The first picture had to be repeated every year. The priest would have to spinkle blood on the Mercy Seat to atone for the peoples sins. In the second picture, it's once for all finished!
Remember that when Christ died the veil (which was then in the temple, not the temporary tabernacle) in front of the Holy of Holies and the Mercy Seat was ripped from top to bottom (Mark 15:38). The veil was multiple layers thick and reportedly could not have been pulled apart by a team of oxen. The tearing signified that we now have direct access to God. No longer was man limited to once a year access through the High Priest. Our own High Priest, Jesus, was on the new and final Mercy Seat- guarded in the tomb by angels until His ressurection. I just thought this was so beautiful.
I also read something interesting about the ark of the covantent being symbolic of Christ. It was made of wood and covered inside and out with gold. The wood represents Christ's humanity and the gold respresents His divinity.
Picking up on a theme from a couple days ago that these furnishings are copies of what is heaven: Revelation 11:19 Then the temple of God in heaven was opened and the ark of his covenant was visible within his temple. And there were flashes of lightning, roaring, crashes of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.
You may or may not know that the tabernacle was eventually replaced by 2 temples. One was destroyed and then another one built. The last one was destroyed in 70AD by the Romans (prophesied by Christ in Matt 24) that not one stone would be left on the other- and now all that is left is the edge of one far wall, popularly called the 'Wailing Wall'.) Where the temple stood is now under Muslim control and the Dome of the Rock is built on it. But the Orthodox Jews now reportedly have everything ready to go for a 3rd Temple-all the furnishings etc except the Ark of the Covenant which has never been found. They are training priests and waiting for the day that they can rebuild the temple and start sacrifices again. (tragically they don't realize there is no need) Very interesting since the book of Daniel (Daniel 11:31) says that the AntiChrist will put an end to sacrifices (which there are none currently to put an end to) and Jesus says to His disciples in Matt. 24 when they ask what will be the sign of His coming and the end of the age He tells them :“when you see the abomination of desolation spoken about by Daniel the prophet – standing in the holy place (let the reader understand)." There is no Holy Place right now......so could this be getting ready to happen? I don't know. All I know is that we all need to be ready to meet Him whenever He comes.
(techie note: Yeah! My hyperlinked Bible verses work! Put your curser over the verse to see it pop up. I have NO idea how I did it)
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