Who Are Those Around The Throne?

שרפים

‘There are more things in heaven and Earth, …. Than are dreamt of in your philosophy..’

Please bear with the non-biblical quote for a moment – it’s there to make a relevant point.

Above is the well known phrase used by the title character in the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare; when Hamlet is speaking to Horatio, (Hamlet 1.5.167-8), He says, your philosophy (i.e., philosophy or learning in general). Hamlet suggests that human knowledge is limited: There are more things in heaven and Earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy [science].

The emphasis here should really be on “dreamt of”, as Hamlet is pointing out how little even the most educated people can explain.

The relevant point being, just how true this is, for in reality we know so very little about everything!! As the scripture says ‘Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.’

A fool is one who denies the reality of his creator. As usual, the Bible says it best in

Romans 1:22: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”

In our humanity we often see things in a way that makes us feel comfortable, by adjusting our viewpoint. However, this can often means that our concept of those things is not as they really are.

It’s all a matter of perception.

We draw on personal experience and try to define an image from previously gathered information, which is not necessarily accurate, or relevant, to the new thing in front of us which is requiring definition.

A good example is what angels look like.

HUH?

In a previous post, we examined the descriptions of the seraphim on the mercy seat and the heavenly beings around Fathers’ throne; discovering they are not like the everyday creatures that we are familiar with. We have formed mental images of angels, gained mostly from paintings provided primarily by renaissance artists. Many of whom were under contract to the Vatican and religious authorities, who commissioned what they wanted for themselves and also what they chose the public should see.

The other beings mentioned along with the cherubim are the seraphim.

Seraphim

Hebrew: שָׂרָף śārāf, (sarap) this word seraph in the original

Plural שְׂרָפִים śərāfîm;

Latin: seraphim and seraphin (plural)

Greek: σεραφείμ serapheím

These are noted as the highest order or choir of angels according to christianity and the fifth rank of ten in the Jewish angelic hierarchy.

Remember the seasonal Carol?

They are the angelic beings who are attendants or guardians before God’s throne. They continually praise and glorify God, calling,

“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Hosts”.

The only Bible reference is Isaiah 6:1-7.

Seraphim means Burners, the burning ones/glowing ones or Destroyers and as the closest Attendants at the Throne of God, they are represented as “standing” above the King as He sat upon His throne, ready at once to minister unto Him. This word, in the original, שָׂרַף, is used elsewhere only of the “fiery serpents” Numbers 21:6,8; Deut 8:15

The root-verb שרף (sarap) means to burn, and this is always in a literal sense. There are up to fifteen words in Hebrew that mean to burn, but sarap is used mostly in the sense of consuming or destructive burning.

The verb used to describe these Heavenly living creatures may hint that they glow brightly! Similar to how Moses’ face glowed brightly following his close proximity to God’s glory on Mount Sinai.

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, and the people saw that the skin of his face was shining like a bright light, they were afraid to come near him.

Isaiah (6:2) saw the seraphim in a vision standing above the Father as He sat upon His throne. He described them as each having three pairs of wings,

with one pair they covered their faces (a token of humility);

with the second they covered their feet (a token of respect);

while with the third they flew.

They seem to have presented a general resemblance to the human figure as recorded in verse 6.

He saw their occupation as two fold:

First, to celebrate the praises of His holiness and power, verse 3; and

2. to act as the medium of communication between heaven and earth, verse 6.

Seraphim are so close to God that they are thought to be the angels of God’s unfathomable and endless love.

Scholars propose that in their true appearance they are so bright, that no mortal man could gaze upon them. However, they can apparently change their appearance when delivering messages to the human world. Isaiah was cleansed from sin by a seraph who touched a burning coal to his lips.

(Isaiah 6:6) Here one of them was the agent for burning the sin from the lips of the prophet with a coal off the altar.

The Hebrew word seraphim ser’-a-fim is not really a name as such, but rather what might be considered a category or group, a species or class of The First and Highest Order of created spiritual beings/entities.

The masculine noun שרף (sarap) denotes a fiery serpent and is used five times: Numbers 21:6 and 21:8, Deuteronomy 8:15, Isaiah 14:29 and 30:6. The exact same word is used in Isaiah 6:2 to describe the angelic beings known as Seraphim!

Sharrapu was a Babylonian name for the fire-god, Nergal. In Egypt there have been found eagle-lion-shaped figures guarding a grave, which have had the name seref applied. “Griffin” is the equivalent term in English.

First Mentioned: 3300-3100 BC

The griffin, griffon, or gryphon is a legendary creature with the body, tail, and back legs of a lion; the head and wings of an eagle; and sometimes an eagle’s talons as its front feet. 

In heraldry, the griffin’s combination of lion and eagle gains in courage and boldness. It is used to denote strength and military courage and leadership.

in Hebrew theology as the three highest orders of attendants to the Father, Seraphim are connected with Cherubim and Ophanim, and are superior to the angels who are messengers sent on various errands.

The word Angel means messenger.

The Archangels that we are familiar with are:

Michael meaning He who is like God;

Gabriel = God is my strength;

Raphael = healer of God;

Uriel = God is my light.

As the cherubim were often represented by the storm-clouds, so the seraphim were symbolized by the serpentine flashes of the lightning; but we read none of this in Isaiah’s vision.

In the New Testament/Brit Chadashah, in Rev 4:5, the only possible equivalent is, the living ones (mistranslated as beasts in the KJV) etc.

In the Greek ζῷον verse 6 Strongs 2226 zoon (zoology) – A Living Creature, animal, a living being; not therion – translated beast.

These then appear to be literal angelic beings and are clearly different from the:

Redeemed Elders of Rev. 4:9-11,

Ordinary angels in Rev.5:1-12,

Seraphim in Is. 6:1-8 and

Cherubim of Ezek. 1:4-28; 10:1-22

Here, as in Isaiah, they appear nearest the Father’s throne, supreme in praise of His holiness.

1 Peter 1:16 (Lev.)

Young’s Literal Translation because it hath been written, ‘Become ye holy, because I am holy;’.

 

(16) Be ye holy; for I am holy.—

The better reading here is, Ye shall he holy; it is still, however, a command, not a promise—except that all God’s commands are promises. The command comes some five or six times in the Book of Leviticus, addressed not only to the Levites, but to all the people. It would, therefore, apply twice over to the recipients of this letter by virtue of their twofold consecration, in the old and in the new Israel.

8270 holiness, as SET APART for God: Believers are holy, in that they are to BE SET APART from the world as God’s own people. Just as certain days and items are holy because they are set apart for God alone. 

8271 holiness, purpose of: God in His holiness desires a holy people amongst whom He can dwell, and who can effectively worship, witness to and serve Him as they prepare for a future with God and to be like God.

The cherubim as we saw in previous post, Ezek. 21:22 Each one had four faces and each had four wings, with the form of human hands under the wings

They all had 4 faces: calf, eagle, man and lion.

It appears that the Seraphim,

who are known in our culture as

handsome human-like angelic creatures,

were known to the Hebrews as

snake-like fireballs!

We like to designate creatures either according to what they look like, or else by some terminology that only covers their specific species.

e.g. A horse is a horse and we are not too concerned with what the word horse might actually mean.

A horsetail is a plant that looks like the tail of a horse, and a sea horse is a fish with a horse-like head.

In Hebrew, however, creatures are known mostly according to their behavior. Since creatures usually display multiple defining behaviors, many creatures are known by more than one name — one of the words for lion (ari) comes from the verb to gather— and it also means that one description often covers more than one creature.

e.g., the word סוס (sus), meaning to flash or dart, denotes both a horse and a swallow.

This is Hebrew thought, and in this thinking, to be, IS to do.

In the Bible, the word שרף (sarap) is used in two different scenes. In the most recognized one, it denotes the flying, supernatural six-winged creatures that surround God’s throne in the vision of Isaiah.

In Revelation 4 john also has a vision of God’s throne and sees what seems the same creatures. However, here they have only one face each. One has face like a lion the second face of a calf the third face of a man and the fourth an eagle.

(Revelation 4:8). 

Both Isaiah, in

Strong’s Number: 06918 Transliterated: Qadowsh

Phonetic: kaw-doshe’

Definition: sacred, holy,

Holy One, saint, set apart

 and John hear these creatures cry “Holy, holy, holy”.

Greek λέγω

legó: to say, command. 

These creatures became known as the Seraphim, and although artists have tried to depict them, we really don’t have a clue what they may look like. To begin with, we don’t know their size, so they may be very small; small enough even to appear on someone’s head?? (Acts 2:3). Since their name is derived from a verb meaning, to burn, they may look like flames. However if their name was designed to indicate that is what they looked like, they would have been known by a word that means flame or fire. This is not the case because they are known as Burners or Destroyers.

They have six wings (Isaiah 6:2),

There is Scripture that seems to record that God has wings too!! (Psalm 17:8, 36:7, 57:1, 61:4, 91:4). Since we are made in God’s image and likeness (Genesis 1:26), do we have “wings” as well??  The Seraphim’s wings may not look at all like birds’ wings that we imagine and are familiar with.

Seraphim have faces but their wings cover them, so they may look like anything. They have feet, also covered by their wings, but not necessarily human feet; and the word for feet is so general, that we still really don’t know much about their appearance.

The point is, that they are not what we are used to seeing, as far as creatures go, and their appearance is secondary to their raison d’etre. Their prime mission is to guard the throne and serve the Lord.

The word CRIED, or SAID, here, is not meaning a whispered religious tone,

but it’s a declaration,

a command,

an actionable directive;

because holy = kadosh = set apart;.

Separate and set aside (for His purposes).

The word CRIED in this verse is Strong’s Number: 07121

Transliterated Qara’

Phonetic Spelling kaw-raw’

Definition: to call, call out,

utter a loud sound,

recite, read, cry out, proclaim

And the next few words record

The posts (‘ammah) of the door (caph = threshhold) moved

Strong’s Number: 05128  

Transliterated: Nuwa`

Phonetic: noo’-ah

Definition: to quiver, totter, shake, reel, stagger, wander, move, sift, make move, wave, waver, tremble, vibrate

It would appear that the voices of the seraphim were loud enough to cause vibration and shaking which changes the understanding of this scene entirely!

The question of whether or not Seraphim are ‘angels’, remains a question. Biblical angels usually either look like humans or sound like them, and we don’t know if there are separate species of angels, or even if they exist as autonomous individuals.

Angels, Seraphim, Cherubim and spirits were created beings that’s about all we know, apart from what the scriptures tell us.

What we do know is that the Bible clearly indicates that there is much, much, more to creation than just us, even if we cannot see it all because it exists in another dimension beyond the scope of our physical eyes. Sometimes God opens our eyes like He did for Elisha and the chariots 2 kings 6:17-20

The other famous scene in which the word seraphim is prominently featured deals with the attack of the “fiery serpents” on Israel in the wilderness (Numbers 21:6).

It literally reads, “And God sent among the people the fiery serpents נָחָשׁ שְׂרָפִים

[saraphim naphashim] seraphim serpents”.

The word for serpent, nahash, is related to the words for bronze and the verb to divine, and the serpent scene of Numbers 21 may be about more than just an animal attack.

It has been suggested by certain Bible scholars over the years that that the creature referenced here may be the flying serpents.

Matthew Henry, in his famous Commentary on the Whole Bible writes:

They had impudently flown in the face of God himself, and the poison of asps was under their lips, and now these fiery serpents (which, it should seem, were flying serpents, Isaiah 14:29) flew in their faces and poisoned them.

The Lord then instructs Moses to create a שרף (sarap) and set it on a standard. Moses interprets the making of a seraph by making a “bronze serpent” — a nahash, nachash, nahashet; twice the word nahash, a fiery, burning, majestic being — and anyone who looks upon it is saved from the real ones.

Was the bronze image a Seraphim? One of Gods’ fiery attendants?

Apparently, the image of the bronze serpent was so impressive that the Israelites gave it a name —Nehushtan — and burned incense to it until king Hezekiah destroyed it (2 Kings 18:4).

Later still, Yeshua/Jesus compares His imminent crucifixion to Moses’ raising of the bronze serpent (John 3:14, also see 8:28 and 12:32).

Verse 8: “And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.”

This passage is a beautiful picture of how those bitten by the Satanic curse of sin cannot heal themselves from sure death; but they need only look in faith to Christ’s work on the cross to live. Indeed, Christ applied this passage to himself: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:14-15). Yet it seems strange to employ the cursed snake (a symbol of Satan from Genesis 3:1 to Revelation 20:2) as the parallel of Christ.

While the Hebrew word naphash is clearly the word for common snakes, these commentators have concluded that the compound word saraphim – naphashim, should be translated “fiery flying serpents.”

It would appear that the saraph was a reptilian, snake-like creature, distinguished from common snakes predominantly by their ability to fly. the pterosaur identification is most reasonable. These flying snakes, or pterosaurs, could have attacked and overcome the Israelites from the air.

They would have formed an ideal picture of the Messiah, in that Christ was made like us, (made sin for us according to 2 Corinthians 5:21), but he was still fundamentally different (divine).

The winged serpent incorporates simultaneously the appearance of the snake and the lofty ability of flight in a unique animal. Moreover, the outstretched pterosaur on the pole would have formed a perfect cross!

