THE TABERNACLE

by

Rev. Kelvin McKisic

A thesis submitted in partial

fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of

Bachelors in Theology

Reed Christian College

2009

Approved by ___________________________________________
School President

Approved by ___________________________________________
Board President

Approved by ___________________________________________
Academic Dean

Program Authorized
to Offer Degree_________________________________________

Date ___________________________________________________
Contents

2
Acknowledgments..................................................................iii

3
Introduction............................................................................iv

4
Chapter 1 - The Tabernacle.....................................................5

5
Chapter 2 - The Outer Court..................................................13

6
Chapter 3 - The Holy Place....................................................34

7
Chapter 4 - The Most Holy Place............................................50

8
Chapter 5 - Christ Jesus in the Tabernacle.............................64

9
Conclusion............................................................................67

10
Bibliography..........................................................................68

11
Bibliography

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 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author wishes to express sincere appreciation to the

school faculty for their assistance in the preparation of this
manuscript. In addition, special thanks to Dr. Deloris Glass
whose familiarity with the needs and ideas of the class was
helpful during the early programming phase of this
undertaking. Thanks also to the members of the school
council for their valuable input.

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 INTRODUCTION

The Tabernacle is the only building ever constructed upon the

face of the earth that was perfect from its very beginning.
From the outset in every detail, never needing any attention,
additions, alterations, or retrofits was God’s design for the
tabernacle in the wilderness. His blue print and plan, His
design, and all of His specifications; God created in heaven,
committed to Moses for the children of Israel and the future
believers in Christ a glimpse of heaven on earth. Every single
detail was designed by God, every part had a prophetic,
redemptive, and significance. There is no portion of Scripture
richer in meaning, more perfect in its teaching of the plain of
redemption, than this divinely design building. God being the
architect and the provider of the resources used in its
construction; with every detail pointing to some aspect of the
character and work of the person of His only begotten Son,
Jesus Christ, and in its complete form, it is the most
comprehensive, detailed revelation of Jesus Christ the Son of
God, and the plan for salvation contained in the entire Old
Testament.

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 CHAPTER 1 - THE TABERNACLE

The tabernacle was a tent that served as a place of worship

for the children of Israel during the early part of their history.
While in the wilderness journey of the nation of Israel God
instructed Moses to construct the tabernacle. These
instructions were given to Moses on Mount Sinai after the Lord
had given the commandments, judgments, and ordinances for
the people to follow. This was the place where God resided
with His chosen people and was the center of worship where
the people could focus on the presence of the Lord.

It was not an imposing structure when viewed from the

outside, being considered unattractive in what outer parts are
seen by man. As God tells us that it is not the outer man that
makes us what we are, but it is the inner man that details
what and who we are; so it is also with the tabernacle; with
the unattractive outside giving little hint of its inner glory and
beauty. Only after a person had entered through the gate at
the eastern end, stopped to lay a sacrifice at the altar of burnt
offerings, had then washed their hands and feet at the laver,
could then they enter to behold the glorious interior of this
wonderful house of God.

The tabernacle’s beginnings lay at the foundation of the world

where God had already put together the redemptive plan for
mankind, but was not revealed until the exodus of the
children of Israel from bondage in the land of Egypt. In the

15
book of Exodus chapter 25 are revealed to us the tabernacle
plan for salvation, not only for the children of Israel but also to
all those who trust and believe in the person and work of
Christ Jesus.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the
children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every
an that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my
offering. And this is the offering which ye shall take of them;
gold, and silver, and brass, And blue, and purple, and
scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, And rams' skins dyed
red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood, Oil for the light,
spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, Onyx stones,
and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.
And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among
them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of
the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments
thereof, even so shall ye make it.” Exodus 25:1-9

The God of all creation – who had redeemed the children of

Israel from their bondage in Egypt, in keeping with His
promise to Abraham to make him a mighty nation, revealed
His glory to them on Mount Sinai, upon giving them His law to
live by – now condescends to dwell in their midst; showing His
glory in and about the tabernacle that He has commissioned
them to build.

Moses was called up into the mount to receive the plans for
the building’s construction, along with the details of the
materials to be used in the construction; additionally giving

16
instructions on who should build certain parts of the building
and its furnishings. What joy it most had been for Moses to
bear witness to the plans of the tabernacle along with the fact
that God would use it to dwell among the Israelites on earth.
So great and important was the tabernacle in God’s plan of
redemption that at least 50 chapters in the Bible are given for
the explanation of its pattern, construction, and service.
Nothing was left to chance that Moses would add his own
interpretation or ideas to the plan, as God revealed to him in
exacting detail every aspect of the tabernacle’s construction.
And more than 20 times in the book of Exodus do we read,
“as the Lord commanded Moses.” So it was not a mere
suggestion or recommendation for the construction of the
tabernacle, but God’s exact command that had to be followed
to the letter.

The tabernacle would serve as the place of worship for the

children of Israel during their wilderness wanderings, later
being replaced by the temple of Solomon. The tabernacle was
to be the center of worship and a place where the people
could focus upon the presence of the Lord. This tabernacle
was to replace the temporary tent that had been pitched
outside the camp (Exodus 33:7-11). So great is the God of all
creation that He allows the people to participate in the
building of the Tabernacle. This the people did by bringing an
offering from the heart of the needed materials, materials that
God had blessed them with when they departed Egypt, as told
in Exodus 12:35-36.

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 “And the children of Israel did according to the word of
Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver,
and jewels of gold, and raiment: And the LORD gave the
people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent
unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled
the Egyptians.”

And so, with the spoils from the Egyptians; and those
obtained from there victory over the Amalekites (Antiquities
of the Jews - Book III, Chapter 5); as well as materials that
readily available in the wilderness. The tabernacle was in the
form of a tent 10 cubits wide and 30 cubits long having its
only entrance facing the east. The tent was composed of a
wooden framework made of 46 identical planks of wood 10
cubits long and 1½ cubit wide; there were planks each on the
north and south sides. Six of the planks were on the west end,
along with two additional planks that were ½ cubit wide. Each
of the planks stood vertically and rested on two sockets of
pure silver, which were the parts that were embedded in the
sand. Each of the boards was fastened together by five
horizontal gold-plated bars which passed through golden
hoops attached to each of the boards, thus uniting them into
a solid, rigid wall. All of the planks were made of acacia wood
plated with gold.

Over the tents framework were four coverings that made up

the roof. The inner most covering was made of fine-twined
linen of blue, scarlet, and purple with images of cherubim
woven into the fabric. The second covering was of pure white

18
goats’ hair. The third covering was of rams’ skins dyed red.
The outer most covering was leather made from the skin of
badgers; some English translations state that the outer
covering was porpoise skins or sea cow skins; in either case
the outer covering was meant to be water resistant and able
to withstand the harsh environment.

The full and complete tabernacle took up a rectangular plot of

land some 75 feet wide and 150 feet long. This rectangular lot
was enclosed by a linen fence that was 7 ½ feet high,
surrounding the three sides, the north, the south, and the
west. The linen fence was supported by 60 pillars made of
acacia wood that was covered with bronze; and were spaced
7 ½ feet apart. Each pillar was secured in a bronze socket
with cords fastened at the top and tied to the ground with
bronze a stake. The pillars were made more rigid by a silver
bar that connected them near the top, from which the linen
curtains were hung. Each pillar was capped with a silver
capital. At the eastern end of the enclosure was the gate of
the court, which was the only means of entrance into sacred
area. The gate was 30 feet wide and was suspended like a
curtain on braze sockets, with the rest of the eastern facing
wall was made up by the linen fence. Just inside the gate
stood the brazed altar, and to the west of this stood the
brazen laver which contained the water that was used for the
cleansing of the priests before they entered into the Holy
Place of the tabernacle, which was situated at the west end of
the enclosure. The tabernacle was a portable building and

19
was divided into two unequal parts. The front room or the
eastern facing room was 30 feet long and 15 feet wide and 15
feet high; and was called the Holy Place. The rear room was
separated by a veil was called the most Holy Place and was in
the shape of a cube, 15 x 15 x 15 feet.

For almost 500 years the tabernacle served as a place for God
to dwell among His people, and a place where His people
could draw near to Him.

“And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell

among them.” Exodus 25:8

And so the tabernacle stood as visual reminder to the children

of Israel that they were in the presence of the true and living
God, helping keep them from the idol worship that was
practiced by the neighboring nations.

Although the tabernacle made God accessible to the

Israelites, He was only to be approached in holiness. The
tabernacle and its service showed a sinful people how they
could come before a holy God in worship and service.

When the children of Israel were camped, two silver trumpets

were used to summon the tribes to gather at the tabernacle.
The tabernacle was the place where the 70 elders advised
and counseled the people (Numbers 11:16). It was also the
place of specific judgments (Numbers 12:4) and appointments
(Deuteronomy 31:14).

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While the Israelites were in conquest of the land of Canaan,
the tabernacle stayed at Gilgal, while the Ark of the Covenant
was carried from place to place with the armies of Israel. The
tabernacle was finally placed on the site it was to occupy
during the duration of the period of conquest and judges, and
that place was Shiloh (Joshua 18:1). As the years passed other
structures were added to the tabernacle while it was at Shiloh.
These included the living quarters for the priests and Levites
who served at the tabernacle. By the end of the period of the
judges, during the administration of Eli, at least some of the
priests lived on the tabernacle grounds (1 Samuel 3:3).

During the Israelites battle with the Philistines at Aphek, the

Ark of the Covenant was removed from the tabernacle and
taken into battle, where it was lost to the Philistines, it finally
came to rest at Kirjath Jearim (1 Samuel 4:1-7:1). It remained
there until the time of David’s reign, and was eventually
replaced by the Temple of Solomon, which consisted of the
same rooms and furnishings, but on a grander scale.

