Topical Encyclopedia The term "mercy-seat" refers to the cover of the Ark of the Covenant, which was located in the Holy of Holies within the Tabernacle and later the Temple. It was here that the high priest would sprinkle the blood of the sacrificial offering on the Day of Atonement, symbolizing the atonement of the sins of Israel. The mercy-seat was flanked by two cherubim and was considered the earthly throne of God, where His presence would dwell. The Hebrew term for mercy-seat is "kapporet," which is derived from the root "kaphar," meaning "to cover" or "to atone."In the New Testament, the concept of the mercy-seat finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Romans, explicitly connects Christ to the mercy-seat. Romans 3:25 states, "God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand." The term "atoning sacrifice" (Greek: hilastērion) is often translated as "propitiation" and is the same word used in the Septuagint for the mercy-seat. This indicates that Christ Himself is the place where atonement is made, fulfilling the typology of the Old Testament mercy-seat. The Epistle to the Hebrews further elaborates on this typology by presenting Christ as the ultimate High Priest who enters not into an earthly sanctuary, but into the heavenly one. Hebrews 9:11-12 states, "But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands, that is, not of this creation. He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption." Here, Christ is depicted as both the High Priest and the sacrificial offering, entering the true Holy of Holies in heaven to secure redemption for humanity. The mercy-seat, therefore, is a profound symbol of God's grace and forgiveness, fully realized in Jesus Christ. Through His sacrificial death and resurrection, Christ becomes the mediator between God and humanity, offering His own blood as the means of atonement. This fulfills the Old Testament sacrificial system and establishes a new covenant, as described in Hebrews 9:15: "For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant." In summary, the mercy-seat in the Old Testament serves as a foreshadowing of the redemptive work of Christ. As the ultimate fulfillment of the mercy-seat, Christ embodies the place of atonement, the presence of God, and the means by which humanity is reconciled to God. Through faith in His sacrificial death and resurrection, believers receive the mercy and grace that the mercy-seat symbolized, now fully realized in the person of Jesus Christ. Torrey's Topical Textbook Romans 3:25Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; Torrey's Topical Textbook Hebrews 9:3 Library Christ Our Advocate Christ's Priestly Office The Voice of the Blood of Christ First and Second Appearances of the Risen Christ. The Resurrection ... Brought Nigh The Fact of the Redeemer's Return was Foreshadowed in the Ritual ... The Intercession of Christ What is the Sanctuary? Christ as Paraclete, as Propitiation, and as the Power of God. What is the Sanctuary? Resources What is the mercy seat? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that God is merciful? | GotQuestions.org What is the Ark of the Covenant? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Mercy-Seat in Solomon's Temple Mercy-Seat: Bezaleel Given Wisdom to Make Mercy-Seat: Covered With a Cloud of Incense on the Day of Atonement Mercy-Seat: God: Appeared Over in the Cloud Mercy-Seat: God: Spoke from Above Mercy-Seat: Materials of, to be a Freewill offering Mercy-Seat: Moses Commanded to Make Mercy-Seat: Placed on the Ark of the Testimony Mercy-Seat: Placed Upon the Ark of Testimony Mercy-Seat: Sprinkled With Blood Mercy-Seat: The Blood of Sacrifices on the Day of Atonement Sprinkled Mercy-Seat: The Cherubim Formed out of, and at Each End of It Mercy-Seat: The Throne of Grace Related Terms |
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