The mercy seat is the gold cover on the Ark of the Covenant where God met His people and on which the high priest sprinkled atoning blood — and Les Feldick teaches that Christ Himself is that mercy seat.
Scripture describes it as a cover of pure beaten gold, overshadowed by two golden cherubim, placed above the Ark that held the law. Its significance is that God's mercy was displayed there over a holy, demanding law. Les Feldick teaches that every tabernacle item, including the mercy seat, pictures Christ, who is the place where His own blood was presented for propitiation.
Exodus 25:17-22 — This is the original description of the mercy seat, its cherubim, and God's promise to meet Israel above it.
The Bible first describes the mercy seat when God gives Moses instructions for the tabernacle. Exodus 25:17-22 says the mercy seat was made of pure gold, with two cherubim of beaten gold on its ends. Their wings stretched upward and covered the mercy seat, with their faces toward it. God promised, "And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony." Leviticus 16 shows the mercy seat at the center of the Day of Atonement. The high priest was told not to come at all times into the holy place behind the veil "before the mercy seat," for God said, "I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat." He was to sprinkle the blood of the sin offering upon the mercy seat and before it. Inside the Ark beneath the mercy seat were the tables of the Ten Commandments — the testimony — making the mercy seat the place where a righteous God met a sinful people. The New Testament also points to the heavenly reality. Hebrews 9:24 says, "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us."
Les Feldick explains that the mercy seat was one of the tabernacle furnishings situated behind the veil. He points out that it was "nothing but pure gold, pure beaten gold" — no wood like the other items — and that the cherubim were formed from that same gold as they overshadowed the Ark (Clip 1). He emphasizes what was beneath the mercy seat: the law, "the demanding law." The mercy seat therefore pictured God's mercy answering the demands of the law (Clip 3). Les also notes that the Hebrew word kaphar means "to cover," and he calls the familiar term "mercy seat" a misnomer that is nevertheless commonly kept (Clip 3). He adds that there is no mercy in the law; the law can only condemn, so mercy had to come from above the law (Clip 5). Les's central application is Christ. He teaches that Christ was the high priest who presented His own blood and that He was "the very mercy seat where He presented His own blood" (Clip 2). Paul's reference to propitiation, Les says, means Christ is both the sacrifice and the place of applying the sacrifice. Just as the high priest sprinkled blood on the mercy seat on the Day of Atonement, Christ entered into heaven itself — the true tabernacle not made with hands — and did for us what the earthly high priest pictured (Clip 4). Every material and furnishing in the tabernacle, including the mercy seat, was a picture of Christ (Clip 7).
The Bible records that the Ark of the Covenant contained the tables of the Ten Commandments, a sample of manna, and Aaron's rod that budded (Clip 6). Les emphasizes that the law itself was under the mercy seat, which is why the mercy seat mattered: the holy law demanded judgment, and God's mercy was placed above it (Clip 3).
Only the high priest entered behind the veil, and only once a year (Clip 1). Leviticus 16 says he sprinkled blood on and before the mercy seat, and God said He would appear in the cloud upon it (Clips 3, 5). Les connects this directly to Christ, who presented His own blood in the heavenly sanctuary on our behalf (Clip 4).
Les teaches that when Paul speaks of Christ as propitiation, it means Christ is everything connected with the tabernacle Day of Atonement. He was the high priest, the sacrificial animal, the place of sacrifice, and "the very mercy seat where He presented His own blood" (Clip 2). Because Christ was everything the tabernacle pictured — including the mercy seat — the work of the cross finished what a holy God demanded (Clip 7).
What the Tabernacle Reveals About Christ Most People Miss
to the curtain, was the golden candlestick, and again, you go back to John's Gospel, Christ claims to be the light of the world. He is indeed the golden candlestick. And then in the center was another little altar, also constructed of wood, covered with pure gold, had a grate, and then as the priest would get ready for especially the Day of Atonement, I'm sure it was also during the year, but espe…
The Mercy Seat's Materials
Les describes the mercy seat as pure beaten gold, with the cherubim formed from that same gold as they overshadowed the Ark, showing it was distinct from the wood-covered furnishings.
Christ as the Mercy Seat
Les teaches that Christ is the mercy seat — He was both the sacrifice and the place where the sacrifice was applied, presenting His own blood.
The Law Under the Mercy Seat
Les points out that the law was under the mercy seat and explains that kaphar means 'to cover,' though he notes the term 'mercy seat' is a commonly kept misnomer.
Heavenly Application
Les compares the high priest sprinkling blood on the mercy seat to Christ entering into heaven itself, the true tabernacle not made with hands.
The Law Cannot Show Mercy
Les teaches that the law has no mercy and can only condemn, which is why the mercy seat above the law matters.
Contents of the Ark
Les reminds readers that the Ark contained the tables of the Ten Commandments, manna, and Aaron's rod, with the mercy seat as 'the place of mercy' above it.
Everything Pictures Christ
Les teaches that everything in the tabernacle, including the mercy seat, was a picture of Christ, and that He is the mercy seat.
Exodus 25:17: And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
This gives the basic physical description of the mercy seat as a solid gold cover.
Exodus 25:20: And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.
This describes the cherubim overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings.
Exodus 25:21: And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.
This places the mercy seat directly above the law, the testimony inside the Ark.
Exodus 25:22: And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
This shows that the mercy seat was the place where God promised to meet and speak with Israel.
Leviticus 16:2: And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.
This reveals the holiness of the mercy seat and that God appeared in the cloud there.
Leviticus 16:14: And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward: and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.
This records the high priest sprinkling blood on the mercy seat on the Day of Atonement.
Leviticus 16:15: Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:
This continues the Day of Atonement instruction, showing the blood applied to the mercy seat for the people.
Hebrews 9:24: For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
This connects the earthly tabernacle to Christ's heavenly ministry, which Les applies to the mercy seat.
Romans 3:25: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
This is the verse Les uses to teach that Christ is the propitiation — the mercy seat where atoning blood was applied.
No. Les Feldick points out that the mercy seat was made of pure beaten gold, unlike the other tabernacle furnishings that were wood covered with gold. The cherubim were also formed from that same beaten gold.
The mercy seat sat above the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the tables of the Ten Commandments, a sample of manna, and Aaron's rod that budded. Les emphasizes that the law was placed under the mercy seat.
Les Feldick teaches that Christ is the mercy seat — He was the sacrifice and the place where the sacrifice was applied. Just as the high priest presented blood on the mercy seat, Christ presented His own blood in heaven.
Watch the Teaching: What the Tabernacle Reveals About Christ Most People Miss