REDEMPTION FURNITURE
The measurements of the Set-Apart place = 24,000 cubical content. 24 is symbolic of Yahuah's Order and Government, especially seen in the Priestly courses established by David (24 Priests on duty 24 hours a day, representing the 24,000 Priestly Courses, who represented the thousands of Yisharal before the Master in His Temple).
In the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Blood-Covenant stood on the "earthen floor", shadowing the redemptive plan of Yahuah on this earth. The Esteem of Yahusha will cover the earth. However, all that pertains to the Temple has to do with the "gold floor" and points ultimately to the city of Yahusha with its streets of gold, the New City foursquare.
The reason everything had to be built "according to the divine pattern/blueprint" given to Moses and now David, is because everything in the Tabernacle and Temple shadowed forth a little piece of truth regarding the way a genuine applicant approaches their Creator and enters a narrow pathway of redemption. Of course every pattern and shadow finds it's ultimate fulfilment and richness in the life and body of Yahusha Himself and then the training process within His Bride. So let's really look at just how much planning and preparation Yahusha put into our deliverance.
THE TEMPLE WAS TWICE THE SIZE OF MOSES’ TABERNACLE AND WAS A SHADOW OF TIME RELATING TO YAHUAH’S REDEMPTION PLAN.
24 is the ultimate number in the city of Yahuah, the New Yerushalim, so the Set-Apart Place of the Temple is stamped with the significance of the number 24 in all its multiples as a shadow. The measurements of the Most Set-Apart Place also point to the New City of Yahusha, where the Throne is found, being foursquare, or a perfect cube, just as the most Set-Apart place of the Tabernacle of Moses was foursquare.
The Tabernacle on the "earthen floor" represents all that Yahusha will accomplish on this earth in the realm of TIME. The Temple however, with it's "gold floor" and the walls garnished with precious stones, is a revelation and shadow of Heaven and ETERNITY in His plan of redemption (eternity is an existence completely outside the measurement of time and space). The Temple House itself has no brass (earthiness and judgment) in it - everything is PURE GOLD, speaking of Yahuah's perfect radioactive set-apartness and Esteem being revealed.
THE COURTS OF THE TEMPLE
Surrounding the Temple were two Great Courts:
1. The Inner Court for the Priests
2. The Outer Court for Yisharal, called the Great Court
The Inner Court was strictly for the Priests and their service at the Brazen Altar, the Molten Sea and the Lavers (wash basins). In this Inner Court was the Temple Porch and the Temple itself with its Set-Apart Place and most Set-Apart Place. Ezekiel speaks of it also as the Inner Court where the Priests boiled the trespass offerings and prepared the sin offerings for the cleansing of the Yisharalites. The emphasis in this court is upon sacrifice (the brazen altar), and cleansing (the molten sea and the ten lavers). This is the message shadowing from the Inner Court. Before any Priest could enter into the House of the Master, they must know the cleansing by sacrificial blood and washing by the cleansing water.
The same is true for New Blood-Covenant Bride as Priests. Before we come into the House of the Master we must know the cleansing by blood and water which flowed from the side of Yahusha on the Torture Stake.
The Outer Court was for the people of Yisharal. In Ezekiel's Vision there seemed to be several gates into this court with its gates is thanksgiving and praise. The fact that there were two courts point to distinctions in the approach to Yahuah. The Yisharalites could enter the Great Court, but only the Priests could enter the Inner Court. Later on, in Herod's Temple, there were several courts. There was the Court of the Women, the Priests Court, and the Court of the Gentiles and a Court of Yisharal. All this pointed (in National sense) to the racial and ethnic divisions of Jew and Gentile, the circumcised and uncircumcised peoples. Through Yahusha however, the divisions between these ethnic groups are broken down and both Jew and Gentile could come into the Courts of the Master and become one in His House, His Assembly.
The Temple furniture is basically the same as what was in the Tabernacle of Moses, only on a much grander scale. However, there are some important and significant things to notice in the Temple "ONES" and the Temple "TENS". There was only one Brass Altar and one Molten Sea in the Outer Court, just like Moses' Tabernacle. There was only one Golden Altar of Incense and Table of Showbread in the Set-Apart place, and of course there was only one Ark of the Blood-Covenant in the Most Set-Apart Place.
However, there were ten lavers (basins) of water in the Inner Temple Court, ten Golden Lampstands in the Set-Apart Place and ten Tables of Showbread in the Set-Apart Place.
