సాక్ష్యం 3. The staff of Aaron.
They were kept like that to show them to the future generations as God wanted that. It was again stolenfrom the temple of king Solomon an at present its whereabouts were not known to anybody.
2.History of the Menorah
The Lord commanded "and thou shall make a candlestick of pure gold" This menorah was one of the items of the Tabernacle furniture. It had oil lamps instead of candles. So it was called oil lamp stand or Menorah technically. It was desinged systematically with seven branches and three branches projecting each side of its central staff. The branches of Menorah were designed like flower and branches of an almond tree in Israel.
The oil bowls of the Menorah were tear drape shaped like almond kernels and they were pinched at their pointed ends to hold the wicks. The branches of the Menorah were fastened from a single pickle of gold metal and had oil lamps sitting at the top of each branch. The Menorah was considered most important item in the Tabernacle. It stood along the santhom wall of the Holy place. The menorah and its various tools were made of the talent of pure gold and it was maintained by the priests of the temple. And to the Menorah pure and perfect olive oil was used.
3.The Altar
The temple of God was identified as the person and the work of Messiah of
Israel. The Bibloe accurately presented the Tabernacle as the picture of the
Messiah. The understanding of the temple being an understanding of Messiah.
The animal sacrifices mentioned in the Bible showed the Messiah's true sacrifice,
History of the Tabernacle
Hebrew prophet Jeremiah explained that the Lord offered the Messiah as the one final sacrifice for "sin".
The sacrificial altar was identified as the heavenly altar. The heavenly altar was memorized as the Messiah as the lamb of God to be offered as the true sacrifice. the Messiah was also identified by the high priest as the true high priest.
So the scripture emphasized that neither by the blood of the goats nor calves but by His own blood He entered into the Holy place (heaven) and obtained the eternal redemption for the sake of humanity.
As it is said already the golden altar at the Tabernacle represented the altar in heaven. Once king David prayed, "Let my prayer be set before Thee as incense"
(Psalms 141:2). The incense altar is what the prayers of believers continuously ascent before God's throne by the work of our high priest, whoever liselt to make intercession"
At present the fale of the Menorah was not known to the people, because the
Babylonian king plundered Jerusalem and the Temple in 586 B.C., He took every important thing from the city and the temple and also some thousands of people as captives. After some years the Persians defeated the Babylonians and king
"Cyrus" returned everything that was taken by the Babylonian king including
Menorah to Jerusalem.
Again when the Romans came to power in Judah, they took away Menorah particularly to Rome because it was a solid gold item. Then after a long time, when the Israel came to power the religions minister put a petition to the Vatican authorities in 1996 for the investigation of the Menorah.
In recent times the Temple authorities planned for a modern Menorah. It was compossed of 99 pounds (45 kgs) of gold. Its height was about 6 feet. in
September 2009 an exciting archeological discovery was announced regarding the
Menorah in the ancient village of "Megdal" the native village of Mary Magdaline on the western side of the sea of Galilee. It was unearthed during the first century
B.C. The artist was most likely an eye witness of the actual Temple Menorah.
సాక్ష్యం 4. The Table of The Shew-bread
The table of Shew-bread was made of acacia or shittal wood (acacia is the
English word for it). These shettal trees are common plants around mount Senai and Neg wilderness area. This wood was perfectly suitable as the raw material to
Offsprings from the Tabernacle the table of shew-bread. It had similar design elements to the Ark. The Shewbread contained vessels (dishes, spoons, covers and bowels) which were made of pure gold.
The Lord specified that a measure of frankinsense was to be poured on the top of the each of the two sections of the Shew-bread on the table. In this context a historian Flavious Josephus said that frankensense was placed in two golden cups. The table of Shew-bread was continuously displayed . It was arranged into the stacks of six loaves on the table. As per the Rabbunic sources each bread stake was exhibited on the golden rack support and that was attached to the table.
The table of Shew-bread was kept along the north walls of the Tabernacle interior. It was on the righthand side which became more convenient to the priests when they entered and it stood just opposite to the Menorah. The priests used to refresh the table on every Sabbath day, with twelve fresh mechyahs and new frankinscenses. The old insense was burnt on the sacrificial altar itself.
Information about the Tent
The Lord asked Israel to prepare the Tabernacle (called tent). It was rectangular in appearace and built with the wooden frame tapstreis and animal skins. The Tabernacle had four covering layers. The first covering layer was of ten smaller tapstry panels made of three colours (blue, purple and scarlet) wool and fine coat linen. This most spectacular layer was embroidered with Cherubims made from the gold wire, and this layer was visible at the top from inside the
Temple.
