The Three Arks of Salvation

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Short Summary
The discourse explores three biblical “arks of salvation”: Noah’s Ark, Moses’ ark of bulrushes, and the Ark of the Covenant, examining their physical characteristics, historical contexts, and deeper symbolic meanings. Each ark serves as a vessel of divine protection and salvation—Noah’s Ark preserving life through the flood, Moses’ ark saving him from Pharaoh’s decree, and the Ark of the Covenant representing God’s presence and eternal covenant with His people. Together, these arks illustrate God’s overarching plan of salvation centered on Christ, highlighting themes of deliverance, faith, and divine providence throughout history.

Long Summary
Detailed Summary: The Three Arks of Salvation

Introduction and Overview
– The discourse explores three significant “arks” mentioned in Scripture: Noah’s Ark, Moses’ Ark (the basket), and the Ark of the Covenant (also called Ark of the Testimony).
– These three arks are vessels of salvation with natural similarities and profound spiritual (antitypical) meanings in God’s plan of salvation.
– The study follows seven investigative steps: context and individuals, definitions, physical characteristics, events and saved individuals, natural similarities, antitypical meanings, and their unified picture in salvation history.

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### 1. Noah’s Ark (Genesis 6:14–9:18)

Context & Individuals
– Noah was righteous, blameless, and walked with God (Genesis 6:9).
– Eight people saved: Noah, his wife, their three sons (Shem, Ham, Japheth), and their wives.
– During 1654 years from Adam’s fall to the flood, angels were tested for loyalty; they failed, leading to judgment.
– God gave 120 years warning before the flood (Genesis 6:3).
– God’s covenant with Noah included entering the ark with his family (Genesis 6:18).

Definitions & Physical Details
– “Noah” means “rest.”
– “Ark” (Strong’s #8392) means box or vessel.
– Dimensions: Length 300 cubits, breadth 50 cubits, height 30 cubits (Genesis 6:15-16).
– Cubit length debated: common 18 inches or ancient cubit 21.88 inches.
– Approximate size: 450 ft long × 75 ft wide × 45 ft high (if 18 inches).
– Construction: made of gopher wood (likely cypress), coated inside and out with pitch (asphalt/tar) for waterproofing.

Contents & Use
– Pairs of every living creature, including birds, animals, and creeping things.
– Seven pairs of clean animals and birds.
– Food stored for all aboard.
– Ark floated on floodwaters, carried by currents and wind.
– Outside ark, death prevailed; inside, salvation.

Spiritual Significance
– Literal ark of salvation protecting God’s creation.
– 1 Peter 3:20 references God saving eight people through water.
– Number eight symbolizes newness and new beginning.
– Noah and family represent the Church preserved through tribulation (Reprint 3757).
– The pitch covering antitypically means atonement, reconciliation, and redemption price (Strong’s #3722 and #3724).

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### 2. Moses’ Ark (Exodus 2:1-10)

Context & Individuals
– Pharaoh decreed death of Hebrew baby boys.
– Jochebed (Moses’ mother), Amram (father), Miriam (sister), Pharaoh’s daughter, and her servants involved.
– Moses’ name means “drawn out of water” (Hebrew) and “sun” (Egyptian).
– Jochebed hid Moses for three months before placing him in an ark made of bulrushes (papyrus), covered with slime and pitch to waterproof it.
– Miriam watched from afar.
– Pharaoh’s daughter found Moses and adopted him.

Definitions & Physical Details
– “Ark” (Strong’s #8392) same as Noah’s ark: box or vessel, often translated “basket.”
– Made of bulrushes (Strong’s #1573), a plant used for baskets and boats.
– Covered with pitch (different word than Noah’s ark, meaning liquefied asphalt).
– Designed for a baby; likely rectangular, with a lid for protection.

Use & Salvation
– The ark floated on the Nile River, carrying Moses safely.
– Symbolizes divine providence and human faith/planning.
– Moses saved physically, but also providentially to become Israel’s deliverer.
– Parallels with Jesus’ infancy: saved from death decree; Jesus fled Egypt similarly.
– Nile was a river of death but became a place of salvation for Moses.

