Looking at the symbolic representation of Jesus in the structure, furnishings and rituals of the tabernacle. Its lessons for us

1. Jesus in the Tabernacle
Laindon Bible Class
25th January 2017

2. Jesus in the tabernacle
• Background to the tabernacle
• The layout of the tabernacle
• The tabernacle furniture
• The tabernacle rituals
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3. Background to the tabernacle
• Children of Israel eat the passover before leaving
• They are delivered out of Egypt
• Brought through the Red Sea into the wilderness
• Given instruction in the law through Moses
• Given the pattern of the tabernacle
• Their encampment and construction of the tabernacle
• The rituals of the tabernacle established
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4. The encampment of the
Children of Israel
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5. Simplified schematic of its layout
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6. Layout of the tabernacle (with dimensions)
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7. God’s way for man to be reconciled to him
[through Christ]
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Separation
&
Preparation
Application
Glorification
The mass of
humanity in the
worldEntry through
Christ by baptism
Mortality
Eternity
Step 1
Step
2
Step 3
Step 4

8. The lesson the tabernacle teaches
Outer court Holy Place Most Holy Place
Mental preparation Moral application Physical perfection
Changed minds Changed characters Changed bodies
Separation Dedication Glorification
Reconciliation Reformation Exaltation
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9. The tabernacle
furniture
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10. The tabernacle furniture
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11. The altar of burnt offering
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• Made of Shittim wood (from tree of the acacia family)-
representing natural human flesh
• Covered in brass or bronze – representing human flesh
cleansed and hardened by ‘fiery’ trial and tribulation
• Silver on the capiters of adjacent posts – representing the
covering of atonement
• Christ is our perfect altar (Hebrews 13:10) upon which our
lesser offerings can be made

12. The laver
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• Its shape and size not revealed
• Made from the brass ‘looking glasses’ of the women (Exodus 38:8)
• The water for cleansing represents God’s word (John 15:3)
• The laver of brass, representing the flesh, surrendered by the
Godly women to become a vessel for God’s word
• Christ revealed God’s word for cleansing (Ephesians 5:25-6)
• “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed
thereto according to thy word.” Psalm 119:9

13. The table of shewbread
• Made of Shittim wood covered with gold
• The unleavened bread a weekly offering by the C of Israel
• Old bread eaten by the priests
• Twelve ‘cakes’ made with oil and fine flour (Leviticus 2:5; 24:5)
and topped with frankincense (a fragrant and acceptable offering)
• Symbolises Christ in the days of his flesh (wood) providing
spiritual food (unleavened bread), manifesting his Father’s
character and glory (gold) and granted or covered with the pure
gold of Divine nature
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14. The seven-branched lampstand
• Made from one piece of pure gold beaten into shape (130lb)
• Lights produced by burning pure olive oil (Exodus 27:20-21)
• The priests to dress and replenish the lamps twice daily
• Only source of light in the Tabernacle
• Symbolises Christ (the light of the world, John 8:12) as the central
stem, beaten gold, the branches his disciples (John 15:1-2),
dependent but one body in completeness (7), exhibiting the
golden qualities (Isaiah 11:1-2), the only source of light and in
need of constant replenishment (Leviticus 24:1-4)
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15. The altar of incense
• Made of Shittim wood overlaid with pure gold, four square
• Incense burnt daily, morning and evening, invisible aromatic cloud
(meeting place) representing service/prayer (Revelation 8:4)
• Incense compounded of stacte, onycha, galbanum and
frankincense (sacrifice, deliverance, energy/commitment & purity)
• Aaron took coals in his censer from the altar of burnt sacrifice
• Christ came in human nature (wood), reflected the character and
glory of God (beaten gold), the perfect sacrifice and the one
through whom we can approach Yahweh in prayer
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16. The veil of the tabernacle
• Separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place
• Beautiful, made of blue, purple scarlet and white fine twined linen
• Cherubim pattern includes the four faces: man, lion, ox and eagle
• Hebrew veil means separatrix (root: to break apart), keeping the
way of life (cf cherubim in the Garden of Eden)
• The veil is the flesh which separates us from God
• Represented Christ who displayed a righteous character (white), in
the days of his flesh (red), manifested (purple) Yahweh (blue). The
veil was rent when he died a perfect sacrifice (Mark 15:38)
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17. The Most Holy Place
• Yahweh’s dwelling place, beyond the veil (a perfect cube)
• No light except that which emanated from between the
cherubim, the shekinah glory (indicating Yahweh’s presence)
• Surrounded by the Shittim wood of human nature, shaped to
the Divine pattern, clothed with the gold of tried faith
• The Ark of the Covenant was made of Shittim wood, overlaid
with gold
• Ark symbolising (antitype) Christ’s presence (now, through God’s
grace) in the Most Holy Place and the covenant in his blood
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18. The Ark of the Covenant
• It first contained the Tables of the Law, originally engraven
by the hand of God
• It then also contained a pot of manna (the bread from God)
• And Aaron’s rod that budded, demonstrating Yahweh’s
power and authority, choosing the High Priest
• All types of Christ: his total obedience (God given law), the
true bread from heaven (John 6:32-33) and God’s chosen
High Priest (Hebrews 7:15-17)
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19. The mercy seat
• All made from one piece of gold, including the cherubim
• Was Yahweh’s throne and footstall from where he ruled Israel
(Psalm 99:1 & 80:1)
• Christ is the anti-typical mercy seat or propitiation (Romans 3:24-
25), combining the roles of Moses and Aaron (Numbers 7:89)
• Christ was his Father’s word made flesh and spoke the words of
God
• In Christ Yahweh is revealed and through Christ believers can be
reconciled with Him
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20. The rituals of the tabernacle
• Sin offering [chattaah] – confession of sin, seeking forgiveness
• Trespass offering [asham] – acknowledgement of guilt and
making amends for sin against others
• Burnt offering [olah] – freewill offering signifying dedication
and righteousness (though sometimes commanded)
• Peace offering [shelem] – spontaneous offering of
thanksgiving, seeking fellowship with God
• Meal (meat) and drink offering [minchah/necek] – a dedication
of a portion of the fruits of our labour to God
• Day of atonement [yom kippurim – day of coverings]
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21. • Baptism into Christ: the door
• Subject to cleansing by the water of the word
• Life offered as a living sacrifice
• Light of Yahweh’s word illuminates the life (lampstand)
• Fellowship with Yahweh and his servants (bread on the table)
• Communication through prayer during life in ecclesia (incense)
• Standing at the veil, waiting for its removal
• Thus: purifying our flesh (brass), revealing the gold of tried faith
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Some conclusions