My perspective about the historical and prophetic significance of the Mercy Seat. 510-1 - 2 - 1

The Ark of the Covenant with its Mercy Seat is the only furniture allowed within the Holy of Hollies. The ark was a chest made of acacia wood with a gold overlaid both inside and out. It was to hold three items: a golden pot of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the two stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments were written.

“The atonement cover was the lid for the ark. On top of it stood two cherubim (angels) at the two ends, facing each other. The cherubim, symbols of God’s divine presence and power, were facing downward toward the ark with outstretched wings that covered the atonement cover. The whole structure was beaten out of one piece of pure gold. The atonement cover was God’s dwelling place in the tabernacle. It was His throne, flanked by angels.”

[http://the-tabernacle-place.com/articles/what_is_the_tabernacle/tabernacle_ark_of_the_covenant]

Years ago, I was shopping in a Christian bookstore in which was papier-mâché facsimile of the tomb in the garden. I looked in and saw the empty slab on which Jesus's body would have rested. While shorter than the resting place of Jesus, is the bare slab and the two angles a facsimile of the mercy seat? Would the Mercy Seat be a fitting throne for Jesus on the Bema Judgment seat and during the Millennium? Absolutely, as perhaps His blood was still dripping onto the original garden slab. No more requirement for blood from sacrificed animals as Jesus paid the final price!

Paul tells of being like the wise master builder, 1 Corinthians 3:11, "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." All else is wood, hay, and straw which will be burnt. Thinking freely, all that is worthwhile is the Mercy Seat of pure gold as the wood in the Ark would decay do as wood, hay, and straw. As for the gold overlay, not long lasting as I can attest to with jewelry.

Jesus will be seated on the Mercy Seat as He judges the survivors of the Tribulation. On this, the Bema Seat of judgment, Jesus will separate the sheep from the goats depending on their treatment of Israel. Believers will have their Inheritances and Rewards judged/ burnt as being analogous to gold, silver, and precious stones or wood, hay, stubble.

As an aside, CM lists five Biblical references to the Bema seat of Judgment. The first four are pass and the final judgment is yet to come. Maranatha!

“• Pilate judging Christ, Matthew 27:19

• Herod (smitten by worms), Acts 12:21

• Gallio sentencing Paul, Acts 18:16,17

• Festus: trial, sentencing Paul, Act 25:6,10,17

• Judgment Seat of Christ, Romans 14:10”

[CM's Inheritance & Rewards]

What was so confusing for the Ethiopian Treasurer? How does today’s Jew interpret the passage that gave the Ethiopian treasurer so much trouble? 512 - 16 - 6

Sometimes it seems that the Bible is just a snapshot in time, a rather two-dimensional image of what should be at least four. Just enough information to really wet the appetite and cause us to dig deeper. This discussion question ties directly into two others in this session dealing with Pharaoh Necho and Jonah; events from hundreds of years earlier.

In Acts 8:26 Philip was called to witness to the man known as the Ethiopian eunuch. As a eunuch this Ethiopian would keep himself pure and be qualified to handle/ care for sacred articles. He was in Jerusalem representing the Ethiopian Queen Candace. He apparently had charge of her treasures and it has been theorized these could include the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat. For 2400 years Ethiopians have had the legend that they are holding something extraordinary that is to be presented to the Messiah upon his appearance. Perhaps 2000 years ago the rumor had reached Ethiopia that the Messiah was in Jerusalem and Queen Candace dispatched the eunuch to confirm His presence before bringing the sacred objects to Him.

Imagine the confusion on the part of the eunuch when he arrived in Jerusalem and found out that the man rumored to be the Messiah had been crucified. The eunuch was reading from Isaiah 53 when Phillips was transported to witness to him of Jesus. Perhaps Philip told him how the crucifixion of Jesus played out verse by verse with the prophecies in Isaiah 53. As a result the eunuch was baptized and went back to Ethiopia no doubt to continue with the protection of their most holy trust.

So how does today’s Jew interpret the passage that gave the Ethiopian treasurer so much trouble? I gave a Jewish friend a list of all the Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled by Jesus and all I got was a rolling of the eyes. Anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear should be able to understand the correlation between Isaiah 53 and the passion of Christ. In addition, Psalm 22 could have been dictated at the foot of the cross. With blindness proclaimed by Jesus against the Jews 2000 years ago, perhaps it’s understandable that either there will be a rolling of the eyes or just a total rejection of these verses. Perhaps denial is far easier to bear than the knowledge that your ancestors had a part in the death of the long awaited Messiah. 

Added Later:

In his article on the rapture ready website "Dual Covenant Theology" Daymond Duck writes:

"Are the Jews saved under one covenant and the Gentiles saved under another or is Jesus the only way to be saved? Are the Jews saved under the everlasting covenant God made with Abraham or do they have to believe in Jesus (Genesis 17:7-8)? The answer seems clear to me, but some Christians have heard someone they respect say today’s Jews are saved even though they haven’t accepted Jesus as their Messiah. That confuses many people and the controversy just won’t go away.

http://www.raptureready.com/featured/duck/dd107.html

I find his conclusion to be rather discouraging as he doesn't seem to hold out hope for Jews who are in unbelief today, however, at the second coming the remnant will become believers. All well and good for the remnant, but what about the 6 million human beings murdered in the Holocaust. Those below the age of accountability, most likely are with the Lord but what about the others. I realize it's for God to sort out but I pray that he is merciful.