The second layer was consisted of eleven smaller panels of black goat hair cloth which appeared like black burlap. The individual panels were of 30 cubits long and 4 cubits width. The third covering layer was of reddyed rams skins. The fourth covering layer was made of talash animal skins. The tent was supported by thick wooden panels. Those were known as beams or side walls. The wooden panels and cross were all overlaid with pure gold. The overall foot prints of the
Tabernacle was 30 cubits long and 10 cubits width.
Tabernacle Construction
The details of the Tabernacle can be found in the 40th chapter of Exodus, the early chapter of Leviticus and the book of Numbers. They preserve
History of the Tabernacle permanent record of it in the Bible for ever. It was built at the foot of the mount
Senai wilderness about 3,500 years ago. That is, the early spring of 1446 B.C.,
New years day in Hebrew religious calendar. That particular morning God chose for the consecration of the Tabernacle. After two weeks of this incident they had completed one year of their leaving Egypt. So, they celebrated their first anniversary at the foot of the mount Senai.
The divine meeting was really an extraordinary thing in the history of human beings and in the life of Israel. God revealed the Holy law and entered into a covenant with Israel that is, "He would be their God and they would be His people."
Moses surveyed his work in the Tabernacle before the early morning. He saw to his left the yellow flame of seven beamed Menorah. On his right, he saw the golden table of the Shew-bread with its matyans and frankinscense, displayed before the Lord. The golden insense alter stood straight before the viel of the Holy of holies.
When Moses came to the altar, he saw two large golden cherubims embroidered on the veil appeared to be hovering. Then Moses poured fine olive oil on the coals. A steam of white smoke came immediately and a few tiny spartikles in orange colour shot upward from the insense.
Moses fell prostrate before the altar and prayed to God for a few minutes when he was about to go to the couryard all of a sudden acloud of the Lord appeared on the tent. The cloud raised hundreds of feet high into the sky and fanned out like a canopy at the top. And finally the cloud rested on the tent. It filled the area so intensely that Moses could not reenter theTabernacle freely.
Israel at that time could understand that God was in their midst. Then God spoke with Moses from the Holy of holies regarding the sacrifices and ordinances of the priests. God finished His speech and went up. After that Moses took rams horn and made a sound to call all the Israel to gather at that place before him. He took a flask of anointing oil and went into the tent to consecrate the furniture. The olive oil scented with myrrh, cinnamon, other oromatic and different components as commanded by the Lord.
The inauguration of Israels Tabernacle and the priesthood remained forever in the minds of Israel, and the nation. Behold, how good and pleasant for the brothern to dwell peacefully and happily. The early temple of the Lord in its
Offsprings from the Tabernacle survival and the priesthood would continue to function virtually unchanged for the next fifteen hundred years.
Spiritual Importance of the Tabernacle the importance of the solid earthly temple both in the tent and the constructed by king Solomon solitary Israel worship centre of God. The time spent with the Lord became rich in spiritual significance. It communicated the critical divine truth for the people of Israel. The earthly temple of the Lord pictured the heavenly reality. It was only a shadow of true temple in heaven. The
Tabernacle its altar, its furniture and its vessels were pictured after the heavenly temple which Moses literally saw, when he was with God on the mount Senai.
The ark of the covenant was identified as heavenly shrine of the Lord. The Holy of holies reflected God's heavenly throne room.
The earthly temple of the Lord was identified as the spiritual truth. As a testimony it communicated to men that they are sinners. Therefore, they are under divine judgement. Through the priesthood God provided priestly meditation for the separation between Himself and humankind caled by 'sin'.
Therefore, the Messiah as a high priest entered the Holy of holies and by remaining there forever. He would sprinkle His own blood. There was no other blood shed at the time of the crucifiction. He did not carry any blood but of His own through sacrifice.
The veil of the Tabernacle represented separation between a sinful man and
Holy God. The earthly veil torn down in the middle in Jerusalem temple at the time of Christ's crucifiction and His sacrifice. The Messiah sacrified His life on the cross for the sake of humanity. Now according to the New Covenant God does not remember the "Sin" of the people any more. The single Tabernacle with its single door indicates that there is only one God and through that one door we can come to God.
The Messiah represented the High priest who is clearly seen in His fiery sevenfold fullness of the heavenly throne. The Holy Spirit illuminates the minds of men with the light of Spiritual truth. The Holy Spirit sent the Messiah anointed and exmpowered the Messianic ministry and it testifies Messiah.
The twelve matyahs represented the twelve tribes of Israel. And Messiah as part of His priestly work, will purify His godly remnants of Israel and bring them
History of the Tabernacle spotless before God and also their nation into the bond of the new covenant and restore the twelve tribes back to their tribal land inheritances.
