What the Bible says about Altar, The
(From Forerunner Commentary)

Malachi 1:6 When this was written, it was directed at the priesthood of Aaron. The priests were coming under God's castigation here justifiably. God is creating a kingdom of priests, so we can extract things from this that are applicable to us. If we will take the warning that is contained here, it will very greatly affect the way that we use and keep His Sabbath. What we are talking about here is disrespectful service that the priests—those closest to the sacred things—were performing before God. This is applicable to us because there is no one on earth that is closer to God in serving Him than His own people, His own sons and daughters. This is a warning to be careful that we are not defiling the Sabbath—treating it as common and giving Him disrespectful service. John W. Ritenbaugh The Fourth Commandment (Part 4) Related Topics: Altar | Altar, The | Defilement | Defilement of Sabbath | Disrespect | Disrespectful Service | Priesthood, Royal | Priests, Function of | Sabbath Keeping | Sabbath, Defiling | Sabbath, Keeping Holy | Sabbath, Keeping Properly | Sabbath, Profaning

Matthew 27:50-51 Consider the general layout of the Tabernacle in the wilderness as well as the Temple in Jerusalem. Both basically were the same. As one approached its front, the first object encountered would be the altar of sacrifice, the brazen alter by which atonement was made. The Hebrew word translated as atonement means "by which we draw near." In other words, by sacrifice, represented by the brazen altar, we draw near to God, seeking Him. After the brazen altar comes the laver. It could be described as being like a big bathtub. Here a person was to wash himself before proceeding any farther. Once inside the sanctuary, light came from the candelabra, representing Christ as the Light of the World, as well as the light of God's truth spread from activity of the seven churches. On the table was the shewbread, representing Christ as the Bread of Life. Directly in front of one who entered the Holy Place, past the table of shewbread, stood the altar of incense, representing the prayers of the saints. Barring one's way into the Holy of Holies, into the very presence of God, was the veil. Once behind it, a person would be before the Mercy Seat, in the very presence of God. The veil being torn apart at Christ's death symbolizes that a personal relationship with God can be established. The way had been opened by the sacrificial death of our Savior. This intimate relationship with God is the key to our being transformed from glory to glory (II Corinthians 3:18). If we cannot enter God's presence, if we are far away, there is not much hope of transformation. This is why the Bible so frequently urges us to seek God. Seeking God is part of "dressing and keeping" the relationship, helping it to grow. This close relationship is vital to increasing the Holy Spirit in us. John W. Ritenbaugh The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part Seven) Related Topics: Altar | Altar of Incense | Altar of Sacrifice | Altar, The | Atonement | Brazen Altar | Bread of Life | Bread, Symbolism of | Christ as the Bread of Life | Christ as the Light of the World | Dress and Keep | God's Holy Spirit | Holy of Holies | Holy Place | Holy Spirit | Incense | Incense as Prayer | Jesus Christ as the Bread of Life | Menorah | Mercy Seat | Prayer | Prayer as Incense | Relationship with Christ | Relationship with God | Seeking God | Seven Candlesticks | Seven Churches of Revelation | Seven Lamps | Showbread | Tabernacle | Tabernacle, Layout of | Veil

Revelation 6:9 After Christ opens the fifth seal, the apostle John sees "under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held" (verse 9). No galloping horses or deadly riders appear in this seal, and their absence immediately sets this one apart from the previous four. There is no inviting, "Come and see," or expectant, "And I looked, and behold," but just a plain narrative describing his vision. In fact, the tone is so matter-of-fact as to be somber, befitting its subject. The first striking detail is "the altar" with the definite article. That it is not further defined suggests that it has already been mentioned or that the reader is expected to know what it is. However, this verse contains the first mention of an altar in the book of Revelation. An altar is mentioned an additional seven times in the book, and in six of them, it refers to the golden incense altar that stands before the throne of God in heaven (see Revelation 8:3-5; 9:13; 14:18; 16:7). The only exception to this appears in Revelation 11:1, in which John is told to "measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there," seeming to refer to evaluating the church, its ministers, and its worship in preparation for the work of the Two Witnesses. The "altar" of Revelation 6:9, with the prayerful souls of martyrs under it, conforms to the rule, not the exception. Richard T. Ritenbaugh The Fifth Seal (Part One) Related Topics: Altar | Altar, The | Fifth Seal | Judgment on House of God | Martyrdom | Measuring the Temple | The Altar | Two Witnesses

 

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