Christ and salvation in the Old Covenant worship

[Esaias]

Speaking of offerings in the Holiest vs offerings in the Holy Place, correct me if I am wrong, but the only offerings allowed into the Most Holy Place (inner sanctuary where the ark was) were the blood and the incense. The incense was offered before the veil at the golden altar but the cloud of the smoke would fill the whole place. Incense of course represents prayer.

[Esaias]

And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons. And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.
(Exodus 28:1-2 KJV)

The Holy Garments.

Ex. 28 details the holy garments that were divinely ordained for Aaron, and for his sons. These were the garments of the priesthood under the old covenant and reveal truths about Christ and His ministry, and our co-ministry with Him as our High Priest.



The garments were as follows: a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat (chiton), a mitre (turban), and a girdle (belt). There were also 'linen breeches' to be worn under all this to prevent any possibility of the priest's nakedness being seen. This makes the High Priest's garments seven in number. In addition, a golden plate engraved with 'Holiness Unto YHVH' was to be attached to the front of the mitre/turban (thus the Jews reckon a total of 8 specific garments for the High Priest, counting the golden plate on the mitre as a distinct article*). 12 specific jewels were to be attached to the breastplate each with an engraving of the name of a tribe of Israel, and an onyx stone on each shoulder of the ephod, engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel (six on one onyx stone, six on the other). In the breastplate, which served as a sort of pouched frontispiece, were placed the Urim and the Thummin which appear to have been some type of lot used for determining the will of God. The robe of the ephod had decorative pomegranates sewn around it's hem, and in between each there was sewn a bell.

* Note: Some Jews count four regular garments for all priests, consisting of the breeches, coat, mitre/bonnet (turban), and girdle, and four additional 'golden garments' for the High Priest of ephod, breastplate, robe, and golden plate. I have included the golden plate with the mitre since it was part of the High Priest's headcovering, making seven articles in my counting. Your mileage may vary.

The regular priests, 'sons of Aaron', were similarly dressed as the High Priest except they did not wear an ephod, robe of the ephod, the breastplate with the twelve stones, and their turban ('bonnet') did not have the golden plate. There may have been some distinction in the particular embroidery, weaving, or stitching of the garments, but that would be beyond what I want to zero in on here at the moment.

First of all, the High Priest's garments were more elaborate and consisted of more items than the regular priests' garments. This tells us that the regular priests derived their sanctity and ministry from the High Priest, just as we derive our sanctity and ministry from Christ. Furthermore, there were certain functions that ONLY the High Priest could perform, just as there are certain functions that ONLY Christ can perform: ONLY Christ can accomplish the atonement, for example.

And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial.
(Exodus 28:12 KJV)

The High Priest bore the names of the twelve tribes before the Lord as a memorial, and thus the High Priest kept the people of God before the Lord's remembrance. Not that God would 'forget' who his people are, but that the High Priest constantly represented the people before God in remembrance of the Covenant. Christ of course constantly represents us before God in remembrance of the Covenant. When the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place, or performed any function as High Priest before the Lord, the people of God were participating by their representative. So Christ, as He ministers before God on our behalf, represents us, we are in the Sanctuary by being in Him, we are 'seated with him in heavenly places'. Wherever He goes, whatever He does, He does as our Divine Representative, on our behalf. 'He that confesses Me before men, him will I confess before the angels of heaven', etc.

And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually. And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.
(Exodus 28:29-30 KJV)

The High Priest not only bore the names of the children of Israel on his shoulders, but also on the breastplate of judgement. The breastplate of judgement contained the lots, Urim and Thummin, which were used to determine the judgement of God in particular matters. So, the High Priest carried the people of God into the holy place before God, as an official 'reminder' of the Covenant between God and His people, particularly in regards to the questions of Divine Direction, guidance, and determination. Furthermore, it is said the High Priest would 'bear the judgement of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually'. Christ not only brings us into the Sanctuary, but He bears our judgement upon His heart, meaning He bears the Divine Determination concerning us - our justification, our sanctification, our calling and election, as well as the Divine Plan for us - continually before God. Our salvation is upon His heart before the Lord continually.

A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about. And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not.
(Exodus 28:34-35 KJV)

There was to be a sound made by the High Priest when he entered and exited the Holy Place while carrying out his duties. Failure to make that sound would result in 'death'. If the High Priest's sound could not be heard, it meant he was not dressed properly for ministry. If he was not dressed properly, it indicated he was an imposter who had no business being in the Holy Place. Christ of course is always dressed for ministry. We know because we can 'hear the sound'. That sound is the sound of the Holy Ghost.