The wilderness Tabernacle was like a miniature portable type, of the temple of the Lord and served as the spiritual centre of the nation for about five hundred years. Consequently the first and the second temples came into existence in large scale in Jerusalem. And these temples were greater and far bigger than the
Tabernacle.
The three - the Tabernacle the first temple and the second temple were patterned after the heavenly temple. The three were God's earthly houses, where
He dwelt among men. At present the earthly temples are not in existence but our bodies are the temples of God in this age. When we trust God as our saviour His
Spirit will dwell in us and in that sense we say our bodies are the temples of God.
The Lord promised that He would come again and dwell among men. God also said "I will set my sanctuary in the midst of them forever more. My
Tabernacle also shall be with them. ye, I will be their God and they will be my people."
Apostle John saw the exciting fulfullment of Ezekiels prophecy and his vision of the Messianic future when heavenly new Jerusalam discends to the mount Zion. Again John heard a loud voice from heaven "behold, the Tabernacle of God was with men and He would live with them... And God shall wipe out all their tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death, sorrow, crying and pain."
God will dwell among men and he commanded John to write for those words as true and faithful. God will dwell among His men through the Messiah.
The Messaih king will set at the right hand side of the throne and He will build the temple of our Lord and rule from his throne. the temple will exist for five hundred years or may be for one thousand years. But my sancuary will remain for ever in their midst. "He will be our God and we will be His people."A woman with issue of blood
There was a village near Capernaum which was about seven miles. Some women in that village gathered together and started a sewing center in a room of a big house and sewing clothes and at the same time chit chatting in their leisure time. A beautiful young lady used to come to them once in a week with a cloth and got it stitched and give to the helpless poor and afflicted people in the society.
Offsprings from the Tabernacle
She would walk seven miles every week to those sewing women and got the work done. Her name was Veronica.
Her people spent a lot of money on her but of no use. Finally she came to know about the healer of all diseases, Jesus Christ. She went to Him and got her disease healed.
Now all the members of the sewing group were talking about that lady who had been coming to them for that work but now not coming as she was not feeling any betterment from that disease, the issue of blood. Now as she stopped going to them, it caused some financial loss to those women. She suffered from that disease for twelve years. Her family members spent what all they could on her but in vain. Her family members and friends became disheartened about her condition.
There was no doctor whom they did not see.
They came to conclusion that she would die soon. How much money they spent on her, there was no account. They used all kinds of medicines that were available in the market but of no use. So, they at last came to a decision that she might survive only with magic or else she would die. The sewing women were always talking about this Veronica only. They recollected the whole story of her, how she helped the poor people regularly going to those tailors once in a week.
But now-a-days she was not at all coming. Perhaps they did not know she was suffering from an incurable disease for a long time.
After some time the sewing women came to know about the cause of her not coming to them for the work. They felt sorry for her disease and sent many of her friends and relatives also who died of that issue of blood helplessly. They expressed their heartfelt sympathy for her by remaining silent for a while.
Then one of the sewing woman told the others that her husband returned from Capernaum on the previous day with the happy news that there was a healer going round the country side and he was a Galiliean. He happened to touch the daughter of a synagogue ruler by name Jairus. It was his twelve years old daughter who already died by the time the healer Jesus Christ went. He simply touched her and she got up from her death.
This is one of the miracles Christ did. The tailor woman told the entire story about the healer but she could not tell them the name of the healer as her husband also did not know. According to the information, the ruler had gone to the healer and begged Him to go to his house for his daughter was on the verge of death.
History of the Tabernacle
Then the sewing woman’s husband saw the healer was going to the house of the ruler.
All the sewing women stopped their work and listened to what she was telling about the healer. She went on saying that the healer was detained on the way. And one thing is certain, a large number of people were gathering wherever
He went. They finally hoped that the healer would go to their village also one day or other. The sewing women continued to hear more about the healer and the ruler and about his daughter. After the girl was raised from her death, she became normal, walking and playing in the garden.
They were surprised at the miracle of Jesus. They understood the healer must be a prophet of God. Another important thing was that the healer asked the ruler not to reveal that incident and expose it to anybody. The fundamental reason for that was the Sadducees and the Pharisees raising baseless allegations against
Jesus and causing unnecessary problems to Him. The women talked about the marvelous act of the healer again and again, and they wished to know his name.
They also wished the healer might come one day or other to their village and heal their diseases. It was their dream only.
The sewing women in a group talking nothing but this incident only. How the dead person was made alive. While they were fully engaged themselves in that hot discussion, all of a sudden all the women fell silent, stopped doing anything and looked through the window towards the dirty winding road that led to Capernaum. They saw a woman almost running towards them as if she was in a hurry of something. After she reached the village she went to those sewing women. They crowded together and looking at her as if she were coming closer.
