Christian Churches of God

No. CB108

 

 

 

Altar of Burnt Offering 

 

(Edition 1.0 20070912-20070912)

 

We have seen from the papers The Tabernacle in the Wilderness (No. CB42) and The Temple Solomon Built (No. CB107) that the number and dimensions of the various pieces of furniture either remained constant or were changed in some aspects. In this lesson we will look at the altar of burnt offering and see how it changed and what it represented in Heaven and what it prefigured.

 

 

Christian Churches of God

PO Box 369,  WODEN  ACT 2606,  AUSTRALIA

 

E-mail: secretary@ccg.org

 

 

 

(Copyright ã  2007 Diane Flanagan, ed. Wade Cox)

 

 

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 Burnt Offering Altar

 

From Romans 1:20, we see from the physical we learn the spiritual.

 

Romans 1:19-20 They know everything that can be known about God, because God has shown it all to them. 20 God's eternal power and character cannot be seen. But from the beginning of creation, God has shown what these are like by all he has made. That's why those people don't have any excuse. (CEV)

 

In Hebrews 8:5 we learn there are things on Earth that are replicas or models of things in Heaven.

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. (KJV)

 

Hebrews 8:5 But the tent where they serve is just a copy and a shadow of the real one in heaven. Before Moses made the tent, he was told, "Be sure to make it exactly like the pattern you were shown on the mountain!" (CEV)

 

Here we see the word shadow is used.  Shadow is Skia (SGD 4639) and means:

1) shadow a) shade caused by the interception of light b) an image cast by an object and representing the form of that object c) a sketch, outline, adumbration.

 

Other important scriptures that use the word shadow are as follows:

Hebrews 10:1 The Law of Moses is like a shadow of the good things to come. This shadow isn't the good things themselves, because it cannot free people from sin by the sacrifices that are offered year after year. (CEV)

 

Colossians 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body  [is] of Christ. (KJV)

 

Colossians 2:17 These things are only a shadow of what was to come. But Christ is real! (CEV)

 

We can not have a shadow unless we have an object to cast the shadow. Therefore, let’s look at a few scriptures that indicate that there is an altar or altars in God’s Throne room.

 

Altar in the heavens:

 

Isaiah 6:6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, [which] he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: (KJV)

 

Psalm 26:6 I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD: (KJV)

 

Psalm 43:4 Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. (KJV)

 

1Corinthians 9:13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live [of the things] of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? (KJV)

 

Revelation 6:9 and when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony, which they held. (KJV)

 

Revelation 11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. (KJV)

 

Revelation 14:18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. (KJV)

 

Revelation 16:7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous  [are] thy judgments. (KJV)

 

There are a few other Scriptures that refer to the golden altar which we discus in the Altar of Incense (No. CB109).

 

From the above texts we see God does have an altar before His Throne. It has 4 horns (Rev. 9:13); it has live coals on it (Isa. 6:6); the altar will be measured (Rev. 11:1); and angels come forth from the altar (Rev. 14:18). In addition, Revelation 6:9 states that under the altar were "the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held". This final component or point of the altar is like the altar of burnt offering we saw in the Tabernacle in the Wilderness and in the Temple Solomon built.

 

Let’s briefly review the altars of burnt offering in the Tabernacle in the Wilderness and the Temple Solomon built.

 

Altar of burnt offering or bronze altar of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness

 

When one entered the court, the first thing one saw was the altar of burnt offering, which is described in Exodus 27:1-8; 38:1-7 and Psalm 118:27.

 

In Exodus 27:1-2 we see the original altar of burnt offerings was smaller.

 

Exodus 27:1-2 And thou shalt make an altar [of] shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof [shall be] three cubits. And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass. (KJV)

 

Exodus 27:1-2 Use acacia wood to build an altar seven and a half feet square and four and a half feet high, 2 and make each of the four top corners stick up like the horn of a bull. Then cover the whole altar with bronze, including the four horns. (CEV)

 

The altar was a square. It was five cubits long by five cubits wide and three cubits high.

