And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Revelation 14:6
Around the Sanctuary were the 12 tribes-3 on each side. One on each side was called the "cornerstone" tribe.On the east was Judah, west Ephraim, north Dan & south was Reuben.
What could this positioning possibly mean?
Christ is the Lion of Judah. The opening of the Sanctuary faced east. Why? For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Matthew 24:27 He is the Lion of Judah roaring back for His people, RIGHT THROUGH HIS SANCTUARY, HIS PLAN OF REDEMPTION LAID OUT.
Ephraim is used extensivley throughout the Old Testament to represent Israel, his remnant.
To the north was Dan. Later Dan would would be a hotbed of spiritual apostasy. babylon was to the north also. Dan represents spiritual Babylon. As he roars back remember what he says-Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen,....And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, Revelation 18:2,4
And Reuben would represent spiritual Egypt to the south, the secualr world. Reuben was the 1st born and the 1st born of Egypt died during the last plague on Egypt. They are the gentiles of today- I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. Acts 13:47
So around the Sanctuary-to every nation, kindred, tongue & people. To the remnant in the west, patiently waiting, to those in the apostate churches of spiritual Babylon to the north, and the gentiles of the world in spiritual Egypt to the south.
Or as Hosea put it (Assyria to the north controlled BABYLON at the time when Hosea was writing)- They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west. They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the LORD. Hosea 11:10,11
Or as Isaiah says it- In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land:
| Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance. Isaiah 19:24,25 In other words- having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Revelation 14:6 |