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Abundant Life
King's Chamber
Beautiful for
situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, Dick Kindig To those who have studied the various details of the Great Pyramid, the King’s Chamber attracts attention because of its many unique characteristics.
Why
did the Great Pyramid’s architect build it this way? Other articles in this
issue describe the Descending Passage and the upward pointing Ascending Passage
blocked by granite. The Ascending Passage feeds directly into the Grand Gallery
whose height is seven times higher; it also has handholds to make the climb
easier. Finally, at the end of the Grand Gallery, there is the great step. The
one who negotiates the great step and continues on the flat floor must stoop
three times before he can actually enter the King’s Chamber. When
Christians began to notice the correlation between the pyramid passages and
Bible dispensations, some were surprised by the concept of two ages of grace
and the two life destinations which they offered. The King’s Chamber focuses on
that part of redemption which culminates in the glories of heaven, made
available to those who follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Just as the precious
granite pictured the divine law blocking the way to life at the beginning of
Jewish history, so granite symbolizes the divine life awaiting those who
successfully make an ascent through the means of grace God has provided. The Air Passages “Beautiful for situation” (Psalm 48:2) is the way the psalmist symbolically describes the heavenly kingdom, a kingdom of those beloved by God, a people in whose hearts God is pleased to dwell. The King’s Chamber is “beautiful for situation.” It occupies the most honored place in the most exalted building ever built. It sits on the fiftieth course of masonry which occupies half the area of the base of the Pyramid. The coffer marks the only place one can stand on the north-south vertical plane within the entire edifice. As a symbol of the resurrected glory of Christ and the church, the coffer symbolizes the center of all God’s activity throughout history, and the attainment by Christians of the measure of Christ’s love! God’s goal has been the selection, training, and polishing of this special “new creation,” his heavenly family. Some Scriptures speak of the church as the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 4:12); others speak of it as his bride (Revelation 21:9). Together with Jesus as head and the church his body they occupy the center of God’s plan, enjoying the highest place—“eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1). The lidless coffer—reminiscent of the open tomb—and the air passages delivering what is essential for life symbolizes immortality. It is unthinkable that any tomb built by the ancient Egyptians would contain ventilation shafts. The Egyptians well understood the putrefaction process; they knew that air causes the decomposition of things and the destruction of dead bodies. But air is vital to sustain living beings. Thus the air passages send a clear signal that the purpose of this room is not death but life. The King’s Chamber symbolizes the highest kind of life, heavenly life, promised to the Christian Church (1 Peter 1:4). Christians are promised life within themselves, the same kind of life Jesus was given which was originally possessed only by the Father (John 5:26; 2 Peter 1:4). How fitting that the air passages of the King’s Chamber are open to all who attain it. The air passages to the Queen’s Chamber must be opened by those who enter, thus symbolizing that the opportunity for life in the Millennial kingdom hinges on obedience. Measurements The longest measurement of the King’s Chamber is the cubic diagonal, the distance from any corner to the opposite corner. Suppose we compare this length to the other passages in the Great Pyramid, first with the Grand Gallery. Dividing the length of the Grand Gallery by the cubic diagonal of the King’s Chamber produces the quotient 3.65268. This number is significant because when multiplied by one hundred, the result is the exact length of one solar year 1 (within the expected variation caused by slight measuring differences). The Christian age, symbolized by the Grand Gallery, is linked to the sun (Revelation 12:1). Dividing the length of the Horizontal Passage by the cubic diagonal of the King’s Chamber produces the quotient 2.951277. When this number is multiplied by ten, the result is the exact length of one lunar month 2 (again within the expected variation caused by slight measuring differences). The lunar cycle is tied to the fortunes of Israel and the kingdom age arrangements. Christ’s visit to the Jews represented their fullest favor (the time of the full moon which was the stipulated time of the Passover sacrifice). When Christ died on the cross, “immediately the moon began to wane”—Israel’s disfavor began. Moses asked God what to do if a person was unclean or in a far country at the time of passover (the full of the moon). God’s answer was to wait until the moon was full again (Numbers 9:4-13). So those who do not gain the benefit of Christ’s sacrifice at Calvary can celebrate the sacrifice and participate in its benefits the next time Israel’s fortunes are at their full which will be in the time soon to come. A relatively small number have benefitted from Christ’s sacrifice during the Christian age, but as the angels sang at the birth of Jesus, these “good tidings of great joy” are to be “for all people.” These blessings will flow to the world through Israel—a covenant arrangement pictured by the moon, and by the Sabbath day as well (see Ezekiel 46:1; Jeremiah 31:31). We have seen evidence that the King’s Chamber is related to the length of the Christian era by a solar factor, and to the Messianic age through a lunar factor. Consider now its relationship to the First Ascending Passage. Dividing the length of the Ascending Passage by the cubic diagonal of the King’s Chamber produces the quotient 2.996073, greater than expected if it were to be one lunar month. In fact, this is a remarkable result! Although there are literally 365¼ days in one year, students of the Bible know that one prophetic year contains 360 days (see Revelation 11:2,3 where forty-two months are equated with twelve hundred sixty days). The ratio of 365¼ days (one solar year) and 360 days (one prophetic year) is 0.98563. If the ratio of the King’s Chamber cubic diagonal to the First Ascending Passage length is multiplied by 0.98563 (the “prophetic year” ratio), the result is 2.953019 which when multiplied by ten is the number of days in a lunar month. Thus the King’s Chamber’s cubic diagonal bears an interesting relationship to all three upward passages. The ratio with those