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ARK OF THE COVENANT
Typology
Typology Types And Shadows Pointing Ahead And Revealing God’s Glory Men in the Old Testament who prefigured Christ
are called
types
of Christ. Christ is the “anti-type” or the
“archetype” the One in whom they prefigured and the
One in whom is found complete and infinite perfection.
Christ is the new Moses who leads us out of the bondage of sin.
He is the new Solomon, the true Son of David. David, the
King of Israel, is a type of Christ. In the Old Testament we
also find him crushing Satan’s head.
Ark in the New Covenant
Revelation 11:19
This had to have been a startling declaration by John. The much longed for Ark had not been seen in centuries. 2 Maccabees 2:5 The Ark was treasured by the Israelites because it was a place of prayer to the One True God. It symbolized His power and glory, but we read in 2 Maccabees 2:5 that Jeremiah had hidden the Ark. So, when John records in the Book of Revelation - also called Apocalypse which literally means the unveiling - his vision of heaven that he had seen the Ark up in heaven the Jewish people must have been ecstatic to read that. The Ark had been hidden and lost for hundreds of years. At this point John immediately records visions of lightning, thunder, and earthquakes. This is John’s special effects to let us know that something really spectacular is about to happen. If John had been making a modern day movie of this Book we probably see the best computer graphics and special effects ever because John is about to reveal who this Ark is up in heaven. See, there were no chapter separations in the original Books of the Bible. Chapter and verse numbers were added hundreds of years later. So the Book of Revelation Chapter 11:19 flows right into Chapter 12 verse one.
The Ark was holy because of what it contained. Within it was placed the Manna that Moses and the Israelites collected in the desert. It also had the Budding Staff of Aaron which symbolized his high priesthood, and the Tablets upon which were written the Ten Commandments. See Hebrews 9:3-4 All of these also symbolized and pointed toward Jesus Christ. He is our Heavenly Bread come down from heaven, John 6, our eternal High Priest, Hebrews 7-9, and the Word of God made flesh, John 1. Jesus was conceived in Mary’s womb and lived there for nine months. Therefore, Mary is the Ark of the New Covenant. That is why when John says he sees the Ark of the Covenant after the description of the special effects John proclaims that he sees a woman, the mother of the Christ child.
Revelation 11:19 - 12:17 Because Mary was saved by God's grace from the first moment of her Immaculate Conception she was spared the curse of original sin. (Genesis 3:16) The pangs of birth is a reference to the pains she willingly undertook in becoming the mother of all the beloved disciples. (John 19:26) Jerusalem had been the center of religious worship of the One True God. So, King David had the Ark of the Old Covenant brought up to Jerusalem. Therefore, it is only fitting and proper that Jesus, the King of Kings, brought Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant, up to Heaven. And this is what John saw in his heavenly vision.
The Book of Revelation is about New Testament fulfillment. It
is about the consumption, the apocalypse, … the Revelation of all
things.
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Ark in Luke’s Gospel In his Gospel Luke points to Mary as being the new Ark. He draws many parallels in his passages about Mary with how the Old Testament speaks about the Ark. 2 Samuel 6:2
Luke 1:39
2 Samuel 6:9
Luke 1:43
2 Samuel 6:11
Luke 1:56
To have blessed knees means to be made fruitful with offspring. Elizabeth, being advanced in age, had a high risk pregnancy. 2 Samuel 6: 14, 16
Luke 1:44 2 Samuel 6:21-23
Luke 1:46-48
Also see Agape Bible Study Chart |
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Chronicles 13:9-10 The Ark was consecrated to God. It was not to be touched because God is so holy. Thus we can see that it is proper and right that Mary, the new Ark of the Covenant, would also be “untouched” and a perpetual virgin because God within her womb is even more holy that what was in the Old Testament Ark. The Ark is powerful. Cf. Fall of Jericho Joshua 6: 1-20
Old Testament Prefigures Christ’s Ascension into Heaven Along with His Ark
Psalm 132:4-8
Genesis 3:14-15 The seed, or offspring, of Satan is the manifestation of sin and death, but the triumph of Jesus Christ defeated both of these. See Romans 5:12-21, Hebrews 2:14-15. Therefore, it is most appropriate that Jesus would triumph over the power and influence of Satan in a most complete way throughout all time in a particular person. Jesus shows His power over Satan in the person of Mary. The Assumption of Mary into heaven by the power of Jesus Christ shows the ultimate triumph of Jesus over Satan, who brought sin, and death.
Coronation of Mary at Vatican |
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Also See:
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| Does God get jealous when we study what the Bible teaches about Mary or the Ark of the Covenant ? No. See Jealousy ?
Proof that Catholics clearly teach to worship only God and not to worship Mary
Also see Steve Ray's article on the Ark, (offsite article.) |
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