Jehovah Himself Has Become King (forward)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This work is the product of a decade of intense research in the Hebrew prophecies, as well as well as a thorough study of all the publications of the Watchtower, coupled with a willing indoctrination into the conspiratorial view of history. I am appreciative that the Society has produced the excellent New World Translation and am also deeply grateful for their having provided an educational and ministerial training program that assisted to develop in me a reverential love of the Bible and a practical discipline towards godly devotion, and for helping to instill in me the determination to preach the word of God with all boldness and firm conviction.  I am especially thankful to have known so many of Jehovah’s Witnesses who have displayed a deep love of truth and an abiding faith in Jehovah and Jesus worthy of imitation.

It is here acknowledged that it may be painful, even traumatic, for Jehovah’s Witnesses to now consider the falsity of certain dearly held beliefs; but surely it is a necessary trauma that all true Christians must eventually endure—some sooner, others later—in order to go forward in the complete accomplishment of Jehovah’s grand purpose to vindicate himself as our Grand Instructor and the Revealer of sacred secrets. This book is, therefore, dedicated to all lovers of truth in the hope that the information presented herein may serve as a primer for the ultimate truth Jehovah himself is yet to reveal in Christ Jesus. May the certain knowledge that Heaven’s judgments are soon to be manifested provide comfort to the many downtrodden and disaffected among Jehovah’s Witnesses and bolster the faith of those who might otherwise be stumbled by what is yet to unexpectedly unfold in the days ahead, so that all may find the needed faith and courage to stand firm during the confounding of the house of God, now so near at hand.

I am also guardedly optimistic that a few brothers among the Bethel leadership of Jehovah’s Witnesses may have their minds pried open sufficiently to comprehend the judgments of Jehovah presented in this volume before the great day of confusion erupts.

I also wish to express here my deepest appreciation for my darling wife of 26 years for her undying support, without which, this publication would not have been possible. Also, a special thanks to my dear friend, Timothy Kline, for his loving encouragement, support and expert help with the many perplexing technical issues with which I have been confronted over the years of our collaboration.  Finally, I am most grateful to Jehovah and Jesus for having opened a door before me that no man can shut and for having given me “more insight than all my teachers.” (Psalms 119:99)

Robert King


FORWARD

Dear Reader,

The production of a newer version of Jehovah Himself Has Become King did not arise from the need to radically revise the views previously published; nor has it come about due to having any especially fresh insights to add to what has already been put to print. The purpose of a second edition was primarily to make merely stylistic changes and minor grammatical corrections; purge persistent typos, goofs and publisher formatting errors; trim redundant material, refine, rephrase and place a finer point for the sake of clarity and conciseness; thereby, hopefully, making the book more readable and the message more credible.

Producing a second edition has also afforded me the opportunity to upgrade the audio version of this work as well.

The intended purpose of this publication originally was to amplify the message of the prophets of antiquity, thereby projecting Jehovah’s authoritative voice into the modern world in a small but perhaps significant way in advance of Christ’s authentic arrival and his manifestation. That is still the intent of this second edition.

Although I do not consider myself to be a writer and am certainly no Bible scholar in the classic sense; possessing no academic credentials of any kind of which to boast; unfortunately, now no longer even having any plaudits within the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses with which to recommend myself—I am, nonetheless, compelled by a conviction that I do have something profoundly important to say; and therefore, I believe, an obligation before God to at least try and convey it—Jehovah be my judge.

Those readers who may not be familiar with the teachings and beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses will not find in this work any similarity to the popular end times eschatology peddled by the evangelical movement. Admittedly, Bible prophecy lends itself to various interpretations, which self-serving mischief-makers exploit for their own gain. For that matter, even the most fundamental teachings of the Bible have been twisted and distorted by spiritual charlatans to the extent that the masses who believe themselves to be Christians do not even know who Christ is—having allowed themselves to be deluded into believing the absurd notion that the Son of God is also God himself.

