There are certain questions that arise as to the contents of the ancient ark in the Mosaic or earthly tabernacle, and it is not easy to resolve them, when one takes into consideration Biblical and extra-Biblical data, also the counsels of Ellen G. White. However, let us observe the following items and then seek to draw some conclusions.
I. There are some things that are revealed.
1. That the Decalogue is on tables of stone in the heavenly sanctuary.From the Ellen G. White writings we read: The Lord gave me a view of the heavenly sanctuary. . . . Jesus raised the cover of the ark, and I beheld the tables of stone on which the ten commandments were written.—Life Sketches, p. 95. Also Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 76. (Italics supplied)
When the temple of God was opened in heaven, the ark of His testament was seen. Within the holy of holies, in the sanctuary in heaven, the divine law is sacredly enshrined,—the law that was spoken by God Himself amid the thunders of Sinai, and written with His own finger on the tables of stone.—The Great Controversy, pp. 433, 434. (Italics supplied.)
2. That the original set of tables is in heaven, . a transcript of which was placed in the Mosaic, or earthly, tabernacle,That law is just as Jehovah wrote it in the temple of heaven. Man may trample upon its copy here below, but the original is kept in the ark of God in heaven; and on the cover of this ark, right above that law, is the mercy seat. Jesus stands right there before that ark to mediate for man.—The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Ellen G. White Comments, on Ex. 31:18, p. 1109. (Italics supplied.) The law of God in the sanctuary in heaven is the great original, of which the precepts inscribed upon the tables of stone, and recorded by Moses in the Pentateuch, were an unerring transcript.—The Great Controversy, p. 434. (Italics supplied.)
3.That the ark containing the two tables of the earthly sanctuary has been hidden and remains hidden.
Before the temple was destroyed, God made known to a few of His faithful servants the fate of the temple, which was the pride of Israel, and which they regarded with idolatry, while they were sinning against God. He also revealed to them the captivity of Israel. These righteous men, just before the destruction of the temple, removed the sacred ark containing the tables of stone, and with mourning and sadness, secreted it in a cave where it was to be . . no more restored to them. That sacred ark is yet hid. It has never been disturbed since it was secreted.—Spiritual Gifts, vol. 4, section 1, pp. 114, 115 (1864); The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, p. 414 (1870); The Story of Redemption, p. 195. See Prophets and Kings, p. 453 (1917). (Italics supplied.)
4.That in the Temple of Solomon there was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone" (1 Kings 8:9; see 2 Chron. 5:10). (See further under Section III.)
With these factors in mind we begin to explore the subject and perhaps arrive at some conclusions—some based on revelation, some perhaps in the nature of deductions.
II. There are some things that are not revealed.
1. There is no Biblical record that Aaron's rod and the pot of manna in the ark were in the Temple of Solomon; the record states that "nothing" was in it but the two tables of stone. (1 Kings 8:9; 2 Chron. 5:10.)
2. There is no actual Biblical record that either of these two items was in the ark in the Mosaic tabernacle. The texts before referred to in Kings and Chronicles would indicate this. Note the language: "There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone."
We might also note an extra-Biblical record. Josephus remarks:
In this ark he [Moses] put the two tables whereon the ten commandments were written.— Josephus Antiquities,
3. Notice now the English translations of Exodus 16:33, 34, and Numbers 17:10. And it is well to notice the Biblical statements regarding the "pot of manna."
On Exodus 16:33, 34:
K.J.V.—"Lay it up before the Lord."—v. 33. "Laid it up before the Testimony."—v. 34.
R.S.V.—"Place it before the Lord."
"Placed it before the Testimony."
See also Jewish Bibles by Jewish Publication Society, Hebrew Publishing Company, Kalisch, Friedlander Bible (Jerusalem).
Knox—"Leave it to lie in the presence of the Lord."
"Left the jar to lie in the tabernacle
where it was to be kept."
There may be some comments by Ellen G. White on this matter, but so far we have discovered nothing. Another commentator, M. Kalisch, remarks:
"The vessel with the manna, occupied thus a most significant place in the holy tabernacle" (Exodus, p. 303).
As to the significance of the expressions "before the Lord" and "before the Testimony" see "Some Conclusions," Section V.
Numbers 17:10:
K.J.V.—Aaron's rod was placed "before the testimony."
Hertz—"Before the testimony—i.e., in front of the ark that contained the two tables of the Testimony."—Pentateuch and Haftorah, p. 644.
