Part 1: THE SANCTUARY AND THE ARC OF COVENANT

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Those who believe in Jesus Christ are “Jews” because they become Abraham’s seed. We are heirs through faith in Christ. Galatians 3:28-29 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Jesus is our High Priest, the Minister of the Heavenly Sanctuary

Hebrews 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

In order to have a clear picture of what the sanctuary is, we need to study the sanctuary system of the Hebrew nation.

Hebrews 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of

the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

The “veil” here is a reference to the Sanctuary veil. In the Hebrew Sanctuary, there were 3 main sections. (1)First you had the Outer Court where the animal sacrifices took place. In the outer court, sinners brought their sin offerings and thanksgiving offerings to the priest. This is where you had the Altar of Burnt Offerings. The Bronze Laver was also located in the outer court, where the priest would wash his hands and feet before entering the sanctuary.

When Jesus died on the cross, the sanctuary veil was rent or torn from top to bottom signifying that God did it and that He brought an end to the earthly animal sacrifice system because Jesus shed his blood for the remission of our sins.

Matthew 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

(2)Second, there was the Holy Place of the sanctuary, this is where the priest performed the daily service.

The articles of furniture were:

• Table of Shewbread – Jesus is our bread of life
• Seven Golden Candlestick – Jesus the light of the world
• Altar of Incense – The intercessory prayer of Jesus on our behalf.

(3)Most Holy Place

The only furniture in the Most Holy Place is the Ark of Testament (Covenant) which contained the tablets of stone with the holy Ten Commandments written with the finger of God.

Exodus 31:18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

Thus, Jesus became our High Priest in the Heavenly Sanctuary.

Earthly Sanctuary	Heavenly Sanctuary/Temple
Exodus 25 ^8   And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. ^9   According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.	Revelation 15 ^5   And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:

Hebrews 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Hebrews 7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

Jesus became the minister of the heavenly sanctuary that God made and not man.

Hebrews 8:1-2 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

The tabernacle on earth was a copy of the heavenly. God showed Moses a pattern and he was to made the earthly sanctuary according to that pattern. The entire sanctuary service was a representation of Christ’s redemptive work for humanity. Every object in the sanctuary had a particular meaning. Christ himself was the Sacrifice and the High Priest. When Christ died, he fulfilled the sacrificial service of the sanctuary which took place in the outer court. When Jesus Christ resurrected, He became our High Priest of the heavenly sanctuary that God made and not man.

Hebrews 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

Compare the Earthly Sanctuary with the Heavenly:

Animal Sacrifice	Christ our Sacrifice
Leviticus 5: 6 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.	Hebrews 9: 12   Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Hebrews 9: 28   So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Levites as Priests	Christ our High Priest
Numbers 8: 9   And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together: 11   And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering of the children of Israel, that they may execute the service of the LORD.	Hebrews 9: 11   But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

Earthly Ark of Covenant (Ark of Testament)	Heavenly Ark of Covenant (Ark of Testament)
Hebrews 9:4  Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;	Revelation 11:19  And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Revelation Reveals Christ.

Ø It shows Him as a ministering priest among the churches ( Revelation 1:12,13 & 20).

Ø It reveals the opening of the holy place in the heavenly sanctuary.

Ø It shows Christ's work in the Holy Place beginning.

Ø It shows one door closing and another door opening in that sanctuary.

Ø It shows the time of judgment( Jesus enters the Most Holy place Revelation 11:19)

Ø It shows the closing scenes during that judgment.

A new Covenant:

Hebrews 8:8-10 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

Old Covenant	New Covenant
Exodus 34 28   And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.	Hebrews 10: 16   This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

The “New Covenant” is not a new system of worship or new rules, but it is the same Law of God, given on Mount Sinai, written with the finger of God that will be written in our hearts. These verses show that the bible is very consistent. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament agree what the New Covenant is.

Exodus 31:18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

Jeremiah 31:31-33 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Revelation 14: 12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the

Commandments of God, and the Faith of Jesus.

Ecclesiastes 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.