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Why did the carriers have to be Levitical priests ..?? The Levites were the only ones who knew the prescribed requirements to be purified enough to keep from being fried in the Holy of Holies - in the Temple.

But why did they need to keep from being fried .. BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT BORN AGAIN - and their spirit was still unrenewed and could not withstand the power of GOD.

I am not following your train of thought here. You say you disagree with my assertion that the ark had to be carried by Levites. Then you make a mad dash to say they were the only ones knowledgable about such matters. That is wrong. It was part of the Law which everyone, including David and Uzziah, should have known.

From that sterling author A>W> Pink:

God is very jealous of His appointments and will not suffer them to be defied with impugnity. He had given express commandment that, “None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God” (1 Chron. 15:2). But this was ignored by David, for “they set the ark of God upon a new cart...and Uzzah and Ahio the sons of Abinadab drave the new cart” (2 Sam. 6:3). “And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God smote him there for his rashness” (vv. 6, 7). Later, David owned his fault, saying to the priests, “The Lord our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought Him not after the due order” (1 Chron. 15:13).

You also maintain that being born-again was a requirement for priestly duty. That is not so either. Note Aaron's rebellious and, apparently unbelieving sons, Nadab and Abihu, were not immediately struck down by the Lord in their temple service. It was only after violating the prohibition against offering strange incense.

As for the rest, I am well aware of what constitutes saving faith in the Old Testament. That doesn't address the issue.

Well .. the issue is simple. Without Jesus, no one from the Old Testament got a straightline path to heaven.

Isaiah said the saints from the Old Testament were waiting in Paradise for the Savior to come. On the cross, Jesus said to the thief - today you will be with me in Paradise.

Without Jesus - nobody got to heaven! Therefore, no matter if the Levites knew the ritual of purification to keep from being destroyed in GOD's presence, or righteousness was accounted unto those with faith - NONE OF THEM COULD GET TO HEAVEN WITHOUT JESUS!! Their spirits were DEAD unto GOD.

They all had to wait in Paradise for Jesus to make the atonement for their sins before they could have entry into heaven.

That was my whole point from the beginning.