 

Five is referred to as the number of divine grace (see the paper Symbolism of Numbers (No. 7)). By the grace of Eloah and His perfect plan we no longer remain dead in our sins. Rather we are able to be reconciled to the Father through the perfect acceptable sacrifice of His son, Joshua the Messiah. We see that the number 5 comes up frequently in the Tabernacle in the wilderness and the Temple Solomon built.

 

The altar of burnt offering also had four horns on the corners. Sometimes the sacrificial animal was bound to these horns (Ps. 118:27). It was made of acacia wood and covered with bronze inside and out. It was hollow inside (Ex. 27:8). The burnt offering was to be left on the hearth of the altar all night, with the altar fire kept burning. Each morning the priest was to clean out the ashes of the burnt offering and carry the ashes outside the camp to a place that was ceremonially clean. He would then put on fresh wood and lay the daily burnt offering on it, and burn the fat of the daily peace offering (Lev. 6:8-13).

 

Clean and Unclean

 

From Leviticus 10 we are to distinguish between holy and unholy and clean and unclean.

 

Leviticus 10:10-11 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean.  And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.

 

God gave us this example in that the ashes from the burnt altar were placed in a clean place outside the camp every morning (Lev. 4:12; 6:11). The bull and goat of Atonement were to have the remainder of the parts taken to a clean place (Lev. 16:27). When a house was infected with mildew the material that was scraped off the walls was dumped in an unclean place outside the town (Lev. 14:41).

 

From Hebrews 13 we learn that Christ was killed and died outside the camp/city and became the perfect sacrifice to restore mankind and the fallen Host back to the Father.

 

Hebrews 13:11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

 

The only way we could be restored to the Father was for one of the Host to lay down his position and his aeonian life and become mortal man (see the papers On Immortality (No. 165), The Purpose of the Creation and the Sacrifice of Christ (No. 160), Death of the Lamb (242) and Who is Jesus? (No. CB2).

 

Christ had to put this age in place and then be prepared to die for it. Only in that way would he be fit to lead it.

 

This same test is required of the elect and that is why we have been tested and killed outside the camp as Christ himself was. For we look to the City of God and the functional government of Jesus Christ on his return to this Earth as conquering king.

 

When Paul wrote, the Temple was fully operational. The subject of the discussion is the question of the sacrifice and its role with the elect and, perhaps, the animals killed.

 

Remember, we are the Temple of God and those who serve the Tabernacle with its sacrifices have no right to eat from our altar. He suffered outside the camp that his blood might sanctify the people.

 

Anciently, the priest made us clean. We now know that Messiah is our High Priest and the door (Jn. 10:7,9) to the sheep.

 

Leviticus 14:11 And the priest that maketh [him] clean shall present the man that is to be made clean, and those things, before the LORD, [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  (KJV)

 

Ways that we can be made clean or considered clean now are as follows:

 

Through the fear of the Lord:

Psalm 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

 

Through the word:

John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken  unto you KJV

 

We are to keep our robes and ourselves clean:

 

Isaiah 52:11 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.

 

Psalm 24:4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation

 

Revelation 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

 

The Components of the Altar

 

The utensils used with the altar were also made of bronze (Ex. 27:3; see also The Companion Bible notes on Ex. 27:5 and Lev. 9:22). There were heavy bronze rings on the corners of the bronze grate encircling the lower half of the altar. The boards of the altar rested on a narrow rim of the grate (Ex. 27:4-5). It may have been a type of ledge the priest actually stood on to get the sacrifice in place. Long poles were to be inserted through the rings for lifting the altar for conveyance whenever the Israelites were directed to move their camps (Ex. 38:1-7). The priests had responsibilities for taking down and setting up the Tabernacle. For more information see the paper The Tabernacle in the Wilderness (No. CB42).

 

Now let’s briefly review the Temple Solomon built.

 

Altar of burnt offerings in the Temple Solomon built

 

The altar of burnt offerings is the first piece of furniture one sees when one walks into the Temple courtyard area just as it was in the Tabernacle in the Wilderness.

 

2Chonicles 4:1 Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof. (KJV)

 

In Exodus 27:1-2 we see the original altar of burnt offerings was much smaller; yet both were made of bronze or copper.