All Altars were places of Atoning Sacrifice and bloodshed, pointing to Yahusha's Torture Stake. Solomon's Altar Grates upheld the sacrificial victim as the body and blood of the offerings were presented to the Master. Paul, "We have an altar . . ." (HEB 13). Yahusha Messiah's body and blood sacrifice was offered ceasing all previous altars. Calvary fulfilled and abolished all these shadow altars. All men of belief built their altar of sacrifice and worship to the Master as they called on His Name. Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all built their altars to the Master.
Solomon's Great Altar (as with Moses') was made of brass (copper or bronze). It was an altar of acacia wood, overlaid with brass. It was bright brass, made bright by scouring. In the Tabernacle Court there was the Altar of Brass, the Brass Laver, the Brass Pillars and their sockets. In the Temple court (the Inner Court of the Priests) there was the Brazen Altar, the Molten (Brazen) Sea, the Brazen Lavers and the Doors overlaid with brass. Also there were the two great Pillars of Brass at the Temple Porch.
The Temple Altar was about FOUR TIMES LARGER than the brazen altar in the Tabernacle. Its size was tremendous. There was no other vessel comparable in size with it! The Altar was 10 cubits high, for the number 10 is the number of Divine Law, the number of human responsibility. Man has violated the 10 Commandments. Sin is transgression of the Divine Law of Yahuah. Death is the wages of sin. So Yahusha was impaled for our sin and our transgression of Yahuah's Divine Laws and Instructions.
Yahusha's blood was spilt on the earth but taken to Heaven. From Calvary's Altar to Heaven's Throne, from Earth's outer court to Heaven's Most Set-Apart Place is the path of Yahusha. The Lamb on the altar in the Court (the stake) becomes the Lamb on the Ark in the Set-Apart Place (the throne of Yahuah in Heaven).
In prophetic significance, the 20 x 20 x 10 cubical content of the altar equals 4000 cubical capacity in the altar of brass. From Adam to Messiah we have an estimated 4000 years of time in which all animal blood sacrifices took place, all sacrificial blood was shed.
There are about 15 verses about the Brass Altar in the Tabernacle of Moses, yet only 1 one verse about the Altar in Solomon's Temple. Obviously the truth of the Brazen Altar had already been firmly established in the National life of Yahuah's House for so many years, since the shedding of blood through the Sacrificial System was the only way to have any kind of peace and intimacy with Yahuah.
"ALTAR" itself means "lifted up", "high" or "ascending". Yahusha Messiah was lifted up on the stake, His altar. Since then He has ascended on high and is far above all. It also has the Hebrew thought of "slaughter place". Calvary was the place where Yahusha was slaughtered as the Lamb of Yahuah for our sins. The altar therefore pointed to Yahusha's Sacrifice. The altar in Yisharal was the one and only place of blood-shedding. It was the place of substitutionary death.
There was no blood shed or no death in the Set-Apart Place. The Court was the only place of Sacrificial Death. However, the blood of that finished sacrifice was taken from the Court into the Temple and sprinkled there before Yahuah.
Brass is the symbol of judgment against sin and selfishness. The Heavens over Yisharal would be as brass upon Yisharal's sin of disobedience to the Divine Laws of the Master. Messiah was lifted up as the Serpent of Brass on the Toture Stake. There He was judged for our sin. Death is Yahuah's judgment against sin. His feet are as burning brass when He judges sin in His Assembly.
The Brazen Altar was the same height as the Two Great Olive Cherubim in the Most Set-Apart Place, overshadowing the Ark of the Blood-Covenant. The Psalmist spoke of the Shepherd of Yisharal who dwelt "between the Cherubim shining forth" (PS 80). And again, he spoke of "the Master who Reigns, sitting between the Cherubim" (PS 99). Obviously these Psalms are prophetic of Yahusha, the Shepherd of Yisharal, who came into this world to die on the the altar and shed His blood there as the Good, Great and Chief Shepherd. He has now returned to the throne of Yahuah "between the cherubims" and sits enthroned there having obtained eternal redemption for us by the blood of atonement. He is greater than all Angels, who are but serving spirits sent forth to the children of deliverance.
It began with the substitute victim in Genesis 3 and ended with the New Blood-Covenant blood of Yahusha. All sin from Adam to Messiah, were judged by Yahuah in Messiah, against Messiah, on the Torture Stake. This 4000 cubical content also corresponds to the four days in which the Passover Lamb was kept aside, preparing to die. A day to the Master is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. His once-for-all sacrifice brought an end to animal sacrifices, and caused "the sacrifice and oblation to cease".
