Try it from this point, if her virginity is irrelevant, why are some people so dedicated to sullying this ancient Christian belief? Ponder that one for a little while.
I think you are right, and that people should focus on what they are able to agree on. And you are not the only one who thinks so - there even are people in the Catholic Church, very strong in prayer, who address their prayers only to the eternal God, like the Pslams in the brievary. I think it is better to follow such a path in private devotion, rather than thinking that one can thrash everything out and somehow get everyone believing the one thing.
Great posts. Thank you.
"Do you call her by the title that belongs to Jesus "Ark of the Covenant?""
Where's your scriptural proof for this title belonging to Jesus Mom?
We did a whoie thread on that Tonto...Unless you want to claim that Mary is the judge and the dispenser of Mercy..so is she your judge and is she your saviour?
http://www.plim.org/arkofcovenant.html
Of all the things Yahweh Elohim told Israel and man to make, the Ark of the Covenant stands out as the most famous. It even supersedes Noah? ark which saved eight souls alive. Noah and his wife with their three sons and their wives, were the only humans that withstood the flood because they entered the ark (I Pet. 3:19-20; see bottom illustration on p. 16). The reason the Ark of the Covenant enjoys such celebrity status is because it was the center of Israel? worship and Elohim performed many wonders by the Ark of the Covenant. The movie, ?he Raiders of the Lost Ark,?also popularized the Ark and its miraculous power. All students of the Bible and divine metaphysics must understand the spiritual significance of the Ark of the Covenant. Elohim gave Israel the Ark to reveal how Spirit communicates with men.
The purpose of this article is to explain the structure and function of the Ark of Covenant which will enable us to understand the operation of Universal Spirit Law in the angelic and physical creations, and especially within man? mind.
When was the plan for the Ark revealed?
The plan for the Ark of the Covenant was revealed to Moses after Israel left the plague-stricken land of Egypt, crossed the Red Sea, and entered the wilderness. When Moses and Joshua the Son of Nun, his minister, entered the phenomenal fiery cloud (Exo. 24:1-2, 9-10, 25:40), Moses was shown a panoramic vision atop Mt. Sinai. They stayed forty days and nights in this cloud (Exo. 24:16-18).
Does the tabernacle pattern explain Elohim? spiritual body?
While Moses was in the fiery cloud (Exo. 24:13-15), Elohim presented His spiritual embodiment in a vision to him (see bottom illustration on p. 10). Then Elohim transformed His super incorporeal form of a man with unlimited power, seen only in divine visions, into a fully furnished tabernacle with all its vessels, including the Ark of the Covenant (see the cover story, ?he Revelation of the Divine Pattern of the Universe,?by Dr. Henry C. Kinley, in the September/October 1993 issue of the ?LIM REPORT?.
Elohim did this to show Moses that the tabernacle is the definition of Elohim? spiritual embodiment. In other words, the tabernacle explained the inner workings or the structure and operation of this ghost-like figure of a man. By transforming into the tabernacle pattern Elohim also proved that He is the Archetypal (Original) Pattern of the Universe (Heb. 8:5).
The divine pattern reveals His purpose and plan to mankind. It is quite obvious that Elohim had to give mankind a type or shadow to understand His spiritual embodiment since His creatures cannot possibly detect Him with their five senses.
What was the purpose of the tabernacle?
In order to understand the symbolic purpose of the Ark of the Covenant we have to know the purpose of the tabernacle. Its intent was revealed to Moses and the Apostle John in their panoramic visions. John wrote: ?nd I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of Elohim (God) is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and Elohim (God) himself shall be with them, and be their Elohim."
The Apostle Paul explained that the tabernacle pointed to our physical bodies. ?hat? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of Elohim (God), and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify Elohim (God) in your body, and in your spirit, which are Elohim? (God?, I Cor. 6:19-20; Jn 2:18-21).?So clearly the purpose of the tabernacle was so that Elohim could dwell among Israel, which pointed to His real dwelling place being within the mind of man.