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
(John 3:8 KJV)

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
(Acts 2:2-4 KJV)

The Holy Ghost is the evidence that Jesus truly is the Christ, our New Covenant High Priest, ministering on our behalf. No one else ever has or can pour out the Spirit of God upon man. The Spirit only comes in response to faith in the risen Lord Jesus Christ. It is the proof that the work of grace is being accomplished in a person's life.

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
(Ephesians 1:13-14 KJV)

And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
(1 John 5:8-9 KJV)

And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be. And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.
(Exodus 28:36-38 KJV)

The golden plate attached to the mitre, engraved with the words 'Holiness To The LORD', was to indicate Aaron bearing the iniquity of the various offerings of the people of God. This would make their offerings acceptable to God. The 'iniquity' of the holy things the people offered does not mean their offerings were necessarily sinful, per se, but rather that as man is unclean and unfit to come before the Holy God of Creation, whatever man might offer is tainted with that uncleanness and unfitness, and must be purified. In addition, when a sin or trespass offering is made, the sin or iniquity of the individual is passed to the sacrifice, and this sacrifice's iniquity must be 'born' by the High Priest. What this is showing us is that the High Priest sanctifies by virtue of his divine appointment and commissioning the various offerings of the people. Our worship, all of it, is only acceptable because the iniquity that would normally attach to it has been born by Christ. And, the fact this is before his forehead continually, that is to say, in his mind at all times, indicates to us that Christ's constant intention is to bear the iniquity of our worship, our offerings, our prayers, everything we do. Thus, our worship - both 'formal' and our daily living - is sanctified by Christ Himself as our High Priest.

And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die: it shall be a statute for ever unto him and his seed after him.
(Exodus 28:43 KJV)

It is an eternal statute or law of God that anyone approaching to God in divine service or worship must be dressed for the occasion. Under the New Covenant, Christ is dressed properly, meaning He fulfills all the righteous requirements God has for ministering as our High Priest. We too, as 'priests' sharing in his ministry, must, like the sons of Aaron, be dressed properly lest we 'bear our iniquity and die'. Our worship and service to God is not acceptable without the proper priestly garments. We must be clothed with Christ, we must 'put on Christ', otherwise we will bear our iniquity and die.

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
(Galatians 3:26-27 KJV)

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
(Romans 13:11-14 KJV)

[votivesoul]

Isn't the order and arrangement of the furniture in the tabernacle, then temple in the shape of a cross?

One goes to the place of death to sacrifice (repentance). Then one washes the sacrifice and self with water at the laver (immersion), then proceeds into the tent and offers incense before the presence of God (receiving the Holy Spirit).

Also, I've always thought that the four horns of the altar were a type and shadow of the nails of the cross, realizing the Romans usually didn't use only one nail for the feet, foot upon foot, but instead, when through the side of each ankle (See below).

So then, taking hold of the altar in the Old Testament was a plea for mercy and salvation, just as taking hold of the cross, and specifically the nails, as it were, is a plea for mercy and salvation.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

Isn't the order and arrangement of the furniture in the tabernacle, then temple in the shape of a cross?

One goes to the place of death to sacrifice (repentance). Then one washes the sacrifice and self with water at the laver (immersion), then proceeds into the tent and offers incense before the presence of God (receiving the Holy Spirit).

Also, I've always thought that the four horns of the altar were a type and shadow of the nails of the cross, realizing the Romans usually didn't use only one nail for the feet, foot upon foot, but instead, when through the side of each ankle (See below).

So then, taking hold of the altar in the Old Testament was a plea for mercy and salvation, just as taking hold of the cross, and specifically the nails, as it were, is a plea for mercy and salvation.

Yes, the Tabernacle was essentially a cross facing east (the gate into the courtyard was to the east, as was the brass altar of sacrifice, and the Ark was in the Most Holy Place to the west, with the Table of Shewbread on the north side, and the Golden Candlestick on the south side, and the golden altar of incense at the west end of the Holy Place before the veil to the inner sanctum).

[Esaias]

And this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them to hallow them, to minister unto me in the priest's office...
(Exodus 29:1 KJV)

The Hallowing of the Priests.

Chapter 29 of Exodus contains the instructions for sanctifying the priests to serve. There are instructions for both Aaron and his sons, signifying truths about both Christ and us. There are similarities, and also differences, between the High Priest's consecration and His sons'. I will not be addressing the subject of the particular offerings as that would fall under the subject of The Offerings, and I am at the moment only dealing with the Priesthood itself.

And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water. And thou shalt take the garments, and put upon Aaron the coat, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the curious girdle of the ephod: And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the mitre. Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.
(Exodus 29:4-7 KJV)

Aaron was consecrated first before his sons were. So too Christ is consecrated and hallowed as Servant of God prior to us being sanctified for service. Aaron's sons derived their holiness and consecration from Aaron's, and we derive our holiness and consecration from Christ.

