Bible Study Seattle

Scarlet is another prominent color. It is the color of blood, and represents sacrifice. The color was obtained from a female worm like insect who died after laying her eggs. Interesting that red was obtained by death!
The way into the holy and most holy contained scarlet – sacrifice is required for promotion in God’s kingdom.

“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet stuff; with cherubim skillfully worked shall you make them.” Exodus 26:1

“And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen; in skilled work shall it be made, with cherubim.” Exodus 26:31

“And you shall make a screen for the door of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework.” Exodus 26:36

“For the gate of the court there shall be a screen twenty cubits long, of blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework.” Exodus 27:16

The high priest wore loads of scarlet:
“And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet stuff, and of fine twined linen, skillfully worked.” Exodus 28:6, etc.

Blue is very prevalent in both the Tabernacle and Temple. 

Blue curtains:  “Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet stuff; with cherubim skilfully worked shall you make them.”  Exodus 26:1

Blue loops:       “And you shall make loops of blue on the edge of the outmost curtain in the first set; and likewise you shall make loops on the edge of the outmost curtain in the second set.”   Exodus 26:4

Blue veil:           “And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen.”    Exodus 26:31

Blue door:         “And you shall make a screen for the door of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework.”  Exodus 26:36

Blue gate:           “For the gate of the court there shall be a screen twenty cubits long, of blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework.”  Exodus 27:16

Blue garments:  “And of the blue and purple and scarlet stuff they made finely wrought garments, for ministering in the holy place; they made the holy garments for Aaron; as the Lord had commanded Moses.”  Exodus 39:1

The high priest wore blue all over. 

Blue coverings:      “When the camp is to set out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the veil of the screen, and cover the ark of the testimony with it; then they shall put on it a covering of goatskin, and spread over that a cloth all of blue, and shall put in its poles. And over the table of the bread of the Presence they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put upon it the plates, the dishes for incense, the bowls, and the flagons for the drink offering; the continual bread also shall be on it; then they shall spread over them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of goatskin, and shall put in its poles.  And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the lampstand for the light, with its lamps, its snuffers, its trays, and all the vessels for oil with which it is supplied: and they shall put it with all its utensils in a covering of goatskin and put it upon the carrying frame. And over the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of goatskin, and shall put in its poles;and they shall take all the vessels of the service which are used in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of goatskin, and put them on the carrying frame.”  Numbers 4:5-12

Blue tassels:     “The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel, and bid them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put upon the tassel of each corner a cord of blue.”  Numbers 15:37

Blue veil in the Temple:   “And he made the veil of blue and purple and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and worked cherubim on it.”  2 Chronicles 3:14

Blue represents faithfulness:  “Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.”  Psalms 36:5   The skies are blue.

Solomon’s Temple was a precursor to the greater temple in heaven.  “They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary; for when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.”  Hebrews 8:5

In between Solomon’s two coronations (1 Chronicles 23 & 29), elaborate preparations were made.  This foreshadows the 370 year preparation for the heavenly temple.  The Levites and priests were given instructions for building the temple and worship.  288 Levitical musicians are appointed for the worship.  288,000 commanders were appointed for military duty.   Notice this is twice the 144,000 mentioned in Revelation 7 & 14.  Perhaps 144,000 on earth and 144,000 in heaven?   After Solomon’s second coronation (greater than the first), the temple is built.  Does this suggest that the temple won’t be complete until the 11th year (out of 40) of Solomon’s reign?  Will the heavenly temple be completed at the same time as the earthly temple?  Or will the heavenly temple be completely before the general resurrection of man (the second born)?  Time will tell.

“Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.  Hallelujah!” 

Everything that has breath?  Even animals?  Yes.  Trees?  Maybe.  Could the animals be conscious of their creator?  Evidently that will be the case.  Animals have morality too and will have their own judgment.  Genesis 9:5:  “For your lifeblood I will surely require a reckoning; of every beast I will require it and of man; of every man’s brother I will require the life of man.”  This shows that animals will be accountable if they kill people.

The bible is so full of answers! Yet, “…now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood.” 1 Corinthians 13:12
There is a lapping of ages between the gospel age and the millennial age. Some have thought this to be a period of 40 years, but I think it’s 370 years (the days of Noah). This transition is shown many ways. One is the fact that David reigned 7.5 years in Hebron before fully assuming leadership of Israel the remaining 32.5 years. This would only be 250 out of 1000 years, but it’s a long time. Another is the sequence in 1 Chronicles 22-29. Here we have the transition from the Tabernacle to the Temple. This represents the wayfaring of Christians to their permeanent condition in heaven. Notice how Solomon was made king twice! “When David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.” 1 Chronicles 23:1

Later, “And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and they anointed him as prince for the Lord, and Zadok as priest.

Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king instead of David his father; and he prospered, and all Israel obeyed him. All the leaders and the mighty men, and also all the sons of King David, pledged their allegiance to King Solomon. And the Lord gave Solomon great repute in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.” 1 Chronicles 29:22-25

Why twice? It will be the same with the second coming of Jesus. He will first come secretly as king. Then temple construction is started in heaven. Then he is installed a second time more grandly in front of all the people.

Thus it will be! Most Christians will miss the first second coming of Jesus! But they will not miss the second second coming of Jesus!

In 1 Chronicles 21, just before king David buys the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite to build the temple, Satan incited him to a military census. 1,100,000 swordsmen were counted in all Israel. But the Levites and Benjamites weren’t counted because Joab thought it was detestable. Why? Why is this in the bible? Do the Levites and Benjamites represent those in heaven? Is there a counting in heaven just before the heavenly temple is begun construction? We have no way of knowing, but it’s fun to wonder. Imagine what we will see on the other side!

Jesus said, “For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John; if you’re willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come. Anyone who has ears should listen!” Was that it? The complete fulfillment of Malachi 4?
“Remember the instruction of Moses My servant, the statutes and ordinances I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. Look, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome Day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.” Malachi 4:4-6

Elijah himself will be on earth to prepare the way before Jesus appears to all. But Jesus can’t appear to all until all have been resurrected. Why does Malachi 4 say ‘remember Moses’? Consider:

“He was transformed in front of them, and His face shone like the sun. Even His clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it’s good for us to be here! If You want, I will make three tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Matthew 17:2-4

Are these the two witnesses of Revelation?
“Then I was given a measuring reed like a rod, with these words: “Go and measure God’s sanctuary and the altar, and count those who worship there. But exclude the courtyard outside the sanctuary. Don’t measure it, because it is given to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months. I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and consumes their enemies; if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. These men have the power to close up the sky so that it does not rain during the days of their prophecy. They also have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every plague whenever they want.” Revelation 11:1-6

Elijah had power to cease rain. Moses had power to turn waters into blood.

“For indeed, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and everyone who commits wickedness will become stubble. The coming day will consume them,” says the Lord of Hosts, “not leaving them root or branches. But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and playfully jump like calves from the stall. You will trample the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day I am preparing,” says the Lord of Hosts.” Malachi 4:1-3

The wicked have a surprise in store. They will be exposed. All their crimes. But the faithful will be blessed. The healing will take place as the sun rises. This happens about the midpoint of the day. Hebrew days start dark with evening. The second half of the day is light – called morning. Thus it will be with the 1000 year millennial ‘day’. 500 years of ‘dark’ followed by 500 years of ‘light’.

“See, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. Then the Lord you seek will suddenly come to His temple, the Messenger of the covenant you desire—see, He is coming,” says the Lord of Hosts. But who can endure the day of His coming? And who will be able to stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire and like cleansing lye. He will be like a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. And the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will please the Lord as in days of old and years gone by.” Malachi 3:1-4

Who is this messenger? No one can stand? Is this reference to an earthquake? How will he refine people? By exposing the truth. Afterward they will offer sacrifices just like ancient times. But why? Isn’t Jesus sacrifice sufficient? Yes, but remember there was more than one sacrifice. All the sacrifices of the law must have their fulfillment for complete wholeness. Jesus was the Bull sin offering.

There was an enormous earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah that gave Judah the upper hand over all it’s neighbors including Eqypt, Assyria and others. http://biblefocus.net/consider/v21uzziah/index.html
This earthquake is the pattern for what is to come in the future. “You will flee by My mountain valley, for the valley of the mountains will extend to Azal. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come and all the holy ones with Him.” Zechariah 14:5
This earthquake will be so great that it will split the mount of olives in two:
“On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. The Mount of Olives will be split in half from east to west, forming a huge valley, so that half the mountain will move to the north and half to the south.” Zechariah 14:4
This catastrophe will be so great that none of the nations will miss it. Perhaps this describes it:
“There were flashes of lightning and rumblings of thunder. And a severe earthquake occurred like no other since man has been on the earth—so great was the quake. The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the Great was remembered in God’s presence; He gave her the cup filled with the wine of His fierce anger. Every island fled, and the mountains disappeared. Enormous hailstones, each weighing about 100 pounds, fell from the sky on people, and they blasphemed God for the plague of hail because that plague was extremely severe.” Revelation 16:18-21