And in a moment one of them recognized that she was no other than Veronica who went to them some years ago once in a week with some cloth to make dresses to the poor and helpless children.
The young woman Veronica came actively on the steps of the house and everybody felt happy to see her after a long time. She appeared to be quite hale and healthy and also quite happy. She came to them almost running to tell the happy news of her healing from the dangerous disease of “issue of blood” from which she had suffered for twelve years. She was healed and continues her social work of going to the sewing women and renewed her old job. By coming to them
Veronica could give them work and then money.
Offsprings from the Tabernacle
All the women looked at her strangely because she was healed from such disease. They also found much change in her after she was healed. She looked better than before. If any one of them could remember her last appearance, she would certainly find that change as she looked white and her eyes sunken and dark circled.
But by looking at them Veronica enquired whether they recognized her. She said she was Veronica, their old friend but not a ghost to stare at.
She told them, she was healed from her disease of the issue of blood by a
Master. He further cautioned her that she was healed by her own faith, her faith towards Him (God). All the while they were in their surprise and in their imaginary world. Now they broke their silence came near to her and began to hug her and kissed her. They felt comfortable and asked her as how all her healing took place. Actually they took it for granted, that she would have died because of that disease.
Now all the women fell extremely happy over her recovery and humbly requested her to tell how it happened. Veronica began to tell the story again to them. She said she heard about Jesus of Nagarite for some years. The women were surprised to hear the name of Jesus for the first time. Then Veronica continued. He was a Galilean. She had heard some time ago all over Capernaum about Jesus, how He had been opening the eyes of the blind, causing the deaf to hear and healing all kinds of diseases all around Capernaum.
She continued, she touched Him as He was walking. Her simple touch of the hem of His garments healed her dangerous disease. Prior to this, she used all kinds of medicines prescribed by the doctors. She suffered with the disease for twelve long years. That issue of blood never stopped. By understanding her pathetic story and suffering and mental agony, she might have undergone during that period, we cannot but feel sorry for her pitiable condition.
She lost all hope of her recovery. Her family members and relatives came to a conclusion that she would die soon. She was just thirty two years old at that time. Veronica continued her testimony with the women regarding her healing.
Just at that time she came to know about Jesus that He was coming to the town of
Capernaum. She got a new hope and she would not die any more.
Then Veronica went to the place of Jesus and trying all means to meet Him.
There was a large crowd around Him. She could not see the face of Jesus. She
History of the Tabernacle wanted to touch His garments at last. But one thing was wrong with her. She was an unclean woman “Levitically.” So she should not go and touch Him in that condition. Any way she waited for some time. She felt like an untouchable leper for some time. At last she firmly decided to touch him of if she could get the chance to talk with Him, for her it was most welcome. Before she took this decision of meeting Jesus she told her family members about the healing of Jesus but her relatives laughed at her. without caring them she went secretly to meet
Jesus. She wished to try her luck to meet Jesus. He was walking and she went near him. She seized the opportunity and touched the hem of His garments. When there was a large crowd and all kinds of sick people surrounded Him.
The sewing women patiently heard the entire story till the end. They heard the story in complete silence and wonder. They were all astonished over the miracles of Jesus, particularly done to Veronica. Actually when the tips of the fingers of Veronica touched the hem of Jesus, then there was a flash of light on her face. She somehow believed with faith that her disease of the issue of blood had been healed. She really felt healthy blood through her body. She hopefully, understood she had been healed.
As the women listened to Veronica, one of them asked her whether Jesus spoke with her or whether she felt the presence of Him. Veronica replied that when she touched Him, “And Jesus immediately knowing in himself, some power had gone out of him turned and said "who touched my clothes?” When Christ questioned the disciples who touched Him, they said they did not know who had touched Him.
Then the woman Veronica saw all that and terribly afraid of Jesus and went to him, trembling and fell before Him and confessed all the truth. Christ was happy at her openness. He looked at her with the most loving eyes and said
"daughter, your faith has made you well, go in peace and be healed of your disease."
The story of the woman of the ‘issue of blood’ is mentioned in the three gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. It is said her disease was healed only with her faith towards God and finally she told her story to the people like the sewing women. What had been done by the woman that came in fear and trembling?
Then she fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. In this contact we as readers or as writers think seriously whether there is anything or anybody who could explore the depth of this simple story or what God appeared to be saying
Offsprings from the Tabernacle through this story with that remarkable belief and incident of healing, we must know about God’s infinite knowledge of every human being.
As God did miracles in those days on the people of all diseases, we must not doubt that He can do the same miracles even today. But we cannot say what kind of miracles He is doing. So, by writing about a faithful woman, I must also as a writer develop faith in Jesus Christ. In the same way people by reading about faithful men and women they must develop faith in Jesus Christ. That depends upon each individual how one takes things into consideration.
