In the sanctuary, the High Priest is symbolic of Jesus.
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building[1]
The angel of Revelation 8:3 is likely Jesus. He is depicted as an angel because Jesus is the Angel of the Lord, the archangel Michael. He is officiating before the altar in the manner of a priest with a censer.
And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.[2]
But what about the other priests that worked under the High Priest as well as the Levites that worked in the sanctuary. Who are they symbolic of?
We will make a series of comparisons and find out.
God’s throne is mobile. This is brought out especially in Ezekiel 1 and 10. How does God’s throne move? There are cherubim that move it.
And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire… 15 Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces. 16 The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel. 17 When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went. 18 As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four. 19 And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up… 22 And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above… 26 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.[3]
Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne… 18 Then the glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims. 19 And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the Lord’s house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.[4]
In a similar manner, the ark of the covenant is like the throne in that God appeared above it, among the symbolic cherubim. The ark had the mercy seat, because that was where God sat.
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.[5]
The cherubim around the ark are called a “chariot.” That word gives the sense of mobility.
And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord.[6]
How did the ark move? Levite priests moved the ark.
Then David said, “None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the Lord chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.”[7]
And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and unto all the elders of Israel.[8]
And they commanded the people, saying, “When ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it…”[9]
Just as God’s throne is lifted and moved by mighty cherubim, so also the ark is moved by the Levites.
In Revelation, there are angels that blow trumpets.
And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets… 6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.[10]
In the sanctuary, the priests also blow trumpets. They also did so before the ark of the covenant.
And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations.[11]
And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.[12]
The angels are the possession of Jesus, under His command.
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels…[13]
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels…[14]
During the inauguration of the wilderness sanctuary, the Levites are given to Aaron, the High Priest, as a gift. The Levites are his possession.
And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together… 19 And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary.[15]
In Revelation, the elders and the angels carry bowls. They either had incense or plagues in them.
Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever.[16]
Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.”[17]
Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.[18]
In the wilderness inauguration ceremony, bowls and other articles were given to the Levites. These also included incense.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 5 “Accept these from them, that they may be used in doing the work of the tabernacle of meeting; and you shall give them to the Levites, to every man according to his service… 84 This was the dedication offering for the altar from the leaders of Israel, when it was anointed: twelve silver platters, twelve silver bowls, and twelve gold pans. 85 Each silver platter weighed one hundred and thirty shekels and each bowl seventy shekels. All the silver of the vessels weighed two thousand four hundred shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. 86 The twelve gold pans full of incense weighed ten shekels apiece, according to the shekel of the sanctuary; all the gold of the pans weighed one hundred and twenty shekels…[19]
The bowls would have been for the table of showbread, maintained by the priests.[20]
The angels with Michael, Jesus, are the ones that did not rebel. They fight against their rebellious angelic brethren to cast them out of Heaven.
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.[21]
The Levites were the ones who did not rebel in the golden calf incident, standing with Moses. They were directed to fight against their brethren.
Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, “Who is on the Lord’s side? let him come unto me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. 27 And he said unto them, “Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, ‘Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.’” 28 And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.[22]
In a dream given to Jacob at Bethel, the angels are described as ascending and descending, coming to a fro from the house of God.
And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it… 17 And he was afraid, and said, “How dreadful is this place! This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”[23]
Just as angels come and go from the Heavenly sanctuary, so Levites and Priests come and go, in and out of the sanctuary.
At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.[24]
In the Bible, angels are found as ministers or they minister to Jesus.
Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire…[25]
Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.[26]
In the sanctuary the priests and Levites are appointed as ministers of the service.
And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons… 3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. 4 And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office… 41 And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office.[27]
Angels and the glorified Jesus have white brilliant clothes, sometimes described as white linen.
And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow…[28]
And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.[29]
And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.[30]
The priests in the sanctuary wore fine linen that would have been white.
And they made coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons, 28 and a mitre of fine linen, and goodly bonnets of fine linen, and linen breeches of fine twined linen…[31]
These comparisons make it apparent that the Levites and especially the priests in the sanctuary were symbolic of heavenly beings, especially angels.
Is there a personal application?
When the Bible speaks of God’s people as kings and priests, this may be seen as prophetic of our destiny to join the ranks of angels.[32]
…Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father…[33]
When Jesus is spoken of as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who are the other kings and lords but angels?
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.[34]
The redeemed also have a destiny of authority or kingship.[35]
And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.[36]
And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.[37]
Jesus said that the redeemed will be like the angels and Isaiah spoke of the redeemed mounting up with wings like eagles.
For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.[38]
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.[39]
Angels see the redeemed as fellow servants and they rejoice over those that will join their ranks.
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, “See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”[40]
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.[41]
A further insight may be gleaned in examining passages on the authority titles of Christ and details of stones.
Jesus is Michael the archangel. The title of “archangel” implies that there are others under His authority. Those would be the angels. In the sanctuary, Jesus is High Priest. As High Priest, He is first among other priests.[42]
With this in mind, note the language of Jesus as the “chief” cornerstone.
Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” 7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone…[43]
If He is the “chief” cornerstone, this is indicating there are other stones under Him. This is hinted at in an interaction with Peter.
And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter (petros, Πέτρος [G4074]), and upon this rock (petra, πέτρᾳ [G4073]) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.[44]
Peter is called petros by Christ while Jesus is the mighty petra.
Also, note that the High Priest had twelve stones over his heart with the names of Israel on them.
