BUILDING AN ALTAR UNTO THE LORD

 

OLD TESTAMENT

In the Old Covenant relationship, servants of God erected altars unto the Lord in their desire to seek Him and/or commemorate a supernatural encounter they had experienced in His presence.

mizbeach slaughter place

Genesis 8:20-22 “And NOAH builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.  And the Lord smelled a sweet savor; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more everything living, as I have done.  While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”

Genesis 12:7-8 “And the Lord appeared unto ABRAM, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him.  And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Haion the east: and there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord.”

Genesis 13:3-4 “And ABRAM went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai: Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the Lord.”

Genesis 13:18 “Then ABRAM removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord.”

Genesis 22:5-18 “And they came to the place which God had told him of; and ABRAM built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and lain him on the altar upon the wood.

And the angel of the Lord called unto ABRAHAM out of heaven the second time, and said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.”

Genesis 26:24-25 “And the Lord appeared unto ISAAC the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.  And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there: and there Isasac’s servants digged a well.”

Genesis 33:18-20 “And JACOB came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city.  And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Harmor, Shechem’s father, for an hundred pieces of money.  And he erected there an altar, and called it Elelohe-Israel.”

Genesis 35:1-15 “And God said unto JACOB, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.  Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: and let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.  And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods, which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. 

And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.  So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him.  And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.  And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Pandaram, and blessed him, and God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.

And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; and the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.  And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.

And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.  And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel.”

Exodus 17:14-16“And the Lord said unto MOSES, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.  And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi: for he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

Exodus 20:24-26 “And altar of earth thou (MOSES) shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.  And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou has polluted.  Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.”

Exodus 24:4-6 “And MOSES wrote all the words of the Lord, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.  And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the Lord.  And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.”

Joshua 8:30-32 “Then JOSHUA built an altar unto the Lord God of Israel in mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the Lord commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lifted up any iron: and they offered there on burnt offerings unto the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings.  And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.”

Judges 6:24-26 “Then GIDEON built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.  And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Take thy father’s young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: And build an altar unto the Lord thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.”

Judges 13:19-21f “So MANOAH (Samson’s father) took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the Lord: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife (Samson’s mother) looked on.  For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar.  And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground.  But the angel of the Lord did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife.  Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the Lord.”

I Samuel 7:15-17 “And SAMUEL judged Israel all the days of his life.  And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.  And his return was to Raman; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the Lord.”

II Samuel 24:17-25 “And DAVID spake unto the Lord when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done?  Let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house.  And Gad came that day to David, and saith unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the Lord in the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.  And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the Lord commanded.”

I Kings 18:30-32a “And ELIJAH said unto all the people, Come near unto me.  And all the people came near unto him.  And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.  And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the Lord came, saying, Israel shall be thy name.  And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord:”

I Chronicles 21:18-19, 26 “Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to DAVID, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the Lord in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.  And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of the Lord.  And David built there an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the Lord; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.”

II Chronicles 1:5-6 “Moreover the brazen altar, that BEZLEEL the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the Lord: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it.  And Solomon went up thither to the brazen altar before the Lord, which was at the tabernacle of the congregations, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.”

Ezra 3:1-3 “And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.  Then stood up JESHUA the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and ZERUBBABEL the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.  And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the Lord, even burnt offerings morning and evening.”

Isaiah 56:7 “Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.”

 

NEW TESTAMENT

thusiasterion a place of sacrifice

In the Revelation passages of an “altar in heaven” prior to the “new heavens and new earth”, was an acclamation and testimony of the “finished work” of Jesus who offered His life as a “complete work” of redemption for us in shedding His blood on the cross once and for all for our sins that we might dwell in His presence throughout eternity in the “new heaven and new earth”.

Revelation 6:9-11 “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?  And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”

Revelation 8:3-5 “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.  And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.  And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.”

Revelation 9:13 “And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God.”

Revelation 11:1 “And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.”

Revelation 14:18 “And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.”

Revelation 16:7 “And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.”

In the New Covenant relationship, the “altar built before God” is in our body that has become the dwelling place of His presence in us in which we are now the “living sacrifice” of “worship” unto Him.

Key Passage in understanding this truth is found in Romans 12:1-2:

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

I (Paul) beseech you therefore, brethren:

“beseech” you (brethren) – parakaleo to call near, invite, invoke, implore, beseech, call for, exhort, entreat, pray, stand beside, to be readily at hand, aid, assist, provide.

“therefore” – oun certainly, accordingly, truly, likewise then, therefore, verily, wherefore.

(The word “therefore” points back to and is in light of the doxology of praise in the previous passage of Romans 11:33-36:  “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!  For who hath known the mind of the Lord?  Or who hath been his counselor?  Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?  For of him and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever.  Amen!”)

“brethren” – adelphos the womb, a brother.

by the mercies of God:

“by the mercies” – oiktirmos pity, mercy, compassion.

“of God” – theos – Hebraism very God, supreme Divinity, deity.

that ye present your bodies:

“that ye present” histemi present, lay, exhibit, bring before, commend, give presently, provide, stand before, yield, abide, continue, covenant, establish.

“your bodies” – soma the body, as a sound whole, bodily.

a living sacrifice:

“living” – zao to live, life, lifetime.

“sacrifice” – thusia sacrifice, victim, slaughter, kill, slay.

holy, acceptable unto God:

“holy” – hagios sacred, pure, blameless, consecrated, clean, innocent, chaste, perfect.

“acceptable” – euarestos fully agreeable, well pleasing, good, well done, fit.

“unto God” – theos Hebraism very God, supreme Divinity, deity.

which is your reasonable service:

“which is your” – humon concerning you, your, own, yourselves.

“reasonable” – logikos rational, reasonable, reasoning, motive, cause, account, intent, reason, work, lay forth, relate, expression, meaning, describe, put forth.

“service” – latriah ministration of God, to minister to God, render homage, serve, do service, divine service, worship.

and be not conformed to this world:

“and be not conformed” – suschematizo to fashion alike, conform to same pattern, conform to, fashion self according to, a figure, configuration, external condition.

“to this world” – aion age, perpetuity, world, course.

but be ye transformed:

“transformed” – metamorphoo to transform, change, transfigure, fashion, form, shape, adjustment.

by the renewing of your mind:

“by the renewing” – anakainosis renovation, renewing, regenerate, new, freshness youthful, young.

“of your mind” – nooce the intellect, mind, in thought, feeling and will, understanding, to know, be aware, knowledge, perceive, be sure, understand.

that ye may prove:

“that ye may prove” – dokimazo to approve, prove, allow, discern, examine, try, tried, acceptable, approved.

what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect:

“what is that good” – agathos good, benefit, well, beautiful, valuable, virtuous,  honest, worthy.

“acceptable” – euarestos fully agreeable, acceptable, well pleasing, good, well done.

“perfect” – teleios complete, growth, completeness, of full age, man, perfect, goal, result, purpose.

will of God:

“will” – thelema a determination, to determine, choice, choose, purpose, desire, pleasure, will, be willing, disposed, minded, intend, preference, delight in, please.

“of God” – theos Hebraism very God, deity, supreme Divinity

 

CONCLUSION

According to Revelation chapters 21 and 22, in the “new heaven and new earth” there will be no temple” for the “Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it”!

Revelation 21:1-3, 22-23; 22:3-5 (Larger Passage 21:1-27; 22:1-21) “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  And I john saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God…And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.  And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.  There shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.  And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign forever and ever.”

 

© 2013 New Testament Church