In Solomon's Temple, the Upper Room Treasury (right above the Most Set-Apart Place) had the very same measurements as the Brazen Altar. How applicable was the command of Yahusha to the rich young ruler in Mark 10, to "take up your torture stake (THE SYMBOL OF THE ALTAR), and follow Me and you will find treasure in Heaven".
(THE SYMBOL OF THE TREASURE CHAMBER)
THE BLOOD WAS TAKEN FROM THE FOUR-SQUARE SACRIFICIAL ALTAR INTO THE FOUR-SQUARE MOST SET-APART PLACE - POINTING TO THE FACT THAT THE BLOOD OF YAHUSHA, AVAILABLE TO THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH, IS THE ONLY MEANS OF ACCESS TO THE THRONEROOM OF THE NEW FOUR-SQUARE CITY OF YERUSHALIM.
This Temple altar had horns attached to it, just as the Brazen Altar in Moses' Tabernacle.
1. HORNS were used to bind the unwilling sacrificial animal to the altar. However, Yahusha was not an unwilling sacrifice, but He delighted to do the Father's will, even unto the death of the stake.
2. HORNS speak of power and strength. Animals use their horns to defend themselves. Horns are the power and strength of the animal. The Lamb of Yahuah is seen with seven horns, symbolic of the power of His sacrifice, His body and blood, and all-powerful truth to all the world.
3. HORNS speaks of the four-corners of the earth.
4. HORNS of the Altar were also a place of refuge, a place of life or death. Adonijah fled to the altar and took hold of the horns pleading for mercy and it was given. However Joab, who had followed Adonijah, fled to the horns of the altar seeking mercy. However, because of his great sins, he was slain at the altar. This same altar meant life to the one, and death to the other.
At Golgotha, one repentant thief found life in Messiah, the other found death. Paul says that the Gospel delivers death to some and a delivers life to others. The same sacrifice of Messiah will be life to all who repent and believe and death to those who refuse to do so.
Undoubtedly an Altar as large as Solomon's had steps. Concerning the Brazen Altar in the Tabernacle of Moses, steps were forbidden so that nakedness would not be seen, as in heathen altars. The Priests garments included linen breeches to cover nakedness. Ezekiel's vison of the altar showed it had steps to it also. Yahuah did not want anything that was heathenish, sensual or idolatrous associated with His Set-Apart Altar of atonement.
Yahusha is both Priest (in His divinity), and sacrifice (in His humanity). The Torture-Stake is the Altar and only place of redemption. The Altar of the Torture-Stake must always be first and foremost in all teaching and service to the Master.
Isaiah the prophet saw the Esteem of the thrice-Set-Apart Yahuah. He sensed the consciousness of his own uncleanness and his dwelling in the midst of a people of unclean lips. His cry was that of the leper who had to cry "unclean, unclean."
The Brazen Altar would be the FIRST article of furniture the Priests and any Yisharalites would face in their approach to Yahuah. Sacrificial blood by substitutionary offerings would be the only way of approach to Yahuah. None dare by-pass the altar of Yahuah. Blood must precede worship and service. So none dare by-pass the stake of Yahusha and His sacrifice to approach Yahuah.
The Seraphim, "the burning ones", took a live coal from off the altar and touched his lips, purging them of all uncleanness. Upon that basis, Isaiah was called by the Master to serve as a Prophet, for no doubt the coal was taken from the Brazen Altar and this was the Altar that was ever to be burning, never to go out, and this was the altar that dealt with sin.
SO EVERYTHING ABOUT THE BRAZEN ALTAR SPEAKS OF YAHUSHA MESSIAH AND HIS REDEMPTIVE WORK. THERE IS ONLY ONE ALTAR, ONE PLACE OF REDEMPTION AND DELIVERANCE. THERE IS AND EVER WILL BE ONLY ONE MESSIAH, ONE SAVIOUR, ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN YAHUAH AND MAN, THE MAN MESSIAH YAHUSHA. THIS IS THE VERY FIRST PRINCIPLE OF ACCESS TO THE NARROW GATE.
The Molten Sea (of bronze) resembled a great basin or bowl containing a vast sea of water. It was made of strong bronze, a hand breadth in thickness. Its brim was bent outward in a cup-like form, and made to resemble the flower of the lily, while underneath two rows of wild knops (cucumbers of apples) - 300 altogether ran around the sea for ornament. The capacity of this huge basin was 2,000 baths. This laver was supported by 12 bronze oxen, three looking towards each point of the compass.
