The Base Of The Main Altar

The Main Altar
Before The Temple

SOURCES

INSTRUCTIONS TO JOHN

          "And there was given me (John) 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 11:1

          Now That The LORD'S Day Has Arrived:

1. How Many People Have Visited The Temple To Worship Therein?

2. How Many People Have Gone To The Religious Beast's Myriad Substitutions?

The Witness And Memorial

THE TEMPLE

          For what purpose was John instructed to "measure the Temple of GOD and the Altar ..." (Revelation 11:1)? The Book of Haggai admonishes people for not getting busy to build The Temple Of GOD. But, where is that Temple today?   Humanity has finally arrived in the glorious Seventh Millennium, The LORD'S Day, which is also "the last day" ... it is The Third Millennial Day from the 5 BC Birth Of Jesus. But, where is that Temple today?

          People everywhere can see the growing severe tribulations (the pornography, storms, floods, violence, aggression, etc.) coming upon this world called "Sodom and Gomorrah," "Babylon," "Pharaonic Egypt," "the land of the North," etc.   Religious institutions everywhere call themselves "the house of GOD"; but, how many are built according to the Biblical pattern? Yes, where is that Temple today?

          The Book of Joel admonishes:

          "Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your GOD, and cry unto the LORD, Alas for the day! For the day of The LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come"

Joel 1:14-15

          But, where is that Temple today?

THE ALTAR

          Stonehenge, that large circle of monoliths, near Salisbury, England was not built as some alien landmark or witches gathering place but as a rather intelligent astronomical calendar, a memorial to the early migrations of Abraham's children. Thus, Stonehenge still stands in silent testimony to those human migrations and to the origins of the Biblical lunar calendar established in the beginning.

          In speaking of this great circle of monoliths, the Book of Joshua says:

          "For the LORD hath made Jordan (the Atlantic) a border between us and you (dividing the Americas from Europe, Africa, and the rest of the world), ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; (shall ye say to us) ye have no part in the LORD: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD.

          "Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice:

          "But that it may be a witness between us (the Americas), and you (Europe, Africa, and the rest of the world), and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before Him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD.

          "Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you.

          "God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn this day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the LORD our GOD that is before His Tabernacle."

Joshua 22:25-29

          Many ancient Patriarchs erected Altars unto the LORD. Yes, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Samuel, Saul, David, Solomon, etc. ... all built Altars of various designs. Manoah and his wife (Samson's parents) even used a large rock for an Altar. The Altar of Ebenezer (I Samuel 7:12) built by Samuel rests high atop the historic Stone of Abel and is described by the Hebrew "'ôben," the dual of "'eben" meaning a circle of stones. That Altar of Ebenezer is still plainly visible today as a large 40 foot diameter circle of stones filled with earth and a second (a 14 foot diameter) circle of stones also filled with earth rests atop the bottom circle. Centered atop the 14 foot circle is a small heap of stones. This Altar is described as a potter's wheel or midwife's stool, a bound stone, a witness, and an Altar (Isaiah 19:19-20; I Samuel 6:18; II Samuel 20:16-19).

          The ancient portable Altar of Incense was made of shittim wood overlaid with gold; while, the portable Altar of Burnt Offerings was also made of shittim wood which held a brass grill.

          Note: Scripture says not to make an Altar of hewn stones for obvious reasons. The heat from the fire would soon crack and mar the finished stone. Thus, the main Altar before the Temple had a 32 by 32 cubit base of finished stone while the fire portion mounted atop the base was made of brass. The ramp beside the main Altar has steps; however, the approach to that Altar from atop the ramp has no steps but is a more level walkway for the priests. All should be plainly visible when the preserved remains of the Solomonic Temple West of the Valley of Ben Hinnom are uncovered (Jeremiah 19:2).

          Thus, Scripture sets numerous precedents for building an Altar as a witness, as a memorial attesting to one's belief in GOD, as a testimony of one's willingness to obey Him, and for various offerings to GOD. Note: King Ahaz used the portable Brasen Altar as a place to go and inquire to the LORD (II Kings 16:15).

LARGE BRAZEN ALTAR

          The large Brazen Altar mounted atop the base of finished stones separated the Altar fire portion from the base to avoid cracking the finished stones that formed the base.

          This brass section may be found when the Solomonic Temple area West of the Valley of Ben Hinnom (Jeremiah 19:2 KJV) is excavated.   Today, the area is encased in limestone which over the years has solidified much the same as happens to a bag of cement left out in the weather.

          Remember, the Solomonic Temple was built within a triple deck ampitheatre which was destroyed when King Nebuchadnezzar came against Jerusalem c.3501 from Creation.   Jerusalem was then left vacant for 70 years so when Nehemiah searched for the Temple site "in darkness," he searched without knowing where the Solomonic Temple was hidden.   Nehemiah then settled on the site of David's Tomb on the Western Hill for building the second Temple.

          Subsequently, other structures were built atop the Solomonic Temple site.   It is the ruins of these other structures that can be visited today as they too had been encased in limestone but are partially unearthed.   The Solomonic Temple's preserved remains await at an even lower level and can be easily reentered via the water-sewer tunnels.   However, the main Altar Base and the large Brazen Altar atop that base are encased in limestone and whatever remains of the Temple amphitheatre whose wooden portions were burned at the time of King Nebuchadnezzar's invasion.

          Advancements in modern day metal detector technology may now enable searchers to pinpoint the large Brazen Altar.   Note:  The Solomonic Temple was built facing West so the abundance of gold in the Holy of Holies, the entry tunnel, the golden staircases, and in the throne room should be easily distinguished from the large Brazen Altar.   That is, the Brazen Altar should provide a much smaller square brass target a few hundred feet to the West of the larger rectangular gold target.   Note:  The brass dome atop the Temple Amphitheatre was apparently dismantled and taken to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar.   However, the Brazen Altar was apparently left behind because of its religious significance.

THE RAMP

          To the West of the Altar Base (i.e. the side away from the Solomonic Temple) expect to find a large three dimensional trapezoidal stairway or ramp to allow the Priests to climb to the level of the top of the large Brazen Altar.   Thus, when the Priests reached the top of this ramp or stairway they could approach the Altar via a level walkway.

          This trapezoidal stairway allowed the Priests to go up to the Altar from both the North and South sides.

          Also, on the side away from the Altar Base, the trapezoidal structure has a large doorway to provide access to the subterranean animal pens beneath the court before the Temple.

THE UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT

          Material herein outlining the Altar Base is from a far more detailed text which:

1. Cites specific references describing detailed measurements of the Base and its placement.

2. Provides additional detailed drawings of top, side, and cross section views.

          The aforecited text re:  The Altar Base is only one part of a much larger unpublished manuscript prepared in the 1980's titled:

          The Temple Amphitheatre built around the court before the Temple contains the Temple, the seating for the flock, and restaurants (boiling courts).   This domed Amphitheatre, of course, is described only in general terms as the End Times structure will be much larger and of ultra modern materials and furnishings.   However, the Temple itself, although it too will be constructed of ultra modern materials and furnishings, will comply with basic design criteria set forth in antiquity.

          Oh, and please be reminded:  The Book of Haggai has admonished people for centuries to get busy and build the Temple.   But people are still uninterested.