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### 3. The Ark of the Testimony / Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:10-22; Numbers 7:89; 10:33; 1 Chronicles 15)

Context & Construction
– Commanded by God to Moses to build.
– Rectangular wooden chest (acacia wood) overlaid with gold.
– Dimensions: 2.5 cubits long (45 inches), 1.5 cubits wide and high (27 inches).
– Four gold rings on corners to hold poles for carrying.
– Covered with a pure gold Mercy Seat with two cherubim; divine presence manifested as light between cherubs.
– Weight estimated at minimum 650 pounds.

Contents
– Golden pot of manna (symbolizing divine provision and immortality).
– Aaron’s rod that budded (symbolizing priesthood).
– Two stone tablets of the Law (symbolizing righteous judgment).

Carrying
– Carried by six Levites on their shoulders using poles (1 Chronicles 15:11-15).
– Priests sanctified themselves but did not carry.
– God empowered the Levites to carry the heavy ark.

Name Changes & Significance
– Initially called Ark of the Testimony (witness).
– Later called Ark of the Covenant (pledge sealed by sacrifice).
– Called simply “Ark” during Philistine captivity.
– Returned and reinstated as Ark of the Covenant under King David (1 Chronicles 15:28).

Events & Testimony
– Central in crossing the Jordan River (Joshua 3-4).
– Jordan parted at ark’s presence; 12 stones taken from under priests’ feet as memorial.
– Symbolizes God’s presence, covenant, and salvation.
– The ark’s role as a “coffin” or vessel of gathering aligns with resurrection and final salvation.
– The Jordan River’s name means “descender” symbolizing death and resurrection.

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### Natural Similarities of the Three Arks

– All rectangular in shape.
– Constructed of wood.
– Had lids or covers.
– Coated/sealed — Noah’s and Moses’ with pitch, Ark of the Covenant with gold.
– Associated with water:
– Noah’s and Moses’ arks floated on water.
– Ark of the Covenant carried through parted waters of the Jordan.
– Two represent salvation through waters of judgment.
– Both Noah and Moses chosen as leaders to bring God’s people to safety.
– The New Testament uses the word “ark” for both Noah’s ark and the Ark of the Covenant.
– The Ark of the Covenant resembles a coffin; Levites as pallbearers picture the Church’s role in salvation.

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### Antitypical Meanings (Spiritual Pictures)

Noah’s Ark
– Represents Christ and the Church lifted above tribulation.
– God reigning as King even during judgment (Psalm 29:10).
– Covered with pitch = covered by atonement, reconciliation, and ransom (Strong’s 3722 & 3724).

Moses’ Ark
– Moses as a type of Christ (saved from death decree).
– Protection and providence led by human faith and divine care.
– The river as a place of death turned into salvation.
– Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan parallels Moses’ ark in the Nile.
– Moses’ name means “drawn out of water,” symbolizing resurrection and salvation.

Ark of the Covenant
– Represents Christ and the glorified Church (head and body).
– The Mercy Seat is justice satisfied through Christ’s sacrifice.
– The golden crowns and rings symbolize Christ as King and the Church as His bride.
– The items inside symbolize priesthood (Aaron’s rod), law (tablets), and life provision (manna).
– Crossing the Jordan with the ark symbolizes death, resurrection, and entering the promised rest.
– The 12 stones memorialize the faith journey of the 12 tribes / faithful.

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### Conclusion and Theological Significance

– All three arks portray God’s protection of His people at critical times:
– Noah’s Ark during the flood judgment.
– Moses’ Ark during Egyptian oppression.
– Ark of the Covenant during wilderness wandering and entry into the promised land.
– Satan’s attempts to thwart God’s plan were overcome.
– Jesus Christ is central: the ultimate ark of salvation.
– Salvation is only found in Jesus (Acts 4:12).
– God’s plan involves redemption, preservation, and ultimate restoration of mankind.
– 1 Timothy 2:4 affirms God desires all to be saved.
– The three arks together reinforce God’s sovereignty, providence, and love throughout salvation history.

