The Tabernacle in the Wilderness
by George Kirkpatrick
Vital Words to the Body
of Christ
Freely We Have Received, Freely We Give
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Introduction
God has given us everything we need to know in His wonderful Word. He gave us the
Old Testament to reveal what He was going to do for His creation man. He gave us the New
Testament to show us how He did it. By the Holy Spirit, the Apostle James recorded for us:
"Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners;
and purify your hearts, ye double minded." *** James 4:8
We are told to draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to us. This has been man's desire
since the Garden of Eden. How does man draw nigh to God? Drawing nigh unto God is a
progressive process. Many would have us believe the altar of repentance and water baptism is all
that is necessary to come into God's presence. Others would have us believe, when we receive
the baptism of the Holy Spirit this is all God requires of His people. Others would have us believe
if we join their denomination this is all that is required to draw nigh unto God. Christian book
store shelves are lined with "how to books" that lead nowhere. So how do we draw nigh unto
God?
God has revealed this process in His design of the Tabernacle Moses built in the
wilderness. God called Moses to come up into Mount Sinai. God not only gave Moses explicit
instructions how to build the Tabernacle, He showed Him a pattern of the Tabernacle, and
everything in the Tabernacle.
"And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the
mount. *** Exodus 25:40
The word pattern means "plan, form, construction". It also means "meaning". God
revealed the meaning of His Tabernacle to Moses. As we come to an understanding of the
meanings God built into His Tabernacle, then His way is opened unto us. The writer of Hebrews
gives us further understanding of what God meant when He showed Moses the pattern for the
Tabernacle.
"Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was
admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith He,
that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount."
*** Hebrews 8:5
The Tabernacle was to serve as an example and shadow of heavenly things. The heavenly
things are the Spiritual things revealed in the Tabernacle. We are to view the Tabernacle through
Spiritual eyes so we may know and understand God's eternal plan of salvation.
While Moses was in the mount, God revealed all things concerning the Tabernacle:
what to build
how to build
what materials to use
the size of the Tabernacle
which way it was to sit
the skins to be used for the covering of the Tabernacle
the color combinations for the decoration of the Tabernacle
God also showed Moses all the instruments of worship
what size they were to be
what materials they should be made of
God also showed Moses to make
the snuffers
the snuff dishes for the candlestick
the pans for the ashes
the shovels
the basons
the fleshhooks
the firepans
Nothing was to be of Moses' design, and there was to be no earthly architect on the job.
Everything was to be of God's design. God informed Moses:
"Look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the
mount." *** Exodus 25:40
God not only showed Moses the design of the Tabernacle, and everything in the
Tabernacle, He also showed him the completed product. One of the most interesting aspects of
the Tabernacle is that all the materials to build the Tabernacle had been brought from Egypt.
When Israel left Egypt, they spoiled the land. God had put it in the Egyptians hearts to give Israel
everything they needed to build the Tabernacle in the wilderness. God informed His people
before they left Egypt:
"But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her
house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them
upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians." ***
Exodus 3:22
God knew Israel would need all these materials to build His Tabernacle in the wilderness.
When it came time to build, God spoke to Moses to have the Israelites bring all the materials he
had supplied to build the Tabernacle:
"Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering: of every man
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 twined linen, and goats' hair,
And rams' skins dyed red, and badger's 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." ***
Exodus 25:2-7
The Israelites were to bring everything needed to build the Tabernacle. Moses was
instructed to only take the materials given with a willing heart. It is impossible to please God in
anything we do or anything we give if it is not given with a willing heart. What was the result of
the Israelites' giving?
"All the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man
from his work which they made;
And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for
the service of the work, which the Lord commanded to make.
And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout
the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the
offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing." ***
Exodus 36:4-6
More than enough materials were brought in to build the Tabernacle. The people gave
until they were restrained from giving. When God's people are truly doing a work for the Lord,
and they have a willing heart to serve Him, they will give until there is an abundance to complete
the task.
As we study God's Word we come to the understanding that every number, every color,
every metal, every direction, and every item used in the Tabernacle has a Spiritual meaning. As
we discover the use of God's symbolic terms, we obtain a deeper insight into God's Word.
The Tabernacle is made in sets of threes. Three is God's number of completion.
Everything is complete in three:
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Yesterday, today, and tomorrow
Sun, moon, and earth
Animal, vegetable, and mineral
Past, present, and future
All things are complete in three.
