From “Feast of Tabernacles,” Chapter 12- Tabernacles – The Feast of Glory- The Events of the Seventh Month Blend Into One, continued
THE ARK BROUGHT TO SOLOMON’S TEMPLE
“And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto King Solomon at the feast of the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark. And they brought up the ark of the Lord… into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place…” (1 Kgs. 8:2-6). David had previously pitched a tent for the ark of the Lord on Mount Zion. But he was not permitted to build a permanent house for the ark, because he had been a man of many wars. His kingdom must give way to Solomon’s, and his tent to the permanent, glorious temple to be constructed by his son. And so finally, the temple was completed, and the ark of the Lord was brought into the oracle of the house, even the holy of holies. When this took place, and “the priests were come out of the holy place, …the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord” (vs. 10, 11).
All this took place on the occasion of the Feast of Tabernacles; a beautiful picture, therefore, of the glory which God has prepared for the Temple not made with hands, a Temple of living stones. Solomon in his great dedicatory prayer prophesied of Israel’s future disobedience and their dispersion among the nations; but with that prophetic warning there was also a promise that if they returned unto God with all their heart in the land of their captivity, then God would hear from Heaven and maintain their cause. (See 1 Kgs. 8:15-61). So it happened to Israel, and so it happened to the Church. Solomon’s beautiful temple was destroyed; and the Church went into the millennium of the Dark Ages.
Soon, however, the Church will have received “double for all her sins,” and in the hour of restoration she shall receive double the glory that she had before. A “double portion” of Elijah’s spirit was promised to his successor Elisha, if he would but follow his master step by step and keep his eyes firmly fixed upon him. And Elisha got his request. Jesus has promised, “Greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” (Jn. 14:12).
“Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins… and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together…” (Isa. 40:1, 2, 5). A greater than Solomon is here! A greater glory than Solomon’s Temple shall be revealed in this hour of the Lord’s appearing in the midst of His saints. GHW
If, in fact, this is the hour of the Lord’s appearing in the midst of His saints (and I believe it is!), what might that look like? Could it look like Jesus’s prayer for unity among His children in John 17? Could it look like the manifestation of love Paul outlines in 1 Corinthians 13? Could it look like the repentance God talks about in 2 Chronicles 7:14…”If my people..”? Yes, I think it will look like all of these and much more. It will look like unity of purpose. It will look like the love of Jesus personified in us and through us. It will look like turning away from forms and structures that have hindered the church’s mission in the world.
Will it be noticed? How could it not! The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.”
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