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Selected Bible Verses Cited:

– Genesis 6:14-16; 6:18; 6:3; 9:18
– Exodus 2:1-10; 25:10-22; 16:32; 31:26; Numbers 7:89; 10:33; 17:8
– 1 Peter 3:20
– 1 Chronicles 15:11-15, 28
– Joshua 3:15; 4:3, 9
– Psalm 29:10
– Acts 4:12
– 1 Timothy 2:4

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This comprehensive study reveals how these three arks—Noah’s Ark, Moses’ Ark, and the Ark of the Covenant—serve as powerful symbols and vessels of God’s salvation plan, each illustrating different aspects of divine protection, faith, covenant, and ultimate redemption through Jesus Christ.

Transcript

The Three Arks of Salvation the inspiration for our topic came from our Orlando class study in Tabernacle Shadows, in which we examined the details of the Ark of the Covenant. When we think of the word ark, two arks naturally come to mind Noah’s Ark and the Ark of the Covenant. However, the there is a third arc that often goes unnoticed. Today we’ll examine how the Scriptures describe these three vessels of salvation and whether there are connections and antitypical meanings that give us a broader understanding of the subject. I’m sure many of you realize what the third ark is, but for those who haven’t, you’ll have to wait just a little bit longer before it’s revealed.

Our approach today will include the following steps. 1 We’ll examine the context and the individuals involved with each arc 2 we’ll explore specific definitions 3 we will analyze the shapes, dimensions and construction materials 4. We’ll consider the actual events and those who were saved. 5. We will describe the natural similarities of the three arcs 6 we’ll consider the antitypical meanings or pictures attributed to each ark and 7 we will conclude with the similarities of what the three arcs picture in God’s plan of salvation.

1. Noah’s Ark the account of Noah’s ark is found in Genesis 6:14 through Genesis 9:18 Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. He was righteous and blameless in his time. Noah walked with God. God established a covenant with Noah because of his faith.

There were a total of eight people who were involved with this ark Noah, Noah’s wife, their three sons, and their wives. Brother Maguson explained in his notes. During the 1654 years that began with Adam’s fall and ended with the flood, God allowed all the holy angels to interact freely with humanity, ultimately serving two 1. God would permit the angels to see to what extent their influence would help to preserve humanity from degradation or or to uplift them out of sinful ways. This way, it will never be claimed in the future that the work of Christ in redeeming the world could have been accomplished by anyone other than him and by his kingdom and its work.

But the angels failed miserably. 2. It was the divine purpose for all the angels to undergo a test regarding their loyalty to the divine will. This was intended to reveal both the loyal and the disloyal among them. That test had its intended effect.

God pronounced judgment on the fallen angels because sin and evil had gotten so out of control. He gave them only 120 more years before he purged the earth with the flood. Genesis 6:3 In Genesis 6:18, it tells us about the covenant between God and Noah. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall enter the ark, you and your sons and your wife and your sons wives with you. A total of eight people.

Let’s define the words Noah and Ark. The name Noah means rest. The word ark is Strong’s number, 8392, and it means a box or a vessel. Now, for the size and shape and other details of the ark, let’s read Genesis 6:15 and 16. The length of the ark, 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits and its height 30 cubits.

You shall make a window for the ark and finish it to a cubit from the top. God said to Noah, set the door of the ark in the side of it. You shall make it with lower second and third decks. God also said to make many rooms. There is an ongoing debate about the exact length of a cubit.

A cubit is literally defined as the distance from a man’s elbow to his fingertip, making this measurement somewhat subjective. The most common theory suggests that a cubit is 18 inches long. While Brother Russell proposes and reprint 3934 using the ancient cubit, which measures 21.88 inches. So if a cubit is 18 inches, the arc would have been approximately 450ft long, 75ft wide and 45ft high. Now, if the cubit was 21.88 inches, the ark would have been 537ft long, 91ft wide and 54ft high.

Simply stated, the ark was a huge rectangular vessel. Next, what were the materials used to make the ark? It was made of gopher wood, most likely from the cypress tree. Noah was told to cover it with pitch, meaning coat the ark inside and out with asphalt or tar. We know that the purpose of pitch was to coat or waterproof the vessel.

What was inside of the ark? The Scriptures tell us in Genesis 6:19, 21, and of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark to keep them alive with you, and they shall be male and female of the birds after their kind, and of the animals after their kind, and every creeping thing of the ground after its kind. Two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive.