There were three metals used in the Tabernacle:
Gold, silver, and brass
Gold represents God
Silver represents redemption
Brass is the symbol of sin
There were three coverings on the Tabernacle:
Rams' skins dyed red
Badgers' skins
Woven goats' hair
There were three divisions in the Tabernacle:
The Outer Court
The Holy Place
The Most Holy Place
There were three entry ways into the Tabernacle:
The Gate
The Door
The Vail
There were three colors used in the Tabernacle:
Blue
Purple
Scarlet
There were three uses of oil in worship in the Tabernacle:
Oil for light
Spices for anointing oil
Sweet incense
Israel had obtained more than enough of everything from Egypt to build the Tabernacle.
They also had in their possession enough to do the worship service ordained by God.
God's presence was with Israel throughout their wilderness journey. His presence was felt
in the cloud that covered them in the daytime, and in the wth of the pillar of fire by night. The
desert is very hot in the daytime and very cold at night. Without God's cloud in the day, and His
warmth at night, Israel would truly have perished in their journey through the iron furnace.
As we view the Tabernacle through Spiritual eyes, God will reveal His process of drawing
nigh unto Himself. It is God's desire we come into His presence, and stand clean before Him with
clean hands and a pure heart.
Chapter One
Entrance to God's Eternal Salvation Plan
When God gave Moses the command to build the Tabernacle in the wilderness, He left
nothing to chance. He had put in all the Egyptians' hearts to provide everything for the building
of the Tabernacle. When the Israelites spoiled Egypt, the Egyptians not only gave them enough
of everything, they gave in abundance. God's hand is never slack in accomplishing what He
desires to be done.
We need to ask ourselves, "How important is it for us to understand the building of the
Tabernacle?" God only used six chapters of His precious Book to explain His total creation. In
these six chapters, He also gave insight on the sons of Adam, how man fell, and the judgment
upon His creation man at the time of Noah.
In contrast, God used sixteen chapters in the Bible to give us understanding of the
Tabernacle, its construction, and the services His people were to perform before Him. Everything
in God's Word is for our benefit. The time God dedicated in His Word to the Tabernacle was for
our understanding of His eternal plan of salvation.
The Tabernacle reveals how God's creation man can again enter into, and live in, His
presence. When God called Moses into the Mount, He gave him a visual image of the Tabernacle
when it was completed. As God informed Moses:
"And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed
thee in the mount." *** Exodus 26:30
God not only showed Moses the completed project in a vision, He also instructed him
concerning who would be in charge of overseeing the entire project:
"See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:
"And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in
knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of
workmanship." *** Exodus 31:2-5
God was in complete control of the building of the Tabernacle. He provided for all the
materials through the Egyptians. He trained and raised up Bezaleel the son of Uri to oversee the
building. God filled Bezaleel with His Spirit, and anointed him to do the work. God also gave
Bezaleel wisdom, understanding, and knowledge in all the areas of labor.
The name Bezaleel means "in God's shadow". Those whom God puts in charge of His
work in the earth today are operating in God's shadow. God's shadow is His anointing. When
His anointing comes, man is empowered to do God's will and accomplish His purpose.
Bezaleel was the son of Uri. The name Uri means "my light'. Those who are doing
God's work must operate their lives by the light of His Word.
Bezaleel was given a helper:
"And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan:
and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all
that I have commanded thee:" *** Exodus 31:6
God gave Bezaleel the wise hearted Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach. Aholiab became
Bezaleel's right hand man. God had filled Aholiab with wisdom to accomplish all God had
commanded Moses to do.
The name Aholiab means "house of my father". Those God has chosen to do His work
have been raised up in the house of the Father, filled with wisdom, and anointed to do the work
God has set before them.
The name Ahisamach means "brother of support". God has raised up many with the
ministry of helps. These are joints in the body to be a help to those who are building the house of
the Father (the body of Christ).
Much work was set before Bezaleel and Aholiab. They were to build. . .
". . .the tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat
that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle,
And the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar
of incense,
And the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot,
And the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of
his sons, to minister in the priest's office,
And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place: according to all that they have
commanded thee shall they do." *** Exodus 31:7-11
God gave the dimensions used in the building of the Tabernacle in cubits. A cubit was the
common standard of measure in the ancient world. The length of the cubit was approximately 18
inches. The length of a cubit was determined by measuring a man's arm from the point of the
elbow to the end of the middle finger. So the cubit varied in length. The Hebrews also used a
long cubit which was approximately 21 inches. This matched the Babylonian and Egyptian royal
cubit. Most scholars agree and believe this 18" cubit measure was used to describe the size of the
Tabernacle.
As we consider the Tabernacle, we need to know every measurement, every color, the
cloth, the skins, and all materials used to build the Tabernacle have Spiritual meanings. We must
understand these Spiritual meanings to understand God's eternal plan for His creation man.