The first thing that happened was washing, signifying a cleansing. Now, Christ of course had no need to be cleansed from sin or iniquity. But he needed to be declared clean and fit for divine service. Thus, when he came to John the Immerser for baptism, John said 'I need you to baptise me' but the Lord said 'Allow this to happen because we must fulfill all righteousness', that is to say, the divine requirements must be fulfilled, even by Messiah. He is not exempt from His obligations as a man towards God.

After washing, Aaron was clothed with the holy garments. Christ, having been baptised, was declared to be the Lamb of God, the Messiah, prepared for divine service and work of ministry. The clothes represent the office of priesthood. Once Aaron was clothed with the garments, he was anointed with oil. Christ, being baptised and thus entering into the divine Priestly function, received the descent of the Spirit (like a dove), signifying His Divine anointing or empowerment and commissioning to minister. We see a description of how Aaron was anointed in the Psalm:

It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
(Psalms 133:2 KJV)

This indicates that a bottle or container of oil was actually poured on Aaron's head, running down from the head, through the beard, and all the way down to the hem of the garments. Aaron's sons will not be anointed with oil in this fashion. This shows us that Christ, unlike anyone else, had the Spirit 'without measure'. He had and still has an unlimited anointing of the Holy Ghost. He has 'all power in heaven and earth', and his commissioning to minister as the Servant of YHVH is unlimited in effect and duration and power. It's 'all in Him', particularly as it has to do with His mediatorial functions and abilities. And no wonder, as He is Himself the Holy Ghost - 'now the Lord is that Spirit' and the Holy Ghost is the very Spirit of Christ. The sons of Aaron will get an anointing later, but it is not to the same degree or scope as Aaron's. Our anointing or commissioning to serve by the gift of the Holy Ghost in us and through us is derivative of Christ's anointing.

The oil not only soaked into the garments, but also into the beard. Christ's anointing was not only upon His divinely ordained 'Mission from Heaven' but also upon His human nature as well. The beard is the symbol of manhood, and signifies that Christ was and is most definitely a genuine human being, clothed with the Divine Office of Mediatorship. But the anointing of Christ pertains not just to His Divine Office, but to His human nature as well. He said the bread from heaven which would give eternal life, was His own flesh and blood, that He would give for the life of the world. Some people seem to think that the man was just a vessel in which God was operating. Not quite. The man Himself, as a human being, is anointed to serve as our High Priest. It is often said 'Christ had to be God in order to really save us' but the fact is Christ also had to be truly man in order to save us and be our High Priest and Intercessor. 'For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son...' God's intense love for us was made flesh, it was made real in the most concrete way possible, by becoming fully human. The love and grace of God is no mere abstract thing, it is REAL, genuinely real, enfleshed in real human nature. And thus, 'God was manifest in the flesh'.

It is only after Aaron has been washed, dressed, and anointed that his sons are dressed with their coats, girdles, and bonnets. We can only serve because Christ has fulfilled the requirements and been installed as our High Priest.

After this, a bull is brought and sacrificed, to sanctify the altar upon which the ram of consecration will be offered. This ram's blood will be placed on Aaron's right ear, thumb of the right hand, and big toe of the right foot. It will be placed on Aaron's sons likewise. Here we see that Christ, consecrated by His own blood in what He hears, does, and how He walks, is perfectly consecrated to serve as our High Priest. He only did that which He heard from the Father, and His entire life's purpose was ultimately to die on the cross as a sacrifice for us. Everything He did, everything He engaged in, His entire life's 'walk' was dedicated to that end. Likewise, the blood that He shed which was the blood of His consecrated life, is the blood that consecrates us to service as well. It is the blood of Christ which consecrates our 'hearing, doing, and walking' to the service to God. If anything is not consecrated to the service of God, get it under the blood!

And thou shalt take of the blood that is upon the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him.
(Exodus 29:21 KJV)


Once the blood of the ram of consecration had been applied, the blood that was on the altar was combined with the anointing oil and sprinkled on Aaron and his garments, and upon his sons and their garments. Christ is hallowed or sanctified as our High Priest because of the blood that he shed, and the Spirit that He is anointed with. We are sanctified 'with Him' by that same blood and that same Spirit. Our garments, that identify our role as priests under the new covenant, is hallowed by both the blood and the Spirit that anoints us to serve. One without the other will not do! The blood and the Spirit go together, and function as one.