God knew this young woman Veronica. He knew not only her prime need of physical healing of her issue of blood but also her long years of feeling of uncleanliness and the humiliation in the public. The woman also knew that with her particular personality, she got the same idea that she was healed first by touching garments. God also knew she would not keep her remarkable story without telling others. Here the Master and the healer are God himself.
God wanted us to be perfectly whole. Jesus knew her as she was. In the same way He knew who we are. God is available to every one of us and knew every one of us inside and outside. This woman’s faith made her wholesome. She has no plan but she casually went and touched Him and now she was a changed woman.
2
THE GLORY OF GOD
According to prophet Jeremiah the temple of God was the most beautiful thing to Israel. So it is today tremendously impressive to whosoever saw it. The Greeks spoke about the seven wonders of the ancient world. But the gold, silver, cedar wood and fine tapstres that elevated the Lord's temple undoubtedly surpassed the wonders of the ancient world. And this Holy temple was the dwelling house to God Almighty's glory. Prophet Isiah said (10:7) "The Holy temple was the house of God's glory". It was the throne of God's glory where His soverignity ruled.
The word 'glory' can be found hundreds of times in the Bible. In Hebrew language the word 'glory' (koad) gives the basic meaning of 'weight or heaviness'
That is to say heavy (the heavy origin in its body). Glory is anything which is noticeable, which is impressive, and which brings honour to a person. We can find this word glory for the first time in the Bible when the riches of Jacob were described (Gen 31:1). Then we can say God's glory means 'His weight.' The Bible readers and believers generally say 'glory to God' to 'give glory to God' in order to praise Him. "Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name, worship the Lord in the beauty of His holiness" (Psalms 29:2).
The main purpose of worshipping the Lord is to glorify Him. And the modern end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him always. God created man is only to glorify Him. Through out Biblical history the manifestation of God's glory is in the form of fire and smoke. And the glory of the Lord was clearly seen on the mount Senai which was covered with cloud Scripture described the regular appearance of the glory of God was in many ways. The sound of glory fire was like many waters (Ezek. 43:2). The fairy cloud created wonderful impression upon the people who saw it and called it the glory of the Lord.
The Hebrew prophet Ezekiel gave a detailed and wonderful description of glory-fire in God's word. Ezekiel was just thirty years old when God called him.
Offsprings from the Tabernacle he was a priestly descendent of "Zadok" the first high priest of king Solomon's temple. Ezekiel was remembered well by many people from his childhood days.
At the same time he also remembered the wonderful reforms made by the godly king Josiah and then how the kingdom was tragically turned away from God after the death of Josiah. He remembered too how the Babylonians captured the holy
Jerusalem in 605 B.C., and seized hostages from the royal family, then the vessels from the God's temple.
All these unhappy things happened when Ezekiel was eighteen years old.
They carried away the new king along with 10,000 government officials and business magnets of the city Jerusalem. And apart from the valuable things from the city, they confiscated teasury from the temple, and the royal palaces. Finally
Ezekiel the young priest of Judah was also taken as exiled in the second deportaion.
While Ezekiel was living by the side of Chelare river, he saw the glory of the Lord that a great cloud came from the north and it travelled swiftly along the ground like an aminous windstorm. The cloud was very dark and swirled like the desert dust devilbraged withfire. The swirling feiry cloud flashed with internal burst of lightening. It was surrounded by a brilliant hallow of light which lit up the sky.
The glory of God approached Ezekiel and he saw more of its terrifying details. He saw four winged beings in the basic of the cloud. He recognised those beings as cherubims. Then he lightening and fire flashed between them and bore a red bed of heat coals. Ezekiel saw God in the form of a man and fires and He sat on a slamming saphire which was like a throne. And He appeared like a flaming fire. His glory was roaring like the pouring Meditarranian surfof Askkelon and like the din of a great army in battle.
After watching all those things showed by God, Ezekiel fell to the ground in fear as the lowering of glory of God came as a cloudo rest before him. The glory son had many names penned by different authors of the Bible. For example 'the glory' (1 Sam 4:20; Isaiah 4:5), 'the glory of the Lord' (Exodus 16:7; Act 7:58), 'the glory of God of Israel' (Ezekiel 8:4), 'the cloud' (Exodus 34:5), 'the cloud of the Lord' (Numbers 10:34), 'the cloudy pillar' (Exodus 33:9), 'the pillar of the cloud' and the pillar of fire (Exodus 13:22; 14:24). We can quote many more examples of this type refering to God.