It is likely that the New Testament author also referenced these fiery winged seraphim when writing to the Hebrews? “Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire” (Hebrews 1:7). The emphasis then, it would appear, is on the saraph’s bright, fiery nature.

The serpentine seraphim return in Isaiah 14:29, where the prophet foretells the destruction of Philistia, “from the root of the snake (nahash) comes a viper (tzepa, a word that indicates a snake producing venom), and his fruit (is) a flying seraph”. Actually, the word “flying” may also mean “dark”; see the name Ephah. The flying or dark seraph returns in Isaiah 30:6, where it is listed among the beasts of the Negev.

The other place where the term nacash is used is in connection with the garden of eden where the nachash conversed with eve. Well it was probably not a talking serpent but taking Ezek s description in 28:14 of the devil he was the covering cherub and Isaiah 14:12-14; the angel Lucifer as being one of the  created chief beings within the angelic class of creation of God.  

Ezek. 28:13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

Eve was probably accustomed to seeing the cherubim, seraphim and angelic host, seeing as they walked with God in the cool of the day. Neither did they show surprise at Lucifers presence, nor of the cherubim that blocked their return to the garden. So his appearance was not a shock or unusual to them.

This individual has a covering of 9 precious stones. 

Here is a fascinating parallel of the earthly Israel’s High Priest’s breastplate that also was covered with precious stones.  These 9 stones that covered Satan are an exact match for 9 of the 12 stones found on the High Priest’s covering (Exodus 28:17). 

Does this verse in Ezekiel reveals that Satan was a High Priest for God in heaven before he came to the earth? Are these stones and coverings just a amazing coincidence or is there some mystery information that God is revealing here?  On the High Priest’s breast plate there were 4 rows of three stones each.  Each row consisted of a different set of stones and each stone was unique.  We are told that these 12 stones on the High Priest’s covering were engraved with the names of 12 tribes of Israel.  However by matching off the stones found on Satan’s covering from the stones found on the High Priest’s breastplate it appears that Row 3 is missing completely.  One would think this is not an accident, it’s mathematically impossible for this to be a coincidence.  What does it all mean?  We could conclude that Satan lost three things that Israel had, or maybe Israel was given three things that Satan didn’t have?   

Anointing? Covenant? Relationship?

Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Darby Bible Translation Thou wast the anointed covering cherub, and I had set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou didst walk up and down in the midst of stones of fire.

Anointed comes from a Hebrew root word that means to smear with oil.  David was anointed king this way by Samuel.  

But this word here means to “spread like wings” and it is the only time this word occurs in the whole Bible. 

However, it is still important to see that Satan is said to be “anointed” of God.  This is a direct comparison to Jesus who was also said to be “anointed” of God with the Holy Ghost and power in Acts 10:38. God anoints people in the earth to perform specific tasks.  What this represents is a special divine ability to perform the duties being assigned to them.  From this verse we understand that angels can also be anointed by God to do specific jobs and assignments.  An anointing can involve supernatural ability and power, divine knowledge or wisdom to do what we do not fully understand how to do.  This reveals a lot about Satan and his abilities.

Then Satan is called a “cherub

Information is revealed about angels and God’s relationship with Satan before he sinned.  Is it possible that one of these two cherubs either side of God’s throne in heaven was originally Lucifer?  Now Yeshua/Jesus is at the right hand of the Father could that mean Yeshua/Jesus has taken Lucifer’s old place of authority and power?

Ezekiel 28:14 is how God describes Satan to us, that he was an anointed cherub and that his job or assignment was to “cover”. 

This Hebrew word means to cover as a protector or as a guard.  It can also mean a fenced in hedge of protection.  It can also mean to entwine as in join together. 

Amazing definitions for they imply a covenant relationship and that is very important to know.  was God in covenant with the angels of Heaven, including Satan? 

In Isaiah 6:2 there is a word describing what appears to be an angelic being. This is also a winged creature that clearly flies using their wings. It is not clear that this is describing Satan unless you look up the definition of the Hebrew Word “seraphim” in Strong’s. This word is many times translated as “fiery serpent” seems to describe Satan very well.  We clearly know from Genesis and Revelation that Satan is the “serpent” so we have a link to a new titled reference for this spiritual being.  A fiery serpent is a great symbolic representation for Satan.

  1. Was a created being (Eze 28:13)

  2. Not created with evil in him (Eze 28:15)

  3. Was found with iniquity in him (Eze 28:15)

  4. Was in covenant with God the Father? (Gen 2-3, Gal 4)

  5. Was anointed by God for specific purposes (Eze 28:14)

  6. Was in a class of angels called “Cherubs” (Eze 28:14)

  7. Was also described as a “Seraphim”; winged fiery serpent (Isa 6:2)

  8. Was a Priest unto God? (Eze 28:13).

  9. Was called Lucifer a son of the early light (Isa 14:12)

  10. Named Lucifer means “Bright Morning Star”  (Isa 14:12)

Over the years Biblical scholars have speculated about the nature of the creature described in the Authorized Version as “the fiery flying serpent.”

“The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent,” (Isaiah 30:6).

Creationists over the years have suggested that this flying reptilian creature was a living pterosaur, still known in the region of Palestine at the time of Isaiah’s prophecy.1 Bible commentators have differed in their interpretation of these passages.

For example, E. J. Young writes of Isaiah 14:29:

“From one snake will come a poisonous serpent, and that poisonous serpent will produce another that is burning and flying.”2 He holds that Isaiah 30:6 references a real winged serpent and cites Herodutus 11.75; iii.109; and Ammianus Marcellinus xxii.15.3 (Marcellinus wrote in the fourth century about the ibis being a sacred bird in Egypt because of their encountering flocks of winged snakes, coming laden with poison from the marshes of Arabia, and overcoming them in the air, and devouring them before they quit their own region.) Motyer seems to side with the minority NIV translation “darting venomous serpent” but mentions “fiery flying one” as an alternate translation.4 The NAS renders this creature “flying serpent.” The Septuagint translation of Isaiah 14:29 is ofei petamenoi, which are clearly words for a flying reptile with no variants. From a more liberal scholarship perspective, the authors of the Revised Standard Version translate it “fiery flying serpent.” The BDB lexicon authors also render the creature “a flying serpent or dragon ” but go on to suggest that it had its origin in the Egyptian Serref and was “mythically conceived with serpent’s bodies (serpent deities).”

Since they are called seraphim…a term elsewhere applied to serpents (Num. 21:16; Isa. 14:29, 30:6), some scholars believe that they were serpentine or dragon-like in appearance. (Job 21.)

However, the chief meaning of the term may be “fiery” (Num. 21:6), so that the name of the snake is merely derivative (referring to their bite), and the use of the term for the ministering beings would indicate they were “fiery ones.”

There is no reason to dismiss automatically either of these possibilities. Composite figures are known from all over the ancient Near East, and while none is so far attested in Israel, it is possible that use was made of them. Such mysterious, awesome beings would be quite appropriate in this sort of vision. On the other hand, fire is everywhere associated with God’s holiness…so that it would be entirely appropriate for those who declare that holiness (v.3) to be “fiery” in their appearance.

Although to us its seems mythical, there are some historical and archaeological evidence in support of a pterosaur interpretation of these Old Testament passages.

Note that the nation of Philistia referenced in Isaiah 30 is geographically intermediate between the land of Israel and Egypt. This is the same region from which the ancient reports of pterosaurs come. Various historians told of small flying reptiles in Arabia and Egypt, recounted the virility of their poisons and described their predator, the ibis bird.18 The ancient authors Aristotle, Philae, Aelianus, Ammianus, Mela, Solinus, anonymous 4’th century Coptic monks, the 13’th century Armenian historian Matthew of Edessa, Solinus, Cicero, Aristotle, and Philae all reference flying serpents.

The well-respected Greek researcher Herodotus wrote:

There is a place in Arabia, situated very near the city of Buto, to which I went, on hearing of some winged serpents; and when I arrived there, I saw bones and spines of serpents, in such quantities as it would be impossible to describe. The form of the serpent is like that of the water-snake; but he has wings without feathers, and as like as possible to the wings of a bat.

In his third volume Herodotus goes on to tell how these animals could sometimes be found in the Arabian spice groves. He describes their size, coloration, and reproduction. It seems flying serpents were infamous for hanging in frankincense trees. When workers wanted to gather the tree’s incense, they would employ putrid smoke to drive the flying reptiles away.

Josephus’ account is particularly lucid. He tells of Moses, while still living in Pharoah’s court, leading an Egyptian army against Nubia: …but Moses prevented the enemies, and took and led his army before those enemies were apprised of his attacking them; for he did not march by the river, but by land, where he gave a wonderful demonstration of his sagacity; for when the ground was difficult to be passed over, because of the multitude of serpents, (which it produces in vast numbers, and indeed, is singular in some of those productions, which other countries do not breed, and yet such as are worse than others in power and mischief, and an unusual fierceness of sight, some of which ascend out of the ground unseen, and also fly in the air, and so come upon men at unawares, and do them a mischief,) Moses invented a wonderful stratagem to preserve the army safe, and without hurt; for he made baskets, like unto arks, of sedge, and filled them with ibes, and carried them along with them; which animal is the greatest enemy to serpents imaginable, for they fly from them when they come near them; and as they fly they are caught and devoured by them, as if it were done by the harts;

The Greek word used by Josephus for “snake” is the same one employed by Christ in John 3 (and also by Paul in I Corinthians 10:9) to describe the attacking serpents in the wilderness (ophis or ophesi in its the masculine, dative, plural form).

It is also the same as the Septuagint version of the wilderness account.

This is the common Greek word for snake, so perhaps there was no unique Greek word for pterosaur like the Hebrew “saraph.” Instead the Greek authors fell back on the phrase “flying serpent” as the way to distinguish the winged reptilian creature, just like the KJV translators did in English.

One thing is for certain there are more things in heaven and earth than we have any concept of even in our wildest dreams and imagination.

And just because it does not fit into our idea of what they should look like; the heavenly creatures that surround the throne, are there by Fathers’ choice, and His concepts and ways are not ours.

We may should get prepared to be truly wowed by the things that are prepared for us in our future, for as yet eye has not seen some of these magnificent and heavenly creatures

who serve Him day and night and while still on earth we can join them in their singing – LOUD VIBRATING COMMAND HOLY HOLY HOLY is the Lord of Hosts the whole earth is full of His Glory.

Don’t leave this page without knowing that you are full of His Glory and saved by His Mercy

Remembering here, that mercy is also rachum racham, rachem.

Rachem/racham being the word for WOMB.

So the mercy seat could be said to be a kind of womb (prophetically), where the spiritual new birth was to be initiated/conceived and ratified in Jesus/Yeshua’s blood.

Out of the mercy/womb seat came new resurrected life FOR THE LIFE IS IN THE BLOOD and the reconciliation to the Father.

and Grace,

Mercy and Grace is the WAY

ADDED AS AN INTERESTING EXTRA..

Brief yet fascinating report of a creature called a Ropen:

Although some superstition surrounds this remarkable creature, there are consistencies in the accounts from around the island regions (peoples that do not have any communication links) that lend credibility to the claims. The most remarkable part of the description is that the creature is reported to have a biolumiscent capability, like a firefly. Carl Baugh of the Creation Evidence Museum conducted two Ropen expeditions to PNG with Jim Blume, one to the island of Umboi and another further north to the Manus region. While exploring around the Manus islands, it became clear to Blume and Baugh that the pterosaur-like creature reported in that region were a different species from those observed further south. It was smaller (about 1 meter wingspan), tan in color (by native reports), and reddish in its glow. Coloration in the reports from Umboi, on the other hand, vary from glittering black to a very dark grey. The bioluminscence color is described as a white/bluish glow. Indeed, many who see the glowing creature fly past them describe it as a shimmering white light with a rainbow of colors being thrown off.

On one expedition to PNG, Blume and Baugh followed up on reports from a particular island in the Manus group that claimed these creatures were living in the caves dotting the island. While in a boat in the early evening they observed what appeared to be an oval shaped luminscent flying object gliding from the hillside down along the bay. After observing the pulsing light-greenish light and looking through a monocular night scope for about 20 minutes they lost contact with the object. The next morning, Baugh snapped a picture of a strange clawed print on the muddy beach.

Could it be that a living pterosuar still exists today in PNG? Is this strange luminescence the reason that the ancient prophet refers to the flying serpent as “fiery”?

It seems that the Ropen posseses the ability to turn its internal light on and off at will. Also, reports suggest the presence of a secretion that drips behind when the underbelly glows. Reports suggest that this secretion is alkaline and burns the skin of those who come in contact with the creature!

PNG IS PAPUA NEW GUINEA FOR MORE INFO AND PICTURES GO TO
http://www.livepterosaur.com/ropen-info/

There REALLY ARE more things in heaven and earth…….!!

Please, don’t leave this page until..

you are awakened to Messiah..

we all need to born again from above..His Mercy and Grace are all you need…for therein is His forgiveness.

Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

Its all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

NOT SURE? YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.