It is ludicrous to suppose that those who do not know even the most fundamental truths regarding the special relationship between Jehovah and his Son, Jesus, might somehow understand the deep things of prophesy regarding the return of Christ. Paradoxically, though, even those who know Jehovah and Jesus and who are subsequently known by them, are themselves effectively blind to prophecy since they imagine that they have already been enlightened by the faithful slave. The greatest irony is that the prophets themselves foretold that Jehovah’s true servants would be blind to certain truths, as if God had hidden a sacred secret from them, and indeed he has, keeping it held in reserve. The intent of this publication is to clear away some of the Watchtower’s cobwebs of dogma and cast some light upon that which God will ultimately reveal—hence, a primer for the Apocalypse.

While I candidly admit to not having anything remarkable to add to what has already been published in the first edition, in light of the recent near-crash of the global financial system, and the seeming inevitability of terrorism and outright war involving the use of terrifying weapons of mass destruction, as well as the re-emergence of the threat of lethal pandemics, and the growing reality of food shortages due to the accelerating deterioration of the underlying economy and the looming specter of the catastrophic collapse of the value of money, it appears as if the dark horsemen of the Apocalypse are champing at the bit, raring to be unleashed on their deadly gallop—making the information re-presented in this volume more relevant now than ever before. Certainly, “the time left is reduced.”

And in view of the oozing malaise into which Jehovah’s Witnesses seem to be sinking deeper and deeper and the continued intransigence on the part of the Watchtower Society’s leadership to honestly address their manifold errors and stumbling blocks, reemphasizing the message of Jehovah’s future judgment upon the organization that bears his name by means of a release of a second edition of this book also seems especially appropriate at this time.

Just as a watchman stationed upon some solitary outpost in ancient times was duty-bound to stay awake and on guard in order to sound the warning trumpet at the first approach of danger, so it is with a renewed sense of urgency and alarm over the ominously gathering global tempest that this second edition of Jehovah Himself Has Become King is presented.

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What is the disgusting thing?

Question from a reader (2007): What is the disgusting thing that stands in a holy place?

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The question ought to be slightly reworded to ask: What will the disgusting thing be? – signifying that it is a future development. This, of course, is contrary to the current view of Jehovah's Witnesses.

To put things into perspective it is important to note that the Bible uses the expression “disgusting thing” in reference to idols. For example, in reference to the idolatry that “wise” king Solomon instituted in Israel, 1 Kings 11:5-8 says: “And Solomon began going after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and after Milcom the disgusting thing of the Ammonites. And Solomon began to do what was bad in the eyes of Jehovah, and he did not follow Jehovah fully like David his father. It was then that Solomon proceeded to build a high place to Chemosh the disgusting thing of Moab on the mountain that was in front of Jerusalem, and to Molech the disgusting thing of the sons of Ammon. And that was the way he did for all his foreign wives who were making sacrificial smoke and sacrificing to their gods.”

From Jehovah’s standpoint anything that is set up to rival or replace his worship is a “disgusting thing.” In regards to the disgusting thing of prophecy, Jesus foretold that a disgusting thing would stand where it ought not, which in the first century was in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem, which was a holy place to God – at least nominally. (Contrary to the Watchtower’s present view that the temple was not holy and hence represents unholy Christendom, Jesus twice cleansed the temple of the money-changers because he recognized it as his Father’s house – a holy place) The disgusting thing proved to be the Roman armies that entered Jerusalem in the year 66 C.E. (Of note: At the time the Roman Empire was acting in the prophetic role of the king of the north)

According to the Jewish historian, Josephus, the Roman soldiers actually entered the temple, thereby desecrating it, and even planted their imperial flags (ensigns) on holy ground. That was the signal for the apostles and all Christians to flee out of the doomed city because three and a half years later the Roman legions returned and completely destroyed Jerusalem. This, of course, was in fulfillment of the prophecy of Daniel 9:27, which reads: “And upon the wing of disgusting things there will be the one causing desolation; and until an extermination, the very thing decided upon will go pouring out also upon the one lying desolate.”