And that son that is priest in his stead shall put them on seven days, when he cometh into the tabernacle of the congregation to minister in the holy place.
(Exodus 29:30 KJV)

And ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation in seven days, until the days of your consecration be at an end: for seven days shall he consecrate you. As he hath done this day, so the LORD hath commanded to do, to make an atonement for you. Therefore shall ye abide at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the LORD, that ye die not: for so I am commanded. So Aaron and his sons did all things which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.
(Leviticus 8:33-36 KJV)

The consecration lasted seven days, a complete week. The seven day cycle is an artificial cycle of time, not determined by the moon or the stars or the seasons. Months (from 'moon'), seasons, and years can all generally be determined by observation. But the seven day cycle of the week has no origin whatsoever except by divine fiat - God created the heavens and the earth in six days, and rested and sanctified the seventh day. That is the origin of the week. By being consecrated for one week, they indicated just who they served - the God who created the heavens and the earth.

The seven day cycle, derived from the Creation Week, signifies a completion. Their consecration to the service of the One who Created all things being perfected or completed, they could begin to actually serve. Christ of course was perfectly consecrated as the Servant of YHVH, being the Creator Himself in human nature. And our service is not truly possible until we are fully and perfectly consecrated to the service of the One God who made heaven and earth. That is the 'One with Whom we have to do'. And as the week ended with the Sabbath rest of God, until we have found our rest in Him, we will not be efficient or able to properly serve. But, as sons of God, we which believe do enter that rest, and in Christ we are thoroughly equipped to represent God in this world, we are thoroughly equipped to offer up spiritual sacrifices and gifts to God.

And what spiritual offering is of most value in the sight of our God?

That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
(Romans 15:16 KJV)

The most valuable and precious and sacred offering we can bring before God as priests in this New Covenant, is the offering up of souls otherwise without God and without hope, presenting them before God 'acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.'

THAT is our primary mission.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Speaking of offerings in the Holiest vs offerings in the Holy Place, correct me if I am wrong, but the only offerings allowed into the Most Holy Place (inner sanctuary where the ark was) were the blood and the incense. The incense was offered before the veil at the golden altar but the cloud of the smoke would fill the whole place. Incense of course represents prayer.

Amen. The censer was removed from the golden altar and carried into the holiest to waft all throughout the holiest of all. And the high priest was only able to enter if he had that blood.

Jesus entered the actual holiest of heaven with his blood, and we must have His same blood ti enter behind Him. In other words, our faith in His death as our only access to God, and our only offering we have to give, without any offerings of self achievement, gets us to heaven! And this is true for us now spiritually as well as our actual entrance into heaven in spirit and soul at physical death.

[mfblume]

Speaking of the high priest entering the holiest, a popular false legend circulated and caught on in many pulpits. The idea of the high priest having a rope tied to his ankle in case his sanctification was lacking, and he had to be pulled out, lest someone enter to retrieve his dead body slain by God. The story goes if no one heard the bells from his robe, then knew he died.

That is untrue. The high priest had to remove all the blue, purple and scarlet and gold from his attire, and enter the holiest, and only enter in linen. The bells were gone! He put them back on after he left the holiest, and THEN they could hear the bells.


GLORY and BEAUTY were the titles given to all his colourful clothing. BUT NONE SHALL GLORY BEFORE GOD, and they had to be removed when he entered the holiest.

The high priest represented the holiest to the people. The tabernacle was coloured the same way his clothing was. But before God, he had to remove it all.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

Isn't the order and arrangement of the furniture in the tabernacle, then temple in the shape of a cross?

One goes to the place of death to sacrifice (repentance). Then one washes the sacrifice and self with water at the laver (immersion), then proceeds into the tent and offers incense before the presence of God (receiving the Holy Spirit).

Also, I've always thought that the four horns of the altar were a type and shadow of the nails of the cross, realizing the Romans usually didn't use only one nail for the feet, foot upon foot, but instead, when through the side of each ankle (See below).

So then, taking hold of the altar in the Old Testament was a plea for mercy and salvation, just as taking hold of the cross, and specifically the nails, as it were, is a plea for mercy and salvation.

The Lord gave me some understanding about the spiritual message the furniture in the tabernacle through the picture of the cross. I put it in my second book, TAKE A BITE OF ETERNAL LIFE.

The furniture pieces laid out in the shape of the cross correspond to Christ's body on the cross.

And the armour of God in Ephesians 6 corresponds to those elements of furniture.

Shield of faith corresponds to the table of shewbread. The bread of life or word is a shield when we digest that word like bread. The sword of the spirit is the seven branched candlestick. Light and weapon.

The helmet corresponds to the ark! The blood atonement on the ark signifies our salvation.

Feet shod with preparation of the gospel corresponds to the altar of sacrifice, the basis FOOTING of our WALK with God.

Breastplate of righteousness is the golden altar of incense. Prayer is from the heart and protects it.

Girdle of truth is the laver, where truth binds all together, as baptism into His death puts the cross at the core of it all.