The Tabernacle, its furnishings and there placement – from

the brazen altar to the mercy seat – symbolized the various
ministries of Christ on our behalf, of which we read in Hebrews
9:1-12.

“Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine

service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle
made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table,
and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after

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 the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of
all; Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the
covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the
golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded,
and the tables of the covenant; And over it the cherubims of
glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now
speak particularly. Now when these things were thus
ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle,
accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went
the high priest alone once every year, not without blood,
which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the
people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the
holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first
tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the
time then present, in which were offered both gifts and
sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service
perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in
meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal
ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to
come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made
with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by
the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he
entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal
redemption for us.”

So we se that the tabernacle was indeed a structure that

looked toward Christ’s sacrificial death, which was to bring
about a new covenant by means of His shed blood in the
redeeming of mankind back to the Father (Hebrews 9:11-22).
This tabernacle presented in the book of Exodus was only a

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figure of the true Tabernacle in heaven, where Christ is
enthroned in His High priestly ministry (Hebrews 9:23-24).

Since Christ Jesus is the head of the church it would stand to

reason that the tabernacle also prefigured the church. This is
an idea echoed by Paul in Ephesians 2:19-22.

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners,

but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of
God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto
an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded
together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

Here Paul states that the church is “an holy temple in the
Lord: in whom ye also are built together for an habitation of
God through the Spirit.” In this Scripture note that the word
temple is not the physical Temple with its porches and
surrounding buildings, but is the inner sanctuary, the holy of
holies. From the time of Christ’s death and ascension into
heaven God no longer dwells in physical structures but in the
spiritual body of the believer by way of the Holy Spirit, who
collectively make up the church. The Tabernacle, as well as
the Temple was holy and set apart for God’s service; likewise,
the church is holy and consecrated to His service. Today God
dwells in each believer by the Holy Spirit, forming us into His
Temple.

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As we dig deeper into the workings of the tabernacle we will
come to know that it not only prefigures Christ and the
church, but it also prefigures the individual Christian. Paul tells
us this in 1 Corinthians 6:19.

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the

Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye
are not your own?”

Because the believers’ body is brought with a price, that of

the blood of Christ, it is now a sanctuary where the Holy Spirit
dwells, and as such believers are not at liberty to allow our
bodies to be used outside of the purposes that God has willed
for us.

In viewing the tabernacle we find that it is was a shadow

pointing to the redeemer of mankind, being the person of
Christ Jesus, who in the appointed time of God dwelled in the
world and began His ministry that would open the door for
God to bring redemption to mankind.

“But Christ being come an high priest of good things to

come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made
with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by
the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he
entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal
redemption for us.” Hebrews 9:11-12

The gate of the tabernacle served as the only proper

entrance into the courtyard to behold the inner glory of the
structure; likewise for the Christian, the only way to the

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throne of our heavenly Father is by way of belief in the life,
work, and death of Christ Jesus.

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 CHAPTER 2 - THE OUTER COURT

The outer court was the area inside the linen fence excluding
the tabernacle. Entering into the gate brought you to the
overwhelming beauty of the gold and brazen furnishing just
beyond the entrance.

The brazen altar was the first article of furnishings that you
encounter once entering into the tabernacle gate, and was
used for the sacrifice of animals for the sins of the people;
placed as God had commanded in Exodus 40:6.

“And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the
door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.”

Moving westward from the brazen alter, as the tabernacle

gate was always facing eastward, you would come to the
brazen laver, which was placed between the brazen alter and
the tabernacle curtain; placed as God commanded in Exodus
40:7.

“And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the
congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein.”

In the brazen laver was placed water that the priests used to
cleanse themselves before entering into the Holy Place of the
tabernacle.

The outer court was enclosed by massive curtains which were

5 cubits (7 1/2 feet) high all around. 150 feet long on the

26
north and south sides, and 75 feet long on the west, and 45
feet long on the east, leaving room for the gate. The curtains
were woven from fine linen and suspended from the pillars,
which were also 5 cubits apart.

Five separate curtains were suspended round the courtyard.

Two of them ran along the long side each being 100 cubits.
The one at the west end was 50 cubits long while there were
two short ones on either side of the front entrance each being
15 cubits in length.

The plain white linen screen formed a barrier around the

House of God. No Israelite could casually wander around the
Holy building or stroll into the courtyard.

The material that formed this barrier was fine white linen
symbolizing righteousness. The symbolism is revealed in the
Book of Revelation where, at the wedding of Christ with His
bride (the church) who has made herself ready for the
wedding. Her wedding dress will be made of fine linen:

And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean

and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the
saints. Revelation 19:8

The wall of fine linen around the tabernacle presented a

barrier to those whose acts were not 'righteous before God'
making sure that they would not have access to the
courtyard. And, symbolically, this would have excluded every
person in Israel.

27
The fine white linen fence tells us that the righteousness of
God keeps men out. Jesus Christ is the righteousness of God.
The law was given as a standard' to show man exactly what is
the sum total of perfection and anything short of that is sin
and unrighteousness. God describes all of mans righteousness
as filthy rags (a used woman's menstrual garment). Jesus
said, "I have not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it."
When He was here He was a living example of a sinless life.
By dying for us and bearing our sin He becomes our substitute
by which we, in exchange, receive His perfect life. Our sin
went on Him and His perfect life is imputed to us. Therefore
when God sees us He sees the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
How good must one be to enter heaven? The answer is 'as
perfect as God.' That is because we have His righteousness
imputed to us by faith. Jesus Christ fulfilled the law. He was
without sin. Even when the Jewish leaders wanted to stone
Him He asked them, "for which good work are you going to
stone me?" and they answered, "because you being a man
make yourself out to be God." If a man were to gaze inside of
the Ark of the Covenant by lifting the mercy seat he would be
face to face with the law of God and without the blood it was
instant death. The judgment angels were upon the mercy seat
where the blood was to be sprinkled. Man in all of his
unrighteousness must approach God the proper way and not
the way of Cain. The law of God kills, not because it is bad but
because it reveals mans sin. The perfect man, Jesus Christ,
having never sinned was accepted on our behalf so that we
may receive the righteousness of God as the Word says, "for

28
as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so
also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous."

The outer court was available for all Israelites to enter in and
roam about but could not enter into the Holy Place of the
tabernacle which only the priests could do. As mentioned
before, the outer court enclosure was made of fine white linen
that formed a barrier of entrance to anyone. The entrance
gate was not made from white linen but was woven from
multi-colors of white, blue, purple, and red threads that hung
as a curtain on four strong pillars. It is this entrance that
clearly marked out the only entrance that the sinner could
gain access to the court of God’s house. This 30 foot gate was
the entrance. Once an Israelite entered the gate into the outer
court with his sacrifice he was standing on "holy ground". As
we examine the gate it is important to note that we will be
discussing two more gates or curtains later. The entrance
gate was 20 cubits (30 feet). It was a curtain or screen made
of richly woven material:

“The hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits:

their pillars three, and their sockets three. And on the other
side shall be hangings fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and
their sockets three. And for the gate of the court shall be an
hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet,
and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework: and their
pillars shall be four, and their sockets four.” Exodus 27:14-
16

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There were no cherubim represented on this outdoor screen.
Cherubim were only seen within the Holy Place. This screen
with its blend of white, blue, purple and scarlet was identical
to that hanging at the entrance to the tabernacle building. But
it was very different from the white linen fence, which went
around the entire courtyard. Think of the beauty that would
meet the eye of the Israelite as he approached the gate of the
Tabernacle. The bright rays of the sun would be shining upon
the four colors of the gate.

This was the one and only way by which men and women
could draw near to God. It was the single entrance to the
entire tabernacle. There was no other way in. Whether he is a
priest going to carry out his duties or a repentant sinner
seeking forgiveness, a man had to enter by that one way. No
one could enter by any other way except this gate. Any
Israelite approaching the Tabernacle leading his sacrifice and
desiring atonement knew that there was no way to reach the
bronze altar but through the gate that faced east.

"On the east side, toward the rising of the sun, those of the
standard of the forces with Judah shall camp according to
their armies; “ Numbers 2:3

The Gate was always open, never barred, with no one to

forbid a person who wanted to worship God. But one must
make a personal decision to enter if he is to receive. Jesus
revealed Himself as the only entrance to God. The eastern
gate pointed to Him. Every other possible way has been

30
barred by the righteousness of God but because of the blood
of Christ we have a way of approach. The tribe of Judah
camped outside the eastern gate, the kingly tribe, and the
tribe that means praise. Jesus sits as king with everything
under Him. He is Malach Yahweh (The Lord our King). The
worship of countless hosts will be unto Him for eternity. The
beautiful gate reveals how beautiful Jesus is to behold. He is
the altogether lovely One. In Him there are no flaws. He is
perfect in character. If we could see His face we would see a
look of love that would give us strength forever.

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6

But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the
Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed
to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals." Revelation
5:5

"Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer,
the LORD of hosts: 'I am the First and I am the Last; besides
Me there is no God." Isaiah 44:6

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 The Brazen Altar

When the common Israelite approached the tabernacle with

his sacrifice and passed through that entrance gate he found
that between him and the tabernacle structure stood an altar
with a priest waiting beside it. The altar was square in shape
(foursquare). Its length and breadth were exactly the same as
the height of the white linen fence around the court 7 1/2 feet.
Its height was 4 1/2 feet and it was made of acacia wood
overlaid with bronze with horns at each corner.

