“(T)he Holy Spirit indicat(ed) this that…the…tabernacle…was symbolic for the present time …” (Heb 9:8-9, NKJ)
In Day 2’s Manna we discussed the tabernacle of Moses (Ex 25:8; Acts 7:44) as an introduction and we showed how Paul related it to your body as the temple dwelling of God (2 Cor 5:1-4), the tent which God chose to inhabit (John 1:14). In those days the tabernacle was the place where the people met to enter into God’s presence. This tabernacle was built and decorated very specifically, in “three manner of ways” (Ex 26 and further), and its typology is of great importance to the believer.
The outer court was a rectangular construction, about 150 feet (46m) long in total and about 75 feet (23m) wide. The sacrificial altar (Brazen Altar) was placed here, and required a permanent flame to be burning in order for the offerings that had to be made. A little way from this was the copper wash basin (Laver).
This large area was called the Outer Court. Inside this contruction was a second building, about 45 feet (14m) long and about 15 feet (5m) wide and 15 feet (5m) high. This tent area, which was divided into 2 parts, was called the first and second tabernacle respectively (Heb 9:6-7), or otherwise known as the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. A curtain separated the Outer Court from the Holy Place. The “curtain door” consisted of five strips of coloured linen in the colours blue, purple and violet. The roof also had this colour scheme and above this multi-coloured “cloak” there were three additional layers of covering: goat’s hair, red-coloured goat’s skin and sealskin.
Inside here, on the right hand side, was a golden table with 12 loaves of bread, the Shewbread (two rows of six each). On the right was the menorah or seven-branched candlestick. In front of the curtain was a golden Altar of Incense. Between the two “rooms”, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies, was a six foot (1.8m) curtain or veil that was embroidered with the finest skill. The priests could enter the Holy Place, but only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies once a year on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
Inside the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant, with two golden cherubs bent over towards each other, encircling the mercy seat. According to 1 Sam 4:4 that was where God’s throne was. Inside the Ark, according to Heb 9:4, were the Ten Commandments on stone tablets (Ex 25:21); the staff of Aaron with three stages: almond buds, almond blossoms, and almond fruit (Num 17:7); as well as a bowl with manna (Ex 16:33). These were all “preserved as a sign” (Num 17:10
This Old Testament prototype of man in covenant-relationship with God is a lovely explanation of our New Testament “moving into” Christ. Outside the Outer Court is the kingdom of the world, where Satan rules (1 John 5:19). We are all found in that domain as from our birth (Rom 3:23). If you hear God’s call and you respond, then you walk into the domain of God’s kingdom – you have access to the Outer Court. There you come to the Brazen Altar, which points to the final offer of Jesus: “… but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Heb 9:26). Your conviction of sin and being lost without Christ (“having no hope and without God” – Eph 2:12) reflects in the copper altar (copper always represents judgement), and it leads you to accept this offer. We call this conversion. The copper Laver is not only representative of the blood of Jesus Christ through which you are washed clean of sin (Rev 1:5; 1 John 1:7), it is also your sealing through baptism (not sprinkling) with water. He thus saved you “through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Spirit” (Tit 3:5). After baptism you are thus born again through water and the Spirit (John 3:5) – it is your first sealing. You can now enter the Kingdom of God. It is clear: In the Outer Court, or first dimension, the gospel of salvation is announced. It is the first day, or the dispensation of Pesach (Passover).
If you then move on to the first tabernacle or the Holy Place, then you need to pass through the multi-coloured curtain of baptism with the Holy Spirit. This curtain is the portal to the second dimension – here the “gospel of the kingdom of God” (Luke 16:16) is announced. This is the second day or Pentecost!
The middle part, the Holy of Holies, is the sphere of experience to which baptism with the Holy Spirit leads you. Here you get to know the seven spirits of God (Is 11:2), symbolised by the menorah; you learn the will of God and what your calling is (Shewbread); and you discover worship and intercession as access to the throne of God (Altar of Incense). We’ll return to all of this in detail. Indeed: “(T)he Holy Spirit indicat(ed) this that … the tabernacle … was symbolic for the present time …” (Heb 9:8-9).
- Sela: Where are you standing in God’s deatailed design of your tabernacle?
- Read: Ex 12 & 13; Ps 62 & 63; Rom 4 & 5.
- Memorise: Ps 63:4-5
- Going deeper: Try to clarify typologically the finer detail of the tabernacle.