But the 11th and 12th chapters also foretell of the coming of a disgusting thing that will abolish another sanctuary of God. According to Daniel 11:31, the king of the north “will actually profane the sanctuary, the fortress, and remove the constant feature. And they will certainly put in place the disgusting thing that is causing desolation.”

Significantly, the 8th chapter of Daniel foretells that a king fierce in countenance will also bring desolation upon God’s sanctuary and holy place and remove the so-called constant feature. This is to occur during the time of the end, when Christ’s kingdom actually comes to power, and is an immediate prelude to the king of fierce countenance’s own destruction by Christ. Obviously, the king of fierce countenance and the disgusting thing are one and the same.

But, what is the holy place that is destined to come to desolation? According to the writings of the apostles the holy place is the congregation of Christ’s anointed disciples, otherwise known as the holy ones. -- See the essay: What is the Holy Place and the Great Tribulation?

And according to the 7th and 8th chapters of Daniel the holy ones will be given the kingdom but afterwards they will be crushed and brought to ruin by Satan’s political agency then in power on earth. Now the question: If Christ’s congregation is considered a holy place for God to inhabit by spirit, how much more holy will it be to God when once Christ cleanses it of the evil slave and gives the kingdom to the holy ones? So, just as Solomon placed the disgusting idols of Chemosh and Molech as substitutes for the worship of Jehovah, according to the arrangement then in place, the disgusting thing will be installed in place as a substitute and counterfeit of God’s kingdom; since at that time the holy ones on earth will no longer be merely serving as ambassadors for Christ but will actually be kings of God’s kingdom along with Christ.

So, the setting up of the disgusting thing in a holy place during the time of the end will involve the Anglo-American king destroying itself and the nation-state system and replacing the present system with a one-world government, no doubt administered through the United Nations, which already has the bureaucratic infrastructure in place to serve as a world government. We know this from the 13th chapter of Revelation, which reveals that the seven-headed beast – one head with two horns representing the present Anglo-American dyad – is destined to be slaughtered and afterwards brought back to life.

The death of the beast will result in an unprecedented calamity for the world and will terrify mankind into subservience to the totalitarian system that will arise from the chaos. After the seeming miraculous resuscitation of the political system the revived beast will then advocate the making of an image of itself, which itself comes to life and requires the world of mankind to obey and worship it. This will be the development which gives rise to the symbolic 666 marking of the idolaters.

The image of the beast is the disgusting thing since it will be worshipped as the savior of the world at the very time that Christ will have returned in secret to reveal himself to his holy ones and usher them into the kingdom of his Father.

Jesus foretold that the trampling of the holy place would continue over an interval of time known as the “appointed times of the nations.” The 12th chapter of Daniel confirms that the appointed times for the nations to trample the kings of God’s kingdom by means of the disgusting thing is three and a half years. Daniel 12:11reads: “And from the time that the constant feature has been removed and there has been a placing of the disgusting thing that is causing desolation, there will be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.”

WHO IS BEHIND 1914, REALLY?

Revised from 2007 Jehovah’s Witnesses frequently refer to themselves as being “in the truth.” That is because the faith itself is referred to as “the truth.”

Actually, Jesus himself first used the expression, when he said concerning the Devil: “He did not stand fast in the truth.”

So, according to Jesus Christ the Devil was once “in the truth,” just like Jehovah’s Witnesses claim to be.

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A Conspiracy of Silence Continues

Published as an open letter in 2007As of May the 10th the mainstream media is beginning to cover the Silentlambs’ press release publicizing the Watchtower’s recent million-dollar payout to 16 victims of child sexual abuse.

Evidently the legal department felt that they did not have a very strong case going into court, and so as shrewd lawyers often do they advised their client – in this case, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society – to cut their losses and settle the cases out of court and thus avoid the public spectacle of numerous protracted trials and the potential of massive damages being awarded by outraged juries.

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WHO IS A WATCHMAN?

This month of September marks nine years since e-watchman.com came online in 2002.