passages produces an astronomical measure that is clearly supported by the Scriptures which show the sun representing the Christian age, the moon representing the Messianic age, and the moon also representing the Jewish age, the age of prophecy. It is unlikely this level of accuracy is accidental. The need to multiply the quotients by ten or one hundred seems to be dictated by the scale of the structure not because there is any inherent meaning in those factors. All the passages of the Great Pyramid are left of center. The actual measurement, center point to center point, is about twenty-four feet (fourteen royal cubits). If we think of the entire course of human history as a time of being fallen, and the distance from alignment with the capstone as representing the amount we are fallen—the loss of perfection as it were—then whatever can return us to alignment under the perfect image of God, the perfections of Christ, would be the amount we are out of harmony, the amount we need to be changed or rectified. There are only three places one can be in the exact east-west vertical plane of the Great Pyramid: the “Great Step” of the Grand Gallery, the niche in the Queen’s Chamber, and in the Descending Passage just before it ends at the Pit. Philippians 2:10 tells us that all will bow to Jesus whether in heaven, earth, or under the earth! Whether we spend eternity on earth or in heaven, the only way we can do the Father’s will and be pleasing to him is if we become conformed to the character of his son. Those in the Queen’s Chamber will have reached the point where Christians begin their walk (except those on the earth will be actually perfect). Those in the coffer—the condition of immortal life—will be the only ones who are perfectly conformed to the image of Christ, for they are exactly in the north-south vertical plane. The Ante-Chamber
The
walk of individual Christians begins by first coming to Jesus and the gracious
provision of Justification by Faith. This is beautifully shown by the Great
Step’s alignment with the east-west vertical plane. Thus standing “in faith” on
the top step of the Grand Gallery, there is a high vista to be seen. Those
who look up see the glorious promises of God—overlapping ages and layers of
grace. Those who look back see a dark past, a slippery slope. As the Scriptures
teach we are called by “glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3). The image of God’s
goodness and the prospect of being like him are the great magnets that draw
true-hearted men and women toward the heavenly father. But
more is required than just turning one’s back on sin; we must step forward and
present our bodies a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). We must move forward into
the life of the spirit, taking up Jesus’ cross and following him. Thus
each Christian turns his back on the slippery slope of human depravity and
steps forward to confront a wall. It is the wall of humility and represents the
figurative death of the flesh by participating with Christ in his cross. Those
who really become disciples of Christ must stoop under a great limestone
portcullis to move forward into “the school of Christ.” Suddenly
the environment changes: no longer do we stand on limestone—the righteousness
of a man, so to speak—we stand on granite. Old things have passed away, all
things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). God views us as New Creatures. We
are begotten by the holy spirit and can now cry, “Abba, Father” to God (Romans
8:15). The
Ante-Chamber’s rough-hewn appearance stands in stark contrast to the perfection
and polish of the King’s Chamber. It fittingly pictures the period of human
life, of undone conditions, of unpredictable and rough-hewn experiences that
God uses to test and develop his spiritual children. Every
true Christian experiences disciplinary experiences. As Hebrews 12:7 puts it,
“What son is he whom the father does not chasten?” The Great Pyramid shows the
heavenly father’s will by a granite “leaf.” One can stand in front of it,
but it is a kind of granite wall. Again humility is shown as one must bow low
to continue progressing toward the reward God has in reservation for those who
love him. “The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure
heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5, NIV).
There
is one other similarity between the Ante-Chamber and the Tabernacle. The high
priest passed four posts supporting the veil when he moved from the Holy to the
Most Holy. To pass from the Ante-Chamber into the King’s Chamber one must pass
under a granite portcullis clearly marked with four deep semicircular grooves
which look like pillar-like indentations in the stone.
Concluding
Thoughts The walls of the King’s Chamber could have been adorned with hieroglyphic writings as were those in so many other pyramids. But they were not. Instead, we find “writings” of an entirely different kind. To understand what the inspired architect is saying, we need to turn to the clear teachings of Scripture which tell us what God is doing in the world. Once we possess that information, we find striking symbolisms and compelling testimony in the Great Pyramid that God is indeed in charge and will bring his creation to the perfection he has long planned for them. The highest goal of those who are serving him now is to be faithful unto death and thus receive the promised reward, everlasting life in heaven. May we all meet, one day, in the King’s Chamber! ________________ 1. According to the American Heritage Electronic Dictionary a solar year is "the period of time for the earth to make one complete revolution around the sun, measuring from one vernal equinox to the next and equal to 365 days. 5 hours, 8 minutes, 43.51 seconds." Expressed as a decimal fraction it is 365.2422 . According to the American Heritage Electronic Dictionary, a lunar month is "the average time between successive new or full moons, equal to 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes." Express as a decimal fraction it is 29.53 days/ |
The
Ante-Chamber is not an end in itself, but it is a means to an end. It pictures
the conditions which Christians experience before they enter the King’s
Chamber, just as the Horizontal Passage pictures the conditions faced by the
world of mankind before they enter the earthly kingdom, the Queen’s Chamber.
When
we come to the end of our earthly life, we enter a passage that could be called
the actual death of the flesh. In the ancient Tabernacle it is the veil
separating the Holy from the Most Holy. In the Great Pyramid it is a low
passage entirely surrounded by granite showing that “precious in the sight of
the Lord is the death of his saints” (Psalm 116:15). When we pass “beyond the
veil,” we arise in the spiritual condition, the granite King’s Chamber.