“And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits

long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare:
and the height thereof shall be three cubits. And thou shalt
make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his
horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with
brass. And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes,
and his shovels, and his basons, and his fleshhooks, and his
firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass.
And thou shalt make for it a grate of network of brass; and
upon the net shalt thou make four brasen rings in the four
corners thereof. And thou shalt put it under the compass of
the altar beneath, that the net may be even to the midst of
the altar.” Exodus 27:1-5

This was the altar on which the sacrifices were made which
Leviticus.1:9 describes as a sweet savour to the Lord. This
was where the blood was shed and the sinner was pardoned.
No matter how good a person was, without the shedding of

32
blood there was no forgiveness. No matter how good a person
was, without the shedding of blood there was no forgiveness.

'For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to
you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it
is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.' Leviticus
17:11

Apart from the bronze altar there was no approach to God. In

the covenant with Yahweh it was a blood covenant and
therefore the innocent animal represented the sinner and took
his place on the altar. That is why there was the laying on of
the hands upon the innocent sacrifice and then the violent
slicing of the throat. This is a graphic image that would make
your skin crawl which brought an incredible awareness of the
awesomeness of sin, and the payment being death. Only then
could you be accepted and declared clean. The blood of the
animal would cover until God Himself (The Lamb of God)
would come to take sin away once and for all.

The priest would then catch the blood in a basin, and pour out
the blood at the foot of the altar and make the sacrifice and
the sinner would go home forgiven until the next sin.
Sacrifices were made throughout the year but the yearly
sacrifice was made by the high priest himself on the Day of
Atonement (Yom Kippur) once per year for the sins of the
nation.

Now while the English word altar in our translation was

formed from the Latin adjective meaning 'high' this is a late

33
ecclesiastical derivation and not in any way connected with
the Hebrew meaning. In Hebrew the word is based on a verb
meaning 'to sacrifice' and 'altar' means 'a place where
sacrifice is made'. It speaks of that which is "lifted up". The
sacrifice was lifted up and then down on the bronze grating by
the priest where it remained lifted up from the earth. It also
signifies the sacrifice being lifted up in the form of smoke to
the Lord. Before the tabernacle those who wished to please
God would build an altar and call upon the name of the Lord.

The size of the brazen alter as commanded by God is laid out

in Exodus 27:1.

" And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits
long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare:
and the height thereof shall be three cubits.” Exodus 27:1

It is not possible to reproduce exactly the design of the Altar

of Burnt Offering or bronze altar (as it was known) but a
general idea can be gathered from the descriptions in the
text.

• It was made from acacia wood, which was an almost

indestructible wood that was able to resist infestation
by insects.

• It was foursquare in shape and represents its perfection

and unlimited quality in presenting sacrifices to the
Lord.

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 • It was 5 cubits square and represents man’s inability to
save himself.

• It was 3 cubits high and represents God’s provision

being full and complete in regards to atoning for the
sinners’ sin offering.

• It was covered with bronze and represents the

judgment of God

• It was made from the dirt of the earth and represents

the fact that it is not mad-made, being constructed from
the very dirt that man himself is fashioned from

• It had no steps which would expose mans’ nakedness, a

nakedness that relates to human works.

As Scripture indicates, the brazen alter had four horns, with

the horn symbolizing power. In the case brazen alter it
symbolized the unlimited universal power of God. The term
horn as used in the Bible was always representative of the
strength of an animal or the power of a person or nation.

By examining the verse we see that the altar and its horns
were one. Just as God’s person and His power are inseparably
connected. There's no limit to Gods power when a sacrifice is
made. Notice what else is taught concerning the horns:

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 “You shall take some of the blood of the bull and put it on
the horns of the altar with your finger, and pour all the
blood beside the base of the altar.” Exodus 29:12

There was unlimited power in the blood as it was sprinkled on

the horns. Also because the blood represents life, and the
sacrifice was a substitute, the sinner’s life would be at one
with God. There was a blood union between the altar, the
horns, and the sinner.

God’s mercy is also seen here. It is important to note that as

well as being a place of sacrifice where the four horns on the
corners were used to tie the animal waiting for sacrifice, it
was also a place of refuge. A man who was falsely accused of
murder could run there for safety and grab hold of one of
these horns. If he were innocent they would protect him.

"He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to

death. However, if he did not lie in wait, but God delivered
him into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place where
he may flee. But if a man acts with premeditation against
his neighbor, to kill him by treachery, you shall take him
from My altar, that he may die." Exodus 21:12-14

One example of this state of mercy is with Adonijah. Fearing

the rule of the new King Solomon, his elder brother Adonijah
went and grabbed hold of the altar horns for safety.

“And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and

went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. And it was
told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king

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 Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the
altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me today that he
will not slay his servant with the sword. And Solomon said, If
he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of
him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in
him, he shall die. So king Solomon sent, and they brought
him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself
to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine
house.” 1Kings 1:50-53

Another example is with Joab, David's life-long military

commander:

“Then news came to Joab, for Joab had defected to

Adonijah, though he had not defected to Absalom. So Joab
fled to the tabernacle of the LORD, and took hold of the
horns of the altar.” 1 Kings 2:28

The utensils of the brazen alter also played an important part

in God’s plan for the redemption of mankind. In looking at the
God’s design, use, and purpose of the brazen alter nothing
about it plays a minor part, as without any one component the
purpose and plan are useless. And so we find ourselves
looking at the pans that received the ashes from the burnt
offerings, as detailed in Exodus 27:3-5. And in it we can see
that great care was taken in regards to the ashes and how
they were not just taken outside the camp and thrown
anywhere, but were taken to a clean place; which was a
symbol of how God thought of the remains of the sacrifice.

37
That it was precious because God had accepted it for the
atonement of one’s sins.

Ashes are also a symbol of complete destruction, that is why

people would sit in ashes and pour ashes on their head, or
clothe themselves in sackcloth and ashes as a sign of grief
and mourning, saying, "God I'm nothing, please help".

Ashes were also for cleansing and purification:

“And for an unclean person they shall take some of the

ashes of the heifer burnt for purification from sin, and
running water shall be put on them in a vessel.” Numbers
19:17

Other utensils were the shovels that were used to gather the
ashes so that they can be placed into the pans for disposal
outside of the camp.

The basins were used to catch the blood from the offering of
which the priests would then sprinkle upon the horns and for
the pouring out at the base of the brazen alter.

The fork was a three-pronged tool that was used to place the
pieces of the offering onto the brazen alter.

“And the priests' custom with the people was that when any
man offered a sacrifice, the priest's servant would come
with a three-pronged fleshhook in his hand while the meat
was boiling.” 1 Samuel 2:13

38
The fire pans were Censers used to carry the fire (coals) from
off the altar into the Holy Place for service at the altar of
incense. The bronze altar which was lit by fire from heaven is
the one that sustains the altar of incense.

"Then he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from

the altar before the LORD, with his hands full of sweet
incense beaten fine, and bring it inside the veil.” Leviticus
16:12

There was a grating made of bronze, which seems to have

rested on a ledge inside the altar where the slain animals
were placed, tied to rings and then consumed. It would allow
the fat to drip down and the ashes to fall below. The sacrifice
therefore was in the altar and not on it. The grating was the
same height from the ground as the mercy seat, which
showed God’s fairness in His judgment and mercies; showing
that everyone is on an equal footing with the Lord but we
decide on which side of judgment we sit.

As I mentioned before, the fire in the bronze alter was

originally kindled by the hand of God and was never to be put
out.

“And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall
not be put out. And the priest shall burn wood on it every
morning, and lay the burnt offering in order on it; and he
shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. A fire shall
always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out.”
Leviticus 6:12-13

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 “And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and
consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat:
which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on
their faces.” Lev 9:24

The fire in the bronze alter symbolized the presence of the

Lord and was an instrument of His power, whether it be for
approval or for destruction. When Moses was commission to
deliver the children of Israel from Pharaoh, it was the Angel of
the Lord who appeared in a burning bush as a sign of approval
in Moses to get the job done. The Lord also showed Himself in
the midst of fire to many such as Isaiah, Ezekiel, and John.
Notice how He will appear at His second coming:

“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord
Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not
God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the
presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When
he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired
in all them that believe (because our testimony among you
was believed) in that day.” 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10

Although the Bible is ripe with many references to fire and its
use by God and His agents, I will endeavor to list just a few:
God when He punishes sin with His wrath (Ezekiel 21:31;
Hebrews 12:29), how the Word of God will be a fire in the
mouth of the one preaching the truth (Jeremiah 5:14; 23:29),
how the Holy Spirit will appear as a fire (Isaiah 4:4; Acts 2:3-

40
43), how angels will appear as flames of fire (Psalm 104:4),
how the lust of a man cause his soul to be burned by the
flames of desire (Proverbs 6:27-28 27), how easily wickedness
burns (Isaiah 9:18), how the tongue can be as a fire that burns
things in its path (Proverbs 16:27; James 3:6), how the
Hypocrites will burn in flames of judgment (Isaiah 50:11), that
Jesus came to bring persecution by showing the truth of God’s
word to the world (Luke 12:49-53), how fire will be used in the
judgments of the wicked (Genesis 19:24; Isaiah 66:24; Ezekiel
39:6), and how fie will be used to test how pure a Christians
life has been (1 Corinthian 3:12-15).

The staves were long poles made of Acacia wood overlaid

with bronze. These were used to transport the altar whenever
the camp moved. As the camp moved, it was covered with
badgers' skin and a cloth of purple, and carried by the priests
(Kohathites). The altar was always with them no matter where
they journeyed and even on into their rest in the Promised
Land. They were strangers and pilgrims in the desert but the
provision through the blood was always available.