Josephus—"These rods Moses laid up in the tabernacle of God."—Josephus Antiquities, iv. 4.2.
Regarding Aaron's rod Ellen G. White says in Patriarchs and Prophets, page 403, "It was shown to the people, and afterward laid up in the tabernacle as a witness to succeeding generations."
"This wonderful rod was preserved to be frequently shown to the people to remind them of the past. to prevent them from murmuring, and again calling in question to whom the priesthood rightfully belonged."—Spiritual Gifts, vol. 4, section 1, pp. 35, 36.
III. There are some things that might be presumed.
1. The pot of manna and the rod of Aaron might have been placed temporarily in the ark later, but as already seen, there is no record that this was ever done. On this the Cambridge Bible remarks:
Rabbis like Levi ben Gershom and Abarbanel had certainly no desire to vindicate the accuracy of the Epistle of the Hebrews, and yet they say that the pot and the rod were actually at one time in the ark, though they had been removed from it before the days of Solomon."—Cambridge Bible, on Hebrews 9:4.
2. Ellen G. White mentions in Early Writings, page 32, when referring to the sanctuary in heaven, that—"in the ark was the golden pot of manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of stone."
Inasmuch as the foregoing data indicates that originally, neither the "pot" nor the "rod" were in the ark in the tabernacle in the wilderness, but if there at any time, were added later, and seeing they were not in the Temple of Solomon, and were not in the heavenly sanctuary when Moses was given the pattern from which to build, a reasonable conclusion, it seems, is that those two items were transferred from earth to heaven, in the same way that the Garden of Eden was transferred. (See Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 62).
IV. Further items that are revealed.
1. The tables of stone will be brought forth and exhibited to the inhabitants of earth.
The Holy Spirit traced these truths upon my heart and mind as indelibly as the law was traced by the finger of God, upon the tables of stone, which are now in the ark, to be brought forth in that great day when sentence will be pronounced against every evil„ seducing science produced by the father of lies."—Colporteur Ministry, p. 126. (Italics supplied.)
When the judgment shall sit, and the books shall be opened, and every man shall be judged according to the things written in the books, then the tables of stone, hidden by God until that day, will be presented before the world as the standard of righteousness.—The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Ellen G. White Comments on Ex. 51:18, p. 1109. (Italics supplied.)
2. That the tables of the Decalogue will be exhibited twice:
a. Just before the Second Advent.
In describing what takes place immediately after the first six of the seven last plagues have fallen, and just before the falling of the seventh and the second coming of Christ, Ellen G. White says:
While these words of holy trust ascend to God, the clouds sweep back, and the starry heavens are seen, unspeakably glorious in contrast with the black and angry firmament on either side. The glory of the celestial city streams from the gates ajar. Then there appears against the sky a hand holding two tables of stone folded together. Says the prophet, "The heavens shall declare His righteousness: for God is judge Himself." That holy law, God's righteousness, that amid thunder and flame was proclaimed from Sinai as the guide of life, is now revealed to men as the rule of judgment. The hand opens the tables, and there are seen the precepts of the decalogue, traced as with a pen of fire. The words are so plain that all can read them. —The Great Controversy, p. 639.
b. At the close of the millennial period.
In describing the final coronation of Christ and the final judgment Of men at the close of the millennium, the same writer says:
As if entranced, the wicked have looked upon the coronation of the Son of God. They see in His hands the tables of the divine law, the statutes which they have despised and transgressed. They witness the outburst of wonder, rapture, and adoration from the saved; and as the wave of melody sweeps over the multitudes without the city, all with one voice exclaim, "Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints": and falling prostrate, they worship the Prince of life.—Ibid., pp. 668, 669. (See The Story of Redemption, pp. 425, 426.)
From a careful study of the above statements one can hardly come to a definite decision as to which of the two tables, the original or the transcript, will be held in Christ's hands at that time.
V. Some conclusions.
1. Concerning the expressions "Before the Lord" and "Before the Testimony."
a. In ancient days not only Aaron's rod but the rods of all the tribes were laid up "before the testimony" (Num. 17:2, 4). It is the same Hebrew expression used with reference to Aaron's rod. It is also the same Hebrew expression in Exodus 16:33, 34—"before the Testimony" which is the equivalent of "before the Lord."
b. Still further, other items are stated to have been "before the Lord," such as:
The altar Lev. 4:18; 16:18
The table Lev. 24:6
The sacrifices Num. 6:16; 2 Sam. 6:17
The incense 1 Kings 9:25
It must be recognized that these could be "before the Lord" and yet not in the sacred ark.
