The bible says in 1 Corinthians 6:19 that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. I have been pondering on this thought for some time now...revealing also the OT tabernacle in the wilderness, the Temple that was built in the days of Ezra up to the last temple, Solomon's temple which was restored during the days of King Herod. I understand that, that temple was still standing when Jesus was in ministry. All of these things were shadows of things to come.
Tracing the Arks
Can be traced all the way back to the days of Noah, when God destroyed the world but saved 8 people and some specifically chosen animals. God kept Noah and his family safe until the flood subsided 1 Peter 3:18-21. Again we see the re-appearance of the same type of structure but this time it had been fashioned to reside in the Holy of Holies within a makeshift tabernacle, which Moses had been commanded to make by God Exodus 25:10-22.
This Ark [of the covenant] eventually contained, 2 stone tablets, a jar of Manna and Aaron's budding rod. Hebrews 9:3-4 These three items are a representation of the very words of Jesus spoken in:
John 14:6 - saying
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
The way - symbolic of the jar of manna John 6:32-33, the truth - the stone tablets Ephesians 1:13 1 Thessalonians 2:13 and the life, a representation of Aaron's budding rod 2 Timothy 1:9,10. All these things were holy unto the Lord because they were shadows of the coming Messiah. The tabernacle was also a prototype of the future temples including the last physical structure [King Herod's temple]. Scholars believe that the Ark was hidden by one of the prophets and disappeared after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. [unsure whether that was when the Ark actually disappeared].
When Jesus died on the cross, he rose again and now sits on the right-hand side of the Father, as the Great High Priest forever, interceding on our behalf. He died as a pure and perfect sacrifice on our behalf so that those who believe and receive him by faith, may be saved.
Romans 10:8-10
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
But that is not the end...
John 14 also goes on to say:
15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth.The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.
The Holy Spirit comes to dwell in those who believe in him by faith. Our bodies are the last temple before Jesus comes again. This temple is liken to the outer court - our flesh/body, the Holy place, our soul and The Holy of Holies, where our spirit and the Holy Spirit reside [Romans 8:16].
I re-iterate this very important point again..."The Arks are liken to an abode/house where the Holy Spirit has come to dwell and we are the last temple before Jesus comes again".
The Promise given to Abraham
16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. Galatians 3.
The Promise of the Holy Spirit through Jesus our Redeemer
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”, 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3
John 7
37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Galatians 4:6
Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
The Holy Spirit teaches us, instructs us and helps us to be transformed into his likeness, the likeness of the Son of God and also to bear fruit of righteousness. This is a daily walking, living sanctifying process...the Ark will be seen again in heaven, where the Great High Priest [Jesus] lives and is and is to come!
Revelation 11
16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces(AM) and worshiped God, 17 saying:
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign.
18 The nations were angry;
and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,
and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your saints and those who reverence your name,
both small and great
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”
19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm.
Shalom!!!
Tracing the Arks
Can be traced all the way back to the days of Noah, when God destroyed the world but saved 8 people and some specifically chosen animals. God kept Noah and his family safe until the flood subsided 1 Peter 3:18-21. Again we see the re-appearance of the same type of structure but this time it had been fashioned to reside in the Holy of Holies within a makeshift tabernacle, which Moses had been commanded to make by God Exodus 25:10-22.
This Ark [of the covenant] eventually contained, 2 stone tablets, a jar of Manna and Aaron's budding rod. Hebrews 9:3-4 These three items are a representation of the very words of Jesus spoken in:
John 14:6 - saying
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
The way - symbolic of the jar of manna John 6:32-33, the truth - the stone tablets Ephesians 1:13 1 Thessalonians 2:13 and the life, a representation of Aaron's budding rod 2 Timothy 1:9,10. All these things were holy unto the Lord because they were shadows of the coming Messiah. The tabernacle was also a prototype of the future temples including the last physical structure [King Herod's temple]. Scholars believe that the Ark was hidden by one of the prophets and disappeared after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. [unsure whether that was when the Ark actually disappeared].
When Jesus died on the cross, he rose again and now sits on the right-hand side of the Father, as the Great High Priest forever, interceding on our behalf. He died as a pure and perfect sacrifice on our behalf so that those who believe and receive him by faith, may be saved.
Romans 10:8-10
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
But that is not the end...
John 14 also goes on to say:
15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth.The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.
The Holy Spirit comes to dwell in those who believe in him by faith. Our bodies are the last temple before Jesus comes again. This temple is liken to the outer court - our flesh/body, the Holy place, our soul and The Holy of Holies, where our spirit and the Holy Spirit reside [Romans 8:16].
I re-iterate this very important point again..."The Arks are liken to an abode/house where the Holy Spirit has come to dwell and we are the last temple before Jesus comes again".
The Promise given to Abraham
16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. Galatians 3.
The Promise of the Holy Spirit through Jesus our Redeemer
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”, 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3
John 7
37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Galatians 4:6
Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
The Holy Spirit teaches us, instructs us and helps us to be transformed into his likeness, the likeness of the Son of God and also to bear fruit of righteousness. This is a daily walking, living sanctifying process...the Ark will be seen again in heaven, where the Great High Priest [Jesus] lives and is and is to come!
Revelation 11
16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces(AM) and worshiped God, 17 saying:
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign.
18 The nations were angry;
and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,
and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your saints and those who reverence your name,
both small and great
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”
19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm.
Shalom!!!
