The Zion company, the Lord's judges, the judges of the house of David, are given back their bodies at the appearing of the Lord so they may rule with Christ over the living nations of the earth. The rest of the dead, including the majority of the elect, according to our understanding, will not be given back their bodies until the conclusion of the thousand-year Kingdom Age (Revelation 20:4-6).

We see, therefore, that Zion signifies a warrior-firstfruits, a group of mighty men who will appear with the Son of David and fight the Lord's battles until the whole earth (which is the inheritance of Christ) has been brought under subjection to Christ.

Now that we briefly have considered the spiritual significance of Zion, David's city, let us turn our attention to the separating of the Ark of the Covenant from the Tabernacle of the Congregation and to the present-day application of that historical event.

The Tabernacle of David

Hopefully the reader has a general understanding of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. If not, reading Exodus, Chapter 25 through to the end of the book may prove useful at this point.

The Courtyard of the Tabernacle was surrounded by a linen fence. In the Courtyard was erected the Tent, which was divided into the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.

There were seven furnishings of the Tabernacle of the Congregation: the Altar of Burnt Offering, the Laver, the Table of Showbread, the Lampstand, the Altar of Incense, the Ark of the Covenant, and the Mercy Seat. The solid-gold Mercy Seat with its covering cherubim served as a lid on top of the Ark.

The Ark with its covering Mercy Seat (properly, Lid of Atonement) was the holiest of the vessels.

In the days of Eli, the High Priest of Israel, the Tabernacle of the Congregation and its seven vessels were located in Shiloh, a city approximately twenty miles north of Jerusalem.

During a battle between the Philistines and Israel, the Ark of the Covenant was removed from the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle and carried to the battle area. The Philistines rallied, overcame Israel, and captured the Ark of the Covenant (I Samuel 4:11).

The Ark brought judgment on the Philistines and on Dagon, their fish-god. The Philistines sent the Ark back to Israel, where it came to rest in the home of Abinadab (I Samuel 7:1).

It appears that Saul sent for the Ark during times of stress (I Samuel 14:18). But Saul had no heart for God. Saul did not seek out the Ark because he desired the Presence of God but because he wanted God's help in battle.

This is how many of today's believers behave. They seek the Lord's help in order to accomplish their own ends. They have no real love for God.

Saul represents the religion of Christianity, in particular those who, after they have experienced the call of God, attempt to use the things of Christ to gain money or glory.The author holds that true Christianity is not a religion but the revelation of God through Christ. Every aspect of Christianity is to be governed and empowered by the Spirit of God, not by the striving of human beings.

Saul's heart never was right in the sight of God. Saul enjoyed his position as king over God's people, but Saul had no heart for God.

To be continued.