The Glory of God
We must understand that the glory fire was a visible living person. More than to say an elemental smoke. The Lord was referred to the glory fire as the 'Angel of God', His royal Angel, The Angel of His presence, and the angel of the Lord (Exodus 3:2). Moses clearely saw and understood the amazing appearance of 'glory fire'. And the angel of God which went before the camp of Israel and went behind and the pillar of the cloud that went before theie face and stood behind them (Exodus 14:19).
The glory fire, so far we have studied was divine by nature. It was not only an angel of ordinary status, but also an angel of the Lord God Himself in the form of a fiery cloud. It is also in the Hebrew scripture that God appeared as the angel of the Lord and as a human being. At certain occasions He appeared as the angel of the Lord in the form of glory fire that when He appeared to Moses in the burning bush and He appeared in both form to Samson. It is really strange that God is also called an angel. So, both angel and messenger are synonyms and in Hebrew language it is called "malach". Therefore God must have been addressed as messenger also. The angel of God can appear as a the Son of God sometimes in the form of a human being and some times in the form of glory fire and according to Hebrew prophesy the angel of the Lord would take on flesh as the Messiah of Israel (with the head of God)
It is said the glory fire was a separate person of God-head. The Lord spoke of the glory fire was completely a different person. Obey the voice of the angel (a glory fire). Strangely this glory fire messenger was the embodiment of the divine ability either to forgive or to forgiveness of sin. "behold, I will send an angel before them"... beware of Him and obey His voice, proviele him not for, we will not pardon your transgression for my name is in him" (Numbers 23:20-21).
The glory fire was a visible sign of God's presence. It was the local manifestation of the sign of omnipresence, God who cannot be contained in a building, yet, somehow He was dwelling in the midst of His chosen people; In the wilderness wanderings, He went before Israel in glory fire. Then God's promise to Moses "My presence (glory fire) shall go with thee.
The Meaning of glory fire
The meaning of the glory fire was clarified by the Biblical Rabbis. They simply called it "Shechinah" the dwelling house of God's presence in their midst (Israel Shekinah is derived from the root verb "shekan" means dwell., abid to rest
Offsprings from the Tabernacle upon. And it is related to the Hebrew word for "Tabernacle" (Meshkan) dwelling place thereby it is also called the dwelling glory (Shekinah). The glory fire has fulfilled God's promise.
The rabbis also recognised the importance of the Shekinah and said it bore the name of our God almighty. Some medieval Jewish scholars had recognised the Biblical description of the Shekinah as a destinct person of the Godhead. They feared polytheism and gave their impression that Shekinah must be merely a created being to be called the representative of God Himself.
There is some link between the Tabernacle and occasions of God's glory fire.
The Shekinah appeared a good number of time before the existence of Tabernacle. This shekinah was no doubt the divine light source of the world until God was on the second day of His creation. He happened to create "Sun" on the fourth day. After that God appeared in His shekinah golry as a smoking furnace and a burning lamp at the ratification of His eternal covenant with Abraham and as a burning bush representative to prophet Moses.
So, in the wilderness God showed His glory to Israel and the nations. His shekinah glory brought a cloudy distruction of that darkness to pharoah's army which made them almost blind to move further and at the same time gave light to Israel on the other side of the camp. Then on the mount Senai, Moses entered the Shekinah cloud when God revealed the law to him. When Moses climbed the mount Senai for the second time he humbly requested God to show him His glory.
Moses wished to see the unveiled brilliance of God. But God simply warned him that no man can see Him and live. Still in order to satisfy Moses, God showed him the least part of His glory (Exodus 33:22).
When Moses discended the mount Senai the radient (brilliance) or brightness of that glory still reflected on his forehead, which surprised all particularly Aaron. The word of God was commented on the great previlees of Moses and he was exalted by saying "And there arise not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses whom the Lord knew face to face." (Exodus 25:22).
God spoke with Moses out of fire, out of heaven and on the mount Senai.
Above all God showed His glory to Moses. The movements of Israel were guided by the glory fire, and defended their nation too. AT the same time the glory fire executed the divine judgement and the Shekinah appeared upon the judgement of Israel when they grumbled and murmured for bread at the offering of the strange
The Glory of God fire by the sons of Aaron, at the treason of Aaron and Miriam, at the murmuring about the spices report at Kadesh Barnea.
The Shekinah showed itself in magnitude at the rebellion of Korah at the murmuring of Korah's death and finally at the Israle's complaining for water. The shekinah glory was normally connected with the Tabernacle and the temple. The glory fire covered Israel's camp with a protective cloud of shade during the day time and an illuminating pillar of fire during night time. This shekinah along resided at the Holy of holies and the cherubim of the Ark of covenant. It was present at the Tabernacle at the time of coronation or installation of Aaron and his sons as the priests and custodians of the Tabernacle.