The Molten Sea was a vessel fashioned by fire. Brass, as always, speaks of judgment against sin. Righteousness is the Set-Apartness of Yahuah in action against sin. The Brazen Altar dealt with sin and the Molten Sea dealt with the self. IT IS SELF-JUDGMENT. The Brazen Laver in Moses' Tabernacle was made from the little bronze vanity mirrors of the women, but here the Molten Sea was made of Brass from the spoils of David's battles against the enemies of Yahuah.
So the cleansing of the washing of water by the Word will be eternally sufficient for Yahusha's Bride. The Molten Sea was five cubits high, 5 being the number of favour, of life, and atonement. Yahusha received five wounds on the Torture-Stake, to bring life, to bring about the atonement or the reconciliation between Yahuah and mankind. The Molten Sea was 10 cubits in diameter, from brim to brim. Ten is the number of Divine Law, Order, Government and personal responsibility. Yahuah gave Yisharal Ten Commandments which they were responsible to keep. Messiah who is the favour of Yahuah personified, was born under the Divine Law, to redeem those under the curse. He alone kept the Divine Law perfectly that condemned sin but was fulfilled perfectly in Him and is now, by the Spirit, kept by the believer who walks after the Spirit.
These 12 oxen faced the four directions of the compass; three to the north, three to the south, three to the east and the west. Four is the number of earth, that which is universal, worldwide, or the four points of the compass. Their faces were out and their hinder parts in.
The measurements of this Sea were Divinely specified in contrast with the Laver in Moses' Tabernacle where no measurements are specifically recorded. Yahuah gave the measurements and man must build it according to the Divine pattern. The Molten Sea measured 5 cubits high, 10 cubits in diameter at its brim, and 30 cubits in circumference. It is circular, having no beginning or ending, which speaks of eternal things. Eternity is time without beginning or ending (it is actually the absense of time altogether and the death therein).
The 12 Brazen Oxen speak of the 12 Disciples chosen by Messiah. The 12 Oxen were made to uphold the Molten Sea and its cleansing service for the Priests. The 12 Disciples uphold Messiah in His cleansing service to the Assembly, His Bride. Their names are in the foundation of the New City. Twelve is the number of Government in Yisharal. This is seen in the numerous twelves mentioned in Scripture.
Just as in the Tabernacle of Moses the Priests had to wash hands and feet at the Brazen Laver, so that they die not as they entered into the Tabernacle of Yahuah, and so was the purpose of the Molten Sea. Only those who have clean hands (externally) and a pure heart (internally) can ascend into the hill of Yahuah. The Ten Lavers around the Temple were for the SACRIFICES to be washed in. The whole thought of the purpose of the Molten Sea is that of washing, cleansing for service, freedom from defilements.
WATER IN SCRIPTURE IS USED TO SPEAK OF DELIVERANCE, IMMERSION AND BEING FILLED WITH THE SET-APART SPIRIT. It has been suggested that the Molten Sea was like a great reservoir of water and that there was some kind of a pipe and tap that flowed out of the mouths of the Twelve Oxen. If so, this is how the Priests were cleansed. Perhaps Yahusha may have been alluding to this when He spoke of "rivers of living water" flowing forth from the belly. Yahusha's immersed Bride is called to be Priests, but we must be clean Priests to serve the Master in His house. The water is the water of the Word. It is available, but it is only the application of the water of the Word that makes one clean. There must be the daily washing for service. IN ANOTHER SYMBOLIC PICTURE WE MAY SEE THE MASTER YAHUSHA MESSIAH AS THE MOLTEN SEA, THE FULNESS OF THE SET-APART SPIRIT AS THE WATER, AND THE 12 DISCIPLES OR THE 12 OXEN TAKING THE GOSPEL OF MESSIAH TO THE WHOLE WORLD.
It is significant to see the relationship of these first two articles of furniture in the court. These would be the first two that any Yisharalite would see in their approach to Yahuah, as also for the Priests. First the Brazen Altar, and then secondly it would be the Molten Sea, or blood and water, and always in that order, not water and blood.
The Molten Sea was for the Priests to wash in, but the 10 Brazen Lavers were for the sacrifices to be washed in before offered on the Brazen Altar. The apparent truth seen here again is that which pertains to "blood and water" mingled together continually. At the Altar the sacrifices were burnt, while at the Lavers they were washed with water. Yahusha Messiah is both Priest and Sacrifice, and this is also true of His Bride who are also Priests and Living Sacrifices.
So Yahusha Messiah was judged (brass) for us on Calvary, and the blood and water cleansings flowed from His wounded side. The Assembly, His Priests, are also to let their fleshly lives be burnt up unto Yahuah. As such we have to be cleansed in the blood and the water. Sin and self must be judged. We must be cleansed by the blood and washed by the water of Yahusha's Word.
