THE SANCTUARY -- A TRUTH LOST SIGHT OF
Chapter 4 - THE COURT - Part 3
The Sum --The Spirit, the Water, and the Blood
Introduction
-
Contents
- Introduction Part A
- Introduction Part B
- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3
- Chapter 4
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 6
The court entrance was of similar material, make-up, and colors (though inferior) as that which was the entrance to the sanctuary. Exodus 26:36. The sanctuary was placed in the middle of the court, with its door to the east. All of the vessels and furniture in the court were made of brass. Exodus 27:19. These were:
- 1. The altar of burnt offerings which was close to the door of the tabernacle, and was used for blood sacrifices.
- 2. The laver which was between the door of the tabernacle and the altar of burnt offerings. The laver contained water which was used by the priests for cleansing before going to the altar or entering the sanctuary. Exodus 40:29-33. The court can be summed up as the enclosed open space around the tabernacle, which contained the altar - blood sacrifices, and the laver - container with water.
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Purpose
- 1. The court was a preparatory step before entering the tabernacle or ministering at the altar. The priests prepared in the court for entering the tabernacle. Exodus 40:30-32.
- 2. Confession of sins was made in the court, beside the altar. Leviticus 1:4; 4:4.
- 3. Sins were confessed by the laying of hands on the head of the victim. Leviticus 1:4.
- 4. The sacrificial offerings were slain in the court. Leviticus 1:2-5.
- 5. Cleansing from all defilement was carried out at the laver in the court. Exodus 30:18-20.
The Court of Solomon's Temple
King Solomon was the king given permission by God to build Him a house or temple. When he built the temple, the court took on a new dimension. Two courts were introduced. These were:
- 1. The inner or higher court. 1Kings 6:36; and
- 2. The outer or great court. 1Kings 7:12.
The measurements of both courts were the same.
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The Inner Court
The inner court was primarily for the priests. 2Chronicles 4:9. But it was also used by the people during worship. 2Chronicles 23:5; Jeremiah 19:14; 26:2. Someone who was not of Israel could not go into the inner court. We have the example of the Greeks who came to visit Jesus near the close of His ministry, and they could only go in as far as the outer court. They sent a message to Jesus that they wanted audience with Him. Jesus had to go out to them to minister to them. John 12:20-23.
It is of significance that the inner court is called the higher court as seven steps were used to ascend from the outer court to the higher court. Ezekiel 40:26; Jeremiah 36:10. In a particular sense we can call them the lower and the higher courts, or they can also be called the outer and the inner courts. Their purpose was primarily for worship. The congregation always assembled in the inner court for worship. Let us now look at an example of the inner and outer court for the sanctuary above.
"The church of God below is one with the church of God above. Believers on the earth and the beings in heaven who have never fallen constitute one church. Every heavenly intelligence is interested in the assemblies of the saints who on earth meet to worship God.
In the inner court of heaven they listen to the testimony of the witnesses for Christ in the outer court on earth, and the praise and thanksgiving from the worshipers below is taken up in the heavenly anthem, and praise and rejoicing sound through the heavenly courts because Christ has not died in vain for the fallen sons of Adam.
While angels drink from the fountainhead, the saints on earth drink of the pure streams flowing from the throne, the streams that make glad the city of our God. Oh, that we could all realize the nearness of heaven to earth! When the earthborn children know it not, they have angels of light as their companions.
A silent witness guards every soul that lives, seeking to draw that soul to Christ. As long as there is hope, until men resist the Holy Spirit to their eternal ruin, they are guarded by heavenly intelligences. Let us all bear in mind that in every assembly of the saints below are angels of God, listening to the testimonies, songs, and prayers. Let us remember that our praises are supplemented by the choirs of the angelic host above." 6T 366.
The use of the term 'inner court' with the sanctuary above is a function in connection with worship, and notice that worship above seems to coincide with ours. What a privilege it is to have the angels above, join us and supplement our praise before the throne of God. The spirit of prophecy has also used the outer court to represent the earth.
The Outer Court
All kinds of evil took place in the outer court. 2Chronicles 24:17-21; Ezekiel 8:1-18. In the days of Jesus, this outer court had been transformed into a worse condition. The court was now a market place, where animals were sold to the people at immense profits, for offering up sacrifices. All of these were carried out where only worship should have been taking place. O what evils had now taken over the compound of God.
THE NEW COVENANT - Place
What is this outer court where blood sacrifices were to be made, and where washings with water were carried out? First, only one sacrifice was necessary to save us, and this has been accomplished in Jesus. Hebrews 9:25,26. But the question above can be asked another way. Where is this place that contains blood and water? Earth. 1John 5:4-8. Verse 8 tells us "And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water and the blood: and these three agree in one." Notice where the water and the blood bear witness. In earth.