What was the purpose of the Ark?
The purpose for the Ark of the Covenant was to symbolize Yahweh Elohim? visible throne on earth. Yahweh stated that he would dwell in a cloud between the wings of the cherubim above the Mercy Seat (Lev. 16:2; see top illustrations on p. 15 and 16). This is also where He would commune with Moses and the high priest who heard His voice from between the wings of the cherubim (Num. 7:89; Ex. 25:22). The cloud that sat on the Arktypified the presence of the Holy Spirit in our minds speaking to us. From this correlation we can understand what Job meant when he wrote that Elohim is in one's mind (Job 23:13).
In the physical body the brain typifies Elohim? throne or the Ark which controls and dictates to the body. The patriarch Jacob, the prophets Daniel (Dan. 7:9-10) and Ezekiel (Ezk. 1st & 10th chp.), and the Apostle John (Rev. 4th chap) describe His heavenly throne in their visions.
What was the 'shekinah'?
On the 10th day of Tisri in the Hebrew calendar, (October 10th), the Day of Atonement, Elohim revealed Himself to the high priest. This phenomena occured one day of the year after the high priest sprinkled blood toward the Ark during his three trips into the Most Holy Place (Lev. 16th Chapter). Between the wings of the cherubim (angels) within the cloud, there appeared a bright light of Elohim called the flash of the 'shekinah'.
When Yahshua the Messiah took Peter, James, and John atop Mt. Tabor, He transfigured and showed them His spiritual form in a vision (Matt 17:1-9). He revealed His glorified body to them in fulfillment of the high priest seeing the flash of the 'shekinah' once a year (also see Exo. 24:9-10).
The spiritual reality of the 'shekinah' is the Messiah revealing Himself into our consciousness. The Apostle Paul explains it this way: "For Elohim (God), who commanded the light to shine out of darkness [the ignorance in our minds], hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of Elohim (God) in the face of Yahshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ, II Cor. 4:6)."
Who built the Ark and what was the spiritual reality of its construction?
Two men were primarily responsible for the construction of the tabernacle. Moses gave divine instructions to Bezaleel, the son of Uri of the tribe of Judah, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan (Exo. 31:2-11; 35:30-35; 37:1-9). These two men were filled with Yahweh? Spirit in order to build this structure (Exo. 31:1-3). The people donated all of the material for the tabernacle in free will offerings. They gave as the Spirit moved them.
The building of the tabernacle not only points to how Elohim formed Adam from the dust of the earth (Gen. ?:7), but points to the Apostles full of the Holy Spirit building Elohim? body by transforming men? hearts and minds from the sin sick state of darkness to a spiritually minded state of light and illumination. Paul wrote: ?o we, being many, are one body in the Messiah (Christ), and every one members one of another (Rom. 12:5; 1 Pet. 2:5).?
The Apostle Peter understood the true meaning of the necessity of men? tabernacles being rebuilt because they were in spiritual disrepair as a result of the transgression of Adam and Eve (Rom. 5:12-14). He quoted David? description of how Israel? tabernacle fell into disrepair because they left it and began to follow the Gentiles?idols. ?nd to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after Yahweh (the Lord), and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith Yahweh (the Lord), who doeth all these things (Acts 15:15-17).?
How was the Ark constructed?
First, the Ark of the Covenant was composed of two main parts: the Mercy Seat with its two cherubim (Angels) at each end of the Ark, and the Ark (chest or box) itself, upon which sat the Mercy Seat. The Ark will be discussed first.
The dimensions of the Ark of the Covenant were 1 1/2 cubits in width and height and 2 1/2 cubits in length (Ex. 25:10-11). [Note: A cubit is approximately 1 1/2 feet.] So the Ark of the covenant was 2 1/4 feet in height and width and 3 3/4 feet in length. There was a crown around its top and four rings at each end of the Ark. Staves were put through the rings to carry it (Ex. 25:13-15). No one was allowed to touch the Ark of the Covenant, for the penalty was death.