The Shekinah glory was like the sacrificial fire of the temple altar that was kept continuously burning as a perpetual reminder of God eternal presence. The Shekina smoke cloud was present at the temple, at the commissioning of Israel.
The shekinah showed itself on critical situations filled the temple with intense smoke. The shekinah glory will be seen continuously in the tabernacle, in Solomon's temple, in the future Messiah's temple and the heavenly temple. But this shekinah never resided in the second temple.
God gave to Aaron and his sons a benediction so that they would bless
Israel. In this blessing He attached to His shekinah glory. The shining of the God's face can be seen elsewhere. In the Hebrew language the two words 'presence' and the 'face' are synonyms to the word panim. This panim is a hebrew word. This shekinah glory was God's face upon Israel. We may also see it was visible that is God's presence among His people. In other owrds God commanded the priests to pray for the Israel in faithfulness and obedience before Him . And with obeidence and faith, they might enjoy the presence of God forever as a nation. It was the evident of God, evident of Shekinah in their midst.
Prophet Ezekiel said that the nation rebuilt and God removed this prganae when he received the God's glroy with dwelling from the Temple "Soon afterwards the temple wa destroyed and the time of the gentiles began" Then Israel were nder the domination of gentiles. They were handed over to the gentile kings. God did all these to Israel for their wickedness and wanted repentence for what they had done. After their repentence only God wanted to show His favour to Israel. They had a hope of the return of Davidic kingdom and at the same time return of shekinah into the temple.
Offsprings from the Tabernacle
It is clearly pointed out that the shekinah and the Messiah are inseperably linked and it was interpreted by Apostle Paul. he explained that the Messaiah was also a diety. he followed Israel in the wilderness in the form of Shekinah glory. It is said the shekinah glory was multiplied at the time of the birth of Messiah. The shepherds who were feeding their sheep outside Bethlehem on the hills of Jerico were terribly afraid when the higlory of the Lord shone round about them (Luke
2:9).
Then the three wisemen also saw the shekinah glory as a star which guided them to the birth place of Jesus with His shekinah glory, just as He led the Israel in the wilderness. The wisemen in knowledge of the details of the scripture through the Jewish commentary. They were coming from the east at that time. The Hebrew prophets predicted the return of the shekinah glory but that glory would attract more gentiles like these three wisemen than Israel, who could bring true gifts of gold,silver and insense. These three wisemen who brought such costly gifts to the newly born Messiah clearly understood that the shekinah glory signified the Messiah's coming and also His second coming.
After sometime this shekinah glory was seen when Christ went up to a high mountain with Peter, James and John. Then Jesus changed His appearance before them and remained thou as the seen (Matt. 7:7 and Luke 9:29). All of them saw
Jesus in the brightness of His future Messianic glory. After that a bright cloud (shekinah) appeared and God spoke from it. The glory of God could also be seen simultaneously radiating in the fiery cloud and in the Messianic flesh.
Both Moses and Elijah as the representatives of Law and prophets also witnessed the glimps of Messianic kingdom. The law maker Moses saw the glory of God on the mount Senai whereas Elijah was taken to heaven withoutdeath on the golden chariot of fire and whirlwind probably the shekinah. The Lord promised that two witnesses parable, Moses and Elijah will come to Israel at the end of the age, as true witness of the true Messiah. The appearance of Messianic glory was really very interesting because it reveals the true meaning of Messianic titles of fire and light.
The importance of transfiguration was not last among the four gospel writers. Apostle John wrote "And the word was made flesh and dwelt among usand we witnessed God's presence dwelling amongmen through the person of His son" The Lord after resurrection looked at the temple from the mount of Olive. Then a cloud received Him from heavenout their sight. The cloud wasnot
The Glory of God an ordinary one. It was from heaven (the shekinah). At that time, the angels promised the disciples that the Lord would return in the same way as He ascended.
He ascended to heaven from the mount Olives and He also will descend to the Olive mount in His second coming. The Son of man in future will come down in the shekinah on clouds of heaven to the mount of Olives then to Jerusalem. The next appearance of the Shekinah glory happened in the apostelic age, when Stephen was stoned to death and became a martyr, the heavens opened and he saw "the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God" In another occasion on the Damascus road Paul saw "the light brighter than the sun" shining from heaven while the Lord spoke to him.
There is inseparable connection between shekinah glory and the Messiah which is primarily seen in His future coming. On that day the brilliance of shekinah glory will be unvieled to the whole world. The shekinah presence of the Lord is linked with the last judgement. According to the Bible the future day of the fiery judgment will occure when the Messiah returns to establish His kingdom and it is called the last and errible day of the land and when the God of the universe stands to judge to the wicked and bring man's rebellion to a close.