Without the altar no sin could be atoned for, nor could there
be worship offered to God. Every morning and evening a lamb
was offered on the altar. On special feast days and annual
rituals the Altar of Burnt Offering would be the focal point for
the various ceremonies.

As for the animals being sacrificed they could vary from a

young bull for the sin of a priest or the community, a male

41
goat for the sin of a ruler to a female goat or lamb for one of
the common people. This meant that the altar might be used
on behalf of the whole congregation of Israel or simply to
meet the need of that one individual sinner who had found his
way through the entrance gate and approached it with his
unblemished sacrificial lamb to seek the forgiveness of God.
He laid his hand on the head of the innocent victim to identify
himself with the one who was about to die. Then he killed the
innocent lamb. The death of the lamb took place instead of
the death of the sinful man.

It was the death of a substitute. The sinless must die for the
sinful. The blood of the blameless must be shed so that the
soul of the sinner might be preserved for: And it is at that
moment the waiting priest took 'some of the blood of the sin
offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the Altar of
Burnt Offering and poured out the rest of the blood at the
base of the altar'. The fat of the animal was removed and
burnt by fire on the altar.

Atonement had been made for the man's sin and he went on
his way forgiven. Because his sin had caused a separation
between him and His God he would make his way through the
camp of Israel, enter through the multi-colored screen and
enter the courtyard, carrying his sacrificial lamb and
presenting himself to the priest as a man needing forgiveness
and then confess his sin. The next thing he realized was that
he must identify himself with his sacrifice by laying his hand
upon the lamb's head. He also knew that his sin could not be

42
forgiven unless blood was shed. God had been very specific
about that.

As the blood of the lamb was shed and the life ebbed from its
body the Israelite had a very real understanding of the fact
that while the soul who sins will die, God had permitted the
death of a lamb in substitution for the death of the sinner
himself.

Lastly, the Israelite exercised faith that having been obedient

to God's stated way of forgiveness; his sin had in fact been
atoned for. God's final words to the people of Israel relating to
this ritual were these:

“And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the
lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace
offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar,
according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: and
the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath
committed, and it shall be forgiven him.” Leviticus 4:35

Accepting God's words by faith, this man returned to his tent

believing that the separation between God and himself had
been removed. But just how it could be removed by the life of
an animal for the life of a human was something he could not
understand. He only knew that he had done what God had
directed.

In the unfolding of God's revelation it later became clear that

the sins of all those who had faith in the sacrificial system

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were bought and paid for by the blood of Christ. It’s like
writing a check year after year and cashing in on forgiveness,
but at some point the debt must be paid in full. The bank of
heaven, so to speak, had to make good all those checks. What
was the bank of heaven or better yet, who is the bank of
heaven. Christ the Lamb of God paid the debt in full. The book
of Hebrews makes this very clear:

“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could
take away sins. Therefore, when He came into the world, He
said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body
You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices
for sin you had no pleasure. Then I said, 'Behold, I have
come-- in the volume of the book it is written of Me-- to do
Your will, O God.' Previously saying, "Sacrifice and offering,
burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor
had pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the
law), then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O
God." He takes away the first that He may establish the
second. By that will we have been sanctified through the
offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews
10:4-10

Jesus Himself bore the fire of Gods wrath on the altar of the
cross. Jesus said, "No man takes my life from Me but I lay it
down." He chose to go to the place of total abandonment and
humiliation and become a sin offering, the very object of all of
Gods wrath. His followers all scattered, the multitudes yelled,
"crucify Him," the Jewish aristocracy had mocked and scorned
Him, the Roman soldiers laughed at Him, the whole world

44
shook their heads, and even God had to forsake Him for that
moment. He was consumed with the full intensity of
abandonment so that He could win for Himself a bride and
pay the debt in full. Since the fall of man the fire of Gods
anger had never gone out until Jesus came and willingly
stretched out His arms and said, "It is finished," which was a
Roman victory cry in war. Since the time of Adam, the devil
was handed mans dominion by Adam (Luke 4) because of
Adams love for the woman, and the power of death came into
this world because the wages of sin is death. When Jesus died,
it was the death of an innocent Man because He had never
sinned. When Satan and death slew Jesus it slit its own throat.
Jesus went down and legally took the keys of death and Hades
from the devil and released those that had faith in Him for all
time. He died that we might live. On the altar of the cross a
great exchange took place: the innocent for the guilty. He
bore our punishment and we bare His innocence and
righteousness. So therefore we have the righteousness of
Christ through faith. This was Gods plan from the beginning.
That He Himself would die for the ones He loves. He suffered
what we deserve to suffer but will never have to.

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 The Brazen Laver

It was here at the bronze laver that the priests washed their
hands and feet before entering into and coming out of the
Holy Place. The laver was made from the bronze mirrors of
the women and filled with water for the continual cleansing of
the priests as they ministered in the work of the Lord.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Thou shalt also
make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash
withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the
congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water
therein. For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and
their feet thereat: When they go into the tabernacle of the
congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not;
or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn
offering made by fire unto the LORD: So they shall wash
their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be
a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed
throughout their generations.” Exodus 30:17-21

“And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass,

of the lookingglasses of the women assembling, which
assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation.” Exodus 38:8

The word "laver" means a bath or wash basin containing

water for the purpose of washing. The Jewish priests were
commanded to continually wash their hands and feet during
tabernacle service.

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The brazen laver, not unlike the baptism of repentance by
John the Baptist, was a means for the priests to wash away
the blood of the sacrifice and the dust from the outer court,
cleansing themselves before they approach the Holy Place of
God. I’m sure that each time the priests approached the laver
the words of Moses echoes in their ears: “they shall wash with
water, that they die not” (Exodus 30:20). It was mandatory
that the priests that ministered before God go through this
physical purification. The laver was never used by others than
the priests, which was also used in the consecration service
when God anointed them for service. They were called by God
to serve and before they could begin that service they needed
to be washed thoroughly by the waters of the brazen laver.

Each year the high priest washed on the Day of Atonement,

putting on the holy linen garments, and made atonement for
himself and the children of Israel (Leviticus 16:24). But on
every other day of the year, the priests only had to wash the
defilement from their hands and feet before entering the
Tabernacle to serve. For the priests, they knew that God
wanted things done in proper order, so they wash their hands
and feet in accordance to God’s will: washing their right
hands, then their right feet; reversing the process, they
washed their left hands and left feet.

The laver was placed between the door of the Holy Place and
the altar. It came after the altar, because a sacrifice needed
to be made first before the priest could even approach the
laver.

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The appointed priest, as he entered the gate of the outer
court, faced the altar, where he made a sacrifice for himself
like any other Israelite. Once beyond the altar he was ready to
act as a serving priest and so at the laver he prepared himself
for the further service of God. He could then minister at the
altar or in the Holy Place because he washed at the laver.

The altar always came first for the priest, as with the believer
of today; Salvation and then service. God was approached by
way of the blood and the water, as with the believer of today,
we need to accept the atoning blood of Christ Jesus first; then
being baptized by the water.

It came before the door, as the priests needed to remove any

earthly defilement before approaching the Holy Place of God.
Within the door of the Holy Place were vessels that
represented God Himself. No priest dare enter with any trace
of uncleanness. "Be holy as I am holy" was commanded to the
priests. The Christian today does not need to have a physical
wash in a laver to remove the defilement of the earth from us;
we only need approach God through prayer calling upon the
blood of the Lamb of God to be our wash, asking the Lord for
forgiveness of our actions; that is the Christians brazen laver.

It came after leaving the Holy Place, causing the priests to do

an exist washing. In the outer court everything was bronze.
Inside the Holy Place everything was gold. As the priest came
out of Gods Presence and back into service he washed at the

48
laver. As I mentioned previously, only the hands and feet of
the priests were washed. And following is the reasons why:

• The hands speak of what they did, their service, their

work, everything they put their hands to was important
and so their hands needed to be cleansed always, and
daily. The initial cleansing was done only once, the daily
cleansing was done continuously.

• The feet represented where they went, their lives and

ways. Their walk had to be a holy walk, so their feet
were washed always, everyday.

Its size was immeasurable. No measurements or instructions

are given as to the shape and size of the laver. The only thing
mentioned is that it had a stand (Ex 31:9), which made it
easier to wash, and it was made of solid bronze, no wood at
all. Also it was made from mirrors.

Unlike the brazen alter the brazen laver had no staves to

move it about. How the laver was carried we are not told. The
altar and other vessels had staves and rings by which they
were carried but nothing is mentioned about the laver.

As the altar points to the death of Jesus, so the laver points to

the life of Jesus. Blood speaks of a life taken and water speaks
of life given. The water in the laver speaks of Jesus, the living
Word of God that enters us and gives us eternal life. Jesus
said that we are clean because of His Word and that the
knowledge of God that comes through His Word is eternal life

49
and is described with the exact same terminology in the
Hebrew as the sexual union of a man with his wife.

“Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” John
15:3

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the

church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and
cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he
might present it to himself a glorious church, not having
spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy
and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27

As the priest would wash his hands and his feet while coming
into the Presence of God (gold) and back out into the world
(bronze) so we are continually being cleansed from the
corruption of this world by the Word of God.

“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.” Hebrews 10:22

When the Jewish leader named Nicodemus came to Jesus to

inquire from Him about the kingdom of God Jesus replied,
"unless one is born of the water and the Spirit he cannot enter
the kingdom of God." Water brings life to the physical world
and so spiritual water (the Word of God) brings God’s spiritual
life to us. When Jesus met the woman at the well he said to
her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but
whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never
thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a

50
fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." When
Jesus stood and cried, "If any man thirst let him come to Me
and drink," it was on the great day of the feast of tabernacles
when the Jewish leaders were pouring the water from the pool
of Siloam onto the pavement of the temple symbolizing that
someday God will pour out the real water from heaven on His
people as promised through the prophet Ezekiel.

“Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be

clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I
cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new
spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony
heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in
my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do
them.” Ezekiel 36:25-27

By the shedding of the blood of Jesus and the water that

flowed from His side on the cross we are cleansed, just as the
priests’ hands and feet were cleansed in the laver, our souls
are cleaned by the water that flows from the throne of Christ
Jesus.

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 CHAPTER 3 - THE HOLY PLACE

We have passed through the linen gate, past the altar of

sacrifice, and past the laver of water; we now enter into the
Holy Place of the tabernacle. When the priest entered the
Holy Place he was entering the tabernacle structure. The
tabernacle tent was the main feature in the complex. It was a
rectangular structure measuring 30 cubits (45 feet) in length
and 10 cubits (15 feet) in both height and breadth.

The Holy Place where the priests set out the bread of the
Presence was a room 20 cubits long by 10 cubits wide and 10
cubits in height (30 feet x 15 feet x 15 feet). Its sides were
formed by the golden upright frames. The beautiful linen
curtain with its pattern of cherubim could be viewed through
the framework in the front and on the ceiling. There were four
golden pillars at the entrance and in the back of the room was
the holy veil behind it was the Ark of the Covenant. Inside the
room every piece of holy furniture was golden: the golden
lampstand on the left side of the room, the table of
shewbread on the right, and the golden altar of incense in the
back before the veil that lead to the Holy of holies.

Please note that there were seven articles of furniture in the

tabernacle – two in the court of the Gentiles; three in the Holy
Place, and two in the holy of holies. Seven pieces of furniture
and no more than that! Seven is the number for perfection,

52
and it speaks to us of God’s perfect provision for the believers
who are in Christ.

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 The Golden Lampstand

The golden lampstand was hammered from one talent of pure

gold as directed by God. At the time of this writing gold is
selling for over $900.00 an ounce, and so at today’s market
the cost to reproduce would be tremendous.

“And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten

work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his
branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of
the same. And six branches shall come out of the sides of it;
three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and
three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:
Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a
flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in
the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six
branches that come out of the candlestick. And in the
candlesticks shall be four bowls made like unto almonds,
with their knops and their flowers. And there shall be a knop
under two branches of the same, and a knop under two
branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of
the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of
the candlestick. Their knops and their branches shall be of
the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold. And
thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall
light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over
against it. And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes
thereof, shall be of pure gold. Of a talent of pure gold shall
he make it, with all these vessels. And look that thou make

54
 them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the
mount.” Exodus 25:31-40

In the Holy Place there was no window or place to let in the

light and the heavy curtain at the entrance also prevented
light from entering. Therefore it was lit from the glorious
golden lampstand, which stood directly opposite the table on
the south side in the Holy Place. Made from one piece of solid
beaten gold it weighed about 43 kg. (over 100 lbs.). In
Hebrew it is known as the 'menorah' and has developed into
one of the most commonly used symbols of Judaism to date.

So important to the Jewish culture it is, a menorah, stands

outside of Israel’s parliament; serving as a symbol of the
leadership of Israel ministering to its people, just as the
golden lampstand provided the light for the priest while he
ministered in the Holy Place.

The lampstand had a center stem with three branches on

either side, making it a seven-pronged lampstand. And again,
the number of branches relates to its perfection in the job that
it was to perform. Each of the six branches ended in a cup
made like an open almond flower. The seven oil lamps resting
in the flower petals were like small bowls. Each stem had
three groups of almond blossom cups, knobs, and flowers
except the middle stem, which had four.

The decoration was so exquisite and intricate that God

commanded that only the most highly skilled craftsmen
anointed by the Holy Spirit should make it. No measurements

55
are given as to its exact size. The seven oil lamps resting in
the flower petals were like small bowls. A flax or linen wick
would be placed in the lamp and the fire was never to go out
(Leviticus. 24:2).

Twice every day, morning and evening, a priest attended to

the wick and replenished the pure beaten olive oil for the
lamps, using pure gold utensils and snuff dishes.

“And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they

bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the
lamp to burn always. 1In the tabernacle of the congregation
without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and
his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the
LORD: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations
on the behalf of the children of Israel.” Exodus 27:20-21

Still today the Jews use pure olive oil to light the menorah on
Hanukkah because it is the finest quality to be found.

It was the high priest alone who trimmed and dressed the
lamp. He alone was responsible for the light shining.

“Without the vail of the testimony, in the tabernacle of the

congregation, shall Aaron order it from the evening unto the
morning before the LORD continually: it shall be a statute
for ever in your generations. He shall order the lamps upon
the pure candlestick before the LORD continually.” Leviticus
24:3-4

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 All day and all night, whether anyone was present or not,
these seven lamps constantly lit up the glory of the Holy Place
and especially on the table of the shewbread as a reminder
that Gods Presence is always with His people.

In Jewish tradition the Rabbis interpret the lamp as a symbol

of Israel, whose mission is to become a "light to the nations"
(Isaiah 42:7). In the present day synagogue there are similar
religious items. The ark is located on the east wall of the
synagogue; it contains the Torah scrolls. Above the ark, an
eternal lamp is kept burning. To the side of the ark a menorah
is placed.

The lampstand’s purpose was to provide light, and from our

Scripture, an everlasting light. It was a wonderful type of
Christ, who is the true light of the world. Jesus Himself said in
John 8:12, “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am
the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in
darkness, but shall have the light of life.” After His death on
the cross He rose again to continue to be that everlasting light
for all who believe upon Him. The light in the Holy Place was
symbolic of Christ’s holiness and is typified by 1 John 1:5,
“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and
declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness
at all.” And the Christian, once we leave this earthly bonds will
enjoy the privilege of walking the glory of Christ’s light
throughout eternity (Revelation 21:24).

57
The golden lampstand typified Christ, who lights up the walk
and fellowship of believers. The Holy Place had no windows to
allow light to shine into the tabernacle. The light in the Holy
Place was hidden from the world; only the priests had the
privilege of ministering and enjoying the light of the
lampstand. So it is also with the Christian, as believer-priests
we are able to enter into the light of fellowship with the Lord.

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have

fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ
his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

Today, Christians are the only reflectors of the light of Christ

Jesus, a light to a lost and dying world. Many times the light of
a Christian shines dimly because we do not have the desire or
will to present Christ to a sin sick world, and in so doing we
are hiding our lamp under a bushel (Matthew 5:15). As a
believer our lamps are to shine brightly as does a lighted city
that sits on a hill (Matthew 5:14), whose glow can be seen for
miles around.

Just as the lampstand was hammered out of a solid piece of

gold, we too as believers are being hammered out into the
person that God wants us to be after we accept the gift of
eternal life through the blood of Jesus.

The world cannot see the light from the golden lampstand, not
because of it being hidden behind the walls of the tabernacle,
but because of their self-imposed blindness; a blindness that
keeps them from first coming through the gate of the

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tabernacle, placing their sacrifice of repentance on the altar,
then washing their hands and feet in the brazen laver;
whereby being clean enough to enter into the Holy Place to
see the light of the world. But no, the world will have no part
of it; and will reject Lord Jesus just as the Jews did some 2000
years ago.

“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the
light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not
comprehend it.” John 1:4-5

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the

world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because
their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth
the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should
be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light,
that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are
wrought in God.” John 3:19-21

Jesus made the world and created life and came to bring Gods
life to fallen man but since man is in darkness apart from
Jesus they could not comprehend the light that comes with
the life of God. The golden lampstand illuminated the
shewbread and so God illuminates His people. The Spirit of
God illuminates the dark mind of man to the knowledge of
God and to spiritual life. John went on to say,

"That was the true Light which gives light to every man
coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world
was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He
came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as

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 many as received Him, to them He gave the right to
become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor
of the will of man, but of God."

The oil that flowed in the lamp symbolized the ministry of the
Holy Spirit. The oil produced the glowing light that filled the
tabernacle and is spoken of by Jesus as the Spirits of God as
the lamps that sat before the throne of God (Revelation 4:5).
The seven spirits of God symbolize the perfection and fullness
of the Holy Spirit’s ministry. As the oil flows in the golden
lampstand branches, so does the Holy Spirit flow within the
believer, being the third person of the Godhead who
administers the plans, purposes, and programs of God on
earth.

Today, the light of the Holy Spirit does not dwell in

tabernacles or temples mad of gold, wood, and fabric made
with hands; but dwells richly in Christians of which is spoken
of by Paul:

“Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the

body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his
own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple
of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God,
and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price:
therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which
are God's.” 1 Corinthians 6:18-20

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It is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that shines within us,
giving us wisdom and understanding the Word of God. Just as
the priest in the tabernacle without light are unable to
minister in the Holy Place, we as Christians without the help of
the Holy Spirit lighting our way we too would be lost, unable
to minister to a dying world. It is the indwelling of the Holy
Spirit that make the word’s of Christ real to us, conforming us
to His image.

“And we know that all things work together for good to

them that love God, to them who are the called according to
his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did
predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that
he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover
whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom
he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified,
them he also glorified.” Romans 8:28-30

The lampstand cast its light on the other two items in the Holy
Place, and this speaks of the Spirit’s ministry on our behalf.
The light shined on the table of showbread from which the
priests received their daily sustenance. So it is with the Holy
Spirit in the life of a Christian, being that light that shines
upon our daily bread; giving us understanding of the Word of
God that is our nourishment of our spirit.