It was the first vessel within the tabernacle to be constructed, just as the head of the fetus is the first body part formed in the mother? womb. This proved that Elohim, the Word or Son, was the first thing formed from the Pure Spirit state of Yahweh, who is the head of all kingdoms (Col. 1:15-18).
What is the spiritual reality of the construction of the Ark?
Now the design of the Ark conveys many characteristics about the purpose of Elohim. Shittim wood, which is very hard and durable, was the material used in the construction of the Ark of the Covenant much like the bones in the physical body are very durable. Gold was used to over lay this wood inside and out. The shittim wood typified the incorruptible nature of the Messiah and His ability to resurrect over Satan and his hosts or negativity. The shittim wood was obtained from the Acacia tree which grows in the desert? arid conditions and typified Yahshua who was described as: ?.. a root out of a dry ground ... (Isa. 53:2) ...? There is no dryer place than the dead soul of a carnal minded man. Remember, Yahshua who is the resurrection and life came from Israel, a people in a dead and dry state (Lk. 23:31).
The four rings on each corner of the Ark where the staves were placed pointed to the gospel or the truth being spread to the four corners of the earth. At His ascension the Messiah said: ?ut ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8).?
The four (4) rings also represent the four (4) chambers in the brain called ventricles. The cerebrospinal fluid, a clear like substance, is circulated throughout the brain, the spinal cord, and these ventricles.There were also four rivers that proceeded out from the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:10-14).
The crown around the Ark typified the crown around Elohim? head as he sat upon the throne. It also points to the true believers in the Messiah receiving a crown. The Apostle James said: ?lessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which Yahweh (the Lord) hath promised to them that love him (Jam. 1:12; see also Isa. 28:5; Rv. 2:5).?
Only the priests of Israel were allowed to carry the Ark of the Covenant to show that under the New covenant only the divinely illuminated are conscious of the ever-presence of the Messiah within their minds.
How was the Mercy Seat built?
The Mercy Seat was constructed of pure gold (Ex. 25:17, 17-21). This Mercy Seat with its two cherubim at each end sat atop the Ark. The two cherubim were made of solid gold and they faced each other with their wings overshadowing the Mercy Seat (Ex. 25:18-20). The cherubim? attention was focused on the cloud that dwelled in their midst.
What was the spiritual reality of the Mercy Seat?
The Mercy Seat (which in Hebrew means Kapporet or covering) represented the mercy of Yahweh sparing His wrath because of Yahshua the Messiah's atoning blood that typified the sacrifices offered under the Law of Moses (Heb. 9:12). Remember, the high priest atoned for Israel? sins on the Day of Atonement when he sprinkled the blood of the lamb toward the Mercy Seat seven times within the vail (Lv. 16: 15, 34). To ask for mercy an Israelite was required to have a humble soul and acknowledge his sinful state.
The Messiah illustrates this principle in a parable. ?wo men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, Elohim (God), I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, Elohim (God) be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted (Luke 18:10-14).?
Now the two angels that stand before Yahweh Elohim represent the two witnesses or the Law and prophets which testify of the coming of the Messiah (Isa. 8:20; Heb. 6:18). The Apostle John in his vision wrote that these two witnesses would speak and plague those that were disobedient, as Moses and Aaron did to Pharaoh in Egypt (Rev. 11:3-8).
Examples of these two witnesses appear throughout the Bible. At the Messiah? ascension there appeared two angels dressed in white (Acts 1:10-11) and at the transfiguration the souls of Moses and John the Baptist appeared with the Messiah? spiritual body (Mt. 17:1-5). Both the angelic and physical creations are also the two witnesses of Yahweh Pure Spirit.
Zechariah, the prophet, saw two olive trees in his vision and asked an angel about them. ?.. What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by Yahweh (the LORD) of the whole earth (Zech. 4:11-14).?There were two olive trees in Solomon? temple carved into the form of angels which the Ark of the Covenant set under their wings.
