Sh'mot 25:10-12 "And they shall construct an ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. And you shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and you shall make a gold molding around it. And you shall cast four gold rings for it, and fasten them on its four feet, and two rings shall be on one side of it and two rings on the other side of it.
The four rings are symbolic of where Yeshua was fastened to the execution stake by the spikes driven through His two feet and two wrists. Totaling four holes.
Sh'mot 25:13-14 And you shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry the ark with them.
The poles are symbolic of the execution stake. He was victorious through death and through this act. Chessed (kindness) is offered to mankind, this reaps eternal benefits. The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.
Mattityahu (Matthew) 9:37-38 Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the L-rd of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."
Sh'mot 25:15-22 The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be removed from it. And you shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you. And you shall make a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide. And you shall make two cherubim of gold; make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat. And make one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at its two ends. And the cherubim shall have their wings spread upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings and facing one another; the faces of the cherubim are to be turned toward the mercy seat. And you shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony which I shall give to you. And there I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel.
The real cherubim and mercy seat are above. We see a picture of this in Ezekiel Chapter One.
Yechezk'el (Ezekiel) 1:4-14 And as I looked, look, a storm wind was coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing forth continually and a bright light around it, and in its midst something like glowing metal in the midst of the fire. And within it there were figures resembling four living beings. And this was their appearance: they had human form. Each of them had four faces and four wings. And their legs were straight and their feet were like a calf's hoof, and they gleamed like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides were human hands. As for the faces and wings of the four of them, their wings touched one another; their faces did not turn when they moved, each went straight forward. As for the form of their faces, each had the face of a "MAN", all four had the face of a "LION" on the right and the face of a "BULL" on the left, and all four had the face of an "EAGLE" (Nesher). Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above; each had two touching another being, and two covering their bodies. And each went straight forward; wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go, without turning as they went. In the midst of the living beings there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches darting back and forth among the living beings. The fire was bright, and lightning was flashing from the fire. And the living beings ran to and fro like bolts of lightning.
Yechezk'el (Ezekiel) 1:26 Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne, like lapis lazuli in appearance; and on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man.
You may want to read this enlightening chapter in Yechezk'el that describes these creatures. We may, L-rd willing, get to this scroll at a later time, but I will now briefly reveal how the cherubim represent and point to Yeshua.
Yechezk'el (Ezekiel) tells us that the cherubim have an appearance of a man. This represents our Messiah Yeshua's human nature. It also corresponds to the scroll of Luke where we see His human nature.
Yechezk'el (Ezekiel) describes a face of a lion. This of course points us to Yeshua's kingship. He is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah. This attribute is revealed in the scroll of Mattityahu (Matthew) His Kingship is the main theme.
Yechezk'el (Ezekiel) also describes a face of a "nesher" or unclean bird. This represents Yeshua's deity. We touched on how HaShem and Yeshua described themselves as a bird with wings protecting their young. A bird can see a long distance and is symbolic of His all-seeing eyes and He is all knowing. (Omniscience) Why is He described as an unclean bird? (Ex. 11:13) This symbolizes the Holy Son of the Father taking upon Himself our sins. The scroll that corresponds and illustrates Yeshua's Deity is the scroll of Yochanan (John).
The final face that Yechezk'el (Ezekiel) describes is the face of an ox, which represents His servant-hood. The scroll of Mark focuses on this aspect of Yeshua's character.
Philippians 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you which was also in Yeshua HaMashiach who, being in the form of G-d, did not consider it robbery to be equal with G-d, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the execution staff. Therefore G-d also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Yeshua every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Yeshua HaMashiach is L-rd, to the glory of G-d the Father.
See THE ARK OF THE COVENANT - illustration also located there.