The tongs and snuff dishes that were used in trimming the
lampstand are symbolic of the cleansing of believers. Daily
the priests removed any dead and used up material from the
wick of the lamp that might cause the light to glow dim.

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Christians are that wick, standing between the oil (Holy Spirit)
and the light (Christ). When the light is shining brightly the
wick cannot be seen, but if the light goes dim or goes out; all
that can be seen is the burnt charcoal colored wick. When our
wick is defective, the oil of the Holy Spirit is unable to flow
through us, causing the light of Christ to flicker dimly, and
finally die out. We as believers must continually be trimmed
by the chastening, as spelled out in the following Scripture:

“And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh

unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the
chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of
him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and
scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure
chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son
is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without
chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye
bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of
our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence:
shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of
spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us
after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might
be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the
present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless
afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness
unto them which are exercised thereby.” Hebrews 12:5-11

God chastens us so that we can be purged of the dirt and

gunk that builds up, causing our light to grow dim. This
chastening and purging works to move the old man out so

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that the new man came take up residence in the temple of
God, which is our body. When we are daily purged we find
that our light shines even more brightly, shining out into the
darkness of the world.

Man is blind apart from Jesus. Man cannot know God apart
from Jesus. Even if God were to come Himself to His very
home, man is incapable of perceiving any spiritual light
because the darkness has made him blind. The golden
lampstand speaks of Jesus as the light of the world.

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 The Table of Shewbread

Inside the Holy Place and across from the golden lampstand
sits the table of shewbread. The priest had at his right hand
the table of shewbread, also referred to as the table of the
presence. It was made of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold.
Its size was 2 cubits (3 feet) in length by one cubit (1 1/2 feet)
in breadth and a height of 1 1/2 cubit (2 1/4 feet). Around the
table was a border of gold and then a little further in, on the
table top, an additional border which would hold the contents
in place so that they would not fall to the ground and be
defiled. The table had four legs, and two gold plated poles
were inserted through golden rings attached to the legs for
transporting.

“Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits

shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof,
and a cubit and a half the height thereof. And thou shalt
overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold
round about. And thou shalt make unto it a border of an
hand breadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden
crown to the border thereof round about. And thou shalt
make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four
corners that are on the four feet thereof. Over against the
border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the
table. And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and
overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with
them. And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons
thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover

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 withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them. And thou shalt
set upon the table shewbread before me alway.” Exodus
25:23-30

The purpose of the golden table was to hold 12 cakes of bread

made of fine flour. They were placed there in two rows of six,
each loaf representing one of the tribes of Israel (Leviticus.
24:8).

Moses had instructed the Spirit-filled craftsman on how to

construct the table of showbread. The table with its contents
like all the other parts and items of the tabernacle point to the
Lord Christ Jesus. Both the table and the bread upon the table
represent Him. The bread was flavored with frankincense and
was the food that the priest ate while they were working in
the Holy Place. The bread upon the table speaks of Christ
Jesus, the Living Bread who came don from heaven.

“Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this

bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he
that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that
believeth on me shall never thirst.” John 6:34-35

And again He repeats it in John 6:48 and 51.

The table of showbread symbolizes the Lord’s life and

ministry, starting at the type of wood; acacia wood is a type of
wood that is hard, incorruptible, and virtually indestructible;
and symbolizes the indestructible humanity of Christ as He
withstood the fire of crucifixion and the decaying effects of

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the grave when His body was resurrected, uncorrupted and
indestructible.

The term showbread comes from a Hebrew word that means

bread of the face or bread of presence; this is because the
loaves were set before the face of the presence of the Lord,
who dwelt in the holy of holies; and was presented to Yahweh
as a meal offering from the children of Israel as described in
Leviticus 24:5-9.

“And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes
thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake. And thou shalt
set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table
before the LORD. And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon
each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even
an offering made by fire unto the LORD. Every sabbath he
shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken
from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant. And
it shall be Aaron's and his sons'; and they shall eat it in the
holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of
the LORD made by fire by a perpetual statute.”

The showbread placed on the table was a foreshadowing of

Jesus Christ, who is the true bread of life, giving spiritual
sustenance to all who come to Him willingly. Scripture tells us
that Jesus was born in the city of Bethlehem, which means
house of bread.

Throughout the Scriptures Jesus is pictured as the bread of life

who came down from heaven to impart life upon all who will

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accept Him. The miracle of feeding the 5,000 was performed
by Jesus a day before He announced that He was the bread of
life. So wondrous was this miracle that 12 small baskets of
bread were left over after the feast, all from a little boy’s five
loaves of bread and two fish.

The bread was made of fine flour, which signified the bringing
forth from the earth; just as man was. The fine flour also
speaks of Jesus’ life and ministry. In order to make flour the
grain must be crushed, grounded, and sifted. What a picture
this presents of our Lord and Savior: Jesus went through the
sifting process with Satan when he tried to temp Him in the
wilderness; and we know that Satan is a sifter because he
requested to sift Peter like wheat. Jesus also went through the
sifting process with the scribes and Pharisees when they, time
and time again tried to test Him. And through it all no sin was
found in Jesus. Jesus went through the crushing process when
He was scourged before His crucifixion.

The bread was made without leaven, which symbolized the

sin that was in the world. The bread was baked, which
symbolized agony and suffering, just as man would endure
living in the world. The bread was sprinkled with frankincense,
which symbolized the anointing God placed upon the head of
His people. Leaven, a symbol of sin, was not allowed to be
placed into the bread; which typified the life of Jesus who
knew no sin. Jesus, the bread of life was born without sin and
lived His life free from it. By the power of God and the Holy
Spirit Jesus was born of a virgin, without the need of a man,

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and in so allowed Jesus to be brought into the world without
the sin component that each of us are born with.

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God

did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye
reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us,
who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness
of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:20-21

Just as the shewbread was nourishment for the priests

working in the Holy Place, so too is Christ Jesus, the daily
bread that sustains our souls for the day of redemption.

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 The Altar of Incense

It was the Golden Altar of Incense which was straight ahead,

before the veil, this third piece of furniture in the Holy Place
on which the holy incense was burned. Made from acacia
wood overlaid with pure gold it stood higher than any other
article of furniture in the Holy Place, 2 cubits (3 feet) tall. It
was one cubit square and it had around the top a crown of
gold. It had four golden horns just as the bronze altar in the
courtyard. Lower down on each side there were golden rings
to insert the poles for carrying.

“And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of

shittim wood shalt thou make it. A cubit shall be the length
thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof; foursquare shall it
be: and two cubits shall be the height thereof: the horns
thereof shall be of the same. And thou shalt overlay it with
pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round
about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a
crown of gold round about. And two golden rings shalt thou
make to it under the crown of it, by the two corners thereof,
upon the two sides of it shalt thou make it; and they shall
be for places for the staves to bear it withal.” Exodus 30:1-4

The priest took a censer full of burning coals from the brazen
altar and specially prepared sweet incense and ignited it by
sprinkling it over the hot coals (Leviticus 16:12-13). From that
a thick cloud of smoke would fill the Holy Place, which was
symbolic of Israel’s prayers to God. A censer apparently was a
shallow bowl or pan with a handle on it. It could be also be

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used for removing the ashes from the altar or gathering up
the burnt parts of the wick from the lampstand.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet
spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet
spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like
weight: And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after
the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and
holy: And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it
before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation,
where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.
And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not
make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it
shall be unto thee holy for the LORD. Whosoever shall make
like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from
his people.” Exodus 30:34-38

It had 4 horns of gold, one with it, a horn on each corner, and
relates to rfour camps: Judah on the east, Ruben to the south,
Ephraim to the west, Dan to the north; all Gods people.

The golden altar was used for burning incense, which twice
every day was offered by the priest after he had tended the
wick and oil on the holy lamps. Its horns were also sprinkled
with the blood of the sin offering.

The incense was a mixture of three rich and rare spices, which
cannot be identified today. These were blended with
frankincense and beaten to a fine powder and then salt was
added. It was totally forbidden for this formula to be used by

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any private individual. It had to be used only in the worship of
God in the holy place. It was the offering of the person whose
sins had been forgiven by blood and who then went on to
express the fragrance of love and worship, which was most
pleasing to God.

The Golden Altar speaks to us of the worship of Jesus Christ

and God's people through Him as our high priest and
mediator. It was only on the basis of His one sacrifice on the
altar of the cross that worship is made possible. The coals,
which lit the incense, were carried from the altar of sacrifice
to the altar of incense.

The incense burned perpetually throughout the years before

the Lord (Exodus 30:8), which symbolized the prayers of the
believers being continually offered up continually to God. In
the Old Testament time Aaron was instructed to offer up
incense at regular times during the day. But we find in the
New Testament that Paul directs the believer to offer their
prayers’ without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), which means
that we are to have a mind set on praying throughout the day.

Although the common priest would burn these holy spices on

the altar over 700 times in a year he knew that no priest other
than the High Priest could go beyond that point, and only on
the Day of Atonement. The sweet incense was to be kept
burning at all times. And it was before the veil, and the throne
of God; which is where Jesus stands before God and us;
pleading our case before the Father.

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The golden altar of incense tells us of the ministry of Jesus as
our intercessor whose prayers never stop ascending to God on
our behalf. Jesus said to Peter, "I have prayed for you." The
four horns speak of Christ's ministry extending to the four
corners of the earth. He will always pray for His own no matter
where they are. He can intercede on our behalf because of
the atoning work on the cross of Calvary. The incense was
fueled by the fire from the altar. It is not just anyone praying
for us but the King Himself as represented by the crown of
gold. He knows our weaknesses and our failings and He is
praying for us always.

