December 2: REFORMATION HIGHLIGHTS and the SANCTUARY (part 4)

And they shall make an ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits shall be its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height. And you shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out…You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. Exodus 25:10,11a,21

The very first article of furniture that God’s people were instructed to build for the sanctuary was an ark—a container—for the Testimony (see also v.16) of the LORD. Though He had spoken it to them audibly from the top of Mount Sinai thus far (Exodus 20:1-17), He was to hand over to Moses a written form. Of all Scripture, God reserved the writing of the Ten Commandments for Himself. He wrote them with His own finger (31:18, 32:16). Jewish scholars, along with many Christians, believe that the original tables—the ones that Moses broke (32:19)—were of sapphire stone that the LORD took from the foundation of His throne (see Exodus 24:10, Ezekiel 10:1, Revelation 15:2).

The ark was a representation of God’s throne in heaven. Though the earthly place of safekeeping for the written Testimony of God was the first furnishing mentioned in His building instructions, it is the last to be restored in the course of the Reformation. Following the restoration of the significance of the other five articles of furniture during the 1260 years (538-1798) of the Dark Ages, the ark came to the forefront for restoration after that period was brought to a close. The reformers who began to highlight the significance of this first-mentioned sanctuary item consisted of a small group of devoted Bible students from every division of Christendom. Within this group was a full appreciation for all of the Reformation work thus far accomplished. By God’s grace, they rose above the denominational dissentions of those who valued only one or another of the corrections of error that had pierced the darkness. Recognition of preparations still needed before Jesus returns became the theme of these people who stood upon the shoulders of those earlier reformers.

On the earth, the purpose of the ark made by men was to contain the tables of stone written by God: “I have put wisdom in the hearts of all the gifted artisans, that they may make all that I have commanded you: the tabernacle of meeting, the ark of the Testimony and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furniture of the tabernacle” (Exodus 31:6)

The apostle John was shown the heavenly ark, serving as a reminder to all of that perfect standard: the eternal, unchanging Law of Love. It is the foundation of God’s government in the universe and the standard of all judgement. Thus, the significance and symbolism of the sixth and final article of furniture began to be reinstated. Beloved, the Reformation is still underway…

Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail. Revelation 11:19