When the religious system was about to stone Stephen, he spoke of the Tabernacle in the
wilderness:
"Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He had appointed,
speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had
seen." *** Acts 7:44
Stephen spoke of the Tabernacle as the Tabernacle of Witness. The Tabernacle is given as
a Spiritual witness of God's eternal salvation plan for man, and it is important we view it through
Spiritual eyes.
The Outer Court
Moses' Tabernacle consisted of the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place. Around the
Tabernacle was an enclosure known as the Outer Court. The Outer Court and the Tabernacle
were enclosed by hangings of pure twined linen. These were the instructions God gave Moses for
the construction of the Outer Court:
"And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward
there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long
for one side:" *** Exodus 27:9
The Enclosures Around the Outer Court
The North side of the court and the South side of the court were one hundred cubits long.
The number one hundred represents God's perfect divine order. When we enter into the Outer
Court, we come into God's eternal plan of salvation which will bring us again into God's divine
order.
Breadth of the Gate, Fifty Cubits
"And for the breadth of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits:
their pillars ten, and their sockets ten." *** Exodus 27:12
The breadth or width of the Outer Court was fifty cubits. The number fifty is the number
of the Holy Spirit. It is also the number of deliverance, as revealed in the Year of Jubilee. The
Outer Court is where God's deliverance begins to set us free from the old sin nature.
Five Thousand Cubits
When we multiply the length of the Outer Court by the width we discover the area
covered by the Outer Court is five thousand square cubits; 50 x 100 = 5000. This figure becomes
significant as we realize that at the beginning of the five thousandth year of God's creation, He
sent Jesus as an example to bring His creation into divine perfection.
The number five thousand is a combination of 5 x 1000. Five is the number of God's
grace, and one thousand is the number of His divine perfection. The Outer Court is where man
begins his journey into God's divine perfection. Only by the grace of God and His Holy Spirit can
we come again into His divine perfection.
"And the breadth of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits.
The hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their
sockets three." *** Exodus 27:13-14
It mattered not where the Tabernacle was set up, the gate was to always face East. East is
the direction of the New Day. Those who are seeking to draw nigh unto God are to look toward
the New Day of God's creation.
The curtains on each side of the Gate were to be fifteen cubits. Fifteen is the number of
God's Kingdom. It is the combination of three times five. Again, three is the number of
completion and five is the number of God's grace. When we enter the Outer Court we are
beginning our walk toward the Kingdom.
As we view God's revelation through Spiritual eyes, we come to the understanding it is
only by God's righteousness, the grace of Jesus, and the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit that
we can enter into the Kingdom of God.
The Measurements of the Gate
"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 27:16
The Gate was the only opening in the Outer Court. It was twenty cubits wide and five
cubits high; 20 x 5 = 100. Again, we discover twenty times five is one hundred cubits. Those
who desire to enter into God's complete and perfect salvation plan must enter the Outer Court by
way of the Gate. Jesus spoke of the Gate in His sermon on the Mount:
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to
destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:" *** Matthew 7:13
The entry into God's divine perfection is by the strait gate. The word strait means
"narrow, close, or confining". The broad way is the way of the world. Those who desire the
broad way have no desire to draw nigh unto God. All who will enter into the Kingdom must
enter through the close, narrow, strait gate. Jesus expounded on this basic principle:
"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few
there be that find it." *** Matthew 7:14
As Jesus stated, few will find the strait gate. Many have been told they have found it
because they have repeated a few words prompted by another; or they have joined a
denominational order. But until a person begins to walk as Jesus walked, he is still on the broad
way. The prophet Joel spoke of the multitudes who have entered the strait gate, but refuse to go
on into God:
"Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in
the valley of decision." *** Joel 3:14
The multitude of those who are called by God's name are still in the valley of decision, not
knowing if they want to walk with God or run with the world. Jesus provided us with the way,
the truth, and the life. Those who choose His way will enter into life. Those who choose the
broad way will be part of His judgment.
The Fine Needlework Colors of the Gate
"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 27:16
The Color Blue
The Gate was decorated with fine needlework of blue, purple, and scarlet. These three
colors reveal important facets concerning our entry into God's eternal plan of salvation. The first
color used was blue. Blue is the color of the Holy Spirit and the Spiritual realm of God.
The Spiritual realm is the heavenly realm. The heavenly realm is over our flesh realm.
The word heaven in the New Testament is the Greek word OURANOS and means "the aerial
heaven", or "where the birds fly". The heavens (or as we would say, the sky) is blue. Thus blue
is the color of God's Spiritual authority covering the earth.