In the Bible times of walled cities, watchmen served a vital function as sentries assigned to keep on the lookout for any signs of approaching enemy armies, marauders, or any other dangers. The position of watchman was considered so important due to its responsibility for the lives of others that a negligent watchman could be put to death. Using that very analogy, Jehovah commissioned spiritual watchmen who were charged by him with announcing his judgments.  

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THE VISIBLE PRESENCE OF CHRIST

Article origially appeared in 2007The belief that an invisible presence of Christ began in 1914 is undoubtedly the centerpiece of the Watchtower Society’s teachings. The importance of the parousia doctrine to the theology of Jehovah’s Witnesses cannot be understated. It is, in fact, the basis for the Watchtower Society's ecclesiastical authority, as well as the organization’s very existence.   

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Now The End Is Upon You

"Now the end is upon you, and I must send my anger against you, And I will judge you according to your ways and bring upon you all your detestable things." —Ezekiel 7:3

This article was originally an open letter to the Watchtower Societybased upon the seventh chapter of the prophetic book of Ezekiel. It was mailed to all members of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses and to numerous departments at Brooklyn Bethel, Wallkill and Patterson facilities in New York State. Copies of this open letter have also been mailed directly to all 100 branch offices of the Watchtower around the world as well as to all assembly halls in the United States and individual congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the New York City area.

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The Faithful Slave Passes the Test?

The second study article of the March 1, 2004, Watchtower, entitled: "The Faithful Slave Passes the Test," reasserts the teaching that Christ came in 1918-19 to inspect the household of anointed. Supposedly that is when the evil slave was thrown out and the faithful and discreet slave was appointed over all of Christ's belongings.

The Watchtower also applies a number of related prophetic illustrations to the same period; including the separation of the wheat and weeds; the wise and foolish virgins, as well as the parable of the master's talents.

For instance, under the subheading "Discreet and Foolish Virgins," the Watchtower comments:

"The ten virgins remind us of anointed Christians before 1914. They had calculated that the bridegroom, Jesus Christ, was about to make an appearance. Hence they went out to meet him, boldly preaching that the appointed times of the nations would end in 1914."

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The Revelation of Christ and the Two Witnesses

Republished from 2006The return of Jesus Christ will be the most profound occurrence of all time. Christ’s revelation will set into motion a chain if events that will forever change the affairs of men on earth. But what exactly is the revelation of Christ?

As the word implies, the revelation has to do with the revealing or unveiling of Jesus. To unveil means to make manifest something or someone that was previously hidden or kept secret. So, the unveiling of Christ is when he reveals himself to his chosen ones. Afterwards they will then not only become eyewitnesses of his manifestation, but also sharers in his glory; even as the apostle John assured us at 1 John 3:2, where he wrote: “Beloved ones, now we are children of God, but as yet it has not been made manifest what we shall be. We do know that whenever he is made manifest we shall be like him, because we shall see him just as he is.”

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A Conspiracy of Silence, Soon to End

This is an open letter to Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Watchtower Society. It was originally published  in May, 2006, and mailed directly to thousands of congregations in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

It was a senseless and brutal crime. A young bride was viciously gang-raped and left to die – murdered. An entire nation was shocked by the outrage and quickly mobilized in response to the bizarre publicizing campaign of the grieving husband in order to see that the perpetrators were brought to justice. Incredibly, though, the leading men in the city where the crime took place stubbornly refused to hand over the guilty party, and instead of cooperating with those intent on bringing the depraved abusers to justice, they fought against them to protect the guilty from being punished. There was much needless bloodshed as a result. (The details of the matter are recorded in the concluding chapters of the Bible book of Judges.)

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What is the Great Tribulation and the Holy Place?

Previously published, 2006What is the great tribulation and what is the holy place that is destined for desolation?

Although Jesus indicated that the desolation of Jerusalem in the 1st century would result in a great tribulation unlike any before, he also went on to say that the tribulation will be a time of unprecedented distress upon all the nations of the earth (not just Jerusalem), of such severity that the continued existence of humanity will hang in the balance. The great tribulation will necessitate divine intervention in order to save mankind from extinction.