A keruvim cherub – not quite like we imagined? PART 2

Moses was instructed to build the wilderness tabernacle or Mishkan where the Ark of the Covenant rested, having the Keruvim on its Mercy seat.Moses and Joshua

It was to be situated in the center of the camp and the 12 tribes laid out their tents around it in the shape of a cross aligned with the 4 points of the compass.

The tabernacle reflects Gods throne surrounded by the 4 Cherubim faces N-Eagle; S-Man; E-Lion; W-Ox; found in Revelation.

Next as food for thought, are some interesting conceptual points of view, many may consider controversial topics; they are included on purpose to make us think. We have forgotten how to think for ourselves. Often taking only what is given by those who have learned from other people, who in turn were taught by people and so on; and limited within the narrow restrictions of academic and doctrinal parameters. So please don’t switch off before considering the context and scriptural references included… remembering the levels of interpretation (PARDES).

CLICK LINK FOR EXPLANATION

https://www.minimannamoments.com/the-rules-of-pardes/

Daniel prophesied that at the time of the end that knowledge would increase and again that is part of the apocalypse/the revealing, of the treasures old, (things forgotten) and new, things hidden until Fathers timing is optimum.

Many may cry heresy and yet the term is defined as: any belief or theory, that is strongly at variance with established beliefs or customs, in particular the accepted beliefs of a church or religious organization.

A basic definition of heresy, according to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, is “adherence to a religious opinion contrary to church dogma.”

A second definition is “dissent or deviation from a dominant theory, opinion, or practice.”

For example, accusations of heresy have been leveled against a group of believers when their beliefs challenged, or were seen to challenge, ‘Church’ authority. Some heresies have also been doctrinally based, in which a teaching was deemed to be inconsistent with the fundamental tenets of orthodox dogma.

Interestingly if we look at the teachings of Jesus/Yeshua in the light of the above definitions, it would seem apply to Him! Just maybe He was a heretic?? Isn’t that what the Pharisees accused Him of as well as blasphemy? Hmmmm! If that’s the case being labeled as such is not entirely a bad thing!

Part 2 includes a look at the possible connection to, and an explanation of, Mazzaroth. The constellations of the stars in the heavens.

Please understand, MMM is NOT in any way advocating or giving an endorsement of new age astrology.

The Definition of astrology is the study of the movements and relative positions of celestial bodies interpreted as having an influence on human affairs and the natural world.

We are cautioned not to look to them, or their prognostic interpretations by astrologers; and should not use horoscopes to determine our future actions. Instead, we are to look to the Father in the name of Yeshua/Jesus for our destiny is in His Hands. Having said that, lets investigate the theory in light of scripture and how it’s connected to our original topic!

מַזָּרוֹת    Mazzārōṯ,

Mazzeroth is the Hebrew zodiac.

There is a theory that each tribe’s symbol parallels a constellation. The stars, created to be “for signs and seasons” (Gen.1:14), do give directional orientation and gauging for harvest. Some, think the Mazzeroth signs may predict the coming of the Messiah.

What does the Bible say?

Psalm 19:1 tells us

The stars were set in place by the Father and He named them one by one.

“He telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names” (Psalm 147:4).

“Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: He calleth them all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power; not one faileth” (Isaiah 40:26).

God named the stars to provide prophetic signs ordered according to their appointed times/ 7 Moedim/Feasts (i.e., “seasons”) of fulfillment.

“And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs (oth – signifying something to come,) (Laoth – appearing as a signal), and for seasons (moed – a fixed or an appointed time), and for days, and years” (Genesis 1:14). See Romans 10:18.

The message declared by the stars is that The glory of God that is “above the heavens” (Psalm 8:1), as seen in the Person and work of God the Son, Messiah Jesus/Yeshua, the promised Seed of a woman, as foretold in the first Messianic prophecy. Genesis 3:15, declaring that our Savior would eventually defeat Satan (i.e., bruise the serpent’s head), though He would suffer (bruising His own heal) to redeem His people from their sins and take them safely home to heaven.

“And I will put enmity between thee [Satan, embodied in the serpent] and the woman, and between thy seed and her Seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:15).

This is the central theme.

God called Abram out of Ur of the Chaldees where astrology, abhorrent to God (Deut. 18:10-12, Isaiah 47:13,14), had flourished. God commanded Abram: “Look toward heaven, and tell (narrate) the stars, if thou be able to number (NAME them one by one) them. And He said, So shall thy Seed be (singular, referring to Christ; see Galatians 3:16). And he believed in the Lord; and He counted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:5).

Abram surely knew the star names and the exact location in the sky to start naming them. (Not numbering them as in 1-1billion). Tracing the heavens from right to left, (same direction that Hebrew is read), and beginning with constellation Virgo; he would possibly have recited words such as: “VIRGO, SUBILAH, ZAVIJAVA, SPICA/TSEMECH¹, VINDEMIATRIX, COMA, IHESU, CHRISTOS, BOOTES, ARCTURUS, NEKKAR, AGENA, TOLIMAN,” which translates to: “The virgin who carries the gloriously beautiful Seed, the Branch (Messiah), the Son who comes down to rule, the desired Son, Jesus, the Christ, the coming Shepherd, the Pierced, the despised Sin Offering, the Beginning and the End.

This was what was ‘counted to him for righteousness’, that he understood the prophetic declaration that the Father had placed in the heavenlies, ‘And he believed in the Lord;’ not simply that he could count the stars in the sky!

Job 38:31 names several specific stars (KJV). Which God Himself acknowledged in the series of questions that He asked Job, indicating that there was common knowledge of the star names among the ancient patriarchs of that age.

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth (the constellations) in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?” (Job 38:31,32).

The seven stars, the Seven Sisters of the Pleiades, apparently symbolize the Adamic Family. This could suggest a time cycle from the Age of Leo through the Age of Pisces, and the beginning of Aquarius?

The Pleiades.

Taurus is composed of two main groups of stars; the Pleiades and Hyades. The Pleiades are a star cluster with eta (η), Alcyone, as the principal star, situated on the shoulder of the Bull, also known as the Seven Sisters and Messier 45, or M45.

In Job 38:31, the Lord is speaking directly to Job and challenges him, asking if he can bind the chains of the Pleiades—the implication being that Job cannot, but the Lord can.

Talmud ( Bavli, Berakhot, 58b ) says that it has about 100 stars, understanding the word כימה as כמאה ke’ me-ah, “about one hundred” in Hebrew.

Job 9:9 “[God] alone spreadeth out the heavens…which maketh Arcturus (Bear) and Orion, of the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.

The Pleiades (also known as the Seven Sisters and Messier 45) is an open star cluster in the constellation of Taurus.

Bear:

5906 `Ayish, ah’-yish; or `Ash, awsh; from 5789; the constellation of the Great Bear (perh. from its migration through the heavens):-Arcturus. Ayath. See 5857.

Orion:

3685 Keciyl, kes-eel’; the same as 3684; any notable constellation; spec. Orion (as if a burly one):-constellation, Orion.

Pleiades is the Septuagint translation of:

3598 Kiymah, kee-maw’;

from the same as 3558; a cluster of stars;

i.e. the Pleiades: Pleiades, seven stars.

“By His spirit He hath garnished the heavens; His hand hath formed the crooked serpent” (Job 26:13).

-Note: SERPENS and HYDRA are two examples of this.

The prophet Amos also advised, “Seek him that maketh the seven stars (literally, Pleiades) and Orion” (Amos 5:8).

The obvious familiarity of the star names in the book of Job (accepted as the oldest book in the Bible) testifies to the antiquity handed down by Adam to his descendants. Ancient star charts can be found in virtually every civilization as observed in China, India, Babylonia, Persia, Egypt, Israel, Greece, Rome, Scandinavia, and in Central America and are a witness to a single, Divine origin by their phenomenal unity. Its not coincidence.

Psalm 8:3

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon Psalm 148:3

Praise you him, sun and moon: praise him, all you stars of light. Ps 147:4

He who made the Pleiades and Orion And changes deep darkness into morning, Who also darkens day into night, Who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the surface of the earth, The LORD is His name. Amos 5:8

Bereshit (Genesis) 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

The Torah emphasises the importance of time and keeping track of time. Therefore, keep this in mind as we look at them. The astronomical bodies are to serve as:

Signs and for seasons and for days and for years

[If there will arise among you a prophet…] and he gives you a sign

‫אוֹת

(hebrew [meaning a sign) in the heavens, as it is stated in the case of Gideon [who said to the angel]: “then show me a sign

אוֹת

 (Shoftim [Judges] 6:17), and then it says [further], “let it be dry only upon the fleece [and upon all the ground let there be dew]” (Shoftim [Judges]  6:39).

Thus we learn that anytime we see an ot,   

אוֹת  a sign,

we are looking at a reference to the celestial object.

The very first mitzva, (Commandment/instruction), given to the Israelites, concerned time and it’s calculation: for the Passover Lamb!

And The Name Ha Shem spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month [shall be] unto you the beginning of months: it [shall be] the 1st month of the year to you. Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth [day] of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of [their] fathers a lamb for an house: And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take [it] according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb Shemot Exodus 12:1-4

Showing us the importance of time and the astronomical bodies.

Season:

4150 mow`ed, mo-ade’; or mo`ed, mo-ade’; or (fem.) mow`adah (2 Chron. 8:13), mo-aw-daw’; from 3259; prop. An appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; spec. a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for a definite purpose); technically the congregation; by extension, the place of meeting also a signal (as appointed beforehand):- appointed ( sign, time), (place of, solemn) assembly, congregation, (set, solemn) feast, (appointed, due) season, solemn (-ity), synagogue, (set) time (appointed).

Years:

8141 shaneh (in plur. only), shaw-neh’; or (fem.) shanah, shaw-naw’; from 8138; a year (as a revolution of time):- whole age, long, plus old, year.

The father is the creator the adversary/hasatan/devil is the one who perverts and steals and copies he never had an original idea and the story in the heavens was perverted so we would miss it because we were told it was all rooted in the occult and forbidden knowledge.

It would seem that it is a correct statement that our destiny is written in the stars. His plan is there and Yeshua refers to the signs in the heavens moon and stars and where we will see the sign of the coming of the son of man, Look up not down when you see all these things for your redemption draws nigh.

The sons of Issachar were able to read and interpret the signs and we know the wise men saw His star in the East and knew it told of the birth of a king.

Interesting note that the scripture records that hasatan was not a fallen angel but was the anointed cherub that covereth.. Ezek. 28:14-16.

The definition of zodiac is: a belt of the heavens within about 8° either side of the ecliptic, including all apparent positions of the sun, moon, and most familiar planets. It is divided into twelve equal divisions or signs (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces).

Astronomy, (NOT Astrology) is the branch of science which deals with celestial objects, space, and the physical universe as a whole. It is the study of the stars and of the heavens and the movements of the heavenly bodies. However the mazzaroth is biblical astronomy Numbers 13:17.

Mazzaroth – The Hebrew Zodiac and the Gospel of Salvation…. 

and so not throwing the baby out with the bathwater, there are some interesting concepts connected to the cycles in the heavens.

Definitions and explanation.

Mazzaroth meaning prognostications, found only Job 38:32, probably meaning “the twelve signs” (of the zodiac), as in the margin

Mazzaroth is a Biblical Hebrew word (מַזָּרוֹת Mazzārōṯ, LXX Μαζουρωθ, Mazourōth) found in the Book of Job and literally meaning ‘a garland of crowns’. [1] but its context is that of astronomical constellations , and it is often interpreted as a term for the zodiac or the constellations thereof.

Masal (Lamed Shin Mem) in Gen. 1:14 “the task of separating and ruling” (masal) are notably, also a divine role here.

4216 Mazzarah, maz-zaw-raw’; appar. from 5144 in the sense of distinction; some noted constellation (only in the plur.), perh. collect. the zodiac:- Mazzaroth. Comp. 4208.

5144 nazar, naw-zar’; a prim. root; to hold aloof, i.e. (intrans.) abstain (from food and drink, from impuruty, and even from divine worship [i.e. apostatize]); spec. to set apart (to sacred purposes), i.e. devote:- consecrate, separate (-ing, self).

4208 mazzalah, maz-zaw- law’; appar. from 5140 in the sense of raining; a constellation, i.e. Zodiacal sign (perh. as affecting the weather):- planet. Comp. 4216.

Note its’ similarity to Mazzala shown as one of the Hebrew root words for Mazzaroth.

Mazzaroth occurs twice in scripture: 

Iyov (Job) 38:31-33 “Can you bind the beautiful Pleiades? Can you loose the cords of Orion? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs? Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up [God’s] dominion over the earth?

 

The second time it is in a slightly different form:

2 Melakim (Kings) 23:3-5 The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of HaShem to follow HaShem and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant. The king ordered Hilkiah the high priest, the priests next in rank and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of HaShem all the articles made for Baal and Asherah and all the starry hosts. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron Valley and took the ashes to Bethel.

He did away with the pagan priests appointed by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the towns of Judah and on those around Jerusalem those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations and to all the starry hosts.

 

 

 

The pictures found today in the zodiac were not developed by the Greeks, but were in place perhaps as early as 4000 B.C. predating even the civilizations of Sumeria.