As for you, take for yourselves some of all food which is edible and gather it to yourselves, and that shall be food for you and for them. In addition, Noah was told to bring seven male and seven female of the clean animals and clean birds. How was the ark Carried? Well, it was carried by water and pushed by currents and winds. Sadly, death happened outside the ark all around them.

How was the ark? Literally? An ark of salvation. God protected all of his creatures, birds, reptiles and animals, and most importantly, Noah and his family were saved in the ark by God’s providence.

First Peter 3:20 tells us God saved the eight people and brought them safely through the water. The number eight in the Scriptures represents newness. So God’s plan was for eight people to repopulate the earth and begin anew. Now let’s reveal this mystery ark. This is the ark that saved Moses at three months old.

Number two, Moses in an ark. The story of Moses starts in Exodus 2:1 10. The Pharaoh of Egypt had decreed that all the Hebrew baby boys were to be put to death at birth and cast into the Nile river. But when Jochebed Moses mother gives birth, she decides to hide her son. Let’s read how she hid Moses in Exodus 2:2 5.

And the woman Jochebed conceived and bear a son, and when she saw that he was a goodly or beautiful child, she hid him three months, and when she could no longer hide him, she took him from an ark. She took for him an ark of bulrushes and dubbed it with slime and with pitch, and she put the child therein and laid it in the flags by the river’s brink of the Nile river.

And his sister Miriam stood afar off to know what would be done to him, and the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, and her maidens walked along the riverside, and she saw the ark among the flags and sent her handmaiden to fetch it. So who were the individuals involved in this account?

Well, Moses. Moses, Father Amram, Moses, Mother Jochebed, his sister Miriam, and Pharaoh’s daughter and her servants. Moses. Name in Hebrew means drawn out, that is from water. In Egyptian, Moses means sun.

An ark vessel and divine providence. I love this. McClintock and Strong’s defines the name Jochebed as Jehovah is her glory.

The Nile river is also named the Black river because of its dark sentiment. For the Hebrew boys it was a river of death and darkness. But brother Russell shares his thoughts in reprint 3987. To hide the child for three months must have been quite a task, especially when the law respecting infants was known. Improbably a reward offered for the detection of those evading it.

At last it was necessary for the mother to part with the babe, and the ark or basket made of bulrushes was prepared and overspread on the outside with pitch to keep it dry with the babe therein. It was placed near the bank of the river against the rushes which would prevent it from floating down the stream and hide it from the curious.

Many Bible translations say Moses was placed in a basket. Let’s find out what this word actually means. It is Strong’s number 8392 and it means an ark, a box or a vessel. The lexicon defines it as an ark, a vessel or basket. The text doesn’t provide specific dimensions for the ark.

However, we know that it was designed to hold a three month old child and it was capable of floating on water. I envision it as a rectangular bassinet shaped to fit the baby. Additionally, verse 6 indicates the Ark had some sort of lid for protection.

So what about the materials used for this ark? Verse 3 says it was made of bulrushes. That’s not a word we hear often. Strong’s number 1573 meaning an absorbent, that is bulrushes, specifically papyrus. Now papyrus was also used for making boats, cords, sandals, baskets, and for writing or painting on.

Again, verse three tells us outside of the ark was dubbed or smeared with pitch. This word for pitch is different from the one used in Noah’s ark. This word for pitch means to liquefy asphalt. Well, what was put inside this ark? Moses, who was wrapped in swaddling clothes to keep him from moving around, which kept him safe.

I appreciated this comment from brother Frank Shalhou’s notes on the Bible. When Jochebed put Moses in the ark, she was turning him over to the Lord’s care. But in addition, she had a plan as proven by her putting the ark in the reeds to prevent it from going downstream. Her intention or strategy was to have the babe discovered by Pharaoh’s daughter, who was accustomed to bathing at that spot. Obviously the family had prayed about the baby and placed the ark in the reeds with great forethought.

How carefully and prayerfully the ark must have been made. Jochebed had wisdom and much faith. By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents because they saw he was a proper child and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.

How was the ark of Moses carried? Well, it was carried by water pushed by currents and wind, similar to Noah’s Ark. How was the ark literally an ark of salvation? Well, the baby Moses was saved from Pharaoh’s edict to kill all male Jewish newborn babies. But not only was Moses literally saved in the ark, but think about it.