The Color Purple
Purple is the color of royalty. This symbolizes the King of Kings and Lord of Lords'
sovereignty over His creation. Before Jesus was to be crucified the Roman soldiers stripped off
His linen robe:
"And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on His head, and they put
on Him a purple robe,
Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And
Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!" *** John 19:2 & 5
Pilate's words were, "Behold the man". Even though the Roman soldiers meant to mock
Jesus, we need to behold the man, Jesus, clothed in God's royalty. As we view His crown of
thorns we should behold the man who suffered so all mankind could be free. Everything Jesus did
was to show us the way back to the presence of the Father.
The Color Scarlet
Scarlet is the color of the blood sacrifice. Only by the sacrificial blood of Jesus can we
again enter into the presence of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Only those who enter in by
the strait gate will walk into the promise Jesus made to John on the Isle of Patmos:
"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the
dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and
washed us from our sins in His own blood,
And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and
dominion for ever and ever. Amen" *** Revelation 1:5-6
The Gate to the Outer Court displays the blood of Jesus. When we are washed clean by
His blood, we can ask the Father and He will give us the Holy Spirit anointing, *** Luke 11:13.
Through the Holy Spirit anointing we can continue our walk past the Outer Court, into the Holy
Place, and ultimately into the Holy of Holies to become kings and priests unto our God. The
Gate to the Outer Court proclaims our promises in God.
The Curtains of Fine Twined Linen
Linen, the Symbol of Righteousness
The curtains that enclose the Outer Court were made of fine twined linen. Linen is the
symbol of righteousness. Our whole life must be surrounded by the righteousness of God. In his
letter to the Corinthians, Paul revealed:
"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." *** 11 Corinthians 5:21
Because of the price Jesus paid we, too, can attain unto the righteousness of God. Jesus
revealed His Holy City, the bride of Christ, to John on the Isle of Patmos:
"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb
is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white:
for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." *** Revelation 19:7-8
If we do not attain unto the righteousness of God we cannot enter into His divine order
and perfection. Everything we do, say, or think must be surrounded by the righteousness of God.
The Sixty Pillars
Pillars of Brass - Sin
The curtain around the Outer Court hung on pillars:
"The twenty pillars thereof and their twenty sockets shall be of brass; the hooks of the
pillars and their fillets shall be of silver." *** Exodus 27:10
The pillars around the Outer Court and the sockets were made of brass. The sockets were
base plates, into which the pillars fit to hold them upright. Brass is the symbol of sin. The Outer
Court is where man begins to deal with his sin nature.
There were twenty pillars on the south side of the Outer Court, twenty pillars on the north
side, ten pillars on the west side, three pillars on each side of the gate, and four pillars which
supported the Gate; for a total of sixty pillars to surround the Outer Court.
Six x Ten = 60 Pillars
Six is the number of man and ten is the number of God's divine order. Again, the Outer
Court is where carnal man begins to be taught God's divine order. Unfortunately, this is not
being done in the modern church systems. Many pastors and teachers in today's churches do not
teach God's divine order. They only teach the commandments and doctrines of men. God is
desiring to deliver His people from these works of man. He is opening His Word for all who
desire to know and walk into truth.
The Silver Hooks and Fillets
Silver, the Symbol of Redemption
Moses was informed the hooks and the fillets were to be made of silver. The silver hooks
were attached to the pillars to hold the fillets. The fillets were poles between the pillars, on which
the curtains hung.
Silver is the symbol of redemption. God's plan of redemption for mankind is revealed in
the silver used in the Tabernacle. The silver fillets (or poles) supported the curtains of fine twined
linen (or God's righteousness). Only through God's redemption plan can man again come into
the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus.
It is God's desire to redeem man from His fallen state. He desires to again walk and talk
with His creation as He did in the garden. This was God's plan from the beginning. The complete
Tabernacle: every color, number, fabric, metal, and skin displays His plan of redemption.
The Silver Chapiters and The Brass Pins
There were two other items used in the making of the enclosure of the Outer Court. On
top of the pillars there were chapiters. These were caps or tops made of silver. The crowning
glory for all God's children is His plan of redemption for His whole creation.
There were also pins or stakes to hold the curtains secure to the ground. The pins were
made of brass. When Adam sinned in the Garden the whole creation fell. The pins or stakes
used to hold the curtains to the ground are a sign to all who will understand that it is our sin that
holds us in our earthly, fleshly condition.