Finally, there are two witnesses (anatomy and physiology) that describe the physical body? structure and operation. The brain correlates with the Ark and has a left and right cerebral hemisphere. Also the brain has two basic functions: motory and sensory. Clearly, the body is at the mercy of the brain.
What was the spiritual significance of the contents of the Ark?
Within the Ark of the Covenant were two tables of stone with the Ten Commandment Law written thereon, the golden pot of manna, and Aaron? budded rod. The Apostle Paul spoke of the contents of the Ark as follows in the so-called New Testament. ?nd after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had ty of the Second Vail. ?hich hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec (Heb. 6:19-20).?Paul understood that even after Pentecost many Israelites didn? have the vail removed from their hearts. He wrote: ?ut their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in the Messiah (Christ). But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away (2 Cor 3:14-16).?So the vail must be removed from one? heart and mind if one hopes to understand the Bible.
How was the Ark used to destroy Jericho?
The first city that was conquered with the aid of the Ark of the Covenant was Jericho. Joshua told Israel to march around the walls of Jericho six days while the priests carried the Ark (Jos. 6:3-4). On the seventh day the priests blew the horns, the people shouted, and the walls of Jericho came tumbling down (Jos. 6:15-16).
The priests which destroyed Jericho by blowing trumpets point to the Holy Spirit preaching the truth which tears down ignorance in men's hearts and minds. The Messiah said that the truth shall set you free (Jn. 8:32).
What is the fulfillment of the Ark being taken captive?
The capture of the Ark of the Covenant has great spiritual significance in understanding the purpose of Yahweh. First of all, it was a symbolic prophecy of what was to happen to the Messiah when He came into the earth plane. Second, it pointed to man? mind being taken captive by erroneous doctrine and negative thoughts. Unless the student of divine metaphysics understands the reality of the Bible, then one is in jeopardy of being deceived.
Now everything in the Old Testament testifies to the Messiah, for He said: ?earch the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me (Jn. 5:39).?This implies that the Ark of the Covenant testifies of the Messiah for He is the Son of Yahweh and the head of Israel. So the Philistine? capture of the Ark typifies the capture of the Messiah by the high priests, the elders of Israel, and Pontius Pilate, who found Him guilty and sentenced Him to death (see the ?id U Know ...?section, ?hat happened to those who tried the Messiah??p. 13 of the January/February 1994 issue of the ?LIM REPORT?. Those who participated in the Messiah? death were just as much Gentiles spiritually (Rom. 2:28-29) as the Philistines were, whose name means, ?e who deviates from the true course.?
What is the spiritual reality of the Ark being taken captive?
Yahweh allowed the Ark of the Covenant to be seized so its powers could be made manifest to the Philistines, a Gentile nation, and to Israel. In other words, the Ark being subject to Philistine captivity typifies mankind? souls being subject to evil spirits?negativity. The overcoming of this subjection magnifies the power of Elohim within our souls. Israel was also made subject to Pharaoh for this same reason (Rom 9:17).
It should be noted that being in subjection doesn? necessarily mean that one is completely deceived. For example, Daniel was made subject unto the King of Babylon, but refused to obey any Laws that conflicted with his worship of Yahweh as were laid down in the Torah.
This explains why we are made subject unto so many crisises and negative principles, such as hate, malice and strife, in our lives. Without trials and tribulations we would not know or understand the power of Yahshua Messiah? resurrection. Jacob Needleman confirms this in his explanation of the principle of force in his book A Sense of the Cosmos (E. F. Dutton; p. 95) ?.. A force must necessarily develop amid obstacles-or rather amid what acts at one level as an obstacle. indeed, this idea that force requires resistance may be one meaning of the myth of Satan who resisted the will of God, but whose very resistance was then utilized by the Creator for the fulfillment of the universal order on a large scale.?Thus, the Philistines were the obstacle or resistance necessary to manifest the powers of the Ark of the Covenant.