God also providentially saved him so he could become the Savior of the Israelites in the future.

Our third ark is the Ark of the Testimony. The account begins in Exodus 25:10, 22, when God asked Moses to build the Ark of the Testimony. In the Most Holy there was but one piece of furniture, the Ark. It was a rectangular box made of wood overlaid with gold. It had gold crown molding.

Around the top of the box, four golden rings, two on both sides. At the feet or base of the Ark. They made two poles or staves of wood overlaid with gold and slid them into the rings. It had a litter cover of pure gold called the Mercy Seat. Upon it were two cherubs of gold.

Upon the Mercy Seat, a supernatural light appeared shining out between the cherubim, representing the Divine presence. This was the only light in the Most Holy, and that’s all found in tabernacle shadows, page 17. The word ark is Strong’s number, 727, and it means in a sense of gathering a box, chest or coffin.

I find it interesting that when you look at the Ark without the Mercy seat, it looks very similar to a fancy decorative coffin, as the definition stated more on that later. This Ark was made of wood which came from the acacia tree. Now let’s talk measurements. Based on an 18 inch cubit, the ark measured 27 inches wide, 27 inches high and 45 inches long. In speaking with Brother David Stein about the tabernacle, he did a lot of math to estimate the weight of the Ark of the Testimony.

And the minimum he came up with of weight would have been £650. That’s on the minimum scale what was put inside the ark. Within the Ark, under the Mercy Seat were placed the golden bowl of Manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the two tables of the Law. How was the Ark carried? Well, it was pretty heavy.

So how many Levites or priests carried the ark? This is what I found in 1st Chronicles 15:11, and it tells us that David called for two priests and six Levites. Verse 15 clarifies who carried the Ark. It says, and the children of the Levites carried the Ark of God on their shoulders using the staves, just as Moses had commanded according to the word of Jehovah. So the priests were not mentioned as carrying the ark.

The priests were there to sanctify themselves and the Levites for this service. So I counted a total of six Levites carried the ark of the testament. Now verse 26 tells us God helped the Levites that bear the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah. So with that kind of weight we can see how important that was.

So in this example it seems pretty clear that six Levites carried the Ark. Now let’s look for another possible proof that there were six that carried the ark. In Joshua 4 we reach the pivotal moment when Israel is finally about to enter the promised land after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. This event marks the fulfillment of God’s promise to bring his people into Canaan. On the day Israel was to cross the Jordan river, the priests were instructed to carry the Ark of the Covenant.

As they stepped into the river, God miraculously parted the waters, allowing the entire nation of Israel to pass through. On dry land, God commanded Joshua to select one man from each of the 12 tribes of Israel. These 12 men were told to go to the spot in the middle of the Jordan where the priests were standing and take a stone from beneath the priest’s feet. These stones were then carried back to the shore and used to build a memorial, serving as a lasting reminder of God’s miraculous intervention for future generations. Joshua 4:3 makes a specific tell them take 12 stones from the very place where the priests are standing in the middle of the Jordan.

This draws our attention to the location where the priests feet were planted. If we consider that there were six priests standing in the river and each has two feet that totals 12ft. Thus the 12 stones were taken from under the 12ft of the six priests, so providing a second indication that six individuals were carrying the Ark. Why was the Ark named the Ark of the Testimony? Well the Strong’s word for testimony means witness.

So it was both a testimony and and a witness.

The inscription on the tablets of the law kept inside of the Ark began with I am Jehovah, thy God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage. This serves as God’s testimony or witness to the people, affirming that he is the great Deliverer. God provided the tablets of the Law for their well being. As well as appointing Aaron’s family to serve as priests pictured by the rod that budded. He also provided manna for food which sustained the Israelites during their time in the wilderness.

Here’s an interesting question, and it jumped out at me when I was going through the young’s concordance. Why did the name of the Ark of the Testimony change?

The Ark of the Testimony started in Exodus 25:10 and ended in Numbers 789. Then it was changed to the Ark of the Covenant which begins in Numbers 10:33 and goes to 1st Samuel 4, 5. Next it was simply called the Ark between 1st Samuel 5:6 and 1st Chronicles 15:27, and finally it was called the Ark of the Covenant once again from 1st Chronicles 15:28 through Jeremiah 6:3,16. Now we know when the name changed.

