The document discusses the design and symbolism of ancient temples and the Temple in Jerusalem. It notes that temples were highly visible, audible, aromatic, and memorable sites that formed the center of society. The Temple provided a sense of identity, security, prosperity and responsibility for the community. It represented heaven on earth with distinct earthly, heavenly, and divine realms. The document then describes the design and furnishings of the Tabernacle, First and Second Temples in detail.

1. Reforming Worship
Heb 9:1-12

2. Ancient Temples Palaces of the gods

3. Carved out of Stone

4. Carved out of Stone

5. Carved out of Stone

6. Rising from the Earth

7. Rising from the Earth

8. Reaching to the Heavens

10. Signifying Life

11. Signifying Life

12. At least temporarily . . .

13. We probably cannot appreciate the
sensuousness (sensory-orientedness)
of ancient temple worship
• Highly Visible • Highly Audible
– Large – Corporate
– Ornate – Fervent
– Symbolic – Musical
• Highly Aromatic • Highly Memorable
– Pungent incense – Seasonal
– Smoke & blood – Sacred

14. The Temple Formed the Center of a Society
Provided a corporate view of reality – “heaven on earth”

15. Cosmic
Symbolism of
Temples in ANE

16. 3 “realms”
Earthly
Heavenly
Divine

17. The Temple Formed the Center of a Society
Provided a corporate view of reality – “heaven on earth”
Provided a corporate view of identity – “sons” of God
Provided a corporate view of security – appeasement
Provided a corporate view of prosperity – favor/blessing
Provided a corporate view of responsibility – avoid “sin”

18. The temple was a source of community pride,
demanding the best
of both materials and workmanship

19. Exodus 25:1-9
The LORD said to Moses,
"Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a
contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you
shall receive the contribution for me. And this is the
contribution that you shall receive from them:
• Gold, silver, and bronze,
• Blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen,
• Goats' hair, tanned rams' skins, goatskins,
• Acacia wood,
• Oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the
fragrant incense,
• Onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the
breastpiece.
And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their
midst.

20. Exodus 31:1-6
The LORD said to Moses,
"See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son
of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him
with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence,
with knowledge and all craftsmanship,
• to devise artistic designs,
• to work in gold, silver, and bronze,
• in cutting stones for setting,
• and in carving wood,
• to work in every craft.
And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son
of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to
all able men ability, that they may make all that I have
commanded you:

25. Heb 9:1-6
Now even the first covenant had regulations for
worship and an earthly place of holiness. . . .
“regulations” – divine ordering w/ strength of law
“earthly place of holiness” – “Tent of Meeting”
(b/w Heaven & Earth)
6 These preparations having thus been made, the
priests go regularly into the first section, performing
their ritual duties,

27. • Laver called the “Sea” (in Solomon’s temple, it
was held on the back of 12 oxen – 4 sets of 3
facing each corner of globe, with animal and
plant life [along w/ cherubs] carved into bowl)
• Altar was to be made of uncut stone or “earth”
• Outer courtyard signified earth & sea and all
peoples whom God created for His worship
• Furniture in outer courtyard provided initial
ritual cleansing, preparing for deeper access and
more meaningful fellowship

28. Heb 9:2
2 For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which
were the lampstand and the table and the bread
of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place.

31. According to G. K. Beale . . .
• The seven lights of the candlestick may represent the hosts of
the heavens (which are referred to in Gen 1 five times by the
unusual term, “lights” – the term is used only 10 other times in
the Pentateuch, each with reference to the lights of the
lampstand in the tabernacle)
• Drawing upon the number of lights (7), Vern Poythress also
suggests these signify the heavenly hosts, which Gen. declares
to be indicators of time (which, for Israel, was geared around
the number “7” – 7th day a Sabbath, 7th month for atonement,
7th year a Sabbath, after 7th cycle of 7 years came the Jubilee)
• Thus, whereas the outer courtyard signified the earthly
domain of God’s creation, it seems that the inner court may
signify the heavenly realm – it is from this vantage point that
the curtain may be viewed, spangled with cherubs guarding
God’s immediate presence

32. Heb 1:1-12
3 Behind the second curtain was a second section
called the Most Holy Place, 4 having the golden altar
of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on
all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn
holding the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded,
and the tablets of the covenant. 5 Above it were the
cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat.
Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

34. The altar of incense was not in
the Most Holy Place, but its
placement immediately outside it
(Exo 30:6) signifies a direct
correlation. Thus, the author of
Hebrews associates this piece of
furniture with the Most Holy
Place. According to Beale, the
cloud formed by the incense may
have been meant to provide a
protective veil to God’s glory as
the high priest entered directly
into His presence. It provided
the “sweet aroma” in
conjunction with the sacrifice. In
Rev. 5:8 & 8:4, the prayers of the
saints are likened to the incense
of God’s presence.