Closely connected with and inseparable from the porch were the 2 Brazen Pillars, named JACHIN & BOAZ. These Pillars were before the Temple and probably upheld the porch. These were also part of the revelation and pattern given to King David which was then given to Solomon. The number 2 is significant of WITNESS. The testimony of 2 was required both by Old and New Blood-Covenants. These Two Pillars stand like 2 WITNESSES in the porch at the entrance of the Temple.
These Pillars had WREATHS OF CHAIN WORKED BRASS symbolising exaltation. Chains are made of numerous links. Both Joseph and Daniel were adorned in exaltation with chains of gold and set next to the King. The High Priest had chains of gold on his breastplate of judgment. The Most Set-Apart Place in the Temple also had golden chains acoss its doors. Justice and judgment are exalted before Yahuah.
There were altogether 400 pomegranates, 200 on each pillar in two rows of 100 each round about. These no doubt hung from the wreathen chain work and network. One chain work of pomegranates was over against the belly of the pillar with its 100 pomegranates and the other exactly the same.
The height of the pillars was 18 cubits, which is a multiple of 9, being the number of completeness and finality. It is also the number of the Set-Apart Spirit. There are 9 Fruits of the Spirit, 9 Gifts of the Spirit, 9 beautitudes. Therefore the 2 Pillars speak of that which is completed, that which is final as to the Outer Court service and the FINAL STEP before entering into the Master's House.
The ornamentation of the pillars is especially significant. The two bowl-like chapiters on top of the pillars were set, then NETS OF CHECKER WORK were on top of the bowls. The net reminds us of Yahusha's call to His followers to become fishers of men and catch them in the Gospel net. Yahusha Messiah is the Master fisherman. He knows the right bait to catch fish out of the sea of humanity. The parable of the Kingdom shows the Gospel net bringing in all kinds of fish.
The pomegranate was a fruit of the promised land. It was a fruit with blood-red encased seed in it. On the garments of Esteem on the High Priest were the golden bells and pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet.
On the chapiters also was seen BEAUTIFUL LILY WORK in a total of 5 cubits. The lily is used in the Temple in ornamentation, speaking of the loveliness, purity and fragrance of Messiah. Yahusha said, Solomon in all his Esteem was not arrayed as one of the beautiful lilies of the field. The Hebrew meaning of "lily" is "whiteness"; also a trumpet, from its tubular shape. So Messiah is absolute whiteness, perfect purity within and without. His Bride are to be lily white also! They also lift their voice like a trumpet and warn people.
These two pillars were before the Temple and placed in the porch of the temple, one on the right hand and the other on the left hand. They looked toward the brazen sea and the brazen altar, and the Priests and worshippers in the courts of the Master. We think of Messiah speaking of the positions on His right hand and left hand being reserved for two whom the Father had chosen. They would be like these two Pillars of the Porch. They stood there as Sentinels, Watchmen, as Two Guards to the House of the Master.
The names of the pillars are JACHIN & BOAZ. Jachin means "He shall establish", while Boaz means "In Him is strength". As with everything, all points first of all to the Master Yahusha Messiah as the One who established His people, and in Him is their strength. Eternal stability and strength for Yisharal would be found in Yahuah. He is the delivering strength of His anointed. Yahuah will also establish His Word for it is for ever settled in Heaven. He said in both Covenants that "in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word would be established". As we believe His prophets so we are established and strengthed.
EVERY PART OF THE TEMPLE'S ARCHITECTURE, STRUCTURE AND FURNITURE POINTED NOT ONLY TO YAHUSHA'S PERFECT BODY AND LIFE OF DELIVERANCE, BUT ALSO THE PRINCIPLES AND STANDARD OF BEHAVIOUR EXPECTED FROM HIS LIVING BRIDAL DWELLING TODAY, WHO ARE WILLINGLY PICKING UP THEIR TORTURE STAKES AND FOLLOWING HIM, DAILY THROWING THEIR FLESH ON THE ALTAR OF SACRIFICE, HAVING THE BULLS OF THEIR LIPS BURNED UP AS A LIVING SACRIFICE TO PLEASE YAHUSHA AND SERVE OTHERS.
THIS IS THE REVELATION OF YAHUAH'S TEMPLE, HOUSING THE PORTAL OF HIS LOVE. THAT'S THE END OF THE BUILDING STUDIES. WE WILL CONCLUDE NEXT SESSION BY LOOKING AT THE DEDICATION AND OPERATION OF THIS MAGNIFICENT STRUCTURE THAT SOLOMON BUILT.