The Christadelphian, June 1872, John Thomas

“Begun But Never Finished”

A Bible Dictionary Upon Which Dr. Thomas

Was Engaged at the Time of His Death

ALTAR.—“I saw beneath the altar the persons of them that had been slain on account of the word of God, and on account of the testimony which they held.”—(Rev. 6:9.) Also in Rev. 11:1: “Rise and measure the altar.” And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi;” i.e., I Shall Be (is) my banner.—(Ex. 17:15.) “An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen. And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone; for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.—(Ex. 20:24–26.)

“An altar of earth.” The first man of the earth was earthy. The second man was earthy until cleansed, or raised a spiritual body. In the formation of the altar of earth or of stone, the builder’s tool was not to pollute it, nor his nakedness to be discovered upon it. “We have an altar, ” says Paul, “whereof they have no right to eat who serve the tabernacle,” that is, the Aaron’s priests. “For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the High Priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore, Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.”—(Heb. 13:10.)

Jesus was the antitype of the altar of earth, begotten not of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God, as the Spirit said by David, “a body hast Thou prepared Me.” The true worshippers eat of this altar named Jesus; for “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.”—(John 6:53.) He that doeth this, “I will raise him up at the last day.” “He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him.” “Let Christ dwell in your hearts by “faith, saith Paul. Hence the altar, Jesus, is partaken of by faith when his body is discovered.

The altar, Jehovah-nissi, and the altar Jesus, the type and antitype, are the place of sacrifice for offerings of sheep, &c. All who have the Word of God, and hold the testimony of Jesus, are regarded as a part of the altar, being “partakers with the altar,” and suffering death for that word and testimony, they are represented as “beneath the altar.”