The Apostle Paul explained it this way: ?nd not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us (Rom 5:3-5). He further described this principle as follows. ?or the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of Elohim (God, Rom 8:20-21).?
Likewise, the Messiah, who was Elohim in a body, allowed himself to be ridiculed and put to death to show the power of His resurrection over these negative forces. The Apostle Paul understood this principle when he wrote: ?ho, being in the form of Elohim (God), ... made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore Elohim (God) also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Yahshua (Jesus) every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth (Phil 2:6-10).?
What is the spiritual significance of the plagues Yahweh placed on the Gentiles for capturing the Ark?
The Ark of the Covenant plagued the Philistines because they did not know how to worship Yahweh. They only knew how to worship their stone idols by bowing down and sacrificing to them. This violated the Law of Yahweh written on tables of stone within the Ark, which strictly forbade the worshipping of idols (Ex. 20:1-5). In other words, when the Philistines took the Ark of the Covenant, they were not aware that they had also brought the symbolical representation of the Law of the Spirit of Life into their presence which required absolute obedience (Deut. 28:15-63). Many physical deaths and plagues occurred as the result of their ignorance of the Law of Moses, which was really the Law of Yahweh.
Modern men today are in the same dilemma as the Philistines who took the Ark of the Covenant with the Law therein. Men are not aware that their bodies are the temple of Elohim (I Cor. 6:19-20) and the Law of the Spirit with its requirement of obedience dwells within them.
As in the natural realm, ignorance of the law is no excuse. Mankind is being plagued spiritually and psychologically because of their ignorance of the divine law within them and the many stony idols they have set up in their minds, such as self-worship, racism, greed, lust, pride, etc.
Since the New Covenant began at Pentecost, all mankind is required to worship Elohim in Spirit and truth (Jn. 4:24). The Messiah, during His ministry, told Israel how He wanted to be worshipped. ?ome unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls (Mt. 11:28-29).?
By not coming to the Messiah, ?he higher power?(Rm. 13:1-4), psychological unbalances manifest them selves in our physical bodies as psychosomatic illnesses, such as heart attacks, high blood pressure, strokes, migraine headaches, insomnia, etc. (see As A Man Thinketh, So Is He, "The Negative Effect of Fear on the Mind (Part 2)," p. 21-23, 33-34, 38 in the November/December 1993 "PLIM REPORT"). The stresses, worries, anxieties, etc., of life have caused mental illnesses to increase. Mankind can? find rest within.
Yahweh Elohim told Israel that they would be blessed if they were obedient to His voice and they would be cursed if they were disobedient (Deut. 28 and Lev. 26th Chapters). Thus, both man? physical and psychological illnesses are plagues for his ignorance of, and disobedience to, the Law within his mind.
The knocking down or destruction of the idol Dagon in the Philistine's temple is a reflection of mankind? thoughts, ideas, theories and concepts being torn down and their minds being brought into captivity to the obedience of the voice of Yahweh (II Cor. 10:3-5). The idea that we are masters of our destiny and don? need any divine guidance must be torn down. This is a bitter pill for man to accept. But the chief purpose for us being on earth is that we come to a profound understanding of the Messiah within (Matt. 6:33). In short, man? mind has the Law of the Spirit imbued within that plagues him for not paying reverence and being obedient to it.
How did the Ark end up in the house of Abinadad?
The frightened Philistine priests and rulers sent the Ark of the Covenant away from them by asking the Levite priests to take it to the city of Kirjath-jearim, located in the hills, where it resided in Abinadad? house (1 Sam. 7:1-2). The Ark remained with the Levite priest for twenty years until the reign of King David when he came to take it to Jerusalem. During the reign of King Saul, the first king of Israel, no one inquired of the Ark of the Covenant (1 Chr. 13:3).