But why did it change from testimony to covenant? Because the Ark went from a witness, the Ark of the Testimony, to the Ark of a pledge, the Ark of the Covenant. The word covenant is Strong’s number 1285, which means in the sense of cutting a compact, because it was made by passing between two pieces of flesh. This word covenant is a serious pledge as it pictures a blood sacrifice, a life taken to keep this covenant. The first time the Ark was called the Ark of the Covenant was the very first time the Israelites moved the Tabernacle from the wilderness of Sinai.

This event occurred shortly after they observed the Passover for the first time since leaving Egypt. The date when the cloud rose above the Tabernacle, signaling that the Israelites needed to pack up for the journey, was one month and six days after they had partaken of the Lamb. This delay was necessary because those who were considered unclean and they had to wait 30 days to partake of the Passover in addition to the feast week. God is so precise on the date that they left, and there were certain men that saw or touched a dead corpse and they could not partake of that first Passover, and that’s why they had to wait that extra 30 days.

Thought that was interesting.

Next, the Ark was simply called the Ark, and you know why? It’s because the Philistines captured it in battle. That makes sense. Because the Philistines had no covenant with God.

It wasn’t until David brought the Ark back to Jerusalem that that it once again was called the Ark of the Covenant. Let’s read 1 Chronicles 15:28. Thus, all Israel brought up the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah with shouting and with sound of the coronet and with trumpets and with cymbals sounding aloud with salt trees and the harps.

After all the different name changes that I just mentioned, the name Ark of the Testimony appears one more isolated time, and it was a significant event and served as a witness to the people, which helps explain why it was called the Ark of the Testimony. In this final instance, we see this account again in Joshua when we talked about the 12 memorial stones. It was one of those testimony moments in time, a witness to the nation, the memory of stepping foot in the Promised land. For the very first time will never be forgotten.

It will be passed down as a witness from generation to generation. Well, after reviewing these three arks of salvation, now let’s take a look at the natural similarities of the three arks. All the arks were shaped in a rectangular shape. All the arks were made with wood. All the arks had lids.

All the woods had a coating. They were either sealed vessels with pitch or with gold. All the arks were somehow involved with water. Both the arks of Noah and Moses were carried on the water. The Levites carried the Ark of the Testimony through the parted water of the Jordan River.

Here are some other observations. There were two vessels of salvation through waters of judgment. They were preserved through water. Noah and Moses were chosen to lead God’s people to safety. The New Testament word for ark is used both for Noah’s Ark and the Ark of the Covenant.

Since one of the definitions for ark was a coffin, I picture the Levites or priests as pallbearers. More on that later. Now we’ll consider the antitypical meaning or pictures attributed to each ark, starting with Noah’s Ark. I love this next verse. Psalm 29, verse 10.

Jehovah sat as king at the flood. Yea, Jehovah sitteth as king forever. Brother Russell tells us this describes God’s dominion is established over all his created beings. Volume 1, page 318 tells us that Noah’s ark typified Christ and the power in him which will replenish and reorganize society. Brother Russell reminds us in reprint 3757 that Noah and his family with the ark represent the Church lifted up above the whole earth during the time of trouble, preserved from the terror of the trouble, and afterward coming down from heaven to bless and replenish the earth.

What beautiful picture language to describe Christ in the Church. Saved first to then later recover humanity from death. Remember, Noah and his sons covered the ark within and without with pitch. I found something special I wanted to share. The word pitch in the verb form is Strong’s number 3722.

And the Lexicon actually describes the antitypical meaning of pitch in this to cover or purge, make an atonement, make reconciliation.

Who would have thought that the word pitch that coded the ark inside and out describes God’s plan of salvation? This really took me by surprise, brethren, and it gets better. The word pitch as a noun is Strong’s number 3724, and listen to this again from the lexicon.

It antitypically means redemption price, ransom or satisfaction, and as we say on the Part podcast, that’s a mic drop moment. The definition means ransom. This pitch God’s plan of salvation is described in such an amazing way through these specific details. It’s just to me inspiring.