The day of the Lord is the major subject of Biblical prophecy. The wicked cannot escape the day of God's judgement. His fiery judgement will descend upon the earth and does not stop until He brings His glorious Messianic kingdom.
According to the Bible the day of the Lord is always "singular". The the day of the Lord is always "future" and it happens at the end of this age. The day of the Lord is always "universal" and it is against the wicked.
The day of the Lord is always fairy and catachysm which means it will never be included in the blessings of Messianic kingdom. God's feiry Shekinah presencewill be the energizing agent of the day of the Lord. "For behold, the Lord will come with fire and with His chariot like a whirlwind to show His anger with fury and His rebuke with flames of fire. His fiery shekinah presence will revenge the earths atmosphere and geological element. God will terrorize the wicked people in the day of his fierce anger. The ungodly will hide themselves in the rocks for fear of the Lord and for the glory of His majesty. The sinners in Zion will fear in God's devouring fire. And man's rebellion will not be successful for the Lord along shall be exalted in that way.
Offsprings from the Tabernacle
According to the prophecies the Lord will be announced and immediately receeded by cosmic disturbance. Then the planet will plunge into darkness and a heavenly storm disturb the atmosphere and also the storm will fall to the earth.
All these calamities coinside with the awesome display of His sovereign power over creation. The occurance of worldwide earthquake moves every mountain and island out of their places. Those people were scoff at the Lord's coming will be promissed out of time. God will turn out the lights supernaturally and then pour out the wrath.
The coming of the Lord is not a secret one. The indication of His presence will be at the time of the day of the Lord Jesus Christ will be identified as the shekinah glory as the sign of His coming. He will appear as the son of man in heaven... They shall see the Son of man in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. It is said the coming Jesus will be a sudden appearance at the end of the age and at that time the skies will be blackend" for every eye to see. As history tells us the shekinah glory will signify His coming and presence. His appearance signifies theblowing of the trumpets and the followup of the angels with all the show He will come in the brilliant devouring fire of this shekiah glory.
It is no doubt catastrophic and most terrifying for the wicked people, the coming of the Lord. At the same time it will be great and terrific, day of the Lord.
Like the peace of Christ's birth the wicked will be seized in agonizing judgement which no wicked one can escape. They will be caught like a theif and finally perish. So God warns men to repent and escape His wrath. The righteous will be devided from His wrath and in His glroy the righteous will meet Him.
The shekinah glory will return to Jerusalem after the judgement of God.
Then the Messiah will usher in His earthly kingdom. God with His sovereign power draws the human history and the Messiah will build the temple of the Lord and He shall bear the glory and then He shall sit and rule upon His throne. The son of man shall come in His glory and the holy angels with Him and then He shall sit upon His throne.
According to New Testament prophecy, "And the city has no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it. For the glory of God will give the light, and the Lamb isthe light finally." Then at that time the whole earthwill be filld with God's glory. David strongly prayed for that future day. 'Let the whole earth be filled with His flory Amen an Amen" The Lord repeated for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. And
The Glory of God the shekinah will become the primary light source of the whole world.
As described by a renowned prophet the shekinah glory will literally enter the atmosphere of the heaven withbright light which appears like the canopyjust as the water cover the earth which forms the sea. "God came from Teman" and the Holy spirit from mount "Paran Selah" His glory covered the heaven and the earth full of His promises. The visions were also connected to the future coming of Messiah.
According to His visions the nations of the middle east will tremble at His coming and the seas will roar. The anointed Messiah will save God's believers and crush the Anti Christ and his subjects. God will march through the earth in utmost anger and crush the nations. Prophet Habakkuk gave wonderful discription of what he had seen through his vision. He saw the total distruction of everything by God in future and he was terribily afraid of the situation.
As predicted by the same in the Bible the judgement of God is not far off. At the same time, the bible mentioned two contradictory statements. That is the proud and wicked people will totally reject the warning of the divine judgement because "This soul is lifted up isnot upright in him". Therefore this proud person will object not only the fulfillment of the vision but also the person of the vision who spoke about the coming of the Messiah. And while coming He will bring the divine judgement with Him. This is the opinion of the proud and the wicked.
But regarding God's people, they just live by obedience and faith and they simply believe in the coming of Christ, the Messiah. And it is well pointed out that the coming of the Messiah will be in the fairy brilliance of His glory and after His judgement, he will establish His eternal kingdom on earth. The promise of the Lord is sure and certain. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together for the mouth of the Lord that spoken off. The glory of the Lord shall fill Jerusalem temple and the entire earth.
Offsprings from the Tabernacle