INTRODUCTION: The Laver of the Tabernacle was replaced with ten lavers and the Molten Sea in Solomon’s Temple. The temple was a picture of the glorified Christ. This message looks at the significance of the Molten Sea.

1. IT GUARDED ACCESS TO THE TEMPLE
1. A Picture of our Access to God
2. First the Altar of Sacrifice
3. Then the Molten Sea
2. IT WAS MADE OF MOLTEN BRASS
1. Called the Brasen Sea – 1 Chronicles 18:8Likewise from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, brought David very much brass, wherewith Solomon made the brasen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass.
   See All... Likewise from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, brought David very much brass, wherewith Solomon made the brasen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass.
2. A Picture of Judgment
1. Made of fire
2. Appearance as of fire
3. Points to the Necessity of Facing Judgment Before We Can Approach God
3. IT WAS FILLED WITH WATER
1. A Picture of the Word of God
2. We Are Cleansed by the Word
1. John 15:3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
   See All... Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
2. Ephesians 5:26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
   See All... That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word
3. It Enables Us to Draw Nigh Unto God
1. Hebrews 10:22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
   See All... Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
2. It is for priests to wash in (verse 6)
4. IT POINTS TO THIS AGE OF GRACE
1. Altar of Brass Pictures the Time Before Christ
1. Capacity is 20 x 20 x 10 = 4000: the number of years from creation to the time of Christ
2. This was the time of animal sacrifice. After the coming of Christ, these were no longer necessary (Hebrews 10:12-14 [12] But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; [13] From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. [14] For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
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2. Molten Sea Pictures Time After Christ
1. Full capacity – 3,000 baths (verse 5 – “it received and held three thousand baths.”)
2. Working capacity – 2,000 baths (1 Kings 7:26And it was an hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths.
   See All... – “it contained two thousand baths.”)
3. Application
1. Grace Age – 2,000 years
2. Kingdom Age – 1,000 years
3. Total time – 3,000 years
4. During this time, the full sacrifice of Christ has already been made. We come to God through His word without further sacrifices (Romans 10:9-10 [9] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
   See All...). Illustration: Speaking to the rock the second time (Numbers 20:8Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
   See All...).
5. After this time, there will be no more sea (Revelation 15:2And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
   See All...; 21:1
   See All...)
5. IT SAT ON A BASE OF TWELVE OXEN (2 Chronicles 4:4It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.
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1. A Picture of Strong Servants
1. Psalm 144:14That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.
   See All... That our oxen may be strong to labour…
2. Proverbs 14:4Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
   See All... Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
2. A Type of the Twelve Apostles – Ephesians 2:18-22 [18] For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. [19] Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; [20] And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; [21] In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: [22] In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
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6. IT WAS COMPASSED ABOUT WITH ROWS OF OXEN (2 Chronicles 4:3And under it was the similitude of oxen, which did compass it round about: ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about. Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast.
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1. Engraved Around the Sea Below the Brim: 1 Kings 7:24And under the brim of it round about there were knops compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about: the knops were cast in two rows, when it was cast.
   See All... – “And under the brim of it round about there were knops compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about: the knops were cast in two rows, when it was cast.” Note: the knops were engravings of oxen.
2. A Type of the Ministers of the Word – 1 Corinthians 9:9-10 [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
   See All...; 3:6-9 [6] He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting. [7] I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble. [8] Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation? [9] Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.
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3. The Oven Bear the Water to Others – Acts 6:4But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
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7. ITS BRIM WAS LIKE THE BRIM OF A CUP (2 Chronicles 4:5And the thickness of it was an handbreadth, and the brim of it like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies; and it received and held three thousand baths.
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1. Inviting the Weary to Drink
1. Isaiah 55:1Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
   See All... Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
2. Revelation 22:17And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
   See All... And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
2. Decorated with Flowers of Lilies
1. Lilies are a beautiful work of God – Matthew 6:28-30 [28] And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: [29] And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. [30] Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
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2. Christ is the Lily of the Valley – Song of Solomon 2:1I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
   See All... I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.

CONCLUSION: Come to the water. This is the pathway to Christ. This is the way to true fellowship with God.