God’s Presence in the Sanctuary: A Theology of His Nearness

God’s Presence in the Sanctuary: A Theology of His Nearness

This is an attempt to look at the sanctuary doctrine from  what could be considered to be the center of the theology of the sanctuary, namely the nearness of God.

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The Ark of the Covenant

The ark of the covenant was the most important piece of furniture in the Israelite tabernacle/Temple. It was a wooden box, plated with gold, about four feet two inches long and 30" x 30". It originally contained only the tablets of the Ten Commandments.

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Hope in Heavenly Places

Why is the heavenly sacntuary important? A discussion of the significance of the heavenly temple should examine the nature of God, His interaction with His creation, and the genuineness of this relationship. God’s interaction with and presence within creation are deeply significant theological topics, and the heavenly temple plays a key role in their understanding.

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Rituals and Ceremonies

The Hebrew phrase yad samak ‘al means “to press the hand on” sacrificial victims, and is primarily used in the cult and in some noncultic cases. We will examine both of them. The idea that the laying on of hands signifies ownership is practically irrelevant because the ritual assumes that sinners had to bring to the sanctuary…

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Symbols and Metaphors

Let me quote the passage to which you refer: “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place [Gr. ton hagion, “the sanctuary”] by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened [Gr. enekainisen, “inaugurated”] for us through the curtain, that is, his body [Gr. sarx, “flesh”] . . .”…

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Sacrifice and Confession

The answer to your question is debated among scholars, mainly because we don’t have explicit evidence affirming that all sin offerings included a confession of sin. I will begin with cases of related biblical practice; then examine some passages, mainly from the Psalms; and conclude with some general comments.

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A Covenant of Love and Loyalty

What is the significance of the meal offering (Lev. 2)? Compared to the sacrificial offerings mentioned in Leviticus, the meal offering is unique in that it was a bloodless one. A study of the Levitical instructions on how to offer it will help us understand its meaning and theological implications.

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A Place of Reunion and Revelation

The ark of the covenant was a box containing the tables of Ten Commandments (Ex. 25:21, 22). The mercy seat was a slab of pure gold on which stood two cherubim, carved as one piece with the mercy seat, facing each other looking down and with wings extend¬ing upward (verse 20).

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Furniture With a Message

The tabernacle was an expression of God’s love manifested in His willingness to dwell among His people. It was a type of His heavenly dwelling, where the sin problem was to be solved. God’s plan of salvation was illustrated in the services of the earthly tabernacle. Within that setting the furniture of the tabernacle is…

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