These pictures were not merely arranged in haphazard order to aid in the tracking of the star movements, but with the purpose of depicting an epic narrative.

Authors like Bullinger and Seiss have suggested that there is a deeper meaning, one that goes beyond even the most illuminated of hidden/occult interpretations. The zodiac is a pictorial story of God’s plan of salvation on earth. (occult means hidden.)

Below some biblical meanings given to the Main Constellations and the stars within their groupings.

Constellation: Bethulah Meaning……Virgin:

Star…: Tsemech Meaning: Branch. Used exclusively of the M Messiah. Jer 23:5-6, Zech 3:8, Zech 6:12 Isa 4:2.

Star…: Zavijaveh Meaning: Gloriously beautiful. Isa 4:2

Constellation: Mozanaim Meaning……: Scales. Iyov (Job) 31:6, Eze 45:10

In The First group:

The Redeemer. “The sufferings of Christ.”

1 VIRGO  The prophecy of the promised seed. THE SEED OF THE WOMAN YESHUA THE INCARNATE SON.

Virgo, is depicted as a virgin in every ancient reference, holding in one hand abranch, and in the other a sheaf of grain, or seed, always associated with a child, “Shesh nu” in Egyptian, the desired son, the symbol of the incarnation of God on earth.

COMA. (= The desired). The woman and child the desired of all nations (in the most ancient Zodiacs). 

CENTAURUS (with two natures). The despised sin-offering.

BOOTES. The coming One with branch. 

2. LIBRA  The Redeemer’s atoning work. THE REQUIRED PRICE PAID YESHUA THE REDEEMER

Libra, the scales or in the earliest zodiacs, an altar. Its meaning is the measuring of a price. One of its stars in Arabic means, “the price which is deficient”, while opposite is a star whose name means, “the price which covers,” or atonement. Libra symbolizes the price of the conflict, the deficient works of man compared to the perfect and finished sacrifice of Jesus accomplished on the cross.

CRUX. The Cross endured. 

LUPUS. The Victim slain. 

CORONA. The Crown bestowed.

3. SCORPIO The Redeemer’s conflict. THE MORTAL CONFLICT YESHUA THE SUFFERER. SERPENS. Assaulting the man’s heel.

Scorpio,with his claws reaching out to influence the scales, is crushed beneath the foot of

Sagittarius,in the oldest pictures of the zodiac is a cherubim. This symbol is situated 1/3 rd of the way around the zodiacal circle. It had the body of both lion and bull with wings of an eagle and the head of a woman.  

OPHIUCHUS. The man grasping the serpent. 

HERCULES. The mighty man victorious. 

4. SAGITTARIUS The Redeemer’s triumph. THE FINL TRIUMPH YESHUA THE CONQUEROR

Sagittarius is the symbol of the incarnation, both God and man, animals representing the four corners of the heavens and symbolizing the aspects of God’s redemptive work on this earth, he is poised with his arrow drawn and pointed at the heart of the scorpion. Underneath him is the southern cross.

LYRA. Praise prepared for the Conqueror. 

ARA. Fire prepared for His enemies. 

DRACO. The dragon cast down. 

In The Second group: The Redeemed.

5. CAPRICORNUS  The result of the Redeemer’s sufferings LIFE OUT OF DEATH YESHUA THE SACRIFICE

Capricorn, the goat with the tail of the fish. To the Hebrews, the goat was the sin offering, Capricorn is posed with his foot under him and his head bowed, as if in death. The second half of this symbol is the tail of a fish, the most prolific creature in nature, the fish lives in the waters, symbol of life and God’s spirit. Out of the son of God’s death, comes everlasting life. 

SAGITTA. The arrow of God sent forth. 

AQUILA. The smitten One falling. 

DELPHINUS. The dead One rising again. 

6. AQUARIUS (D) The Blessings assured. BLESSINGS OUT OF VICTORY YESHUA THE LIVING WATER (SUCCOTH WATER LIBATION CEREMONY!)

Aquarius, the water bearer, the one pouring out life giving waters that symbolize God’s spirit, into the mouth of the fish.  This may have been a   reference to the instructions given to the disciples when you see the man carrying water jar follow him

PISCIS AUSTRALIS. The blessings bestowed. 

PEGASUS. The blessings quickly coming. 

CYGNUS. The Blesser surely returning. 

7. PISCES The Blessings in abeyance. DELIVERANCE OUT OF BONDAGE YESHUA THE LIBERATOR

Pisces, the fishes connected to the neck of the sea monster, one points to the center of heaven the other follows the ecliptic, the path of the earth around the sun. “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

THE BAND. The great enemy, “Cetus.” 

ANDROMEDA. The redeemed in bondage. 

CEPHEUS. The Deliverer coming to loosen. 

8. ARIES The Blessings consummated. GLORY OUT OF HUMILIATION YESHU THE CROWNED LAMB. 

Aries, the lamb prepared from the foundations of the world, the unblemished sacrifice for mankind. with his foot poised to strike off the tether attaching the fishes to the neck of the sea monster. “He (Jesus Christ), came to set the captives free”.

CASSIOPEIA. The captive delivered. 

CETUS. The great enemy bound. 

PERSEUS. The “Breaker” delivering. 

The Third group. The Redeemer. “The glory that should follow.”

9. TAURUS Messiah coming to rule. HIS GLORIOUS COMING YESHUA THE JUDGE.

Taurus, the Bull. His horns, symbolizing God’s judgment, are pointed to the earth, one stabs the heal of a shepherd “Aquilla”, who holds his flock, Christ the good shepherd, received in our place God’s absolute judgment. In the bull’s neck is the Pleiades, the congregating of the judges, who come back to earth after their resurrection to judge the earth with Christ at his second coming.

ORION. The Redeemer breaking forth as Light. 

ERIDANUS. Wrath breaking forth as a flood. 

AURIGA. Safety for His redeemed in the day of wrath.

10. GEMINI Messiah as Prince of princes. HIS RULE ON EARTH YESHUA THE KING Gemini, the twins.

Castor is the suffering redeemer, and Pollux is the king. Symbols of the first and second coming of Christ.

LEPUS. The enemy trodden under foot. 

CANIS MAJOR. The coming glorious Prince. 

CANIS MINOR. The exalted Redeemer. 

11. CANCER Messiah’s redeemed possessions. HIS POSSESSIONS HELD SECURE YESHUA THE PROTECTOR.

Cancer, the crab. Originally it was the fortress, the impregnable enclosure of protection. In Egypt it was a scarab, the beetle that hatched from the ground and flew to heaven, the stronghold of the saved.

URSA MINOR. The lesser sheepfold. 

URSA MAJOR. The fold and the flock. 

ARGO. The pilgrim’s arrival at home. 

 

12 LEO  Messiah’s consummated triumph. HIS ENEMIES DESTROYED YESHUA THE VICTOR.

Leo, the great lion. “The conquering lion of Judah”, Jesus Christ, who will come again. The king that the apostle John traced back to that tribe of Israel. In his heart is the star called Regulus.

HYDRA. The old serpent destroyed. 

CRATER. The cup of wrath poured put. 

CORVUS. The birds of prey devouring.

——

This is the whole story of God’s atonement work on earth, its beginning and ending are symbolized by the sphinx – combining Virgo and Leo.

The lay out of the constellations tell the good news of salvation to mankind. Most people don’t even think about the fact La Crux (the cross) was a constellation before the Romans ever invented crucifixion.

There is apparently a key to understanding the celestial zodiac is found in ancient depictions of a mythical creature called a sphinx. This is maybe because Sphinx were often placed at entrances to palaces or temples of antiquity. Wonder where they got the idea from?!

This positioning implied power, authority and protection. The bodily form of the sphinx combines two to four animals, a lion, bull or eagle with the head of a human. The sphinx has remained an important symbol in our imagination and can be found in today’s fantasy games and literature.  The combination of all four creatures in one constitutes what is described in Ezekiel and elsewhere in the Bible as a type of angel.

The keruvim כְּרוּבִים

The word kerubim/ keruvim also has a meaning of “one who prays”, or “one who intercedes.” Cherubim or Kerubim/ keruvim are an order of angel described in the Bible and ancient texts as a combination of two, or more often, four creatures, including that of a human. Both the mythical Sphinx and the scriptural cherubim are “hybrid” beings combining two to four creatures.

As Solomon declared: There is no new thing under the sun. Is there a thing of which one might say, see this, it is new? It has already been for the ages which were before. Eccl. 1:10

The path of the sun among the stars is called the ecliptic. The 12 constellations that lie along the ecliptic form the Zodiac. The other constellations are divided into those north of the Zodiac and those south of it.

From one place on the Earth different constellations are seen at different times of the year. This happens because, as well as turning on its axis, the Earth is always moving around the sun, making 1 orbit each year. A star that is visible at night during 1 part of the year may appear close to the sun 6 months later; it would not then be seen at night.

Some constellations can be seen only from the Northern Hemisphere and some only from the Southern Hemisphere. The constellations of the Zodiac can be seen from both hemispheres.

Taking the summer, spring, winter, and fall equinoxes from the zodiac, they correspond to the faces of the four cherubim around His throne. The Bible tells us that the earth is His foot stool and in Isaiah; that there are 2 Seraphim over the throne. Seraphim translates from the Hebrew “fiery flying serpents”. The star sign directly over the North pole is Draco the Dragon.

On the fourth day God created the stars, the sun, and the moon. He created them for signs and for seasons.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

The 12 star signs that orbit our equator make up what we call the Zodiac. They also corresponded to the 12 banners that the 12 tribes of Israel carried in the same order around the Tabernacle.

12 is an interesting number.  There are 12 constellations for the 12 sons of Jacob.  Each tribe in ancient Israel was represented by one of these 12 constellations.  The tribe of Levi, for example, was charged with the “balances of the sanctuary,” hence “Libra” typifies them. Judah, no surprise, is represented by “Leo,” the Lion of the tribe of Judah, since Yeshua/Jesus, THE LION of the tribe of Judah, came from that tribe.

The stars, too, were bounded according to the number of the sons of Israel.

Midrash Rabbah – Bamidbar (Numbers) 2:7. ACCORDING TO THE ENSIGNS (II, 2) There were distinguishing signs for each prince; each had a flag and a different color for every flag, corresponding to the precious stones on the breast of Aaron. It was from these that governments learned to provide themselves with flags of various colors. Each tribe had its own prince and its flag whose color corresponded to the color of its stone. [In Aaron’s breast-plate] 

Reuben’s stone was ruby and the color of his flag was red; and embroidered thereon were mandrakes.

Simeon’s was topaz and his flag was of a green color; the town of Shechem  שכם

was embroidered thereon.

Levi’s was emerald (smaragd) and the color of his flag was 1/3 white, a 1/3  black, and a 1/3  red; embroidered thereon were the Urim and Thummim.

Judah’s was a carbuncle and the color of his flag was something like the heavens; embroidered on it was a lion.

Issachar’s was a sapphire and the color of his flag was black like stibium, (antimony), and embroidered thereon was the sun and moon, in allusion to the text, And of the children of Issachar, men that had understanding of the times. (I Chron.12:33). 

Zebulun’s was an emerald and the color of his flag was white, with a ship embroidered thereon, in allusion to the text, Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea (Gen. 49:13).

Dan’s was jacinth and the color of his flag was similar to sapphire, and embroidered on it was a serpent, in allusion to the text, Dan shall be a serpent in the way (Gen. 49:17). 

Gad’s was an agate and the color of his flag was neither white nor black but a blend of black and white; on it was embroidered a camp, in allusion to the text, Gad, a troop shall troop upon him (Gen. 49:19).

Naphtali’s was an amethyst and the color of his flag was like clarified wine of a not very deep red; on it was embroidered a hind, in allusion to the text, Naphtali is a hind let loose (Gen. 49:21). 

Asher’s was a beryl and the color of his flag was like the precious stone with which women adorn themselves; embroidered thereon was an olive-tree, in allusion to the text, As for Asher, his bread shall be fat (Gen. 49:20).

Joseph’s was an onyx and the color of his flag was jet black; the embroidered design thereon for both princes, Ephraim and Manasseh, was Egypt, because they were born in Egypt. 

On the flag of Ephraim was embroidered a bullock, in allusion to the text, His firstling bullock (Deut.33:17), which applies to Yahoshua (Joshua) who came from the tribe of Ephraim.

On the flag of the tribe of Manasseh was embroidered a wild ox, in allusion to the text, And his horns are the horns of the wild-ox (Deut.33:17), which alludes to Gideon son of Joash who came from the tribe of Manasseh.

Benjamin’s was jasper and the color of his flag was a combination of all the 12 colors; embroidered thereon was a wolf, in allusion to the text, Benjamin is a wolf that raveneth (Gen. 49:27).

The reason, then, why it is said, ACCORDING TO THE ENSIGNS is because each prince had his own distinguishing sign.

(Note: Some of the pictures above do not contain all the elements described.)

The Months of the Hebrew Year are also connected to the signs.

The sign of Nissan is T’leh / Aries / Ram corresponding to Judah and the faculty of speech. This is the month the Jews overcame the Egyptian deity of the ram. Judah means “thanks”, related to speech and on Passover of this month the Pascal lamb was offered.