This makes me think of God having the world of mankind covered by the atonement from within their hearts. By being reconciled and brought into harmony with God, he has them covered by the ransom from without. By giving them life and an opportunity to learn righteousness, God will provide every good and perfect gift for everlasting life. Food, including the tree of life, shelter, support from Christ and the church, the ancient worthies and Israel, plus anything else that’s needed. A perfect earthly environment filled with love.

Now to the ark that saved Moses. Let’s look at its antitypical meanings or pictures. Brother Maguson comments on the ark being laid in the flags by the river brink. He states Moses here pictures Christ Jesus. Jesus was saved when a child from a similar edict about babes in Bethlehem.

Moses was a fair and beautiful child. Jesus was a perfect human being. Moses was saved through Pharaoh’s daughter. Jesus fled into Egypt and was under its protection until Herod died. I found those comparisons fascinating.

Brother Frank Chalhou had some interesting thoughts in his notes on the Bible in Exodus 1:22. It shows the Nile river was to be a place of death for the Hebrew male babies, but the place of death now became a place of salvation for Moses. A river was similarly significant in Jesus life. Not only was Jesus baptized in the Jordan River a symbol of death, but he was raised out of the river to newness of life. The name Moses means drawn out of water.

Moses was a type of Jesus. Now we’ll look at the Ark of the Covenant and its antitypical meanings or pictures. In the definition of the word ark, Strong’s number 727. Again, it means in the sense of gathering a box, chest or coffin. Well, in my mind I envision the Ark as a coffin as it was defined in Strong’s when the faithful go under the veil at death, from the holy to the most holy, they are raised according to God’s time frame.

First the sleeping saints, all at once in 1878 and then individually in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, they are being gathered. Our next point about the ark. I love how the crown molding at the top of the box described our Lord Jesus as king and bridegroom who satisfies justice, pictured in the mercy seat. Brother Fry calls it the Ark’s crown and that was found in his notes on page 217 when talking with Brother Adam Goodman in Orlando, I loved his idea that because the crown was on the box and not on the mercy seat as it says in Exodus 25:11, the mercy seat fits snugly inside the crown molding to hold it securely in place so as not to topple over as it’s being carried. I really liked how it secured itself to the box.

Another picture that comes to mind is the four golden rings on the ark by the base or feet which pictures the bride. Brother Fry’s notes, page 217 Are these four rings also a picture of wedding bands for the 144,000? I know I have quite the imagination. Now here’s some other unique antitypes from Tabernacle Shadows A rectangular coffin or box overlaid with gold representing the divine nature granted to the glorified church after the sacrifice was complete death.

Let’s look at the antitypical meanings of what was placed inside of the ark. First Aaron’s rod that budded, which means God’s chosen priesthood. Numbers 17:8. It pictures the acceptance of the royal priesthood who showed fruitage pictured by the almonds. Second, the tables of the Law, which means the righteous judgment.

Deuteronomy 31:26 it showed that Jesus, who met the requirements for God’s perfect law, plus the legal authority given he by God as far as the faithful followers of Christ, it was reckoned fulfilled. Third, the golden pot of manna. The the incorruptible manna in the golden bowl, meaning immortality, the divine nature, the bread of life. Exodus 16:32 in reprint 3086 Brother Russell makes some valuable points about this Jordan experience which is worth mentioning. The royal priesthood must first pass into the Jordan before any of the people can pass over in the midst of the Jordan.

This typifies the royal priesthood, giving their lives for the life of the world. The Ark represents the Lord. It affects the cancellation of the death sentence so that the millennial blessings might be obtained.

Brethren, this Jordan experience really fascinated me. I want to share some personal observations.

This was the second miracle of the parting of the waters, but in this case its focus was the Ark of the Covenant, front and center, front meaning ahead of the nation and center. Placed in the middle of the Jordan river as a focal point. The nation passed by it to arrive safely in the Promised Land. It was suggested to me in fellowship that this coffin or ark symbolized the passing of the Testator Christ, head and body. A testator is a person who has written and executed a last will and testament that is in effect at the time of their death.

