To arrive at the Holy of Holies from the outer court, we would have already passed through three entrances: the gate, the door and the veil. We have now come to the ark which is not a room with an entrance but a holy cabinet. Ah, but there are objects inside the ark which can only be accessed by opening the lid, i.e. the mercy seat.The objects that we shall encounter in the ark are by far the most revealing typologically. We begin with manna. According to Ex 16:14, they came with the morning dew (WATER) and appeared like frost (WATER). They melted (WATER) when the sun waxed hot (Ex 16:21). God told Moses in Ex 16:4, "I will rain bread from heaven for you." The Hebrew word used here for rain (WATER), 'matar' , is the same word used for the rain that caused Noah's Flood (Gen 7:4). The evidence that manna is pointed to by water is incontrovertible.
The other three objects in the ark are: Aaron's rod that budded, the Book of the Law, i.e. the Torah (Deu 31:26) and the 10 Commandments. The latter two are a natural pair since the 10 Commandments are 10 out of the 613 laws of the Torah. Isaiah provides a vital clue to the symbolic identities of the Torah and the two stone tablets. We read in Isa 2:3-4a, "And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people."
This prophecy will clearly be fulfilled during the Millennial Kingdom. It also foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment when Christ shall reign eternally at the start of the 8th Millennium. The 10 Commandments, the official law of a theocracy, is pointed to by the THRONE, symbolizing God's rule. According to Isaiah, all nations of the world shall go to Jerusalem, the house of God, i.e. TEMPLE, to learn of His ways by studying the Book of the Law, the Torah, for during the Millennial Kingdom "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." (Isa 11:9, Hab 2:14)
The last object, Aaron's rod that budded, is left with the LIGHT symbol to match. It is not a force-fit as it may first appear since Aaron's rod is almost like the Lampstand -- an obvious LIGHT symbol! Both share these common features: a central shaft with branches, almonds, flowers and buds! (Ex 25:33, Num 17:8)
The symbolic meaning of the almond rod is even more significant. There must be a good reason why Aaron's rod budded almond of all fruits. The almond blossoms in January. It is the first to bloom in the spring while other trees are still sleeping. It is the harbinger of spring -- the wakeful one. The Hebrew for "almond", shaqed, comes from the root, shaqad, meaning to be vigilant or awake, i.e. sleepless, hence to be on the lookout. Is this not required of the priest charged with trimming the Lampstand!?
The parable of the ten virgins (Mat 25) is a perfect illustration of the almond rod a.k.a. Lampstand. The fire goes out if one is not vigilant in trimming the lamp and refilling the oil. To keep the fire burning requires constant zeal (LIGHT). For this reason, to the lukewarm Laodiceans the Lord issued this warning, "be zealous therefore, and repent." (Rev 3:19)
Hence the almond rod signifies watchful, zealous and prompt service of the priesthood, appropriate characteristics of LIGHT. Light is service and works (Mat 5:16). The first vision given to Jeremiah proves the almond-zeal connection.
Jer 1:11-12
Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond [shaqed] tree. Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten [shaqad] my word to perform it.
There is a play on words here. The Hebrew for "almond", shaqed, is morphed into its Hebrew root word, shaqad, meaning hasten or watch. The idea is, the God who slumbereth not (Ps 121:3, 4), watches His word to perform it speedily -- the meaning of the almond rod. Does not Scripture say no less than three times "the zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform..." ? (2 Kings 19:31, Isa 9:7, Isa 37:32) Thus Aaron's almond rod points to the LIGHT symbol convincingly.
The Pentecost Age was fulfilled by the Spirit, who was poured out as Living WATER )John 7:38-39). WATER is the symbol of the Spirit.
He was sent by the Son (John 15:26, 16:7).
The Son provided the Spirit as the Comforter, the Spirit of truth (John 15:26).
The words of Jesus (John 16:13-14) are ILLUMINED by the Spirit. The Spirit is the Seven Lamps of Fire burning before the throne of God (Rev 4:5).
LIGHT is the symbol of the Son.
The Son whose symbol is LIGHT, ministers with the Father's symbol, TEMPLE.
The Spirit whose symbol is WATER, ministers with the Son's symbol, LIGHT.
The Father whose symbol is TEMPLE, ministers with the Spirit's symbol, WATER
Bible students have long known that deep secrets of God are hidden in the Tabernacle of Moses. Concerning its construction, Moses was instructed by God to "make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount." (Heb 8:5) The pattern did not originate from this world and it conceals eternal symbols and truths. The feasts of Israel -- the key to prophecy -- the blueprint of God's redemption -- are integral to the design. -The Tabernacle of Moses Feasts & Symbols by John Trig-
To view an indepth study of the Tabernacle of Moses go to:
http://www.fivedoves.com/tng/moses/tabernacles.htm
Then the Lord said to me. "You have seen well, for I am READY to perform My Words. (Jeremiah 1:12)
READY, Shaqad (Shahkahd), Watching, waking, hastening, anticipating: to be sleepless, alert, vigilant; on the lookout; to care for watchfully.
This verb occurs 12 times, including PS 127:1: Unless the LORD guards the City, the watchman stays awake in vain."
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