IYAR is Shor / Taurus / Bull corresponding to Issachar (Torah scholars) and the faculty of thought. 

 SIVAN is Te’umim / Gemini / Twins corresponding to Zevulun (Torah supporters) and the faculty of motion.

Tamuz is Sartan / Cancer / Crab corresponding to Reuven (means “see”) and the faculty of sight.

AV is Ari / Leo / Lion corresponding to Shimon (means “hear”) and the faculty of hearing.

ELUL is Bethulah / Virgo / Virgin corresponding to Gad and the faculty of action. This is the month of repenting, to purify our thoughts and deeds in preparation of Rosh Hashana.

TISHRI is Moznaim / Libra / Scales corresponding to Ephraim (fruitful) and the faculty of coition. In this month is Rosh Hashana on which we are judged, and hope to merit a productive new year.

Cheshvan is Akrav / Scorpio / Scorpion corresponding to Menashe and the faculty of smell.

KISLEV is Kashet / Sagittarius / Archer corresponding to Benjamin (warriors) and the faculty of sleep

Tevet is Gedi / Capricorn / Kid corresponding to Dan (judge) and the faculty of anger.

SHEVAT is D’li / Aquarius / Water Drawer corresponding to Asher (wealth) and the faculty of taste.

ADAR is Dagim / Pisces / Fish corresponding to Naftali and the faculty of laughter.

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 

The true meaning of the celestial zodiac and the symbols of the ecliptic, the course the sun appears to travel the heavens, seems to have been lost to the majority of mankind. The purpose of the zodiac symbols can be understood by connecting the sequence of pictures in story form.

Take the summer, spring, winter, and fall equinoxes from the zodiac and they correspond to the faces of the four cherubim around His throne. The Bible tells us that the earth is His foot stool and in Isaiah; that there are 2 Seraphim over the throne. Seraphim translates from the Hebrew “fiery flying serpents”. The star sign directly over the North pole is Draco the Dragon.

But what is that connection? What point in the circle of heaven is its beginning?

Strangely the Sphinx may hold a key! 

Sphinx in Greek means to “connect or bind together“.

A sphinx combines the head of a woman

and the body of a lion.

This fixes the beginning and ending of the celestial narrative beginning with Virgo and ending with Leo!

What about the four creatures of a cherub?

Look to four of the brightest stars in the zodiac;

Fomalhaut in Aquarius (man)

Regulus in Leo (lion)

Antares in Ophiuchus (serpent holder, or eagle) and

Aldebaran in Taurus (the bull).

All four of these stars are arranged three signs apart, in the four corners of the heavens – the four fixed signs of the zodiac. These are the four creatures which combine to form scriptural cherubim. 

One final fact about the celestial equator is crucial: namely, that it does not remain fixed, but rather possesses a slow movement known as the “precession of the equinoxes.”

This movement, we know today, is caused by a wobble in the earth’s rotation on its axis. As a result of this wobble, the celestial equator appears to change its position over the course of thousands of years.

This movement is known as the precession of the equinoxes because its most easily observable effect is a change in the positions of the equinoxes, the places where the celestial equator crosses the zodiac.

In particular, the precession results in the equinoxes moving slowly backward along the zodiac, passing through one zodiacal constellation every 2,160 years and through the entire zodiac every 25,788 years. 

The infamous account of Ezekiel ‘s wheels, often misinterpreted, is more likely a vision of the hybrid living creatures who populate the celestial narrative. Ezekiel saw four-faced cherubim and the wheels which were assigned to them, the four faces of the cardinal points of the zodiac, and a reference to their movement through the heavens.

Ezek. 1:1 – 1:19

As I looked, behold, a storm wind was coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing forth continually and a bright  light around it, and in its midst something like glowing metal in the midst of the fire. Within it there were figures resembling four living beings.

And this was their appearance: they had human form. Each of them had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight and their feet were like a calf’s hoof, and they gleamed like burnished bronze.[…]  As for the form of their faces, had the face of a man; all four had the face of a lion on the right and the face of a bull on the left, and all four had the face of an eagle.

Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above; each had two touching another and two covering their bodies And each went straight forward; wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go, without turning as they went. In the midst of the living beings there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches darting back and forth among the living beings. The fire was bright, and lightning was flashing from the fire. And the living beings ran to and fro like bolts of lightning.

Now as I looked at the living beings ,behold, there was one wheel on the earth beside the living beings , for the four of them.The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship like sparkling beryl, and all four of them had the same form, their appearance and workmanship as if one wheel were within another. Whenever they moved, they moved in any of their four directions[…]

This is the whole story of God’s atonement work on earth, its beginning and ending are symbolized by the sphinx – combining Virgo and Leo.

Interestingly there has recently been an adjustment to the 12 signs of the zodiac or mazzaroth as apparently there used to be 13. Then it was reduced to 12 when the Babylonians intentionally left out Ophiuchus, (now the “new” zodiac sign,) in order to make a tidy match with their 12-month calendar; ignoring the facts that the sun actually moves through 13 constellations and not 12.

Link to article https://www.today.com/popculture/your-life-lie-zodiac-has-changed-here-s-your-new-t103295

Apparently due to changes in the Earth’s alignment, the dates of many zodiac signs have changed, according to NASA and NBC. In addition, there may be a 13th Zodiac sign: Ophiuchus. between Nov. 29 to Dec. 17 between Scorpio and Sagittarius.

It is called ophiucus and means the serpent holder.

The serpent holder keeps the serpent from getting the crown, while everything hangs in the balance. He is crushing Scorpios head while he is stinging His heal!

Ophiuchus, the serpent holder, who in earliest times was depicted as an eagle. Ophiuchus ‘s foot is stung (wounded foot, like Oedipus) by the upraised tail of the scorpion, his other foot is above the scorpion’s heart. He restrains the serpent coiled around him from taking a crown.

Ophiuchus depicts the earliest prophecy in the Bible, “I will put enmity between the serpent and the offspring of the woman, it will strike at his heel, and he will crush (the serpent’s) head.”

It is to be remembered that 12 tribes were changed as from the original 12 tribes Dan was left out. (See Rev.7) Instead, Josephs 2 sons Manasseh and Ephraim were added in and Levi was left out Numbers 1 and then re-added in Rev 7. If Dan had remained there would be 13 tribes! Dan symbol is the serpent being the same as in Ophiuchus..Interesting?!

Wonderful fourfold blending –

sovereignty and humility; humanity and deity!

Ezekiel’s vision is seen again by John Rev. 4:6-8.

Most of us are likely familiar with the parallel which has often been noted between the four Gospel Accounts and the four living creatures in the opening vision of the prophet Ezekiel 1:10.

The lion symbolizes supreme strength, kingship;

the man, highest intelligence;

the ox, lowly service;

the eagle, heavenliness, mystery, divinity.

In Matthew we see the Messiah-King (the lion).

In Mark we see Jehovah’s Servant (the ox).

In Luke we see the Son of Man (the man).

In John we see the Son of God (the eagle).

It needs all four aspects to give the full Truth.

As Sovereign He comes to reign and rule.

As servant He comes to serve and suffer.

As Son of Man He comes to share and sympathize.

As Son of God He comes to reveal and redeem.

Face of a Man – The primary face of each of the four living creatures is that of a man. This typifies the Lord’s normal human life as seen throughout the Gospels.  On one hand He performed miracles, on the other hand He was so ordinary that people wondered, “Is not this the carpenter’s son?” (Matt. 13:55).

Face of a Lion – As king of the animals, the lion signifies reigning, victory, boldness, strength, and vigor.  To have the face of a lion is to aggressively stand against anything sinful or worldly. Though tender and lowly in His humanity, the Lord also expressed the face of the lion at the appropriate times.  the Lord was truly the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5).

Face of an Ox – The lion’s face on the right side is counter-balanced by the ox’s face on the left. The ox is a beast of burden, willing to serve, work, and sacrifice for others.  This is the Lord’s Slave-Savior life in us, as seen in the book of Mark. The Lord Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve others by giving His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).

Face of an Eagle – Throughout the Bible, the eagle signifies the soaring, transcendent, powerful divine life of God. This fourth face, the face of an eagle, is hidden in the rear. In a sense the eagle’s face is a secret, a mystery to those around us. This was Paul’s secret of sufficiency in Philippians 4:11-12. Perhaps few people may know how we can overcome so many earthly frustrations. But the buoyancy and transcendence is not of ourselves; it is sourced in the hidden divine life within us. The Lord was not suppressed by either persecution or praise. Although the Lord fed the great crowd in John 6, He immediately withdrew to a mountain alone when the people sought to exalt Him and make Him King. This was a manifestation of the face of an eagle, soaring above both tribulations and triumphs.

Summary The four living creatures in Ezekiel express Messiah in four aspects: as a man, as a lion, as an ox, and as an eagle.  

Moreover, these four faces correspond to Christ portrayed in the Gospels:

the Man-Savior in Luke,

the King-Savior in Matthew,

the Slave-Savior in Mark, and

God the Savior in John.

As the four living creatures, we can express Christ in His all-inclusiveness.

Conclusion

God created all the stars in the sky before he created man. This means His plan for the birth of Christ, the death of Christ, and salvation all came before He even created man. He knew the exact dates for all events that would ever take place. No matter what your background, God will find a way to get through to you. This could include the zodiac, the decans, the tribes of Israel, and even stones.   

Yeshua is the alef and tav – beginning and end – from Genesis to Revelation. The lion of the tribe of Judah, the ox/red heifer, the man, the eagle, all reflected in the four-faced cherubim on the mercy seat and guarding the WAY to the tree of life and the throne of the father in the heavens.

The whole story was written in the stars of the heavens when creation began and Yeshua was there.

Before Abraham was, I AM.  John 8:48-59

The layout of the tribes in the wilderness was a pattern for the 4-faced-man’s character and ministry in the 4 gospels and reflected the 4 cherubim supporting Father’s throne and guarding the tree of life and upon the chariot in which He travels. The eyes are the spirits of God watching over His creation. The flaming sword of the cherubim may also be symbolic of the sword coming out of Messiahs mouth as He returns?

The golden box, is the Ark of the Covenant, on the lid / the mercy seat were keruvim; guarding the place of the presence of God. Ezeziel and John both had visions of the keruvim who were guarding the throne of God in the heavenlies, a lion, an ox, and an eagle were the symbols of 4 of the 12 Tribes facing the cardinal points of the compass, with the corresponding mazzaroth above them in the canopy of the heavens. Placed there as an annual and everlasting sign of covenant and for the appointed seasons of the Lord which is annually rehearsed declaring the promise of a redeemer and Messiah who is the fulfillment and the end from the beginning. Completed in Yeshua/Jesus, High Priest after the order of Malki-Zedek whose breastplate held the 12 stones of the tribes and is now the revealing mystery from Genesis to Revelation. The apocalypse of the Alef and Tav; the 4 faced man of the 4 gospels in the likeness of the keruvim! Who has opened the WAY back to the Father and the tree of life.

Or maybe it’s all just coincidence???

However it is a compelling theory!

More and more we see how everything is connected all the WAY through the Scriptures.

Shalom to all Mishpachah/Family and Friends!

Please, don’t leave this page until..

you are awakened to Messiah..

we all need to born again from above..

Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

Its all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

NOT SURE? YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.

Keruvim? Not Quite Like We Imagined?

What has a flaming sword at a garden gate, a golden box, keruvim, a lion, an ox, and an eagle to do with mazzaroth, the Tribes, two visions, the mishkan and Yeshua/Jesus?

Investigating more mysteries that connect from Genesis to Revelation.

 Keruvim כְּרוּבִים

CHERUBIM

Angels but not what we thought!

Hebrew: keruvim   כְּרוּב‎ kərūv, pl. כְּרוּבִים, kərūvîm;

Latin cherub, pl. cherubin, cherubim;

Depiction of the cherubim of glory shadowing the Mercy-seat (χερουβιμ δόξης κατασκιάζοντα τὸ ἱλαστήριον) of Hebrews 9:5 (Julius Bate 1773).

In Hebraic angelic hierarchy, cherubim have the second-lowest rank according to Maimonides Mishneh Torah (12th century).

Cherubim are discussed within the Midrash literature. The two cherubim placed by the Father at the entrance of Eden (Gen. 3:24) Angels were created on the third day, and therefore they had no definite shape; appearing either as men or women, or as spirits or angelic beings (Genesis Rabbah xxi., end). The cherubim were the first objects created in the universe. (Tanna debe Eliyahu R., i. beginning).

The Cherubim angels are occasionally confused with the Seraphim rank of angels, as there are many kinds of angels; the highest being the Seraph, next the Cherub.

They are actually different categories of beings. Cherubim have four wings and do not look human, (seraphim, have six wings and also do not look human). The Bible also refers to Angels as men, since that is exactly what they look like and they do not have wings or halos, (nothing in the Bible has a halo). Angels, as their name denotes, are messengers. If a being is not delivering a message, does not look like a human male and has wings then it is not an Angel.

For one example, see Genesis 18:2 three men and 19:1 which identifies two of them as Angels. (Many scholars say that the other was pre-incarnate Yeshua/Jesus).

