In parts I and II of this volume we explored the Old Testament sacrificial system. Our studies specifically addressed the major feasts and offerings that God gave to Moses as part of the ceremonial law. In our studies we discovered that God used these ceremonies to teach the people of Israel about Himself, His mercy, His love, His judgements and His provisions for their well being. We also discovered that these feasts and offerings were also foreshadowings. These foreshadowings pointed to the time when God the Father would send to us His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ … the Anointed One … the promised Messiah. These feasts and offerings reveal to us that the Messiah would offer Himself as a sacrifice to God the Father so that you and I can be forgiven and delivered from our sins. In other words, they pointed to the time when God's salvation would enter into this world to save us from our sins and transgressions so we could have eternal life with Him. As we read the New Testament we find that approximately 2,000 years ago the foreshadowings of the feasts and offerings were fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

As we reflect upon these past studies we can not help but notice that the feasts, sacrifices and in fact the religious life of the Old Testament Jew centered around the Temple and the priesthood. Hence the subjects for this portion of volume II of Spiritual Foundations.

To address these topics this portion of volume II is partitioned into the following five chapters.

As we study the Old Testament we will see that God gave Moses very specific instructions for how His Temple on earth was to be built. For in the days of the Old Testament it was here, within the Temple, that God chose for His glory to reside on earth. As we study the New Testament we will discover that the Old Testament Temple was also a foreshadowing to help us understand that now, in the New Testament days, God the Holy Spirit resides within each and every born again believer in Jesus Christ.

In this chapter we will review the construction, placement and purpose of the Old Testament Ark of the Covenant and Veil. We will discover that these furnishings were also a foreshadowing that pointed to the time when Jesus Christ, the Messiah, would come to make atonement for our sins. We will also discover that because of His sacrifice the born again believer in Jesus Christ can now spiritually enter, in His Name, Heaven's Holiest of Holies to present to God the Father their prayers, petitions and praises.

In this chapter we will review the construction, placement and purpose for the above Old Testament Temple furnishings. We will also discover that these furnishings reveal to us three of the many characteristics or attributes of God. Finally, we will discover that these three furnishings also reveal to us that the true and complete image of God is Jesus Christ. It is He who is the second person of the Holy Trinity and is the only begotten Son of God.

In this chapter we will review the construction, placement and purpose for the Altar of Burnt Offering and the bronze Basin. We will also see that these furnishings and the activities performed upon them were also a foreshadowing that pointed to the time when Jesus Christ would come to save us from our sins. In the epilog we will walk through the Old Testament Temple area and look upon the major furnishings as a born again believer in Jesus Christ might have done prior to the time they were destroyed.

The roles and functions of the Old Testament priests are explored. As we examine pertinent New Testament Scriptures we will discover that these roles and functions are also foreshadowings to help us understand that each and every born again believer is a member of the royal priesthood of Jesus Christ.