It was foursquare; they made the breastplate double: a span was the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof, being doubled. 10 And they set in it four rows of stones: the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this was the first row. 11 And the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. 12 And the third row, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. 13 And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper: they were inclosed in ouches of gold in their inclosings. 14 And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one with his name, according to the twelve tribes.[45]
Furthermore, linguistically, there is a similarity with “sons” and one of the words for “stone” in Hebrew.
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.[46]
“Sons” is bᵊnê, בּני (H1121) and “son” is bēn, בֵּן (H1121) while “stone” is eh’-ben, אֶבֶן (H68).
In the sanctuary, the priests that served were the sons of the High Priest just as Heavenly beings are called the sons of God.[47]
Before he fell, Lucifer was covered in stones.
Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.[48]
Jesus, as the Angel of the Lord, is in the same positioning as the stone later described before Joshua the high priest in the book of Zechariah. In other words, Jesus is both the Angel of the Lord as well as being the stone before Joshua.
And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him… 8 “Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the Branch. 9 For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof,” saith the Lord of hosts, “and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.”[49]
Now look at what Peter has to say about this topic of stones.
Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.[50]
The redeemed are living stones, and that is equivalent to a holy priesthood. Based on the investigation so far about angels being priests, that means that living stones = priests = angels.[51]
Therefore, when Jesus said the stones would cry out, He was referring to the unseen angels.
And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, “I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”[52]
When Lucifer was walking among the “fiery stones,” it is likely the language of the angelic host.
Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire… 16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.[53]
Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire…[54]
[3] Ezekiel 1:4, 15-19, 22, 26.
[4] Ezekiel 10:1, 18-19.
[9] Joshua 3:3-17; Joshua 4:10-18; Joshua 6:6.
[10] Revelation 8:2, 6.
[15] Numbers 8:9, 19
[16] Revelation 15:7 NKJV.
[17] Revelation 16:1 NKJV.
[18] Revelation 5:8 NKJV.
[19] Numbers 7:4-88 NKJV; also Ezra 8:24-27.
[20] Exodus 25:23-30; Exodus 37:10-16; Daniel 5:3
[23] Genesis 28:12, 17.
[25] Psalm 104:4; Hebrews 1:7, 13-14.
[27] Exodus 28:1-4, 41; also Exodus 29: 1, 30, 44; Exodus 30:30; Exodus 31:10; Deuteronomy 10:8; 1 Chronicles 15:2; 1 Chronicles 16:4; 2 Chronicles 8:14; 2 Chronicles 13:10; 2 Chronicles 23:6; 2 Chronicles 29:5-11; 2 Chronicles 31:2; Ezra 8:15-17; Nehemiah 10:36, 39; Isaiah 61:6 NASB 2020; Jeremiah 33:21-22; Ezekiel 40:46; Ezekiel 42:14; Ezekiel 43:19; Ezekiel 44:10-12, 15; Ezekiel 45:5; Ezekiel 46:24.
[28] Matthew 28:2-3; Mark 16:5; John 20:12; Luke 24:4; Acts 1:10.
[30] Revelation 19:14; Revelation 4:4; Matthew 17:2; Luke 9:29; Mark 9:3; Acts 10:30.
[32] If we view the 24 elders of Revelation 4:4,10 and Revelation 5:6, 8, 14 as a symbolic representation of redeemed humanity, there is a numerical correlation with priests in that David appointed 24 orders of priests according to the elders of houses in 1 Chronicles 24:3-4.
[33] Revelation 1:5-6; 1 Peter 2:9; Exodus 19:6; Revelation 20:6.
[34] Revelation 19:16; Revelation 17:14; 1 Timothy 6:15.
[35] If we view the 24 elders of Revelation as a symbolic representation of redeemed humanity, a kingship correlation may be seen in that the elders have crowns in Revelation 4:4,10.
[36] Daniel 7:27; Zechariah 3:6-7; Psalm 92:13; Psalm 113:7-8; Revelation 22:5; Revelation 3:21; Revelation 20:4; Matthew 19:28; 1 Corinthians 6:3; Revelation 2:26-27; Matthew 24:45-47; Luke 19:11-19; Luke 12:42-44; Matthew 25:20-32; Psalm 65:4; John 14:2; 2 Timothy 2:12.
[37] 1 Corinthians 9:25 NKJV; also Revelation 3:11; 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 2 Timothy 4:8; James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4; Revelation 2:10.
[38] Matthew 22:30; Mark 12:25; for equal to angels see Luke 20:34-36.
[40] Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:9; Revelation 12:10.
[41] Luke 15:7; Colossians 1:20.
[42] 1 Peter 5:4 Jesus is also the Chief Shepherd.
[43] 1 Peter 2:6-7 NKJV; Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20 NASB 2020.
[45] Exodus 39:9-14; for God’s people as stones also see Zechariah 9:16.
[47] The redeemed are also spoken of as sons of God that can be seen as prophetic of our destiny to join the ranks of angels; Luke 20:36; Matthew 5:9; Romans 8:14, 19; Romans 9:26; Galatians 3:26; Galatians 4:6.
[49] Zechariah 3:1, 8-9; also compare the description of the stone with seven eyes to Jesus in Revelation 5:6 as the Lamb with seven eyes.
[50] 1 Peter 2:4-5 NKJV; for jewels see Malachi 3:16-17; Zechariah 9:16.
[51] Further, both angels and the redeemed are described as saints; Deuteronomy 33:2; Psalm 89:5-7; Daniel 7:18; Matthew 27:52.
[53] Ezekiel 28:14, 16.
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