Ellen G. White states that God said this to Moses concerning the rods:
"Thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony. . . .
"Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be ept for a token." . . .
This wonderful rod was preserved to be frequently shown to the people to remind them of the past.—Spiritual Gifts, vol. 4, section I, pp. 35, 36.
"Thou shalt lay them [the rods] up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony." . . .
"And Moses laid up the rods before the Lord in the tabernacle of witness. . .
"Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token." . .
This wonderful rod was preserved to be frequently shown to the people, to remind them of the past.—The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, pp. 305, 306.
d. Extra-Biblical testimony.
Kalisch in his commentary says, "The vessel with the manna occupied a most significant place in the tabernacle."—Exodus, p. 505.
e. Inasmuch as we are considering Aaron's rod and where it was placed, it seems clear that this was not placed in the ark in olden days, and the expression "before the testimony" could not mean that, for if it does, then the rods of the other tribes were also in the ark, for they were "before the testimony."
The various English translations agree in the thought of "wherein" indicating that the writer's idea was that the pot and the rod were in or inside the ark. The Greek expression used is en-he, and it should be noted that en is variously rendered in the New Testament. While it is translated "in" 1,863 times, it is also rendered "at" 106 times, "by" 142 times, et cetera.
Still further, it should be mentioned that the Old Testament references in Hebrews are mainly from the Septuagint and it is interesting to observe the prepositions used in Exodus and Numbers with reference to where the "pot" and the "rod" were placed in the tabernacle. These are as follows:
In Exodus 16:33. "Before the Lord" enantion too Theou.
In Exodus 16:34. "Before the Testimony" enantion ton marturiou.
In Numbers 17:4. "Before the Testimony" katenanti tou marturiou.
In Numbers 17:7. "Before the Lord" enanti
In Numbers 17:9. "Before the Lord" prosopou Kupiou.
In Numbers 17:10. "Before the Testimony" enopion tbn rnarturiOn.
There are naturally various shades of meaning in these words, but in the main they have the same meaning. For the prefixes kata and pros, the lexicons give such meanings as: over against, in the presence of, down over against, opposite, at the point over against, toward, at, before, in front of.
*b. The reference in Hebrews 9:4 is obviously to the Mosiac tabernacle and not to the Temple of Solomon, but, as we have already seen, here is no data in either the Bible or the Spirit of Prophecy writings to show that either the pot or the rod were ever in the earthly Temple.
c. Paul's reference can be understood then, we believe, in the light of the data expressed in the excerpt from the Cambridge Bible (see Section III.1), that these two items were put there, for a time, subsequent to the erection of the tabernacle by -Moses, and before the erection of Solomon's Temple.
Another thing should be observed, and that is that Ellen G. White does not state that they were in the ark of the Mosaic or earthly sanctuary; what she does state is that she saw them in the heavenly sanctuary (See Early Writings, p. 32). This can be understood as indicated in Section 111.2.
3. That the tables of the Law will be revealed and brought forth from their hidden place is clear, but this will be an act of God and not man.
a. It will be done:
"In the great day when sentence will be pronounced."
"When the judgment shall sit." (See Section IV.1.)
b. From a study of the closing chapters of The Great Controversy, one would gather that the revelation of the tables of stone will be on at least two separate occasions—just prior to the Second Advent and at the close of the 1,000-year period. (See Section IV.)
The excerpts in Section IV seem to apply particularly to the Second Advent and the millennium, one evidently being a reference to Daniel 7:10, which we usually think of as the investigative judgment which began in 1844, and closes just before the Second Advent. However, up to now there has been no spectacular revelation of the tables of the law, and even as late as 1917 (see Section 1.5) Ellen G. White mentions that the tables that were in the ark of Solomon's Temple were hidden where Jeremiah secreted them. From the data on this section we conclude:
1. That the tables of the law to be used in the work of the investigative judgment are those in the ark of the heavenly temple, because those pertaining to the earthly sanctuary are still secreted arid undisturbed.
2. That the paragraphs from the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy in reference to the tables of stone being exhibited before mankind, do not reveal which of the two sets, the original or the transcript, will be in the hands of the Saviour when they are shown to men.
Referring to Hebrews 9:4, Ellen G. White comments: "The sanctuary to which Paul here refers was the tabernacle built by Moses at the command of God, as the earthly dwelling-place of the Most High."—The Great Controversy, p. 411.