The Cherubim, similar to the word Seraphim, is plural. The word Cherubim refers to more than one Cherub angel.

Cherubim are said to be about 18ft (5.4864 Meters) tall have four faces:

one of a lion (representative of all wild animals , one an ox (domestic animals), one a human (humanity), and one an eagle (birds).

They have four conjoined wings covered with eyes, a lion’s body figure, and they have ox’s feet.

Cherubim guard the way to the tree of life in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24).

and also to the throne of God (Ezekiel 28:14-16).

Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end: you shall make the cherubim at the two ends of it of one piece with the mercy seat. Ex. 25:19

“And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard even in the outer court, like the voice of the Almighty God when He speaks.” Ezekiel 10:5

A Cherub is a supernatural being referenced throughout both the Old and New Testament of the Bible. Like the Seraphim, the Cherubim were originally a Judaic rank of angels, and they eventually were incorporated into Christian scripture, appearing in numerous books including the Book of Revelation. Other notable examples of them in literature are in John Milton’s 17th century epic poem, Paradise Lost.

Cherubim are first mentioned in connection with the expulsion from Eden in Genesis 3:24 here there is no information given of their shape or form.

The Cherubim and flaming sword were to keep Adam and Eve from eating of the tree of life while in an unregenerate state; or mankind would have been forever separated from the love and blessings of the Father.

They are next mentioned when Moses was commanded to provide furniture for the tabernacle Ex. 25:17-20; 26:1,31.

God promised to commune with Moses from between the cherubim. 25:22

They represent the mercy of God, which is always above the testimony.

Exodus 25:22, “And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.”

2 Samuel 6:2, “And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the Lord of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.”

Numbers 7:89, “And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims; and he spake unto him.”

The Cherubim are not just allegories.  They are actual beings in heaven guarding the way to the Mercy Seat.

This expression was afterwards used to denote the Divine abode and presence. Num. 7:89; 1Sam. 4:4;  Is 37:16; Ps. 80:1; 99:1.

In Ezekiel’s vision they appear as living creatures supporting the throne of God. From Ezekiel’s description of them 1:5-10;41:18-19 they appear to have been compound figures each one having 4 different faces, the face of a man, lion, ox, and eagle.

Unlike any real object in nature, possessing the features and properties of several animals.

The closest word we have to describe them is chimera; an animal whose body contains different cell populations derived from different zygotes of the same or different species, occurring spontaneously or produced artificially; i.e. an individual composed of a mixture of genetically different cells.

Man- This face spoke of mind, reason, affections, and all the things that encompass a human being.

Lion- The lion was always recognized as strong, fierce, and majestic. It was the most royal of all animals.

Pro 30:30 A lion, which is mighty among beasts and does not turn away from any;

Pro 20:2 The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.

Ox- The Ox was recognized as the animal who patiently labored for his owner. He was strong, able to bear a burden, and knew its owner.

Pro 14:4 Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; but much increase comes by the strength of an ox.

Ps 144:14 That our oxen may be well-laden; that there be no breaking in or going out; that there be no outcry in our streets.

Is 1:3 The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master’s crib; but Israel does not know, my people do not consider.”

Eagle- The divine bird that flew above the storms, while below there was only sorrows, dangers, and distress. A swift bird strong and powerful, never becoming weary.

Pro 30:18-19 There are three things which are too wonderful for me, yes, four which I do not understand: The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man with a virgin.

Is 40:31 But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Ps. 103:5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Ex. 19:4 `You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.

Ezek. 17:3 “and say, `Thus says the Lord GOD: “A great eagle with large wings and long pinions, full of feathers of various colors, came to Lebanon and took from the cedar the highest branch.

Hos. 8:1 “Set the trumpet to your mouth! He shall come like an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My law.

King David probably knew about God’s chariots/cherubim, as apparently he a rode in one of them.  This is recorded in two accounts in scripture, 2 Samuel 22: 7-22 and Psalms 18:6-17. 

A record of a divine deliverance, when he was trapped between Mount Carmel jutting out into sea and the Mediterranean ocean as he was cornered by the army of Saul. 

Two cherubim were placed on the mercy seat of the ark and two of COLOSSAL size overshadowed it in Solomons Temple.

“In the inner shrine he [Solomon] carved two cherubim of wild olive wood, each ten cubits high . . . and he overlaid the cherubim with gold.” (1 Kings 6:23-28) “The cherubim, whose wings were spread over the place of the Ark , formed a canopy above the Ark and its poles.” (1 Kings 8:7)

The illustration below depicts Solomons Temple and the Kohen Gadol (High Priest.) On the day of Yom Kippur ( Day of Atonement); he was presenting incense before God, a few steps away from the Ark of the Covenant which was resting between the outstretched wings of the towering figures of the two Cherubim. This was the only day of the year the Kohen Gadol ever entered the Kodesh haKodashim (Holy of Holies). He is shown wearing a simple linen garment specially made for the day. 

The main hall of the Temple which is reported to be 20 cubits wide (9 meters or 27 feet) and 30 cubits high (13.5 meters or 40 feet).  The Holy of Holies, with the Ark of the Covenant and the two giant Cherubs in it, is described as a cube 20 x 20 x 20 cubits. 2 Chron 3:13; they stood on their feet and faced inwards their wings spanned 20 cubits overall.

Converting the measurement of the biblical cubit as approximately 18 inches, the cherubim were 15 feet tall and the wing measurement from the tip of one wing to the other was also 15 feet. 

Together, the two cherubim covered a span of 30 feet in the Holy of Holiest in the Temple of Solomon.  

Ezekiel 1:4-14 speaks of 4 and also this number, 4, of living creatures is mentioned in Rev. 4:6.

Those on the ark are called the cherubim of glory. Hebrews 9:5;

Hebrews 9:1-5  Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. 2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. 3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; 4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5 And over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. (KJV)

These cherubim of Glory were the appearance of the Glory of the Lord.

That is the Shechinah, or cloud of glory, for on them the visible glory of God rested. They were placed one at each end of the mercy seat, with wings stretched upward, and their faces toward each other and toward the mercy-seat. They were anointed with holy oil, like the ark itself and the other sacred furniture.

The cherubim were symbolical.

They were intended to represent spiritual existences in immediate contact with The Father. Some have regarded them as symbolical of the chief ruling power by which God carries on His operations in providence. (Ps.18:10). Others interpret them as having reference to the redemption of men, and as symbolizing the great rulers or ministers of the church.

Their office was: first, on the expulsion from Eden, to prevent all access to the tree of life;

and second to form the throne

and the chariot of God in His manifestation of Himself on Earth.

He dwelleth between and sitteth on the cherubim (1 Sam 4:4; Ps. 80:1; Ezek.1:26,28).

The 2 cherubim were on the mercy-seat with wings outstretched.

Ex 25:18-20 “And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. “Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim at the two ends of it of one piece with the mercy seat. “And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another; the faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat.”

They represent the judgment of God.

Their position indicates that God’s judgment upon Israel was averted because of the blood-sprinkled mercy seat.

John also in Revelation sees a vision of the cherubim:

Rev. 4:6-8 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.

The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

Though artistic interpretation can be fairly relaxed when it comes to the Seraphim, it is also extremely varied in regard to the Cherubim.

The original Jewish depictions of them are thought to resemble an angelic or mythical being similar to that of a griffin, possessing a lion’s body, and an eagle’s wings and head.

In Christianity however, the Cherubim are often portrayed in artistic iconography as a four winged creature with more than one head, usually that of man, lion, eagle, and ox. Some of the gothic interpretations can be quite fearful in appearance.

During the Renaissance a tremendous amount of confusion arose over the attributes and characteristics of the Cherubim, when on numerous occasions they were confused with putti angels, winged children who are generally depicted holding small golden trumpets.

In Western Christian tradition, cherubim have become associated with the putto (derived from classical Cupid/Eros), resulting in depictions of cherubim as small, plump, winged boys.

So the scripture shows that a Cherub is a mighty and fearsome winged beast and guardian of Eden, not the image of an innocent childlike being. The confusion is still widespread even in this day and age, and we can blame the Renaissance artists for it. So now when we call a small child a little cherub we may want to change the adjective for something else!

In chapter 1 Ezekiel the prophet designates them as living creatures (chayyoth); the chart above shows the difference between the cherubim described in Ezekiel, with the one that John gives in the book of Revelation.

Do they appear the same on earth as in Heaven??

This is a possible explanation for the differences.

The wings being raised would cover the view of the other faces. Due to Heaven existing in another dimension parallel to ours, it makes sense that they would probably appear differently there.

Time is cyclical. Time as we know it exists only in this earthly dimension.

When we recognize the fact that God has more dimensions of space and time than just the 4 dimensions we tend to think in, it makes it easier to understand how God is able to be omnipresent and that this plural God is singular.

We tend to look at life in 3 dimensions of space and one dimension of time because of the way we have been educated.

Time, that for us, seems to travel forward and is linear.

God however, is not limited to 1 dimension of time or He would not be 1 God who is omnipresent. The chart below on the left depicts 2 dimensions of time; one of length and one of height. If time has just 2 dimensions, then within every moment of time there is an infinite amount of time. Paper, for example, is only 2 dimensional, and so we can only show 2 dimensions at once.

In the diagram above pictured on the right, simulated are 3 dimensions of time in which it implies that time has depth as well. If God is above time, at this point He can not only see the past, the present, and the future consecutively but He can also influence and interact with them all simultaneously. This is why He can say His Name is I AM (not I WAS or I WILL BE); and why He is the same yesterday today and forever. Heb.13:8

When John saw Messiah in Heaven for example, He appeared as a lamb that was slain, with 7 eyes and 7 horns.

Seven is the number of perfection and horns represent power. In the same way eyes are how we perceive things, so they represent wisdom. This is picturing Messiah with perfect power and perfect wisdom. In Ezekiel, the cherubim are depicted with 4 wings and 4 faces.

The number four is the signature of the Earth, depicting our four seasons and 4 corners giving us 4 directions; East, West, North, and South.

Ezekiel 41:18 And it (the paneling of the holy place of the temple) was made with cherubs …and two faces were to a cherub, the face of a man, toward the palm tree from here, and a young lion’s face toward the palm tree from there. It was made to continue all around on the wall of the temple.

The Keruvim/Cherubim are the connection to the flaming sword at a garden gate, a golden box (ark of the covenant/mercy seat), a lion, an ox, an eagle and the two visions of Ezekiel and John. However the conclusion to the mystery with mazzaroth, the Tribes, and Yeshua/Jesus is coming in part 2.

The Scriptures tell us that angels watch over us make sure that you are saved and that they can be of optimum assistance in your life

For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven Matt. 18:10 

“Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. Ex. 23:20

Shalom Mishpachah/Family!

Please, don’t leave this page until..

you are awakened to Messiah..

we all need to born again from above..

Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

Its all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

NOT SURE? YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.

Are We Boxed In?

The Ark of His Presence – Is It An Altar, A Weapon, A Throne, A Temple, A Footstool, A Box?

Sukkot begins at sundown sunday night click link for post

  https://www.minimannamoments.com/sheltering-presence-god/ 

which will give some extra information as Israel celebrates the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths which prophetically represents His presence dwelling with His people for ever when Messiah comes and He tabernacles with men.

Last week wasand central to the Yom Kippur observance in scripture is the Ark of the Covenant/Ark of the Testimony that was placed within the Holy of Holies, both in the wilderness Tabernacle and in the Temple in Jerusalem.

Everything begins with the altar of sacrifice and prophetically foretells the offering of the final sacrifice of Messiah on the altar of the cross.

The day of Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement, was the one day of the year the high priest/Kohen Gadol would enter through those 2 golden doors going beyond the veil into the smaller area (15 x 15 feet/ 4.57×4.57 meters.) called ‘the Holy of Holies’/Kodesh haKodashim and contained ‘the ark of the covenant’.

When the doors were closed they were covered by a linen curtain embroidered with cherubim and palm trees. Picture showing size of cherubim in Solomons Temple.

He took with him the blood of the sacrifice for the sins of the children of Israel. 

He would sprinkle it on the ark of the covenant between the wings of the golden cherubim right on the part called the mercy seat.

The mercy seat is described as the footstool of God’s Throne in 1Chronicles 28:2.  Then King David rose to his feet and said:  ‘Hear me, my brethren and you my people.  I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God; and I made preparations for the building.’  (RSV)

The footstool of the throne was the place where the Lord met with the High Priest.  This covering of the Ark shows us the relationship between God and Messiah Yeshua/Jesus .

He was clothed only in a simple white linen robe made specially made for the day and wore no shoes on his feet; which were none of the usual items required for him to wear.

A white linen robe was what Yeshua/Jesus was wearing when Mary saw Him in the garden and as He is now our High Priest having placed His Blood on the Mercy Seat that begins to make more sense!

It is important to remember that there was no light source in the Holy of Holies and the High Priest had to wait for God’s presence to illuminate the room.

God’s presence in the form of His Shekinah Glory manifested between the cherubs wings, just above the top of the Mercy Seat. The etymology of the dwelling or presence of God is the Hebrew word Sh’cheenah or as we pronounce it Shekinah. Shkn .