“I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which
thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are
thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.” John
17:9-10

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 CHAPTER 4 - THE MOST HOLY PLACE

We now come to the Holy of Holies, a small room 10 cubits x

10 cubits (15' x 15') separated from the Holy Place by the veil.
It housed one piece of redemptive furniture, the Ark of the
Covenant, with its mercy seat. There was no created light like
the sun and no artificial light but Gods own "Shekinah" glory
that lit up the Holiest Place.

There was no seat for man but here Yahweh sat alone on the
throne of glory and righteousness. As the high priest entered
once a year, he entered with bowed head, no shoes upon his
feet, and bells. No human voice was heard, only the voice of
God.

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 The Veil

“And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and

scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with
cherubims shall it be made: And thou shalt hang it upon
four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks
shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver. And thou
shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest
bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and
the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and
the most holy. And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the
ark of the testimony in the most holy place.” Exodus 26:31-
34

The veil separated man from God. It was hung by gold hooks
from four gold-covered acacia wood pillars that rested upon
sockets of silver. The word "veil" means to separate. The veil
was made of finely spun white linen, blue, purple, and scarlet
just as the decorated curtains surrounding the Holy Place with
the richly ornamented figures of cherubim, but it was called
"the curtain of the Testimony" or "the veil." The veil could
never be touched except by the high priest, and then only
once a year to sprinkle blood on the mercy seat on the Day of
Atonement:

“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.” Leviticus 16:2

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The veil speaks of the body of Jesus Christ as testified in the
Writings of the New Testament which says that we can enter
by the blood of Christ "through the veil, that is, His flesh,"
right into the holy of holies. The veil was torn in two as the
spear was thrust into Christ's side and His body was broken.
Jesus suffered to the point of death so that we might have
access. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that He did it for the joy set
before Him. He betrothed us and only by dying could He take
us as His bride and have us for eternity. The veil being torn in
two speaks of the body of Jesus Christ being broken on our
behalf to make access to Him possible. And as Jesus said, no
man can come to the Father except through Him. The
presence of God was uncovered and all are now invited to
enter through the way Christ opened.

“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the

holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which
he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say,
his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God;
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.” Hebrews 10:19-22

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 The Ark of the Covenant

The purpose of the Tabernacle was to house the Ark in which

the tablets of the Ten Commandments were placed. The Ark
was a 2 ½ x 1½ cubit rectangular wooden chest with its lid
being the Mercy Seat with the Cherubim of glory facing one
another with wings outstretched. The blood was sprinkled
between the judgment angels who were looking down and
when they would see the blood the wrath of God was stayed.

“And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and
a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the
breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without
shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold
round about. And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it,
and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings
shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side
of it. And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and
overlay them with gold. And thou shalt put the staves into
the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne
with them. The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they
shall not be taken from it. And thou shalt put into the ark
the testimony which I shall give thee. 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.
And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work
shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.
And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub
on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the

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 cherubims on the two ends thereof. 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.
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.
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.” Exodus 25:10-22

Only once per year on Yom Kippur could man enter beyond
the veil. The veil separated man from the holy of holies. It was
behind this veil and in the 10 cubit squared room called the
holy of holies that the most sacred piece of furniture in the
whole tabernacle structure was found. This was the Ark of the
Covenant which was mentioned first before all the other
furniture in the tabernacle. The lid on top of the ark was
traditionally known as the Mercy Seat which was considered a
separate piece of furniture but one with the ark. The ark was
right in the center of the camp and the glory cloud was seen
above the mercy seat and above the back portion of the
tabernacle.

The ark was a rectangular wooden chest (acacia wood)

overlaid with pure gold, inside and out. 2 1/2 cubits long by 1
1/2 cubits wide and high (3 3/4 feet x 2 1/4 feet) it had a gold
molding or crown around the top (a different word in Hebrew
than the rim of the table and incense altar).

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The ark rested on the dirt floor of the Holy of Holies with its
four gold rings that the gold poles were inserted through and
left permanently in position.

Inside the ark were 3 things: the two tables of the Law, a
golden pot of manna, and Aaron's rod that budded.

The Ark of the Covenant was where Gods justice and

judgment toward sin was satisfied. It is referred to almost 200
times in the Old Testament. Here are some names given in
the Scriptures for the Ark of the Covenant: in Exodus 25:22 it
is called the ark of the Testimony, in Joshua 3:6 it is referred
to as the ark of the covenant, in Joshua 3:13 it is referred to as
the ark of the Lord, in 1 Samuel 5:7 it is called the ark of the
God of Israel, in 1 Chronicles 6:41 it is called the ark of Your
strength (with Your referring to God), and in 2 Chronicles 35:3
it is called the holy ark.

Again looking at the contents of the ark we find first, the two
unbroken tablets of stone where God had written the Ten
Commandments. It is important to note that the ark contained
the two tablets of the Decalogue (the Ten Commandments).
Remember that God had made a covenant with Israel, but the
people had broken it. In grace God renewed it and ordered
that its enduring record (the unbroken tablets) should be
deposited in the Holy Ark. The Book of the Covenant, which
dealt at length with other aspects of law and procedure, was
deposited alongside the ark. But the 10 commandments were
stored within the ark itself. Also contained in the ark was a

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golden pot containing an omer of manna (Hebrews 9:4) as a
memorial of God's provision. The third item which would be
added was Aaron's rod that sprouted buds and blossoms and
bore ripe almonds in a single night, authenticating God's
choice of Aaron for the priesthood (Hebrews. 9:4).

The Ark of the Covenant was a picture of Jesus Christ. The

Acacia wood speaks of the indestructible humanity of Jesus.
He was 100% man, but was without sin being the incarnate
God of creation. God Himself became flesh and suffered the
agonies of the human experience. He was tempted, He was
weary, He thirsted, He had to learn the Scriptures and learn
obedience and to hear God's voice and be led by the Spirit as
a man. Not only does the Acacia wood tell us that He was
100% man but the pure gold that overlaid the wood teaches
us that He was 100% God. Jesus said "unless you believe that
I AM you will die in your sins." He used the same words as
when the Lord spoke to Moses at the burning bush. The Jewish
Messiah was none other than Yahweh Himself visiting His
people and becoming their savior by dying for the sins of the
world and that is the etymology of the name Jesus ('Yahweh
has become salvation'). Jesus condemned the religious
leaders for not recognizing "the day of their visitation."

The crown of gold around the top of the ark speaks of the Lord
Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus overcame
the onslaught of opposition that was set against Him His
whole life by the religious leaders, the wealthy Jewish
aristocracy, Rome itself, and even all the power of the enemy.

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He overcame even death itself and rose triumphantly and was
given a crown, and glory, and honor, because He is the King.
According to John it was Jesus who Isaiah saw seated on the
throne of glory with the angels crying “holy, holy, holy.”

The unbroken tables of stone set forth Jesus as the One who
perfectly kept the Law and never broke God's
Commandments. The Bible says that He "committed no sin,
nor was deceit found in His mouth." Jesus felt the pressure of
temptation at its full intensity yet he never sinned. Even the
look in His eye and the tone of His voice reflected the very
perfections of the holiness of God Himself. Aaron's rod that
budded also speaks of Jesus; something that had died and
supernaturally came to life again. Jesus said, "I am the
resurrection and the life." The golden pot of manna speaks of
Jesus as the bread of life who came down from heaven to
bring food, the Word of God, to a world in darkness and dying
of hunger.

It all points to Jesus. Even the golden poles speak of the ever
living and ever present Savior who is with us in all our
journeying and will never leave us nor forsake us. If you were
to examine the history of the ark there would be striking
resemblances to the ministry of Jesus our Lord:

• The ark went before the people - Jesus also went before
them:

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 “And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before
them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.”
John 10:4

• The ark was in the middle of God's people - Jesus is in

His people:

“Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye

see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 0At that day ye
shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in
you.” John 14:19-20

• The people were to follow the ark - We are to follow

Jesus:

“And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican,

named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said
unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed
him.” Luke 5:27-28

And on and on, the ark was always first to lead them just as
Christ Jesus is the head of those that believe in His
redemptive work on the cross, accepting Him as the only one
who could save us from our sins.

The ark brought blessings and curses: it was death to those

that were enemies of God and a blessing of salvation to those
that followed it into battle. Christ Jesus has already won the
battle over sin and death; He too is a blessing for those that
follow Him, and those that refuse His wonderful gift of

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salvation have brought upon themselves the curse of being
placed into the lake of fire.

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 The Mercy Seat

The Mercy Seat was the lid or cover of solid gold that sat on
top of the ark.

“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. And thou shalt make two cherubims of
gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends
of the mercy seat. And make one cherub on the one end,
and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy
seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.
0
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. 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. 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.” Exodus 25:17-
22

The Ark of the Covenant was a small chest made of acacia

wood overlaid with gold and open at the top. The Mercy Seat
was the lid or cover of solid gold the same size as the top of
the Ark (2 1/2 cubits long x 1 1/2 cubits wide). At each end of
the Mercy Seat, and of one piece with it, were two hammered
gold cherubim facing each other. Their outstretched wings

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overshadowed the gold lid and their faces constantly looked
down upon it. They were symbols of the presence and
holiness of the Lord and are His chosen instruments of
judgment toward any sinful approach toward the presence of
the Lord and as they look upon the blood the wrath of God is
appeased and they are at peace.

