VIII. Ark of the Covenant going 2,000 cubits before Israel
             
             The "Ark of the Covenant" (Josh.3:1-6) is a shadow (model, type, picture, example, blueprint ) of what
             Jesus is to the Church today. As the priests carried the Ark ahead of the "Church in the wilderness"       
              (Acts.7:38, 1Cor.10:11) 2000 cubits, Jesus has gone ahead of the Church 2000 years, and is waiting
             (Acts.3:19-21, Rev.10:7) in the midst of the Jordan for the "complete collection"[17] of all the people of God
             at His Second Coming (1Thes.4:17, 2Thes.2:1).

​              T



























             A. What was the Ark of the Covenant?
                      
                   The Ark of the Covenant  belonged in the Most Holy place of the Tabernacle of Moses. This was 
                   where God met with Moses (Exod.25:22). This was  where God gave commandment for all things
                   concerning the "Church in the wilderness" (Israel Acts.7:38).  

                 1. Description

                        It was two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high (Exod.25:10). 
                        A Cubit is approx.18 inches. It was made of shittim wood and overlaid with gold (Exod.25:11). It had
                        a lid called the "mercy seat" (Exod.25:20). The mercy seat was covered by two cherubims that 
                        stretched forth their wings (Exod.25:20- 22). The Ark had four rings with four staves for traveling 
                          (Exod.25:12-15; 30:4, Num.7:9, 1Chron.15:14).

                   2. The Ark belonged in the Most Holy Place

                        Moses was told to "hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within
                    the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and
                        the most holy (Exod.26:33-34).

​             B. The Ark of the Covenant is a "ensample" (type) of Christ.
                       
                   God says, "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" (Ex 25:22-23).
                  
                  1. The word "propitiation" means "mercy seat" 
  
                        Christ is the fulfillment (completion) of the mercy seat. He (Jesus) is our "propitiation,"[19]i.e.
                        mercy seat (1John.2:2, Rom.3:25, Heb.9:5). The blood of Jesus is the only place of atonement in
                        the true Tabernacle (Heb.8:1-5), just as the blood stained mercy seat was the place of atonement
                        in the "model" of the Tabernacle of Moses (Lev.16, Heb.9-10).

                 2. Ark was the center piece of the Law of Moses
                        
                        The Ark of the Covenant was the reason (the purpose) for all the structure of the Tabernacle, all
                        the Laws, the Priesthood and the Offerings. The same is true for the New Testament Church. Christ
                        must have preeminence (be the center). Jesus is to be "the head of the body, the Church...that in all
                        things he might have preeminence" (Col 1:18).

                3. The Ark was the only meeting place 
                        
                        "I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim's

                        which are upon the ark of the testimony" (Exod.25:22-23, Lev.16). There is "one God, and

                        one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1Tim 2:5-6, John.14:6). The

                        pattern has not changed, only fulfilled / completed. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only 

                         meeting place with God in the New Covenant  (1Tim.2:5, John.14:6, Acts.4:12).

                   4. God's voice heard only with the Ark
                        
                        God says, "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" (Exod.25:23). The
                        pattern has not been destroyed, but fulfilled (Matt.5:17-18). There is only one place where God's
                        voice is heard, that is through Jesus Christ, our propitiation / our mercy seat. All other voices are
                        "another Jesus" (2Cor.11:4, Gal.1:6).

                   5. The Ark lead Israel (The Church in the wilderness)
    
                        Jesus has been leading (John.16:12-15, 1Cor.2:9-14) the Church on a journey, just as the Ark lead
                        Israel (Num.9:15-23; 10:1-36).  Review: Phase.2, Pages.1-4

                   6. After crossing Jordan, Jericho being defeated 
                   

                        After there was a complete collection[17](2Thes.2:1) of the Church in the wilderness (with the Ark
                        of the Covenant 1Thes.4:17) to the other side of Jordan, then there was the complete destruction
                        of Jericho. This is a model (type, picture, shadow) of the kingdoms of this world becoming the
                        kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ (Rev.11:15, Josh.6:1-26, v.20).

Review: PHASE 3, COVER Page / Page 1 / Page 2 / Page 3 / Page 4 / Page 5 / Page 6 / Page 7
​NEXT: PHASE 3, Page 9 

m

                                                                                               Bibleteachingonline101.net / Phase 3, Page 8 / Cont. from Page 7