Because the great tribulation is destined to come upon the entire inhabited earth during Christ’s presence, terrorizing the peoples of the world to the extent of their becoming faint with fright, it obviously involves much more than merely the legislated banning of organized religion. The great tribulation evidently encompasses the jarring collapse of the entire global system, including that which was typified by Jerusalem and its holy temple in ancient times.

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THE MYTH OF THE FALL OF BABYLON THE GREAT

Previously published in 2006

Myth: 1) A popular belief or story that has become associated with a person, institution, or occurrence, especially one considered to illustrate a cultural ideal: a star whose fame turned her into a myth; the pioneer myth of suburbia.

2) A fiction or half-truth, especially one that forms part of an ideology

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The ancient Greek historian, Herodotus, recorded that Babylon’s encircling walls towered over 300 feet above the Euphrates – making the renowned city a seemingly impregnable fortress. But on one night (October 6th, 539 B.C.E.) the mighty City of Babylon was toppled by the Medes and Persians – led by King Cyrus. Commissioned by Jehovah himself through Isaiah’s prophetic writings 200 years earlier, Cyrus then decreed that the Jews were free to leave Babylon and return to rebuild the City of Jehovah, which Nebuchadnezzar had demolished nearly 70 years before. A remnant of Jews seized the opportunity and got out of Babylon.

As momentous as the fall of Babylon was then, the Bible foretells of another Babylon which is destined to fall – Babylon the Great.

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When They Are Saying "Peace and Security!"

 The apostle Paul is not generally thought of as a prophet, at least not like the Hebrew prophets that preceded him. Although his more than a dozen letters form the main part of the so-called New Testament, only a small portion of his work may be considered prophetic. That being said, much of Paul’s writing focuses on the coming of Christ and the parousia, so in that sense, the so-called Pauline letters are profoundly prophetic. 

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Jehovah's Witnesses: A People for His Name?

This article was originally published in May, 2004What’s in a name, you ask? Everything— that is, if the name happens to be the personal name of God.  While scholars may debate the exact pronunciation of YHWH until the world ends, the simple fact of scripture remains: The biblical deity whom we call Jehovah in English, emphatically states in his word that he will have his personal name declared in all the earth and that he will produce a people who not only call on his name but who themselves are called by his distinctive name.

The question is: Are Jehovah’s Witnesses the people? Before answering that question, let us first consider some of the objections to the idea that Jehovah’s Witnesses are fulfilling the patterns and prophecies by being a people for God’s name.

Ironically, perhaps the most vigorous objection comes from a former Jehovah’s Witness and Governing Body member, Ray Franz (now deceased). In his book entitled In Search of Christian Freedom, an entire chapter devoted to the question of whether Jehovah’s Witnesses are “a people for his name, as the Watchtower teaches. According to Franz there is only one acceptable biblical designation for Christians —Christians.

While it is true that the Bible says it was by “divine providence” that the followers of Christ came to be known as Christians in the first century; nevertheless, the apostles recognized that people of the nations were also designated by prophecy to be a people for the name of YHWH as well.

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Many First Will be Last, And the Last First

Joseph in the dungeon - WTBTS

Edited version of an article originally published in 2003

For many decades the Society has taught Jehovah’s Witnesses that the calling and choosing of the 144,000-member bride of Christ ended in 1935. (Actually, by applying the parable of the wise and foolish virgins to the 1914-1919 period the Watchtower even inadvertently implies that the door to the marriage feast was closed way back then. Ironically, virtually all the present members of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses were anointed post 1935.)

Consequently, as a result of that erroneous teaching, the current mindset within the organization is that any new partakers of the heavenly calling are viewed with great suspicion and even disdain—as if they are less worthy of Jehovah’s undeserved kindness then the older, exalted anointed brothers.

Prevailing attitudes in the organization are such that newly anointed individuals are even made to question their own sanity. (Interestingly, some of Christ's own relatives once thought he had lost his mind. See Mark 3:21) Some professing a heavenly hope are even intimidated to the point of hiding their own anointing by not publicly partaking of the symbol of their calling when the emblems of the Lord’s Evening meal are passed. 