"Our great High Priest completed the sacrificial offering of Himself when He suffered without the gate. Then a perfect atonement was made for the sins of the people. Jesus is our Advocate, our High Priest, our Intercessor.
Our present position therefore is like that of the Israelites, standing in the outer court, waiting and looking for that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ....Type met antitype in the death of Christ, the Lamb slain for the sins of the world. The great High Priest has made the only sacrifice that will be of any value." 7 BC 913.
The water -- the laver; the blood -- the altar, and both furniture containing the spirit in the court of earth. The text did not just say 'water and blood'. It said "the spirit, and the water and the blood". The altar had fire burning in it -- a representation of the Holy Spirit. The laver always contained water for cleansing -- a representation of the Holy Spirit through the word, or in the word for cleansing.
Both furniture possessed the Holy Spirit. The specific application of the water and blood is to Christ. "This is He that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ;..." 1 John 5:6 first part. That is why Christ told Nicodemus: "...Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." John 3:5 Except a man be washed with the laver of the word and then placed on the blood altar where the fire of the spirit is, he is not born again. The water represents the Word of God.
"If you were on the moon looking down on earth, you would see that 71 percent of the surface of our planet is water. The other 29 percent is land. Everything is a microcosm of a macrocosm. If you go deeper into the planet and look at the animals of the class Mammalia, you will find out that our bodies are 70 percent water, at least!...From the moment you are born until the last breath you take, your body is craving this essential of life. You must have water for survival." Fit For Life, by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond.
Man is at least 70% water composition. When Jesus died, blood and water came forth from His body. John 19:34. Jesus was a real flesh and blood human being. He took our form, He took our nature. He was made like us for the suffering in the flesh unto death, for you and me. That word above is saying that this is a witness borne in the court of the earth. The concentration in the court is on humanity--that which is composed of blood and water. This brings us to an extended understanding of the court rather than being defined as merely the earth.
THE NEW COVENANT -- Person
A careful study of the sanctuary in its relation to the court, reveals that there is another dimension, a dual dimension to our understanding of 'outer court' and 'inner court'. We now quote for you part of the same passage which was used in Part A.
The courts of the temple at Jerusalem, filled with the tumult of unholy traffic, represented all too truly the temple of the heart, defiled by the presence of sensual passion and unholy thoughts. In cleansing the temple from the world's buyers and sellers, Jesus announced His mission to cleanse the heart from the defilement of sin, -- from the earthly desires, the selfish lusts, the evil habits, that corrupt the soul." DA 161.
This is the work of the laver. The laver of the word of God, which carries the water of the spirit was to cleanse from all defilement and contamination caused by sin. How do we prepare for our daily pursuits and interacting with one another? The word of God, the truth of God must be brought into the inner court, thus cleansing the soul temple.
"Let us make diligent efforts to serve God. We need to reach a higher standard. The truth must not be kept in the outer court. Bring its principles into the inner sanctuary of the soul. Make Christ the guide of every action. Separate from the soul all selfishness. Hate it; for it is the destroyer of peace and godliness.
"Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him." The grace of our Saviour is the grand, healing influence which conforms the life to the life of God." RH 1901-07-02.
Why do we need to bring the truth into the inner sanctuary?
"The grace of God has been viewed from the outer court. It is the Lord's purpose to rend away the veil. The revelation of His own glory in the form of humanity hid in Christ will bring heaven so near to men that the beauty adorning the inner temple will be seen in every agent in whose heart Christ abides.
Hearts will be captivated not by the glory of the man, but by the inward adorning of an abiding Christ. It is the revelation of Christ in the man that captivates the hearts of men and women. They behold the beautiful character of Christ, revealed by good works." Manuscript Release Volume Twenty-one, page 47.
The Trial in the Outer Court
The passage in 1John 5:8 tells us "And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one." These three--the spirit, the water and the blood are now witnesses, and these witnesses are found in one, even Jesus Christ.
If the laver of the word, and the altar of sacrifice are witnesses, then there must be a trial. For witnesses are only needed in court, at a trial. What is this trial? "Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried;" Daniel 12:10. The trial we face is the same that Jesus experienced during His earthly sojourn.
"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life,..." James 1:12. But if Christ was tried in this flesh, the apostle Peter tells us we should not count it strange that we too are tried in this flesh. "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you:" 1Peter 4:12-14.
These flesh and blood bodies of ours are the outer court which keeps us on trial day and night. The "sensual passion and unholy thoughts, the evil desires, the selfish lusts, the evil habits which corrupts the soul" are all within our flesh, and therefore our own body temple presents the greatest trial of our faith.
But Christ endured that trial, and He Himself is witness for us, as we behold His testimony. It is no wonder that the apostle John saw that the final generation possessed 'the testimony of Jesus Christ'. Listen now to the testimony--the words of Jesus. John 16:33; John 17:1,2,14-20.
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world." John 16:33.
"I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them." John 17:14-22, 26.
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