After the children of Israel had journeyed to Mount Sinai God

told Moses on the mountain that He would pitch His tent
among them on their journeys, thus keeping His promise that
He would reside with His people. Today, God also resides
within the believer, remaining with us along our journey
through this world that we do not belong to. Also on the
mount God revealed the pattern of the tabernacle to Moses,
listing out the way that He could be approached and how He
would meet with Moses.

“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.” Exodus 25:22

So the outstretched wings of the cherubim were to provide a

throne for God where He would mediate His rule on the earth
as a representation of the real throne in heaven, which is
revealed in the book of Revelation where John the apostle
gets a rare view of the angels surrounding the throne of God
in heaven.

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When God had spoken to Moses out of the midst of the cloud
upon Sinai, He also told him that He would come down to
speak with him in the midst of His people. It was from the
area above the Mercy Seat that He did.

“And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the

congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of
one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was
upon the ark of testimony, from between the two
cherubims: and he spake unto him.” Numbers 7:89

The Mercy Seat was where the blood was sprinkled by the
high priest once every year for the atonement of the sins of
the people. In the New Testament we can find two Scriptures
where the mercy seat is spoken of:

“For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was

the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is
called the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the
tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; Which had the
golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round
about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had
manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the
covenant; And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the
mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.”
Hebrews 9:2-5

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a
propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his

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 righteousness for the remission of sins that are past,
through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this
time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the
justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Romans 3:23-26

The Greek word for Mercy Seat is “hilasterion”. It is used

here in Romans 3:25 where Paul says (literally) that God
presented Christ as a propitiation or 'mercy seat'. This means
that Jesus Christ is the mercy seat. The Hebrew word is
kapporeth, meaning the cover, a meaning connected with
the covering or removal of sin, as spoken of in Psalm 32:1.

“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is

covered.”

The mercy-seat, together with the ark are spoken of as the

footstool of God in 1 Chronicles 28:2.

The Mercy Seat did not derive its worth from the purity of its
gold but from the fact that it was the place where the blood
of sacrifice was sprinkled in the presence of Yahweh.

The word for "mercy seat" is the same root for the word
"atonement". It means to cover, cancel, appease, or cleanse.

The Greek equivalent is the word "propitiation". And it was

the Lord Jesus, through His voluntary expiatory sacrifice on
the cross, the shedding of His blood under the Divine
judgment for the sins of the world, and through His
resurrection. He has become the mercy-seat for those that
believe upon Him.

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In looking at the mercy-seat we need to view the two
cherubim that spread their wings about the mercy-seat,
viewing down upon the cover, down on their knees as if
praying. They represent the judgment of God, protecting the
throne from those that would want to enter in by any other
means then through Christ Jesus. And in looking at the
position their had upon the seat we can get a picture that
they were there also to avert God’s judgment upon Israel
because of the blood sprinkled mercy-seat. And it would
seem that in this position they were offering prayers for the
salvation of the nation of Israel. The Cherubim are revealed
by Ezekiel in chapter 1:5-10 as 4 living creatures, each one
having 4 different faces, the face of a man, lion, ox, and
eagle:

• Man - This face spoke of mind, reason, affections, and

all the things that encompass a human being.

• Lion - The lion was always recognized as strong, fierce,

and majestic. It was the royalist of animals.

• Ox - The ox was recognized as the animal who patiently

labored for his owner. He was strong, able to bear a
burden, and knew its owner.

• Eagle - The divine bird that flew above the storms,

while below there was only sorrows, dangers, and
distress. A swift bird strong and powerful, never
becoming weary.

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This mercy seat was placed on top of the ark and it was here
that the blood was sprinkled. Because of the mercy seat the
tabernacle was called "the tent of meeting". Because here
God met with man:

“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.
2
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.” Exodus 25:21-22

The mercy seat protected man from the judgment of God

represented by the judgment angels, the Cherubim. Because
of the blood that was sprinkled on the mercy seat, man's sin
and guilt were washed away and the curse of the law has no
effect. The mercy seat foreshadows the Lord Jesus Christ. He
is our mercy seat. He forever stands between a holy God and
sinful man. Just as the sins of the whole nation were atoned
for by the sprinkling of the blood on the mercy seat, so also
Christ, by the shedding of His own blood atoned for the sins
of the entire world.

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin
not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the
Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation
for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of
the whole world.” 1 John 2:1-2

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“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and
unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time
without sin unto salvation.” Hebrews 9:28

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90
 CHAPTER 5 - CHRIST JESUS IN THE TABERNACLE

From all of the previous chapters of this document we have

seen how the furniture of the tabernacle, as well as the
tabernacle itself, point to the coming Christ sent to redeem
mankind back to the Father.

Approaching the tabernacle gate, one would find this as the

only proper means of entering. And it is at this point that we
see the first sign of Christ Jesus, as He stated that no man
could come to the except by way of Him. The 30 foot long
gate was the means of entering the tabernacle, so it is also
with Christ Jesus that we can only come to the Father by
accepting Jesus as the one pure sacrifice for our sinful nature;
by His death on the cross we have been given the right to
come into the gate so that we can find fellowship with the
creator of the world. Christ Jesus is the gate that we must
enter to have eternal life.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6

Once inside the gate we find ourselves standing before the

alter of sacrifice, the place where the priest takes your sin
offering, presenting it to the Lord for the atonement for your
sins. Again we find the symbolism of Christ Jesus at the alter.
Christ Jesus was the sacrifice that was given for all and the
cross was the alter that His blood was shed to be that perfect
sacrifice unto the Lord of the Heavens. Although we do not

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bring Christ to the cross, because it was He who went willingly
for us, but it is us who accept the sacrifice by belief in Him
who died without sin so that we could be forgiven of our sins.
The alter in the tabernacle, because of the sacrifice being laid
upon it and burnt unto the Lord we see Christ Jesus on the
cross, as that sacrifice, being hung there at the four points of
His body, just as the sacrificed animal was placed between
the four horns of the alter. The innards of the alter contained
the fire that consumed the sacrifice; and represents the wrath
of God as it purges and cleanses us of sin. Christ Jesus took on
that wrath upon the cross when the sins of the world were
poured out upon Him, one who knew no sin, but had to taste it
for our salvation.

“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of

the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest
standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same
sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man,
after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down
on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his
enemies be made his footstool.” Hebrews 10:10-13

After our sacrifice has been laid on the alter we move

westward to the brazen laver, where we wash our hands and
feet, being washed before we approach the Lord. And it was
Christ Jesus who washed us clean with His blood and rinsed
the defilement from our hands and feet when the solder
pierced Him in the side; the water and the blood flowed to
cleanse us from the coming judgment of God.

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After the water cleansing we may enter into the Holy Place,
where we are bathed by the light of the world of which the
golden candlesticks, representing the light that Jesus was to a
darkened world. In the glory of His love we are able to partake
of the bread of life, the showbread giving physical nutrition to
the priests, Christ Jesus being the bread of life gives us
spiritual nutrition each and every day of our journey to glory.
And it is in our prayers that we see the Lord Jesus standing
between us and the living God just as the altar of incense did
for the children of Israel.

As we humble ourselves before Christ Jesus and accept Him

as the only way to the Father we are allowed to venture
beyond the veil and gaze upon the Ark of the Covenant. As we
look upon the ark we see the Lord Jesus in the tables of stone,
being the only one to live its laws with perfection. And as we
look upon the jar of manna that fell from heaven to feed the
children of Israel for forty years, we see the Lord Christ being
the bread from heaven that came to earth to fill us with His
spirit so that we can have eternal life with the Father. And
then our eyes affix to the blood stained mercy-seat, the place
of atonement for the children of Israel and for us the view of
Jesus Christ who is the one that God the Father looks through
to see us, and in so doing becomes the righteousness for our
unrighteousness. When God rested upon the ark and looked
down to the broken covenant of the people He had to look
upon the mercy-seat and hold back His wrath. It is the same
for us today; God looks through Christ Jesus and holds back

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His wrath because Jesus became our mercy-seat the day He
decided to step down from glory and put on the filthy rags of
man, and then live with man preaching and teaching the good
news of the salvation that He brings, and then to be beaten
and die for us. It is through the tabernacle that we can see the
risen Lord so clearly, and it is through Him that the Lord God
imputes righteousness upon us.

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 CONCLUSION

To date we have many great buildings that serve a multitude

of purposes, but none like the Tabernacle, whose very design
was for God to reside with His people. We have the Eiffel
Tower, which serves no other purpose then to be pleasing to
the eye. We have the Sears Towers, which from the onset was
designed to be the tallest building in the world and house
worldly endeavors. But not the Tabernacle, it was designed by
God so that people could be saved from His wrath; a design
that no other building in the world can say about itself. The
Tabernacle, from its very construction, the materials used, the
manner in which they were used all were a foreshadow to the
coming Christ. Each element of the Tabernacle served an
important purpose in the redemption of mankind, just as
Christ Jesus. From the outer-court with its fine-linen fence
which symbolized the righteousness of Christ. To the brazen
altar which houses the fire of judgment for the sins of man,
which symbolized the sacrificial work of Jesus on the cross. To
the brazen laver that represents the cleansing effect of Jesus’
blood. Into the Holy Place which housed the items that
represent Christ’s ministry on our behave to the Father. And
concluding in the Most Holy Place, where we through the
atoning work of Jesus gives us immediate access to God.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

King James Bible

Public Domain

Earl D. Radmacher; Ronald B. Allen; H. Wayne House

New Illustrated Bible Commentary, Nashville, Tennessee:
Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1999

Levy, David M.
The Tabernacle – Shadows of the Messiah, Nashville, Grand
Rapids, Michigan, Kregel Publications, 2003

DeHaan, M. R.
The Tabernacle, Nashville, Grand Rapids, Michigan,
Zondervan Publishing House, 1955

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