"The Age to Come"
BY JOSEPH MARSH
ROCHESTER, N. Y., PUBLISHED AT THE ADVENT HARBINGER OFFICE 1851
TABERNACLE OF DAVID
will be rebuilt then. To prove this point understandingly, we will first learn the true import of
tabernacle.
"Skeenee ~~ a tent, tabernacle, i. e. generally any temporary dwelling; a tent, booth." ~~
Greenfield.
[1] "A tent or pavilion raised on posts to lodge under, Num. xxiv. 5; Matt. xvii. 4. [2] A house or dwelling,
Job xi. 14; xxii. 23. [3] A kind of tent to take up and down, as occasion required." ~~
Cruden.
"In Hebrew and in Greek it is a word which properly signifies a tent, but is particularly applied by the
Hebrews to a kind of building in the form of a tent, set up by the express command of God." ~~
Watson.
Having learned the primary meaning of the word tabernacle, our next duty is to find out what the
tabernacle of David was. The answer is easy and natural. It must have been his "temporary dwelling."
And what was that? and where was it located? It was his royal palace, which was located on Mount Zion,
in the city of Jerusalem.
2 Sam. v. 7. "David took the stronghold of Zion: the same is the city of David."
Verse 9. So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from
Milo and inward."
Verse 11. "And Hiram, King of Tyre, sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and
masons; and they built David an house."
1 Chron. xiv. l. "Now Hiram, king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, with masons
and carpenters, to build him an house."
Josephus corroborates this testimony. He says:
Book vii., Chap. 3. "When David had cast the Jebusites out of the citadel, he also rebuilt Jerusalem, and
named it the city of David, and abode there all the time of his reign: but for the time that he reigned over
the tribe of Judah only in Hebron, was seven years and six months. Hiram, also, king of the
Tyrians, sent ambassadors to him, and made a league of mutual friendship and assistance with him. He also sent him
presents, cedar trees and mechanics, and men skilled in building and architecture, that they might build
him a royal palace at Jerusalem"
This testimony most conclusively shows that David's "temporary dwelling" (for it was not immovably
permanent) was his "royal palace" on Mount Zion. There was his royal throne, where he temporarily
reigned. There, as a pilgrim, he dwelt or tarried for a night, like his father Abraham, looking for a better,
more enduring and glorious city.
Thus far, the true literalist has his feet on the rock, with the full blaze of truth shining upon his pathway.
But a question here arises; have you any evidence that David's "temporary dwelling," or royal palace, on
Mount Zion, was what the Scriptures call tabernacle? We will let David and Isaiah answer.
Psa. cxxxii. 1-5. "Lord, remember David and his afflictions: how he sware unto the Lord, and vowed unto
the mighty God of Jacob: Surely, I will not come into the TABERNACLE of my HOUSE, or go up into
my BED; I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, until I find a place for the Lord,
an habitation for the God of Jacob."
"The tabernacle of my house," we suppose, is equivalent to "the tabernacle which is my house." We can
conceive of no other meaning that would make sense.
Isa. xvi. 5. "And in mercy shall the throne be established; and he shall sit upon it in truth, IN the
tabernacle of David."
Where was the throne? In David's royal palace on Mount Zion. Where does Isaiah locate the throne? "In
the tabernacle of David." Then the royal palace and tabernacle of David were the same, and, as a matter
of course, the tabernacle of David was his royal palace, or "temporary dwelling," on Mount Zion.
This is truth, as invulnerable as the throne of the Lord. On this firm basis we may stand secure, and
inquire ~~
Has the tabernacle of David been thrown down?
It has; for Zion, where the tabernacle stood, is now "plowed as a field." Jerusalem has "become heaps,"
and, as a matter of course, the tabernacle of David is "fallen down," and is in ruins. As this point will not
be disputed, for the sake of brevity, we pass to the inquiry~~
Will the tabernacle of David be builded again?
God's word means something or nothing. If it means any thing, it means what it says. We believe it means
what its most literal import naturally signifies. Consequently, tabernacle of David, means David's
"temporary dwelling," or royal palace; the place of his throne, from whence his law went forth. That
tabernacle, that palace, that throne, has been thrown down; and Mount Zion, where the tabernacle stood,
is "plowed as a field." But God has promised to redeem Mount Zion, "build again the tabernacle of
David," set up his throne there on which David's royal son shall sit in robes of glory, King of kings, and
Lord of lords, and send forth his righteous laws from Mount Zion, for the government of the world.
But proof, and not assumption, is necessary to establish this position. It is at hand, and we most
cheerfully give it, and hope all will as cheerfully receive and believe it.
Amos ix. 11. "In that day, will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches
thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old."
The tabernacle to be builded again, is the same that had existed "in the days of old".
This we deem infallible evidence that the tabernacle of David will be builded "again."
Acts. xv. 16. "After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down;
and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up."
Meta tauta. ~~ After these things, (after visiting the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name,
or after the close of the gospel day,) I will return.
Kai anoikodomeso. ~~ And build again. This verb is a compound word, being composed of
domeo, to
build or construct ~~ oikos, a house, dwelling ~~ and ana, again. Hence, of itself, it signifies to re-build a
dwelling house. But its meaning in this passage, is, if possible, rendered still more definite and positive, by
the addition of skeenee, which is defined, "A tent, tabernacle, i.
e., generally, any temporary dwelling, a
tent, booth." This is "the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down."
Peptoknian is from pipio, "to fall,
fall prostrate, fall down, fall in ruins."
Kai ta kates kammena autes anoikodomeso. ~~ And I will build again, or re-construct, the ruins of it.
Kai anosthoso auten, and I will set it up again.
There is no evading the force of this testimony. It is as immutable as the Bible is true. And it clearly
proves ~~
That the tabernacle of David was his "temporary dwelling," or royal palace, which stood on Mount Zion.
That the tabernacle of David has "fallen down," and is "in ruins."
That after "these things," viz., the Gospel day, in which a people should be taken out of the Gentiles for
the Lord, he will return. And
That he will then build AGAIN, or RE-build the Tabernacle, or Royal Palace of David.
Do not pervert such testimony as this, nor discredit it; but believe it with all your heart, and rejoice in the
blessed assurance that what it promises will soon become a glorious reality.
The tabernacle or royal palace of David, which has long been fallen down, will be raised from its ruins,
and become the place of the throne of David's royal Son; on which he will reign forever, and of his
kingdom there will be no end.
Let us contemplate the . . .