The Sound of the Return: The Bells and Pomegranates of the High Priest

The instructions for the high priest’s robe, given at Mount Sinai, are a rich source of hidden meaning concerning the nature of approaching God and the necessity of being sanctioned in His presence. The fringe of the robe, with its alternating bells and pomegranates, was not merely decorative; it was a matter of life and death, carrying a prophetic weight concerning the final priesthood of believers awaiting The Lord’s Return.

The Law of the Garment

The outer garment of the High Priest, the Robe of the Ephod, was woven entirely of blue fabric, representing the heavenly origin of his ministry. The hem of this robe was adorned with a unique pattern:

“And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about: A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about.” (Exodus 28:33–34, KJV)

The Principle of the Sound

The primary purpose of the bells was not to produce beautiful music, but to guarantee that the priest’s actions were acknowledged while he ministered in the Holy Place, a place where no layperson could stand and no observer could see. The sound of the bells served as his lifeline:

“And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not.” (Exodus 28:35, KJV)

The absence of the sound—the silence of the bells—would signify an unauthorized or interrupted ministry, resulting in immediate death because he would be in God’s presence without His express sanctification and covering. The Law here establishes a critical principle: ministry must be authorized, audible, and continual.

Prophetic Significance

The contrasting elements of the hem provide a powerful dual prophecy:

1. The Pomegranates (The Fruit): These symbolize the fruitfulness of the Spirit, the quiet, visible results of a consecrated life and adherence to God’s Law (like the fruits of the Spirit). They represent the silent, internal evidence of holiness.
2. The Golden Bells (The Witness): These symbolize the audible testimony and proclamation of the Gospel. The sound ensures his presence is heard outside the Holy Place. This represents the necessary, external, and bold witness that must accompany inward holiness.

Application to The Lord’s Return

The High Priest’s robe is a powerful type of Christ, who ministers continually in the heavens, and of the believer’s final state of glory:

• The Final Priesthood: Before The Lord’s Return, believers are commissioned as a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). The requirement of the bells means that this final priesthood cannot be silent. The message of the returning King must be heard—a continuation of the Watchman’s charge—to be fully accepted and sanctioned.
• The Assurance of Life: Just as the High Priest’s sound guaranteed he would not die, the faithful, audible testimony of the church ensures their sanctified status is maintained until the final entry into the Kingdom. A silent church risks losing the assurance of its presence being acknowledged by God.

The ringing of the bells on the High Priest’s robe is an enduring command: true worship and faithful service require both the fruit of holiness (pomegranates) and the sound of testimony (bells) until the very moment we enter the final, perfect presence of the Lord.