The Ark remained apart from the Tabernacle throughout the life of David. When Solomon built the Temple, the Ark and the Tabernacle were placed inside.

The prophetic significance of the separating of the Ark from the remainder of the Tabernacle, for a season, can scarcely be overemphasized.

As we understand the meaning, the reign of David represents the thousand-year Kingdom Age. The reign of Solomon represents the new heaven and earth rule of Jesus Christ.

The Ark speaks of the godly remnant who will govern with Jesus during the Kingdom Age.

When the new heaven and earth reign of the Lord Jesus begins, the Lord's victorious saints will once again be part of the Church, of God's elect. Then the whole house of Israel will descend through the new sky to be located forever upon the new earth.

We notice that after the seventh trumpet blows and the kingdoms of the world become the Kingdom of God and His Christ, the Ark of the Covenant is revealed.

Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm. (Revelation 11:19—NIV)

Let us repeat our central theme. The purpose of separating the remnant from the remainder of the Church has to do with the movement from imputed to actual righteousness of personality and behavior.

When the Lord Jesus returns, only those who have purified themselves, as the Spirit of God enables, will receive their body back from the grave. The remainder of the Church, not having gained victory over sin, will not be given to eat of the tree of life at this time. They will remain in the spirit realm, according to my understanding.

I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4-6—NIV)

During the thousand years of the Kingdom Age those who did not, prior to the Lord's return to earth, achieve victory over sin will be brought to the place where their inward nature is ready for their body to receive immortality. Then together with the victorious saints they will descend to the new earth and be established for eternity on a high mountain. They will govern the saved nations of the earth.

This is how the whole Church, and eventually the saved nations of the earth, will be brought to righteousness of behavior. There will be no sin of any kind whatever throughout the countless ages of eternity, which begin with the coming to earth of the new Jerusalem.

To be continued.