Aaron found himself standing at the Altar of Incense again. Last time he thought it was his time to enter into the Holy of Holies, but the Lord still had more to teach him in the Holy Place. But He promised him that if he were ready next time He comes to him, He would take him through the veil…
Aaron, holding his breath, stood before the veil with the Golden Altar in his hands. He knew that the Mercy Seat he was about to see on the other side of the veil is the point of contact between God and man. Therefore, he had to be careful that he did everything according to the rules, lest the great power of God’s radiance hurt his flesh. The Lord had instructed him in this very precisely. Armed with the basin of blood from the Outer Court, the fire on the Altar of Incense from the Holy Place, and the Altar of Incense with the censer hanging by his side, Aaron made his way through the veil.
What a glory! He had never seen anything like that in his whole life! The presence of God filled the whole place. It was very different from what he had experienced so far. The Lord had always been by his side, speaking to him, teaching him. But now, He revealed His glory! Aaron’s heart almost stopped beating. Godly fear came upon him. Will he be able to stand such glory?
As thoughts were quickly running through Aaron’s mind, he heard the well-known Voice speak again, “Aaron, don’t be afraid of My presence. You have found grace in my sight and I want to reveal to you the things of the Holy of Holies. You see, this is the place where I reveal Myself to man.”
Aaron felt much better now. Yet, the glory was so powerful! Suddenly, he saw the Bible that had been with him through most of his Tabernacle experience and heard the Lord say, “Aaron, read the Word.” He found it open to Exodus 25 and began to read the highlighted verses 17- 22, And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
“See, Aaron,” the Lord continued to instruct His young friend, “the Mercy Seat is the only piece of furniture in the Tabernacle made of pure gold without any other substance as a complement. This gold signifies that it is My pure nature which will now bring forth the last and final act of perfection within man. The Mercy Seat represents the overshadowing of My Spirit over a believer as well as the Church.”
The Lord mentioned to Aaron several times that the Mercy Seat signified His overshadowing. Aaron understood that it was a very important piece of information, yet he was not sure he understood it correctly. The Lord, knowing his thoughts, began to explain it further to him.
“Aaron, do you remember what you learned in your history lesson about people going through much tribulation and suffering?”
Aaron knew exactly what the Lord was asking. “Yes, Lord,” was his quick response. His countenance changed. He became very sad as he remembered World War II which is what he had just been learning about. So many people died in those battles! He also remembered Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the cities where the first atom bombs fell and killed so many lives. However, he heard a few testimonies about those who were miraculously protected in the midst of destruction.
“Even more difficult times and greater tribulation will come upon this earth, Aaron,” the Lord said. “You can read about it in Matthew 24. It won’t be long and all the verses of this chapter will be fulfilled. But as you consider these things, remember what Psalm 91:1 says, He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I always keep My people in the midst of trouble. This is what the Mercy Seat speaks about. This is what My overshadowing means. When you see destruction on every side, hide in Me. Verse 7 says, A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Do not turn to the left nor to the right, but walk with Me and hide under My shadow so that you will be hidden in My secret place in the troubled days to come.”
“Oh, Lord,” Aaron thought in his heart, “hide me from the evil that is coming!” He was determined to walk in the straight path of the Lord so that he would be found under the shadow of His wings.
How about you, young reader? Have you ever thought about where are you going to be found when the trouble comes on this earth?
Answer the following questions to see how well you understood this chapter:
- What does the Mercy Seat look like?
- What is the Mercy Seat made out of? What does it symbolize?
- Why do we have to be overshadowed by the Holy Spirit?
- Which Psalm speaks about hiding in God’s secret place?