In Rev. 22:5. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.

The Glory of the Lord or Chabod is also known as the Shekhinah.

There is a Hebrew term of relatively clear meaning for the Glory of the Lord, that being Chabod. Chabod has variants such as Ichabod meaning that the glory is departed, sometimes written I-chabod or I-kabod. Therefore, Chabod actually occurs in scripture and has relatively clear meaning for the Glory of the Lord.

Some scholars allege that the word ‘Shekhinah’ is actually a Chaldean or Babylonian term meaning ‘resting-place.’

Paleo Hebrew

Some perceive that the term Shekhinah refers to the Holy Spirit, a feminine aspect of God or even a separate female deity.

The Glory of the Lord is not the Holy Spirit and some might wish to consider that the most conspicuous mention of any form or visual manifestation of the Holy Spirit consists of its appearance as a dove.

Luke 3:21 And it came to pass, all the people having been baptized, and Jesus having been baptized and praying, that the heaven was opened, 22and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form as a dove upon him; and a voice came out of heaven, *Thou* art my beloved Son, in thee I have found my delight

It is important to be aware that the term ‘glory‘, necessarily means light – that is to say – something that is luminous. This is a key and crucial point, that the Chabod or Glory of the Lord is light.

The Glory of the Lord frequently accompanies God’s presence and is something very similar to – but not exactly like plasma. Plasma could be described as a cloud of luminosity. Apparently, God can appear without the Chabod. While Plasma visually has cloud-like characteristics, the clouds frequently noted as being clouds and the Glory of the Lord are very separate things although at times the Plasma-like material is noted as being a cloud.

Deuteronomy 4:24 For the Lord thy God is a devouring fire, a jealous God. (JPS)

The Chabod is also similar to but not exactly the same as the aurorae that sometimes appear at the polar regions of the Earth. While these luminous phenomena do have some cloud-like characteristics, they are obviously not the same as actual clouds of moisture that did frequently, but not always, accompany the presence of the Chabod.

The Hebrew word rendered into English as ‘cloud‘, actually means ‘a covering’ derived from the aspect of clouds of water vapor covering the sky. In fact, most specific mentions of the Glory of the Lord pertain to the appearances of fire. Flames do occupy a physical space and are visually similar to luminous clouds.

Scripture records there is a Green rainbow around throne it may resemble an aurorae which is as close as we can imagine. 

God’s presence in the form of His Shekinah glory manifested between the cherubs wings just above the top of the Mercy seat. The etymology of the dwelling or presence of God is the Hebrew word Sh’cheenah or as we pronounce it Shekinah.

שכינה

The term Shekinah was many times used interchangeably with the word God. In the Jewish mind it always spoke of the fact that He dwelt in or rested upon those who merited His favor, whether an individual, a community, or the entire Jewish people.

Scholars also see the similarities between Shekinah (God’s Presence), The Holy Spirit of God (Heb. Ruach Elohim; Gr. Pneuma Hagion), and the Hebrew Bat Kol (The Daughter of the Voice, or God’s Voice).

It is interesting to examine the tradition of the Bat Kol which was the voice of God that proclaimed His will and intention, His judgments and His promises, His warnings and His commands to various people, communities, and sometimes to all of Israel. Jewish tradition always spoke of the Bat Kol. When the Torah was given at Sinai the Bible says,

Deut 4:12 “And the LORD spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no form; you only heard a voice.”

The Bat Kal mysteriously sounded at extraordinary times and this was mentioned in Jewish tradition. For example, there is one account that indicates that at the very instant when God took away the soul of Moses with a kiss, the bat Kal rang out over the Israelite camp with the lament, “Moses is dead! Moses is dead!” It also is recognized to have given warnings or passed judgement upon evildoers as recorded in the book of Daniel: 4:28-32″ While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven:’

The Bat Kol is represented in Jewish tradition by the symbol of the dove.

There is a saying among the teachers and Torah scholars that when God was not pleased with Israel’s behavior, the cherubs Wings pointed away from each other and the high priest would let the people know that God was displeased with the behavior.

The high priest placed the blood on to the Mercy seat directly under the presence of God and Israel’s sins were atoned for for another year.

The High Priest had to be pure and sin free or he would not survive the encounter with the glory of the Father’s presence.

The blood that he placed on the Mercy seat had come from the sacrifice however this sacrifice is no longer required as Yeshua/Jesus is the better sacrifice once and for all time.  Hebrews 9:23

In the same way the rebuilding of the temple is also unnecessary, as those who believe in Yeshua/Jesus understand that He was and is the fulfillment of the promised Messiah. However, it will be built in fulfillment of the prophecies in both Daniel and Revelation.

This is an extensive subject and this post barely scratches the surface but it is timely with the autumn appointed festivals of the Lord.

Taking a look at the Ark will hopefully give a greater understanding of its meaning and prophetic significance

The Ark was made following instructions given to Moses. Ex. 26 and 37.

 Then the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,

In Exodus 31:1-6 and chapters 36 to 39, Bezalel (Hebrew: בְּצַלְאֵל‬, Bəṣalʼēl, also transcribed as Betzalel), was the chief artisan of the Tabernacle and was in charge of building the Ark of the Covenant, assisted by Aholiab.

Ark in Hebrew also means box. This was not the first box that God had instructed a man to make.

Noah’s Ark was a box made of wood and covered in pitch.

The Ark of the covenant given to Moses was a box of wood covered in gold.

In Genesis 7:1 God says ‘come into the box/ark’, giving the understanding that He is already in the box and simultaneously He is with Noah. And He/God shut the door; (not Noah)! Gen 7:16.

There was only one door through which to escape the coming judgment! and as Yeshua said, ‘I am the Door‘!

The Lord shut them in.

He is still calling us to come to where He is and be in His presence and also to allow His presence to be within us.

Both boxes had to have a specific covering within and without. There is an interesting inference concerning the description of the pitch in Genesis 6:14. He said make a box of Gopher wood for yourself (not for everyone)! You will make compartments for family and animals. And will cover it within and without with pitch.

While the word is generally translated pitch, the word atonement is more appropriate although both are correct and obviously the translators used Pitch.

There are two words in Hebrew that are often translated ark.

Aron is used for the ark of the covenant means chest as in a treasure chest.

Aron is made from wood from the Acacia\ gopher\Shittim tree.

Ark of the covenant is an acacia wood chest since it was also used for storage for the golden pot of manna, Aaron’s rod that budded and the tablets of the 10 Commandments. Note the similarity between Aaron and ARON of which Aaron became High Priest.

Another word for Ark is TEVAH and it is used for two objects:

Noah’s Ark and Moses Papyrus basket.

Noah’s Ark is tevat gofer literally a box of gopher wood.

Which was 450’ x 75’ x 45’ and took approximately 75 years to build.

Moses basket / a papyrus box, and while tevah means box, that was a huge difference in the size of the two; but it was still a box. Both Noah (& family) and Moses were boxed in.

Notice the coat of Tar or PITCH so it stayed waterproof until Pharoah’s daughter found it!

The Greek word kibotos means box but it is usually translated ark in English coming from the first translations from Latin. The Latin word is arca for both boxes.

Here is a thought provoking proposition concerning the covering of Noah’s box in Genesis/Beresheet. Always keeping in mind that there are no vowels a E I O U in the Torah scrolls only consonants.

Apparently the Hebrew does not actually say the exact words, ‘Cover it inside and out with pitch‘ but uses the K F R of the root of the word for pitch. So it reads KFR it within and without in KFR. Kefir/ kopher

גובה הצליל .

The point is, if it is referring to pitch, the substance, then all the interior it would be sticky! The reason to cover the outside with pitch is so it will stay dry and to keep the water out of the ark’s interior. How would having a coat of pitch inside prevent the water from flooding in, the full force of the water from the outside would push and separate the wood from the pitch. So there had to be an alternative reason/meaning behind this directive.

Another look at the root KFR shows that it is also a bush called camphor or henna that bears bunches of fragrant sweet smelling fruit and flowers. Maybe it was used for keeping the box/arks interior smelling fresh? Remember there were no windows, so no fresh air/ ventilation – but to be put on the outside too is not very likely.

There are however two more meanings for KFR, kafar means deny and kipper means made atonement. (As in Yom Kippur!) The two seem opposed in meaning, yet they would both make sense if applied to the understanding that the ark was constructed with God’s direction as a container for the survival of life on earth during the flood.

If we think about it, Noah is told by God that he is going to wipe out all life on the earth, with this understanding of KFR he could have been inferring ‘I want you to put your self outside of all that is around you, Deny KFR that they exist. So he is denying all those on the outside (KFR without,) for the people were denying Noah and were dismissive, derisive, with their unbelieving actions. On the inside (KFR within), to make the ark /box worthy of salvation. How? By dedicating it through an act of atonement, Kipper on the outside, coating of pitch. So all within are an atonement to the Lord = A KFR on the inside?

One final meaning of KFR is KOFER = ransom. Is it possible to think of the entering into the ark/box as a ransom for the saving/ salvation of the lives for those who made it through the flood? There was no covenant prior to the flood. Jesus /Yeshua was a ransom for many.

Ezekiel 37:1

The box of covenant and that He did indeed promise Noah and I shall establish my covenant with you; and the box was directed by God to hold the physical tablets of the covenant given to Moses.

It was made of planks of acacia wood, not plywood so it would have been very heavy. The size was 5 feet long 3 feet high and 3 feet wide.

The stone tablets were heavy as they had the whole Torah written on them.

It was covered in gold leaf, had a solid gold lid and solid gold cherubim on that lid. Then when it traveled it was covered with badgers skins; it would have waited over 1500 pounds.

It had two wood poles and was carried by four men? This would have been almost impossible. It makes one lean towards the Hebrew thought from the rabbis that the weight of the Ark was borne by God Himself; for it is said that the ark carried them NOT the other way around.

Noah was destined to bring deliverance and freedom going through God’s judgment by employing a box/ark of salvation; where His presence protected them to keep them secure and safe.

Moses was destined to bring deliverance and freedom to the children of Israel pronouncing judgment on Egypt and fulfilling the promised covenant added to Noah’s covenant and He instructed Moses to construct the Ark in which His presence could be with them. 

After the children of Israel had journeyed to Mount Sinai God told Moses on the mountain that He would pitch His tent among them on their journeys:

Exod. 25:8-9 “And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.” When God revealed the pattern of the tabernacle and the WAY to approach Him He also declared exactly where He would meet Moses: Exod 25:22

Moses started life in a box/ark, to keep him secure and safe, which saved his life out of the waters of the Nile and pharaohs judgment against the Hebrews male babies.

A closer look at the ark of the covenant a box of gold.

The Ark was a 2 ½ x 1½ cubit, (3 3/4 feet x 2 1/4 feet or 1.14 x 0.68 metres), a rectangular wooden chest of acacia wood, overlaid with pure gold, inside and out. Its’ lid being the Mercy Seat, with the Cherubim of glory facing one another; their wings outstretched. It had a gold molding or crown around the top; (a different word in Hebrew than the rim of the table and incense altar).

There are so many images that have differing shapes those included are to highlight certain aspects., e.g. above showing detail of crown.

Ps 99:1 The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He dwells between the cherubim; let the earth be moved!

Exod. 25:17-22 “You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits shall be its length and a cubit and a half its width. And you shall make two Cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end; you shall make the Cherubim at the two ends of it of one piece with the mercy seat. And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another; the faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat.’

The cover or lid for the Ark of the Covenant was made of solid gold and it was called the mercy-seat, atonement cover, ark-cover. Kapparah is the Hebrew word for this. This word is from the same root as the word for atonement; at this point, the parallel between atonement and this kapparah, as well as the generic concept of covering, is exceedingly important. In fact, in Hebrew the word Kapparah or covering and the idea of atonement are more-or-less synonymous.

The way that the kapparah works is that it literally covers The Law to avert judgment for those whose sins are to be forgiven. Through the mercy-seat some obtain mercy. The kapparah is the provision for mercy. The propitiation afforded through the kapparah relied in part upon sacrifice. In other words, the kapparah shields the transgressor from The Law housed inside the Ark. The penalty for transgressing any part of The Decalogue was death. Nearly everyone that ever lived was guilty of transgressing The Decalogue so it is highly probable that simply viewing the stone tables without proper remediation would automatically result in instant death. The mechanics of the kapparah appear many times in passages such as Psalm 32:1-2.

The mercy seat or covering pointed us towards the sacrifice of Messiah Yeshua/Jesus, and the covering of our sins with His blood.

Acacia wood is a beautiful, dense wood that comes from very fragrant and drought-resistant acacia trees that are indigenous to Africa and Arabia. In Israel, the range of the specie diminishes beyond the Negev. It is known in Hebrew as the shittah or shittum tree. Its wood is a finely grained orange wood that darkens with age and it is unaffected by insects. It is the source of natural-gum Arabic and also provides tannin.

The Mercy Seat was the lid or cover of solid gold the same size as the top of the Ark (2 1/2 cubits long x 1 1/2 cubits wide). At each end of the Mercy Seat, and of one piece with it, were two hammered gold cherubim facing one another. Their outstretched wings overshadowed the gold lid and their faces constantly looked down upon it. They were symbols of the presence and holiness of the Lord and are His chosen instruments of judgment toward any sinful approach toward the presence of the Lord and as they look upon the blood the wrath of God is appeased and they are at peace.