As far as Christ and the Church are concerned, it began at consecration and in symbol at their baptism unto death and ended with their literal death. Remember, Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River. The 12 stones that were under the priest’s feet could represent the Christian walk of the faithful bride. These stones were set up as a memorial on land and serve as a reminder in the kingdom of how to please God. The definition of Jordan also surprised me.

To reinforce the concept of death of Christ in the church, Jordan means death descender. Descender. A descender is part of a letter that extends below the line of the base, such as the lowercase g or p. When on line paper they hang below the line. Hence Christ and the church were buried in death below ground level the grave. When we read about the 12 stones earlier, we didn’t mention that Joshua himself set up 12 different stones in the Jordan where the priest had stood.

And it says he set them up. Now let’s read Joshua 4:9 and Joshua set up 12 stones in the midst of the Jordan in the place where the feet of the priests that bear the Ark of the Covenant stood.

And they are there until this day. The definition of the word set up is Strong’s number 6965, meaning to rise or to stand up. So to me, the stones being lifted up picture gravestones in the Jordan where their feet stood. In doing the math, 12 stones that were taken from the Jordan to land times 12 stones lifted up in the Jordan where the original stones were equals. 144Joshua 3:15 mentions that the Jordan river was overflowing its banks at the time of harvest.

This timing, when the Israelites were crossing the Jordan coincided with the harvest season. It is fitting for the church to be lifted up to our heavenly Father during the harvest of the Gospel age, and this is my favorite explanation for the Ark of the Testimony or the Ark of the Covenant found in tabernacle shadows, page 121. Its name suggests that it illustrated the embodiment of Jehovah’s plan, which he had purposed in himself before the beginning of creation of God, before the smallest development of his plan had taken place. It represented the eternal purpose of God, his foreordained arrangement of riches of grace for mankind in the Christ head and body, the hidden mystery.

It therefore represents Christ Jesus and his bride, the little flock, to be partakers of the divine nature and to be imbued with power and great glory, the prize of our high calling, the Joy set before our Lord and all the members of his body.

Well, let’s sum up one final similarity in type connecting the three arcs of salvation. Brother Frank Shalue has another quote. When Moses was three months old and Jochebed could no longer hide him, she put him up in the Ark of the Bulrushes. Dubbed the Ark with slime and pitch and laid it in the reeds at the edge of the Nile River. This tiny rectangular ark was a picture of Noah’s Ark and the Ark of the Covenant.

Both Moses and Noah pictured Jesus. So I was very grateful to have confirmation that someone else saw a connection that I was seeing in this study. Brethren, it all comes down to Jesus. Acts 4:12 and in none other is there salvation. For neither is there any other name under heaven that is given among men wherein we must be saved.

In conclusion, God has protected mankind at various stages of their lives to fulfill his perfect plans. Regardless of how dark the circumstances appear at the time. Satan has attempted at every turn to undermine God’s purposes. It seemed hopeless. After evil ran rampant before the flood, did Satan think he had won?

Hence Noah in the ark, the Ark of Salvation. At the height of Egyptian culture, Satan’s crowning jewel. When Israel became enslaved by Pharaoh, all Satan wanted to do was make God’s people irrelevant. He tried to wipe out the Israelites forever by destroying all the male babies. Did Satan see their end in sight?

Hence Moses in an ark. An ark of salvation. After the ten plagues, God chose Moses to lead his people out of Egypt. Moses said, let my people. God then instituted the Passover to save the firstborn.

The next morning when the day dawned, the Israelites were freed from slavery. Following the miracle at the Red Sea and the drowning of Pharaoh and his army, God instructed Moses to build the Ark of the Testimony. Did Satan finally think he was going to wipe out Israel with those armies?

The Ark of the Testimony and Ark of Salvation. Ensuring his presence was with them.

The Ark of the Covenant pictures eternal salvation for all through Jesus Ransom sacrifice represented in the bullock brethren. What a privilege it is for the faithful church followers and members to help assist our Lord Jesus in that salvation work. Represented in the Lord’s goat, the sin offering. In conclusion, we see that the three arks of salvation Noah’s Ark, Moses Ark and the Ark of the Covenant serve as a powerful picture of God’s ultimate plan of salvation throughout history. Reminding us that God’s got this first Timothy 2, 4 so beautifully tells us that God desires all to be saved.

To God be the glory.

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