Both the city and the house of Abinadad being located in the hills denote the necessity of being elevated and fruitful in the spirit - a great spiritual principle. These principles are conveyed in the name of the city Kirjath-jearim which in Hebrew means ?ity of the forests?and denotes fruitfulness. Now Abinadad means ?ather is noble?which denotes the glorification of the Father within us.
The Messiah fulfilled the Ark of the Covenant residing in Abinadad? house for twenty years by being in His ministry for 3 1/2 years or three June 6ths (6/6 A.D. 31, 6/6 A.D. 32, 6/6 A.D. 33; three Pentecosts). The fourth June six was the Day of Pentecost (6/6 A.D. 34) when the Holy Spirit was revealed to the Jews (Acts 2:1-4). [NOTE: Pentecost is 50 days from the Feast of First Fruits.] Thus, it was four Pentecost? (four June 6? or 4 x 50 = 200 or a 20 principle) from the beginning of the Messiah? ministry to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit which brought a change in the Law of Moses and ushered in the Age of Grace. [Note to the Reader: By dropping the zero from the ?0?for it is just a place holder, we get 5. So 4 Pentecosts or 4 times 5 = 20.]
So the twenty years the Ark of the Covenant was in Abinadad? house before King David moved it to Jerusalem correlates with a twenty year principle that the Messiah was in His ministry until Pentecost. This twenty years also points to the high priest serving only twenty years before he retired and Israel getting a new high priest.
What happened when King ?avid sent for the Ark and his servant was killed for touching it?
King David and great multitudes of Israel went to Abinadad? house in Kirjath-jearim, after twenty years, to get the Ark of the Covenant and bring it into the city of Jerusalem (1 Chr. 13:1-8). A new cart was built for the Ark and great multitudes of musicians played before it. Oxen pulled the Ark which sat upon the new cart. At one point the oxen stumbled causing the Ark of the Covenant to fall at a place called Nachon which in Hebrew means ?repared?(1 Chr. 13:9; 2 Sam. 6: 6-7). Uzza, a servant of David, put forth his hand to steady Ark and he was instantly killed by Yahweh for touching it (1 Chr. 13:10-11). It was against the Law to touch the Ark of the Covenant for any reason. Because of the death of his servant, King David became very displeased with and afraid of Yahweh.
What other things could not be touched?
King David? servant Uzza, touching the Ark of the Covenant and dying correlates with Eve touching the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and experiencing a spiritual death in the garden of Eden. After the resurrection the Messiah appeared in a vision to Mary and told her: ?..Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my Elohim (God), and your Elohim (God, John 20:17).?Mankind was touched 50 days later when the Holy Spirit revealed itself to the Apostles in Jerusalem (Acts 2:1-4; see "How did the tradition of 'laying on hands' begin?" in the "Did U Know" section of the March/April 1995 "PLIM REPORT").
Why Uzza, Eve, and Mary (the creatures or woman, in principle, not the creator; Isa. 54:5) were forbidden to touch the Ark, the tree, and the Messiah, respectively, is a mystery and has great spiritual importance. The obvious conclusion you may reach regarding these instances is that the people who touched the forbidden objects were disobedient, but there is a much deeper meaning.
What does the word ' touch' mean?
One of the definitions of the word 'touch' means: "to cause or permit a part of the body to come in contact with, so as to feel; to bring something into contact with (Webster's New World Dictionary)." We see from a physical standpoint that touch means to feel. This definition implies that we as creatures have the volition or power to know something about the physical environment through the nervous system. We can touch or feel suede material, for example, and understand something about its characteristics. But this is not so in the Spirit.
Why can't man touch Spirit?
It is the Spirit that touches man's consciousness or soul to reveal His power and spiritual attributes. Man does not have the power to touch Spirit or discern its characteristics with his limited mind (Rom. 8:6). When Moses, Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, along with the 70 elders of Israel, saw the Elohim's spiritual body in a vision, Moses wrote that Elohim "laid not his hand" upon them or did not touch them (i.e. Elohim didn't give them any understanding - Ex. 24:11). The creature or female was passive in this relationship and had to be quickened by the male.
