of Holies, shielded from the eye of the common man, was one piece of furniture comprising two parts: the Ark of the Covenant and the atonement cover (or “mercy seat”) on top of it. The ark was a chest made of acacia wood, overlaid with pure gold inside and out. It was 3 feet, 9 inches long and 2 feet, 3 inches wide and high. God commanded Moses to put in the ark three items: a golden pot of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the two stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments were written. We will discuss these three objects in further detail below.
The atonement cover was the lid for the ark. On top of it stood two cherubim (angels) at the two ends, facing each other. The cherubim, symbols of God’s divine presence and power, were facing downward toward the ark with outstretched wings that covered the atonement cover. The whole structure was beaten out of one piece of pure gold. The atonement cover was God’s dwelling place in the tabernacle. It was His throne, flanked by angels. God said to Moses:
“And there i will meet with thee, and i will commune with thee, from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.” (Exodus 25 verse 22)
“And the Lord said unto Moses, speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the Mercy Seat.which is upon the ark; that he die not: for i will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.” (Leviticus 16:2)
Other Scriptures also speak of God’s throne:
“…to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name of the Lord of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.” (2 Samuel 6:2)
“O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone,: thou hast made heaven and earth.” (Isaiah 37:16)
Above the ark and the atonement cover, God appeared in His glory in “unapproachable light” (1 Timothy 6:16). This light is sometimes referred to as the Shekinah glory. The word Shekinah, although it does not appear in our English bibles, has the same roots as the word for tabernacle in Hebrew and refers to the presence of the Lord.
Because the ark was God’s throne among His people, it was a symbol of His presence and power with them wherever it went. There are quite a number of miracles recorded in the Old Testament surrounding the ark:
With the presence of the ark, the waters of the River Jordan divided so the Israelites could cross on dry land (Joshua 3 verses 14-17), and
the walls of Jericho fell so that the Israelites could capture it (Joshua 6 verses 6 - 21).
Yet the ark could not be treated with irreverence because it was also a symbol of God’s judgment and wrath. When the Israelites fought their enemies the Philistines during the time of the prophet Samuel, they disregarded the commands of the Lord and took the ark out to the battlefield with them, “summoning” God’s presence. God caused the Philistines to win the battle and “the glory departed from Israel, for the ark of the Lord was taken” (I Samuel 4 verse 22).
However, God showed His power to the Philistines when He caused their idol, Dagon, to fall to the ground when the ark was placed next to it, and several Philistine cities were plagued heavily when the ark was in their midst (I Samuel 5). Ultimately, the ark was returned to Israel.
With the presence of the ark, the waters of the River Jordan divided so the Israelites could cross on dry land (Joshua 3 verses 14-17), and
the walls of Jericho fell so that the Israelites could capture it (Joshua 6 verses 6 - 21).
Yet the ark could not be treated with irreverence because it was also a symbol of God’s judgment and wrath. When the Israelites fought their enemies the Philistines during the time of the prophet Samuel, they disregarded the commands of the Lord and took the ark out to the battlefield with them, “summoning” God’s presence. God caused the Philistines to win the battle and “the glory departed from Israel, for the ark of the Lord was taken” (I Samuel 4 verse 22).
However, God showed His power to the Philistines when He caused their idol, Dagon, to fall to the ground when the ark was placed next to it, and several Philistine cities were plagued heavily when the ark was in their midst (I Samuel 5). Ultimately, the ark was returned to Israel.
Articles in the Ark of the Covenant
What may seem strange to us today is that, hidden in the special golden box representing God’s presence were not treasures and precious gems, but three unlikely items: a jar of bread, a stick and two stones. What were these curious keepsakes and why did God want them in His ark?
The three articles represented some of the most embarrassing and disgraceful events in the history of the Israelites.
First, the pot of manna:
“This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Take an omer [portion for one man] of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the desert when I brought you out of Egypt.’” (Exodus 16:32)
God had provided this bread-like food for the Israelites when they grumbled during the wanderings in the desert. It was bread from heaven! He continued to provide the food daily and faithfully, but the people were not one bit thankful. They complained and wanted something else. The pot of manna was an uncomfortable reminder that despite what God had provided for them, the Israelites had rejected God’s provision.