Sh'mot 25:23-30 "And you shall make a table of acacia wood, two cubits long and one cubit wide and one and a half cubits high. And you shall overlay it with pure gold and make a gold border around it. And you shall make for it a rim of a handbreadth around it; and you shall make a gold border for the rim around it. And you shall make four gold rings for it and put rings on the four corners which are on its four feet. The rings shall be close to the rim as holders for the poles to carry the table. And you shall make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, so that with them the table may be carried. And you shall make its dishes and its pans and its jars and its bowls, with which to pour libations; you shall make them of pure gold. And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times.
A table of food reminds us of fellowship. Often when we get together with family and friends our time together is centered on eating a meal together. HaShem desires for us to spend time with Him. The following passage teaches us that Yeshua is the door to Fellowship with the father and He wants to come in to our lives and dine with us.
Revelation 3:20 Look, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.
The bread on the table represents Yeshua, who is the "bread of life".
Yochanan (John) 6:33-35 "For the bread of G-d is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world." They said therefore to Him, "L-rd, evermore give us this bread." Yeshua (Jesus) said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
The bread on the table was changed on a weekly basis and the priests would eat this bread. This symbolized G-d's provision for the believer.
Mattityahu (Matthew) 4:4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of G-d.'"
How do we have true fellowship with HaShem? First, we must accept Yeshua as our Mashiach. Then we need to regularly spend time in reading the word of G-d and praying.
See The Table
Sh'mot 25:31-40 "Then you shall make a menorah (lampstand) of pure gold. The menorah and its base and its shaft are to be made of hammered work; its cups, its bulbs and its flowers shall be of one piece with it. And six branches shall go out from its sides; three branches of the menorah from its one side, and three branches of the menorah from its other side. Three cups shall be shaped like almond blossoms in the one branch, a bulb and a flower, and three cups shaped like almond blossoms in the other branch, a bulb and a flower-- so for six branches going out from the menorah; and in the menorah four cups shaped like almond blossoms, its bulbs and its flowers. And a bulb shall be under the first pair of branches coming out of it, and a bulb under the second pair of branches coming out of it, and a bulb under the third pair of branches coming out of it, for the six branches coming out of the menorah. Their bulbs and their branches shall be of one piece with it; all of it shall be one piece of hammered work of pure gold. Then you shall make its lamps seven in number; and they shall mount its lamps so as to shed light on the space in front of it. And its snuffers and their trays shall be of pure gold. It shall be made from a talent of pure gold, with all these utensils. And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which was shown to you on the mountain.
You also see the presence of the Shekinah glory. This too is mentioned in Ezekiel Chapter One.
Yechezk'el (Ezekiel) 1:13-14 In the midst of the living beings there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches darting back and forth among the living beings. The fire was bright, and lightning was flashing from the fire. And the living beings ran to and fro like bolts of lightning.
This symbolizes the movement of Ruach HaKodesh. The middle lamp represents the Messiah. The fourth candle represents Him. He came in the flesh in the fourth Millennium to be a servant to mankind. He is the "Door" for mankind to enter to receive eternal salvation. He declares Himself the first and the last.
Yesha'Yahu (Isaiah) 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
Revelation 1:12-18 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden menorahs; and in the middle of the menorahs I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. His "FEET" were like burnished "BRONZE", when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength. When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and look, "I AM ALIVE" forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Shoal.
The menorah reminds us that where G-d dwells there is light.
Yochanan (John) 8:12 Again therefore Yeshua (Jesus) spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; He who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life."
Yeshua is the light of the world. Ruach HaKodesh indwells the believer in Yeshua. We are referred to as children of the light.
Just as the priests in the tabernacle needed to trim the lamps of the Menorah on a regular basis, we are to continually keep our lives in check with HaShem. Not allowing any corruption to creep into our lives. We are to be "His Emissaries" here on earth and need to conduct ourselves accordingly.
Ephesians 5:8-14 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the L-rd. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the L-rd. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Messiah (Christ) will give you light."
Philippians 2:14-16 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of G-d above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Messiah (Christ) I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.
See THE MENORAH- illustration also located there.