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The Story of Redemption
gold. It was ornamented with crowns of gold round about the top.
The cover of this sacred chest was the mercy seat, made of solid
gold. On each end of the mercy seat was fixed a cherub of pure, solid
gold. Their faces were turned toward each other and were looking
reverentially downward toward the mercy seat, which represented
all the heavenly angels looking with interest and reverence upon the
law of God deposited in the ark in the heavenly sanctuary. These
cherubs had wings. One wing of each angel was stretched forth on
high, while the other wing of each angel covered his form. The ark
of the earthly sanctuary was the pattern of the true ark in heaven.
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There, beside the heavenly ark, stand living angels, at either end
of the ark, each with one wing overshadowing the mercy seat, and
stretching forth on high, while the other wings are folded over their
forms in token of reverence and humility.
In the earthly ark Moses was required to place the tables of stone.
These were called the tables of the testimony; and the ark was called
the ark of the testimony, because they contained God’s testimony in
the Ten Commandments.
Two Apartments
The tabernacle was composed of two apartments, separated by a
curtain, or vail. All the furniture of the tabernacle was made of solid
gold, or plated with gold. The curtains of the tabernacle were of a
variety of colors, most beautifully arranged, and in these curtains
were wrought, with threads of gold and silver, cherubim, which were
to represent the angelic host, who are connected with the work of
the heavenly sanctuary and who are ministering angels to the saints
upon the earth.
Within the second vail was placed the ark of the testimony, and
the beautiful and rich curtain was drawn before the sacred ark. This
curtain did not reach to the top of the building. The glory of God,
which was above the mercy seat, could be seen from both apartments,
but in a much less degree from the first apartment.
Directly before the ark, but separated by the curtain, was the
golden altar of incense. The fire upon this altar was kindled by the
Lord Himself, and was sacredly cherished by feeding it with holy
incense, which filled the sanctuary with its fragrant cloud day and
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