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A Closer Look at 1914

Edited, slightly revised version of previosuly published essay

Jehovah’s Witnesses have been taught and whole-heartedly believe that the sign of Christ’s parousia has been evident since 1914. But in spite of the belief that Jesus Christ has been invisibly present in some fashion for nearly a century now, Jehovah’s Witnesses are nonetheless, contradictorily exhorted to keep on the watch. But keep on the watch for what? According to the Watchtower’s brochure of the same title, Christians are to remain in expectation of the destruction of Babylon the Great. Specifically, on page 12 the Society states:

“What confronts us today? Another and more far-reaching day of Jehovah. Divine judgment has been pronounced upon Babylon the Great. According to Revelation 14: 8, an angel declares: “Babylon the Great has fallen!” That has already taken place. No longer can she restrain worshipers of Jehovah. Her own corruption and involvement in war have been widely exposed. Now her final destruction is near.”

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The Apostasy Must Come First

This is an abbreviated version of an article from 2004Satan has corrupted and misled every people that God has ever recognized as his own—beginning with the first family in Eden. For example, so insidious is Satan’s influence, no sooner had God miraculously saved them from Egyptian bondage and organized the patriarchal tribes of Israel into a nation, then Satan induced their high priest, Aaron, to fabricate a golden calf to be worshipped in the name of Jehovah.

Sadly, much of the history of Israel and Judah is a chronicle of apostasy, idolatry and unfaithfulness on the part of the people of the covenants.

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The Tables Have Become Full of Filthy Vomit

This article was originally published in 2004Imagine yourself at a fine restaurant, the kind of restaurant with soft candle-light and white table cloths; served by waiters in tuxedos who cater to your every whim. Your favorite dish is on the menu and the chef prepares it to perfection. But, as you sit soaking up the atmosphere you get a whiff of a very unpleasant, nauseating stench, and as you gaze around the dinning room you notice that all the tables have what appears to be vomit all over the pretty white tablecloths. And your worst fears are confirmed—to your horror, just as your waiter serves you your dish, he suddenly vomits on your table too! Surely, no person could avoid become revolted by such a disgusting experience.

Begging the readers’ pardon for employing such an unappetizing illustration, it is in fact, a graphic image that Jehovah himself employs in the 28th chapter of Isaiah, which states: “For the tables themselves have all become full of filthy vomit—there is no place without it.”

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The Coming Fall of the House of God

This article is also available as a downloadable PDF and a paper brochure via Lulu.com

The temple of Jehovah in Jerusalem was one of the grandest structures of the ancient world. It also had the unique distinction of being the only edifice on earth (other than the portable tabernacle) where God maintained a visible manifestation of his presence. There, within the temple’s Most Holy chamber, God’s presence was manifest in the form of a cloud hovering over the golden Ark of the Covenant.

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BABYLON VERSUS ZION

Previously published in 2004. Version also published in first edition of Jehovah himself Has Become King as LamentationsWhile the ancient Israelites were not renowned for their engineering skills, Solomon's temple was one of the most magnificent structures of the ancient world. Though perhaps not as imposing from the outside as some ancient structures may have been; the inside of the temple was truly awe-inspiring. The interior of the temple was divided into two main compartments of the Holy and Most Holy. In the Most Holy compartment was kept the original stone tablets, inside the Ark of the Covenant, along with a jar containing some of the original manna.  

Cedar-paneled walls throughout the temple were overlaid in gold foil and studded with every sort of precious gem. All of the temple utensils and lamp-holders were made of pure gold. The two massive, beautifully carved, olive wood doors were also covered in gold. What a sight it must have been when the rays of the rising sun shone upon the glittering golden doors of the east-facing temple entry. (Take virtual tour of Solomon's Temple - YouTube)

But what was most impressive about the temple King Solomon had built on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, what made it so special, even sacred, was that Jehovah actually dwelled there, at least in a token way.

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