 

It is interesting to note the qualities of bronze or, particularly, copper.

 

Copper is germicidal, via the oligodynamic effect. For example, brass doorknobs disinfect themselves of many bacteria within eight hours. This effect is useful in many applications.

 

Bacteria will not grow on a copper surface because it is biostatic. Copper doorknobs are used by hospitals to reduce the transfer of disease, and Legionnaires' disease is suppressed by copper tubing in air-conditioning systems

 

Copper sulphate is used as a fungicide and as algae control in domestic lakes and ponds. It is used in gardening powders and sprays to kill mildew. (Wikipedia, art. ‘Copper’)

 

It is easy to see that there were many benefits to having the altar made of bronze or copper.

 

Though the altar is present in the Tabernacle in the Wilderness, let us look what happens to the size of the altar in the Temple Solomon built.

 

We see the altar of burnt offerings increased in size by a multiple of 4 in length and width and 3 1/3 in height. Just as in the Tabernacle in the Wilderness we suggested the altar of burnt offerings represented the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the perfect acceptable sacrifice, the same symbolism would apply here. This increase in size may signify how, with time, more and more people come to God the Father through the sacrifice of Christ. There will be those in the First Resurrection and others in the Second Resurrection.

 

It is also interesting to note that the burnt offering altar in the time of Solomon matched two of the three measurements of the Holy of Holies in Solomon’s Temple; it was only one half of the height of the Holy of Holies.

 

The burnt offering altar is 20 x 20 x 10. As mentioned above, the number 20 implies expectancy or waiting. The naos is the Holy of Holies, which represents the Spirit of God in the Temple of God, which Temple we are.

 

As ten is the number of the perfection of divine order and twenty is the concept of waiting we see that divine perfection and completeness is a process of waiting patiently while obeying God for the spiritual Temple made without hands, as God develops all of us to be fitly framed together. We know that this is only possible through Messiah’s perfect sacrifice and resurrection to the Father after being in the grave three days and three nights.

 

This process of subjection, or submitting, or listening and obeying involves also that of the subjection of Jesus Christ. Christ is thus not co-equal or co-eternal, but rather is part of the process of God becoming all in all. Christ clearly said no one is good, save God. So, there is one God and Father of all over all, and in all (see also Eph. 4:6).

 

Christ as a burnt offering

 

Jesus Christ came to Earth as a man and fulfilled all the requirements of the sacrificial system, so animal sacrifices no longer take place. See the paper Who is Jesus? (No. CB2). Anciently the sacrifices took place at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. (Ex. 29:38-39; Num. 28:4; 1Chr. 16:40; 2Chr. 31:3). These are the times we should hold services on God’s Holy Days now.

 

Originally, the burnt offering altar was used to sacrifice bulls, goats, rams and sheep, etc. to the One True God. It was at the altar of burnt offering that reconciling (or reuniting) the sinner to God was done. As we know, our sins separate us from God. For more information on dealing with sin see What is Sin? (No. CB26).  Let us briefly review a few Scriptures that show us Christ is the complete and perfect sacrifice.

 

Hebrews 9:11-14 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; 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.  13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:  14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? …(KJV)

 

Hebrews 9:22-28 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.  23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.  24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.  27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:  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. (KJV)

1John 1 tells us Christ’s blood cleansed us from sin.

1John 1:7-10  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.  8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (KJV)

 

So we can all clearly see it is Christ’s sacrifice that cleanses us from sin and therefore restores us back to the Father – if we confess our sins.

 

Christ was sent into the world to save mankind by taking away the sin of the world (Mat. 1:21; Mat. 9:6; Mk. 3:28) as the lamb (Rev. 5:6-8). Christ came into the world to bear witness to the truth (Jn. 18:37). He was slain from the foundation of the world as an exercise of God's divine prescience (Rev. 13:8). His Kingdom is yet to come to the Earth. He was destined before the foundation of the world but was made manifest at the end of times for our sake (1Pet. 1:20).