Second, Aaron’s staff that had budded: The people, out of jealousy, rebelled against Aaron as their high priest. To resolve the dispute, God commanded the people to take 12 sticks written with the names of the leader of each tribe and place them before the ark overnight. The next day, Aaron’s rod from the house of Levi had budded with blossoms and almonds. God confirmed his choice of Aaron’s household as the priestly line.
“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Put back the staff of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebels, that you may make an end of their grumblings against me, lest they die.’” (Numbers 17:10)
The staff reminded the Israelites that on more than one occasion, they had rejected God’s authority.
Third, the two stone tablets with the Ten Commandments: God had chosen the Israelites as His special people. For the Israelites to qualify for that distinction, God had demanded one thing. They must obey His Law, the Ten Commandments. This was a conditional agreement:
“Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:5-6)
The Israelites had said heartily, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do,” in response to God’s covenant (Exodus 19:8). But how did they fare in fulfilling their end of the contract? Miserably. It was impossible for them to keep the Ten Commandments perfectly. Over and over again, they violated God’s holy Law, and God made it clear to them the consequences of their sin by sending plagues, natural hazards and foreign armies upon them. The stone tablets in the ark were a reminder that the Israelites had rejected God’s right standard of living.
These three articles were preserved in the ark throughout Israel’s history as an unpleasant symbol of man’s sins and shortcomings, a reminder of how they rejected God’s provision, authority and right standard of living. It pointed to man as a helpless sinner.
It may have been uncomfortable to think that God’s splendor was so close to the three articles associated with man’s sinfulness. But this is where God’s provision comes in. When God looked down from His presence above the ark, He did not see the reminders of sin. They were covered by a necessary object — the atonement cover.
The Atonement Cover
Every year, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement. Bringing burning incense to shield his eyes from a direct view of God’s glory, he sprinkled blood from a bull onto the atonement cover for his and his household’s sins, then sprinkled blood from a goat for all the sins of Israel. God promised that when He saw the blood, it would cover over man’s sin. (To atone for means to cover over — hence the name atonement cover.) God did not see the sin anymore but the provision instead, and it appeased His wrath.
The Israelites found acceptance with God by believing His word to be true — that when their sins were covered by blood, God temporarily overlooked their sins as if they had been obliterated. But Jesus Christ has become our permanent atonement cover. Through Jesus’ blood, our sins have been covered over. When God looks at us, He doesn’t see our sin, but the provision: His own Son. Jesus lay down His life for us as an innocent sacrifice so that God would look on us and see His perfection.
The atonement cover was God’s throne in the midst of the Israelites. God is on His throne today in heaven and Jesus, our high priest, is at His right side. When we come to God now, we approach a throne of grace.
“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)
Articles in the Ark — Revisited
The three items in the ark that served as a sore reminder of man’s shortcomings have taken on a different meaning since Jesus Christ redeemed us from our sins. Let’s review the three articles and see how they point to Christ.
First, the pot of manna: When Jesus came and walked on earth, he didn’t reject God’s provision. Rather, He became God’s provision to us. Manna, the bread from heaven, in itself did not impart life. But Jesus told us that He is the true bread from heaven.
“Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily‘I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. I am the bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread that which down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof and not die.’” (John 6:32, 48-50)
Second, Aaron’s budding staff: Jesus didn’t reject God’s authority. Instead, He submitted Himself to the Father’s will and died on the cross.
“For I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me.” (John 6:38)
But He came back to life like Aaron’s budding rod, “the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20).
“I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” (John 11:15-26)
Third, the Ten Commandments: Jesus didn’t reject God’s right standard of living. He lived a sinless life and obeyed God’s law perfectly, becoming our perfect sacrifice and intercessor. His sacrifice instituted a new covenant that was not based on the Law.
But now a righteousness from God,without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets testify. Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto to all and upon all who believe.” (Romans 3:20-22)
CONCLUSION
In concluding, well people you have had a lot let me not overburden you. Just a note to my Christian brethren let us not sell Christ short we have a great salvation. Let us vow to be like our DNA meticulous and detailed in the things of the kingdom.
If we are not careful we can use grace for familiarity but God is still King of kings and Lord of lords. The Tabernacle highlights the fact that we should not become too familiar with God. He has His ways of doing things and we should become familiar with His ways by searching His word. I tell you people atonement month in Israel was a month of high drama.Psalm 62 verse 11.
Until next month this is me Lillene’s baby girl Raphleta coming to you from St. Catharines. I suppose I had to put them on the map.
À bientôt
REFERENCES