35. As in heaven, cherubim
surround God’s footstool as
guardians of His presence
(cf. Rev 4:6-8 / Ezek 1)
The Ark of the Covenant, with
its covering Mercy Seat, form
the “footstool” of God’s
throne-room, without any
representation of His throne,
which remains in the heavens
(cf. 1 Chron 28:2 / Isa 66:1).
Thus, this inner sanctum
represents the throne-room of
God – separate from, yet ruling
over His creation.

37. Solomon’s Temple

38. 1 Kings 6
18 The cedar within the house was carved in the form of
gourds and open flowers. All was cedar; no stone was
seen. 19 The inner sanctuary he prepared in the
innermost part of the house, to set there the ark of the
covenant of the LORD. 20 The inner sanctuary was twenty
cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high,
and he overlaid it with pure gold. He also overlaid an
altar of cedar. 21 And Solomon overlaid the inside of the
house with pure gold, and he drew chains of gold across,
in front of the inner sanctuary, and overlaid it with gold.
22 And he overlaid the whole house with gold, until all
the house was finished. Also the whole altar that
belonged to the inner sanctuary he overlaid with gold.

39. 1 Kings 6
28 And he overlaid the cherubim with gold. 29 Around
all the walls of the house he carved engraved
figures of cherubim and palm trees and open
flowers, in the inner and outer rooms. 30 The floor
of the house he overlaid with gold in the inner and
outer rooms. 31 For the entrance to the inner
sanctuary he made doors of olivewood; the lintel
and the doorposts were five-sided. 32 He covered
the two doors of olivewood with carvings of
cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers. He
overlaid them with gold and spread gold on the
cherubim and on the palm trees.

42. Zerubbabel’s Temple
Who is left among you who saw this
house in its former glory?
How do you see it now?
Is it not as nothing in your eyes?
Hag 2:3

43. Herod’s Temple

44. Herod’s Temple

47. Ezekiel’s Temple

48. Ezekiel 46:9
When the people of the land come before the
LORD at the appointed feasts, he who enters by
the north gate to worship shall go out by the
south gate, and he who enters by the south
gate shall go out by the north gate: no one shall
return by way of the gate by which he entered,
but each shall go out straight ahead.
i.e., All worshipers must make
provision to be impacted by the
entirety of the temple complex

49. Ezekiel’s Temple

50. Ezekiel’s Temple

51. Ezekiel’s Temple

52. Ezekiel’s Temple

53. Ezekiel’s Temple

54. Ezekiel’s Temple

55. Ezekiel’s Temple

56. Ezekiel’s Temple

57. Exodus 25:9
Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern
of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so
you shall make it.

58. Rev. 4

59. Heb 9:6-10
6 These preparations having thus been made, the
priests go regularly into the first section, performing
their ritual duties, 7 but into the second only the high
priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without
taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the
unintentional sins of the people. 8 By this the Holy
Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is
not yet opened as long as the first section is still
standing 9 (which is symbolic [literally, “a parable”] for
the present age).
According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are
offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the
worshiper, 10 but deal only with food and drink and
various washings, regulations for the body imposed
until the time of reformation.

60. Heb 9:6-10
6 These preparations having thus been made, the
priests go regularly into the first section, performing
their ritual duties, 7 but into the second only the high
priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without
taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the
unintentional sins of the people. 8 By this the Holy
Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is
not yet opened as long as the first section is still
standing 9 (which is symbolic [literally, “a parable”] for
the present age).
According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are
offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the
worshiper, 10 but deal only with food and drink and
various washings, regulations for the body imposed
until the time of reformation. “Restructuring/Re-ordering”

61. Heb 9:11-12
11 But (!) . . .
when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good
things that have come, then through the greater
and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that
is, not of this creation)

62. Heb 9:11-12
11 But (!) . . .
when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good
things that have come, then through the greater
and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that
is, not of this creation)
12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not
by means of the blood of goats and calves but by
means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal
redemption.

63. Heb 9:24
For Christ has entered, not into holy places
made with hands, which are copies of the true
things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in
the presence of God on our behalf.

64. And it is from this vantage point
He bids us . . .

65. “Draw near!”

66. So, what does this mean for us?
Worship of the God of all reality is a matter that is
carefully regulated by God – demanding not our
leftovers (of time or resources), but our very best
Worship of the one true God properly reshapes and
orders our concept of reality (lifting it beyond the
“lower” portions of God’s cosmos)

67. This is why,
The most significant thing we can do
is to worship well.

68. So, what does this mean for us?
Worship of the God of all reality is a matter that is
carefully regulated by God – demanding not our leftovers
(of time or resources), but our very best
Worship of the one true God properly reshapes and
orders our concept of reality (lifting it beyond the
“lower” portions of God’s cosmos)
Jesus’ coming does not erase or eradicate the significance
of all God used to “picture” the process of bringing
Heaven and Earth together – instead, it elevates it (that
is, we should want to learn more about it, not dismiss it)
In Christ, worship today is not so much about Heaven
penetrating the reality of Earth, as it is about Earth
penetrating the reality of Heaven – The Son has come to
make us “sons”!

69. Is this your reality?
What are you doing with it?
Because . . .
Everyone to whom much is given,
of him much will be required.
– Luk 12:48