Exodus 28:35, commentary and pictures

God prescribed that the high priest minister in a woven blue robe edged with golden bells alternating with pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet, whose sound was heard as he went in and out of the holy place before the Lord so the people knew he was still alive. He entered the inner dwelling of God's glory alone only once a year with solemn preparation and trembling while the people waited in silent prayer, and if he lingered they feared he had been slain for sin until the bells assured them and he came out to bless them. The bell-and-pomegranate robe marks Jesus as the great High Priest, which He put on when He closed His work in the holy place in 1844 and entered within the second veil to cleanse the sanctuary, and He continues that intercession in the most holy place without laying the garment aside until every case is decided for salvation or destruction. The sounding of the bells as He steps out from between God and guilty man marks the close of His mediatorial work, ending all intercession and restraint so Satan gains full control of the impenitent, darkness covers the earth, the saints must live without an intercessor, and the wrath of God in the plagues is poured out on the shelterless guilty. The careful prescription of ministerial dress proves God is honored or dishonored by the apparel of those who officiate before Him, requiring cleanliness, order, and reverence because His work is holy, and Christ's followers are likewise to represent Him in their appearance.

Garment and Sound Described

This direction belongs to the instructions for the garments priests were required to wear when serving in the holy place, garments specified by God and suited to the sacred work. The high priest's robe was of blue, woven in one piece, and was worn in addition to the linen dress of the common priest. Around its skirt golden bells were set with pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet, a bell and a pomegranate in turn. The garments were of costly material and beautiful workmanship, befitting his exalted station.

The bells made his movements audible as he entered and left the holy place while ministering before the Lord. Their sound let the people hear that he was still alive and had safely come out. Only once a year could he enter the inner apartment, the especial dwelling-place of God's visible glory where no mortal eye but his could look. After the most careful and solemn preparation he went in with trembling to converse with God before the mercy-seat, while the people waited outside in solemn silence with hearts uplifted in earnest prayer for the divine blessing.

If he remained an unusual time the people were terrified, fearing that because of their sins or some sin of the priest the glory of the Lord had slain him. When the sound of the bells was heard they were greatly relieved that he had not died. He then came forth and blessed them.

Christ's Heavenly Ministration Foretold

The bell-and-pomegranate pattern on the hem identifies Jesus as the great High Priest standing before the Father in the holiest place. He wears that garment while interceding for Israel in His ongoing priestly ministry in the most holy place.

He put on those precious garments when He ended His ministration in the holy place at the close of the prophetic periods in 1844 and closed the door of that apartment. Around the bottom of His robe was a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate. A breastplate of curious work was suspended from His shoulders, glittering like diamonds and magnifying letters like names engraven upon it, and upon His head was something with the appearance of a crown. When fully attired and surrounded by angels He passed in a flaming chariot within the second veil into the most holy place to cleanse the sanctuary and make a special atonement for Israel.

The garment means His priestly mediation continues, and He does not lay it aside nor leave the most holy place until every case is decided for salvation or destruction and His intercession is finished. The tinkling of the bells when He moves out from before the Lord marks the close of His mediatorial work. It is heard when Jesus finishes His work in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary and steps out from between God and guilty man, tarrying a moment in the outer apartment. That movement marks the close of His heavenly ministry and intercession.

That leaving ends all intercession and mediation, removes restraint from the people, gives Satan entire control of the finally impenitent, and covers the earth with darkness. It leaves the saints to live in the sight of a holy God without an intercessor with every case decided and every jewel numbered. It removes what stayed the wrath of God so the plagues can be poured out in fury on the shelterless guilty, and places the sins confessed in the most holy place upon Satan the originator of sin who must suffer their punishment. The wrath of God cannot come while He wears the priestly garment, and only when He has finished His work, laid off His priestly attire, and clothed Himself with the garments of vengeance will He step out from between the Father and men and wrath be poured out.

Reverence Required in Dress

God gave special directions specifying the dress of those who minister in His service, proving that He may be honored or dishonored by the apparel of those who officiate before Him. The garments worn by those ministering before God were prescribed with care and were part of their sacred service. Those who minister must maintain order in everything, and especially preserve cleanliness. The priests' careful and reverent appearance taught the people that God is holy and that His work must be treated as holy, free from impurity and uncleanness.

Aaron's robes were worn while ministering before God according to detailed directions and were symbolic. Dress can represent the one who wears it. Christ's followers are likewise to represent Him in their appearance.