 

Unless mankind believes that Christ is Messiah they will die in their sins (Jn. 8:24). Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures and he was buried and raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures (1Cor. 15:3-4), appearing to more than five hundred brethren (1Cor. 15:5-6). Christ was crucified and is risen (Mk. 16:6). On his resurrection he ascended to his Father and our Father and his God and our God (Jn. 20:18). He sits on God's right hand with angels, authorities and powers subject to him (1Pet. 3:22). For more information see the paper Trumpets (No. 146).

 

The Altar of Burnt Offering in the Millennial Temple

 

Let’s briefly review Ezekiel’s explanation or description of the burnt offering altar in the Temple.

 

Ezekiel 43:13-17 And these are the measures of the altar after the cubits: The cubit is a cubit and an hand breadth; even the bottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about shall be a span: and this shall be the higher place of the altar. 14 And from the bottom upon the ground even to the lower settle shall be two cubits, and the breadth one cubit; and from the lesser settle even to the greater settle shall be four cubits, and the breadth one cubit.  15 So the altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar and upward shall be four horns.  16 And the altar shall be twelve cubits long, twelve broad, square in the four squares thereof.  17 And the settle shall be fourteen cubits long and fourteen broad in the four squares thereof; and the border about it shall be half a cubit; and the bottom thereof shall be a cubit about; and his stairs shall look toward the east. (KJV)

 

We see the burnt offering altar is smaller in size than the one used in the Temple Solomon built. The height remains consistent at 10 cubits but the bottom ledge is 14 cubits by 14 cubits and a cubit deep; it appears this is a ledge for the priests to walk on. The altar is 12 x 12 cubits yet it has the 4 horns.

 

The City of God is a perfect cube as the Holy of Holies in the Temple of Solomon was a perfect cube of twenty cubits. The altar of Ezekiel 43:16-17 is twelve cubits long and twelve cubits broad. The dimensions thus become an extension of the concept of the Holy of Holies and the altar. God is thus extending and replicating Himself. The structure of the City is based on the selection of the elect who form its structure and dimensions. For more information see the City of God (No. 180).

 

Here for the first time we see the altar decreasing or getting smaller in size. What could the possible symbolism be here?

 

From Revelation 6:9 we read:

Revelation 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held. (KJV)

 

Revelation 6:9-11 When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of everyone who had been killed for speaking God's message and telling about their faith. 10 They shouted, "Master, you are holy and faithful! How long will it be before you judge and punish the people of this earth who killed us?"  11 Then each of those who had been killed was given a white robe and told to rest for a little while. They had to wait until the complete number of the Lord's other servants and followers would be killed.  (CEV)

 

Here we see that the saints of God are actually under the altar. Now we know that people who are killed or die are in the ground “sleeping” (1Cor. 15:31) waiting for a resurrection (see the paper What Happens When We Die? (No. CB29)). For more details on the resurrections see the paper God’s Holy Days (No. CB22).

 

The sacrifices represent the development of the Faith. The Passover refers to the Messiah as the lamb and the first-fruits of the Wave-Sheaf. The evening sacrifices refer to the Great Multitude of the Church. The Sabbaths, New Moons and Holy Days refer to the elect of the 144,000. Each of the Sabbaths etc. has the morning and evening elements, which is a requirement of the elect to advance in the Holy Spirit through their relationship with God. The entire Church of God is the evening element of the sacrifices and there is no mention of the evening sacrifice in the later Temple system. See the paper Psalms from the Temple Worship (No. 87) for more details.

 

We see the burnt offering altar in the Millennial Temple now only has to hold the morning sacrifices and therefore could logically be smaller. There are other changes we see in the number of the sacrifices offered during the Millennium (cf. Num. 28 and Ezek. 46).

 

Altar of Burnt Offering in the City of God

 

At a point in the future there will no longer be sin on the Earth. All people will want to obey God. This happens after the Millennium is completed and also the Great White Throne Judgement. Once sin is removed from the Earth Eloah will relocate His Throne, which currently is in the Third Heaven (2Cor. 12:2) in the North of the Heavens (Isa.14:13), to the Earth (Rev. 21:11ff.).

 

Let’s read parts of Revelation 21 and 22 so we clearly know what God’s word is telling us.