Why was the ?rk placed in the house of Obed?
After David took the Ark of the Covenant from Abinadad? house, he put it in the house of Obed-edom, a gentile Gittite who was King David's bodyguard. The Ark remained there for 3 months (1 Chr. 13:9-10) and the house of Obed-edom was blessed.
When King David heard the Ark had brought blessings to Obed-edom? house, he called for the Ark to be brought to the City of David.
The Ark of the Covenant being a blessing in Obed-edom? house foretells that the Gentiles would be blessed with the Holy Spirit which took place seven years after the Jews received it on the Day of Pentecost. This was confirmed by the prophet Joel who stated: ?nd it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, ... (Jl. 2:28-29).?The Gentiles were grafted into the body of Elohim by the Apostle Peter going down to Cornelius?house (see Acts 10th chp.) and preaching unto them. Anyone who is conscious of the Holy Spirit within them is truly blessed (Eph 1:18; 3:16-22).
What does the Ark of the Covenant symbolize?
In conclusion, the reader should have received an understanding of what the Ark of the Covenant symbolically represents. Both the Ark and the brain in the head of the body typify the throne for the Spirit of Elohim, which is the Messiah. The Ark of the Covenant represents the mind or consciousness within the soul and the cloud above the Ark typifies the Holy Spirit revealing itself to man and leading and guiding him consciously or unconsciously. Remember, both angels on each end of the Mercy Seat looked into the cloud and typified the soul of man looking toward the Creator for guidance, direction, and inspiration.
Matthew wasn't implying anything. He was very explicit. Joseph didn't know Mary until Jesus was born.
Why did God command that images of cherubim be placed upon the Arc? How are those not graven images?
The Bible is clear, it is their thinking that is muddy. Pity that their pride blinds them.
"Unless you want to claim that Mary is the judge and the dispenser of Mercy..so is she your judge and is she your saviour?"
She is no more my judge and saviour than the Ark of the Covenant is my judge and saviour.
Your Plim man is confusing the created with the creator. The Ark was indeed the Holiest object of the Old Covenant, but nevertheless it was still a CREATED object and was not God Himself.
The Messiah is foreshadowed by what the Ark contained rather than the Ark. The Ark is therefore a type of what bore the Messiah - not the Messiah Himself. The Ark contained:
1) Stone Tablets - The Word of God
2) Manna - The Bread of life
3) Staff or Branch - The Branch that would spring from Jesse
Just as Mary bore the fulfilment of all these types in her womb!
St Luke clearly understands the Ark to be a type of Mary, and its contents to be types of the Messiah. Not only is Mary to be overshadowed by the Shekinah as was the Ark:
Lk1:35 "And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."
But Luke sets the account of the visitation entirely in the context of 2 Samuel 6 where David recovers the Ark. Compare the following:
2 Sam 2-3 "And David arose and went, with all the people that were with him and set out for Balaa of JUDAH...from the house of Abinadab on the HILL"
Lk 1:39 "And Mary rising up in those days, went into the HILL country with haste into a city of JUDAH."
2 Sam 6:9 "How shall the ark of the Lord come to me?"
Lk 1:43 "And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"
2 Sam 6:11 "And the ark of the Lord abode in the house of Obededom the Gethite three months"
Lk 1:56 "And Mary abode with her about three months"
2 Sam 6:14 And David danced with all his might before the Lord
Lk 1:44 "the infant in my womb leaped for joy"
If Luke had incorporated just one or two of these parallels it might have been a coincidence, but to have FIVE allusions to the Ark within just twenty verses is absolutely conclusive.
To assert that the Ark was a type of Jesus rather than Mary is to fail to understand that what the Ark contained was greater than the Ark itself - just as what Mary bore was far greater than Mary herself.