By Liaf
OK--- so I described the tabernacle and
the court along with all the objects therein in the last four
messages. I gave the symbolic meaning of each thing. However, I
did not wrap it all up. Let’s take what we now know about
the tabernacle and take an imaginary tour around it. I think that
if you can remember this little tour of the whole thing, you will
remember the crux of all its symbolism. I will make
reference of everything in the present tense as if the tabernacle
actually existed now as we walk around and within it.
We start from the outside of the court.
The high curtains surround the whole complex so that we cannot
see into it. We see brass everywhere as we look at the base where
the sockets are. We are thus reminded of judgment outside of
Christ. However, there are also silver poles and hooks. We look
up at this hardware. Silver represents redemption so that if we
look up, our redemption is nigh. To get into the court, there is
only one way in. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and
the life. No man comes to the Father but by me.” Jesus is
the one an only one way in. The four colors of the curtain
entrance also symbolize Christ as depicted in the four gospels.
Immediately within the court is the altar of burnt offering. It
is here that the blood is poured out and applied as Jesus died
for the sins of the world. Its dimensions signify grace and
divinity. However, the skins and carcass of the animal are burned
outside reminding us that Jesus “suffered without the
gate” and took our place on the outside where we should have
been so that we can get inside. The fire on the altar represents
judgment for our sins--- but like the ashes of the offering, the
sin is gone forever. This outer court represents what Christ did
for us here on Earth.
Before we enter into the tabernacle itself
(as depicted by the priests ready for service and fellowship), we
must wash ourselves at the laver. Being cleansed from sin, we are
ready to do God’s work. Then and only then are we approved
of God to do His service. Looking at the tabernacle tent
itself, those badger skins don’t look too good. That is how
our human lives look to others and ourselves. Yet, the Bible says
we are the tabernacle [temple] of the Holy Spirit. When we go
inside, we see those four beautiful colors and artistic
embroidered cherubim on the curtains. That is how God sees us
when we are the workmanship of Christ through his death as
illustrated by the covering of goats’ hair and rams’
skins dyed red. We enter the tabernacle tent into the Holy Place
where the priests eat of their sacrifices and fellowship. As
Christians, we have fellowship with God and one another. We are
now on the “inside” so-to-speak of God’s select
few chosen before the foundation of the world. The three items of
furniture therein remind me of what Jesus said in Matthew chapter
six. He started off with “Therefore when thou doest thine
alms …”. Giving was the first most important item on
Jesus’ menu. The table of shewbread depicts our giving back
to God (the loaves) what he gave to us. It also symbolizes
fellowship with God and we express our gratitude by sharing. The
next thing Jesus said was… “when thou prayest”
which is depicted by the altar of incense. This is a sweet savor
before the Lord. The third thing on Jesus’ list was…
“when ye fast” which is illustrated by the lamp stand.
You may ask, “How is giving off the light of the gospel
comparable to fasting?” First of all, Jesus clearly said,
“Ye are the light of the world”. That specifically says
that we are destined for gospel service. But what is fasting and
how does that relate? Turn to Isaiah 58:6. The question of
fasting came up and God defined it: Is not this the fast that
I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo
the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye
break every yoke? Jesus quoted a prophecy about himself from
Isaiah 61 by saying, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon
me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto
the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to
proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison
to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the
LORD”. This passage sums up the whole of
Jesus’ mission. He said he was the light of the world, and
he said we are also the light of the world. The fast described in
Isaiah 58 sounds like the service of light that our Lord engaged
in (Isaiah 61). Therefore, the fast is the tangible manifestation
of the whole mission of light that Jesus engaged in and by
extension the mission we should also engage in. So when we read
Matthew 6, Jesus’ three things listed in order of importance
had parallels to the three objects in the Holy Place.
The last place was the Holy of Holies.
Ironically, the further inside we go, the further
outside in the universe it represents! This very sacred
place represents heaven. It is separated by the veil that is the
body of Christ rent in twain at his death allowing us access to
the Heavenly Throne Room (previously hidden before it was rent
due to the Israel’s blindness under the covenant of the
Law). We can confidently say therefore “Let us come boldly
to the Throne of Grace” according to what the Scripture
says.
I hope this is a nice summary that you can
understand of all the main items in the tabernacle. It was rich
in symbolism showing the essence of the spiritual things of God.
They foreshadowed of a time when a better covenant in Christ was
to be made. There is much more to study regarding the garb
and manners of the priests, the laws and rituals. So far my
messages just touched on the prophetic significance of the times
(feasts) of the Lord and the place that was the tabernacle. Maybe
in the future, I will give a message on the who’s,
what’s, amounts (numerical values) and whatever else. But I
think you get the idea. My mission is not to give super excessive
detail, but to shed enough light on these otherwise obscure (and
maybe boring) subjects to make everybody see that God did not put
all this in His Word just to put us to sleep. Now that you get
the idea, you can approach these subjects with this new mindset
and discover some more prophetic and symbolic significance in the
books of Moses and the Law for yourself.