They represent the judgment of God.

– Their position indicates that God’s judgment upon Israel was averted because of the blood-sprinkled mercy seat

Jewish Tradition

According to the writings of the ancient sages the words of Ezekiel, “The had the hands of a man under their wings” (Ezek 1:8), refer to the hand of God which is extended beneath the wings of the Chayyoth (Cherubim) to receive penitents from the power of judgement” [Pes. 119a]

– The Cherubim are revealed by Ezekiel in chapter 1:5-10 as 4 living creatures, each one having 4 different faces, the face of a man, lion, ox, and eagle.

Man- This face spoke of mind, reason, affections, and all the things that encompass a human being.

Lion- The lion was always recognized as strong, fierce, and majestic. It was the royalist of animals.

Pro 30:30 Pro 20:2.

Ox- The ox was recognized as the animal who patiently labored for his owner. He was strong, able to bear a burden, and knew its owner.

Pro 14:4 Ps 144:14 Is 1:3

Eagle- The divine bird that flew above the storms, while below there was only sorrows, dangers, and distress. A swift bird strong and powerful, never becoming weary.

Pro 30:18-19.

Is 40:31 Ps 103:5.

Ex 19:4 `

Ezek 17:3 Hos 8:1.

The Cherubim were also the same fierce creatures who guarded the entrance to the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve had sinned. They wielded a flaming sword that turned in all four directions to protect the Tree of Life (Gen. 3:24).

So the outstretched wings of the cherubim were to provide a throne for the God where He would mediate His rule on the earth as a representation of the real throne in heaven:

1 Sam 4:4 So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. (NIV)

When God had spoken to Moses out of the midst of the cloud upon Sinai, He also told him that He would come down to speak with him in the midst of His people. It was from the area above the Mercy Seat that He did:

Num 7:89

The Mercy Seat was where the blood was sprinkled. between the judgment angels who were looking down and when they would see the blood the wrath of God was stayed. Lev 16:11-15

And Aaron shall bring the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house, and shall kill the bull as the sin offering which is for himself. (Red Heifer) – He shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east side; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times. “Then he shall kill the (scape) goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat.

Because of the mercy seat the tabernacle was called “the tent of meeting”. Because here God met with man:

In the New Testament this Mercy Seat or atonement cover is spoken of twice. Heb 9:2-5 Rom 3:23-26

The Greek word for Mercy Seat is ‘hilasterion’. It is used here in Romans 3:25 where Paul says (literally) that God presented Christ as a propitiation or ‘mercy seat’. This means that Jesus Christ is the mercy seat.

The Mercy Seat did not derive its worth from the purity of its gold but from the fact that it was the place where the blood of sacrifice was sprinkled in the presence of Yahweh.

The word for “mercy seat” is the same root for the word “atonement”. It means to cover, cancel, appease, or cleanse.

The Greek equivalent is the word “propitiation”.

Lk 18:13 “And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, `God, be merciful to me a sinner!’

The word “seat” speaks of a resting place so the mercy seat was the “place of mercy or propitiation”.

The Ark was overlaid with pure gold and had a gold crown.

Because only once a year on Yom Kippur could man enter beyond the veil; there had to be a veil separating man from the holy of holies.

This was mentioned first before all the other furniture in the tabernacle. The ark was right in the center of the camp and the glory cloud was seen above the mercy seat and above the back portion of the tabernacle.

The ark rested on the dirt floor of the Holy of Holies with its four gold rings that the gold poles were inserted through and left permanently in position.

Exod 25:10-22

The Ark of the Covenant was where Gods justice and judgement toward sin was satisfied.

Ex 25:22

Josh 3:6,13

1 Sam 5:7

1 Chr 6:41

2 Chr 35:3

Ps 78:60-61

What was inside it?

The 2 unbroken tables of stone, (The 10 Commandments).

It is important to note that the ark contained the two tablets of the Decalogue (the Ten Commandments). Remember that God had made a covenant with Israel, but the people had broken it. In grace God renewed it and ordered that its enduring record, (the unbroken tablets) should be deposited in the holy ark. The Book of the Covenant, which dealt at length with other aspects of law and procedure, was deposited alongside the ark. But the 10 commandments were stored within the ark itself.

Exod 25:16 “And you shall put into the ark the Testimony which I will give you.”

It is highly probable that the stone tables were housed inside the Ark simply to protect people from the penalty of death that automatically occurs and results from viewing the Decalogue.

The Ten Commandments more correctly called The Decalogue or The Law that God gave to Moses.

It is extremely enlightening to examine the root of the word Decalogue, which are traced from Greek and the prefix deca means ten. The suffix logue is from the root word logos ,meaning word. Therefore, Decalogue means the Ten Words. The Ark was made at Horeb near Mount Horeb and the name Horeb means the desert or mountain of the dried-up ground.” Generally, the region is called Horeb and the mountain is called Mount Horeb. The mountain was located in the land of Midian, a portion of present-day Arabia.

Consider the essence of the Decalogue, it is apparent that the Ten Words could be considered the face of the document of The Law. In fact, lawyers frequently refer to the substance or text of their documents by the term face. The Law or Decalogue inscribed into the face of the stone tables automatically brings death without atonement! It is maybe relevant, and certainly not a coincidence, that no one can look upon God’s face and live!

Ex. 33:17

Two other items were also contained within the ark. One was a golden pot/jar containing an omer (24 liters) of manna (Heb. 9:4) as a memorial of God’s provision:

Exod 16:32-33 “ThenMoses said, This is the thing which the LORD has commanded: ‘Fill an omer with it, to be kept for your generations, that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’ And Moses said toAaron Take a pot and put an omer of manna in it, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations.”

It was also a type Christ who was the living bread which came down from heaven:

John 6:50-51 “This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

The third item which would be added was Aaron’s rod that sprouted buds and blossoms and bore ripe almonds in a single night, authenticating God’s choice of Aaron for the priesthood. (Num 17; Heb. 9:4).

Num 17:7-8 “And Moses placed the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness. Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds.”

Here is a A Type of Christ

The mercy seat protected man from the judgment of God represented by the judgment angels, the Cherubim. Because of the blood that was sprinkled on the mercy seat, man’s sin and guilt were washed away and the curse of the law has no effect. The mercy seat foreshadows the Messiah.

He is our mercy seat.

He forever stands between a holy God and sinful man. Just as the sins of the whole nation were atoned for by the sprinkling of the blood on the mercy seat, so also Messiah, by the shedding of His own blood atoned for the sins of the entire world.

1 Jn 2:2; Lk 22:20; Eph 2:13; 1 Pet 1:18-19; Heb 9:11-12, 28; Dan 7:9-10,13,14; Rev 5:1-13; Ps 99:1.

The ark of the Covenant was a picture of Messiah.

The Acacia wood speaks of the indestructible humanity of Jesus. He was 100% man. God Himself became flesh and suffered the agonies of the human experience. He was tempted, He was weary, He thirsted, He had to learn the Scriptures and learn obedience and to hear God’s voice and be led by the Spirit as a man. Not only does the Acacia wood tell us that He was 100% man but the pure gold that over-laid the wood teaches us that He was 100% God.

Jesus said “unless you believe that I AM you will die in your sins.” He used the same words (Heb. Eheyay asher aheyay) as when the Lord spoke to Moses at the burning bush. The Jewish Messiah was none other than Jehovah Himself visiting His people and becoming their savior by dying for the sins of the world and that is the etymology of the name Jesus (Heb. Y’shua ‘Yaweh has become salvation’). Jesus/Yeshua condemned the religious leaders for not recognizing “the day of their visitation.”

The crown of gold around the top of the ark speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus overcame the onslaught of opposition that was set against Him His whole life by the religious leaders, the wealthy Jewish aristocracy, Rome itself, and even all the power of the enemy. He overcame even death itself and rose triumphantly and was given a crown, and glory, and honor, because He is the King. According to John it was Jesus/Yeshua who Isaiah saw seated on the throne of glory with the angels crying ‘holy, holy, holy.’

The unbroken tables of stone set forth Jesus/Yeshua, as the One who perfectly kept the Law and never broke God’s Commandments.

The Bible says that He “committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth.” Jesus/Yeshua felt the pressure of temptation at its full intensity yet He never sinned. Even the look in His eye and the tone of His voice reflected the very perfections of the holiness of God Himself.

Aaron’s rod that budded also speaks of Jesus. Something that had died and supernaturally came to life again. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

The golden pot of manna speaks of Jesus as the bread of life who came down from heaven to bring food, the Word of God, to a world in darkness and dying of hunger.

It all points to Jesus.

Even the golden poles speak of the ever living and ever present Savior who is with us in all our journeying and will never leave us nor forsake us. If you were to examine the history of the ark there would be striking resemblances to the ministry of Messiah Jesus our Lord:

The ark went before the people – Yeshua/Jesus went before them:

John 10:4 “And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

The ark was in the middle of God’s people – Jesus is in His people:

John 14:20 “At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.”

The people were to follow the ark – We are to follow Jesus:

Luke 5:27-28 After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he left all, rose up, and followed Him.

And to keep on following on, the ark was always first to lead them. It was death to those that were enemies of God. The ark brought blessings and curses.

Isa 53:2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.

Isa 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Matt 5:17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

1 Pet 2:22 “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”;

Gal 4:4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

Jn 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

Jn 6:32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.

Jn 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Jn 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

The ark was representative of the real ark in heaven.

The cross is the ultimate and cosmic altar of the ultimate and cosmic sacrifice the Lamb of God however the altar of sacrifice was only one part of the Temple.

The cross, this altar of sacrifice is not the end of salvation but the beginning.

It’s the altar of sacrifice that gives access and the ability to enter through the temple doors, to walk beyond the veil and to stand in the holy of holy’s.

The journey begins up the altar and if this is a eternal/ cosmic altar then it gives us access to begin our eternal journey.

As our high priest, Messiah gives us access to go where we could not go before, and to enter into that which we could not enter previously, enabling us to walk along the WAY, a path that we could not walk before.

As this is a cosmic eternal altar, it gives us power to enter the realm of the holy and to be seated in the heavenly places where we are to dwell in His presence – the realms of glory.

Now today The Presence Within the Holy of Holies Dwells Within the Believer in Jesus: 

Jesus said I am the temple (Mishkan) of God. When the glory (Heb. Sh’chinah) would come down like a tornado or funnel right through the roof of the holy of holies and the Presence would manifest on the mercy seat between the cherubim after the blood was sprinkled, (the mishkan).

That Presence was what Yeshua/Jesus said dwelt within Him.

And in fact Paul said about the church, “Know ye not that you are the temple (Mishkan) of God?” We, as the body of Messiah, have the same Presence dwelling within us. God doesn’t dwell in buildings now but within His people. 

1 Cor 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

The kingdom of the heavens is within you and we are the sanctuary of God’s presence on earth – the holy of holies is within us and as we follow Yeshua/Jesus the Ark of our covenant He promises – I am in you and you are in Me -filled with the shekinah of His Ruach Hakodesh we are carriers of His presence – the lights of the world.

The Tablets of the law are written on our hearts. He is the Manna, the bread of life upon which we feed and live.

Aarons staff is The staff of life it’s the shepherds crook from Ps. 23.

The staff also makes the presence of the Shepherd real to the sheep. The staff, a long stick with a crook in one end (like a walking stick), was used  by shepherds to protect and tend their flock. There was a crook at one end of the rod, and it was with this the shepherd took hold of one of the hind legs of the sheep to pull it back.

Bread is the staff of life means, food is necessary to survive.

That a staff signifies power, is because it is a support; for it supports the hand and arm, and through them the whole body; with which we are to reach the lost sheep looking for the ones to draw them into His fold.

So we are containers of all that is needed to be a disciple we are equipped as an ark of His covenant with us.

Finally, the Ark would serve as the observable sign of Yahweh’s (the Hebrew name of God) presence to the Israelites until it went missing after the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 587 BCE. The Israelites believed Yahweh to be their king, and by building it, gave them the ability to transport their monarchy were ever they went.

If Yahweh was their king/god, then He was their commander, which also made the Ark a military weapon.

(What is interesting about this is that the manufacture of not just the Ark but weapons also, took place at Mt Sinai.)

Therefore, the Israelites needed a symbol that they could look to and it put fear into the minds of their enemies.

As to its whereabouts today…There are prophesies and much speculation to that question but one thing is for certain when Father is ready for it to be found there will be an apocalypse! For it will be revealed at the perfect time for now lets be the chosen carriers of His glory every day and allow His light to shine in and through us. His blood will for ever be on the mercy seat declaring covenant fulfilled.

Don’t leave this page without knowing for absolute certain you are an ark. 

An ARON –

a treasure chest of His Presence!

Shalom Blessings for Sukkot!

click link below for more on Sukkot:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/sheltering-presence-god/

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

Make certain Jesus is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

It’s all about Life and Relationship, not Religion.

NOT SURE?

YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’ name. Amen.