No Secrecy

Recently, while reading through the book of Exodus, the above passage caught my attention. Part of the priestly attire worn by Aaron during his ministration included a golden bell which would ring as he walked about in the temple while performing his service to the LORD.

Being the high priest, Aaron was a type of Jesus Christ our high priest (Heb 2:17). As the bells announced to the people that the high priest had entered into the holy place, so the gospel of Christ announced to the world that our high priest entered into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Heb 9:11-12 – But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

“Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.” (Psa 89:15)

Just as the bells alerted the people that the high priest was returning from the holy place, so will the return of Christ be accompanied by a “great sound of a trumpet” (Mat 24:31). The second coming of Christ will be no secret and silent event as the dispensationalists claim, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first” (1Th 4:16). Jesus Himself said that His return will be no secret.

Mat 24:26-27 – Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

The people outside of the holy place were not able to see exactly what the high priest was doing inside on their behalf, but they could be contented hearing the bells and knowing that their intercessor was laboring before God on their behalf. So it is with Christ our high priest, who, “though now ye see him not” (1Pe 1:8), is nevertheless “at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Rom 8:34). Although we cannot see our blessed Lord Jesus interceding for us, the sweet sound of the gospel tells us that He is.

The ringing bells on the high priests garment also remind us that the work of the ministry and the preaching of the gospel is not to be done in secret. Our Lord Jesus said, “I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing” (Joh 18:20).  He told His disciples, “What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops” (Mat 10:27). 

Beware of any religion which is shrouded in secrecy.

Eph 5:11-13  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 

Pro 9:13-18 – A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. 14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, 15 To call passengers who go right on their ways: 16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. 18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.