 

Revelation 21:9-27 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. 16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17 He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by man's measurement, which the angel was using. 18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass. 22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. (NIV)

 

Revelation 22:1-5 The angel showed me a river that was crystal clear, and its waters gave life. The river came from the throne where God and the Lamb were seated. 2 Then it flowed down the middle of the city's main street. On each side of the river are trees that grow a different kind of fruit each month of the year. The fruit gives life, and the leaves are used as medicine to heal the nations. 3 God's curse will no longer be on the people of that city. He and the Lamb will be seated there on their thrones, and its people will worship God 4 and will see him face to face. God's name will be written on the foreheads of the people. 5 Never again will night appear, and no one who lives there will ever need a lamp or the sun. The Lord God will be their light, and they will rule forever.

   

The Coming of Christ is spoken of in Revelation.

Revelation 22:16-21  I am Jesus! And I am the one who sent my angel to tell all of you these things for the churches. I am David's Great Descendant, and I am also the bright morning star. 17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" Everyone who hears this should say, "Come!" If you are thirsty, come! If you want life-giving water, come and take it. It's free! … 20 The one who has spoken these things says, "I am coming soon!" So, Lord Jesus, please come soon! 21 I pray that the Lord Jesus will be kind to all of you. (CEV)

 

Revelation 22:20-21 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. (KJV)

 

The City, New Jerusalem, is the mother of us all (Gal. 4:26) and there is no longer a Temple (Rev. 21:22) since God and the Lamb, Jesus Christ, are the light and Temple (Rev. 21:23).

 

In this spiritual Temple we do not see any mention of the Altar of Burnt Offering. Since all people will be obeying God there does not need to be a physical reminder of the Altar of Burnt Offering. There seems to be an indication that God’s Plan continues but is not clear how that will unfold.

 

From 1Corinthians 3:16-17 we learn we are the spiritual noas. From the paper FAQ’s on Ezekiel Chapters 36-48 and the Sanctification of the Temple (No. 292), we see how the altar of God can make intercession or requests to God in the form of self-sacrifice.

 

The sanctification process is one of inward cleansing. The Lord sanctifies us (Ex. 31:13; Lev. 20:8; 21:8; 22:9). The altar sanctifies the gift because whatever touches the altar becomes holy (Ex. 29:37). Also, utensils that serve the altar become holy (Ex. 30:29). However, it is the Presence of God in the Tabernacle that sanctifies and makes it holy (Ex. 29:43; Ex. 40:34-35). So the Presence of God in the elect as the Holy Spirit makes the Body of Messiah – as the Temple – holy in all its aspects. This makes all who come in contact with it holy.

 

We are sanctified in the truth in love. Christ sanctified himself for us and we are also to sanctify ourselves in the truth, which is the word of God (Jn. 17:17).

 

Here we have seen the spiritual meaning of the burnt offering altar spoken of.

 

Summary

 

As we can see God gives us a physical representation of the spiritual (Heb. 8:5). From the physical we have seen there is significant spiritual symbolism in the Tabernacle in the Wilderness that is expanded in the Temple that Solomon built. The burnt offering altar will be changed in the Millennial Temple and changed even more in the City of God.

 

It is truly amazing how full of mercy and understanding Eloah is to give us different representations of His altar over time as we grow in grace and understanding. Though there were and will be physical Temples we always need to keep the spiritual understanding and implication in mind when reading the Bible. It is through Christ’s perfect acceptable sacrifice that any one of us is able to restore our relationship with Eloah and be part of His family.

 

Hebrews 13 gives us an indication of what things we should be doing.

Hebrews 13: 14-16 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

 

We need to remember we are the spiritual Temple (naos) of God (1Cor. 3:16-17) after our baptism and each one of us is individually responsible to continue to work while there is light to work. Let us all be about our Father’s business and continue to preach the Gospel to the world and build the spiritual Temple of Eloah.

 

Let us all reflect on these closing words of Revelation 22.

 

Revelation 22:20-21 He which testifies these things says, “yes I come quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.   21 The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you all. Amen. (NASV)

 

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.

 

Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

 

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