The Fifty Connecting Loops
Moses was given one more commandment concerning the Outer Court:
"And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the
selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of
another curtain, in the coupling of the second." *** Exodus 26:4
The Tabernacle was made of ten curtains. Every curtain was twenty-eight cubits long, ***
Exodus 36:9. To hold these curtains together, God informed Moses to make fifty blue loops along
the edge of the curtains. Again, fifty is the number of the Holy Spirit. Blue is the color of the
Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, we could never attain unto God's righteousness. The
Tabernacle reveals it is the Holy Spirit that holds everything together in our lives.
The Fifty Golden Taches
These loops were held together by "taches".
"Thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches:
and it shall be one tabernacle." *** Exodus 26:6
The taches were hooks made of gold. The taches are the only gold used in the Outer
Court. Gold is the symbol of God, and it is God, through the operation of the Holy Spirit, that
holds everything together. Anything God does not hold together will come apart.
God's design for the Tabernacle is His design for each life who will enter into His
presence and stand clean and whole before Him. When we come to the Gate of the Outer Court,
it is the point of repentance. Jesus informed the Jews:
"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I
will raise him up at the last day." *** John 6:44
Those who the Father draws must enter in through the "strait gate". This begins God's
redemption process in our lives.
Further Discussion
*** God's Complete Salvation Plan
*** The Tabernacle of Witness
The Outer Court
The Enclosures Around the Outer Court
The Gate
The Fine Needlework Colors: Blue, Purple, Scarlet
The Curtains of Fine Twined Linen
The Brass Pillars
The Silver Hooks and Fillets
The Silver Chapiters
The Brass Pins
The Fifty Connecting Loops
The Fifty Golden Taches
Questions
1. How many chapters of the Bible did God use to give us understanding of the Tabernacle?
2. What does the name Bezaleel mean?
3. What does the name Aholiab mean?
4. What does the name Ahisamach mean?
5. Approximately what was the length of the cubit measure?
6. What does the number one hundred represent?
7. What does the number fifty stand for?
8. What does the color blue represent?
9. What does the color purple represent?
10. What does the color scarlet represent?
11. What does the material linen represent?
12. What does silver represent?
Chapter Two
The Gate of the Tabernacle
When the tabernacle was erected, it was an island of righteousness in a desert wilderness.
The Tabernacle of Witness is the picture of every member of the body of Christ in the earth today,
a symbol of righteousness to a lost and dying world. We discover this relevant truth in every area
of the Tabernacle beginning with the Gate to the Outer Court.
The Gate to the Outer Court was one curtain. It was not made to open. To enter the
Outer Court one had to pick up the curtain, and bow down to enter in. When we approach unto
our God, we must humble ourselves. This is the act of repentance. It is impossible to enter into
the righteousness of God without first humbling ourselves in His sight. The Apostle James
informs us:
"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up." *** James
4:10
Peter, who was given the keys to the Kingdom, declared:
"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt
you in due time." *** I Peter 5:6
The humbling process is part of the lifting up promised to God's elect. At the time we
bow before the Lord to enter into the Gate, our eyes are still on the earth and earthly things. But
as we enter into the Outer Court enclosure, God's whole plan of salvation is laid out before us.
There are three areas in the Tabernacle we need to walk into if we are to enter into the
presence of God:
The Outer Court
The Holy Place
The Holy of Holies
Jesus spoke of these three areas in His Parable of the Sower. He spoke of the man who
went forth to sow seed in the field. Jesus declared the field represented the world. The seed the
man sowed was the Word of God. Some of the seed fell by the wayside, some fell on stony
ground, some fell among thorns, and some fell on good earth. Only the seed that fell on good
earth brought forth a harvest. Jesus spoke of this harvest:
"But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold,
some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold." *** Matthew 18:8
These correspond with the three areas in the Tabernacle:
The Outer Court
The thirty (30) fold realm
The Holy Place
The sixty (60) fold realm
The Holy of Holies
The one hundred (100) fold realm
The area of the Tabernacle we dwell in is determined by what the seed (the Word of God)
has produced in our lives. We need to witness the Tabernacle as a growing area. When we bow
ourselves to enter through the Gate, we have taken our first step to enter into God's presence.
The Outer Court is the thirtyfold realm. The number thirty reveals the " beginners realm".
Jesus was thirty when He began His ministry. At the age of thirty, Joseph stood before Pharaoh
to become second ruler in his kingdom. Many believe John the Baptist was about thirty when he
began his ministry. Thirty is also the "maturing realm".
The Brazen Altar
Our next step after we have humbled ourselves to enter the Gate to the Outer Court, the
thirty fold realm, is to approach the Brazen Altar:
"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." *** Exodus 27:1-3
The size of the Brazen Altar is very important. It was five cubits square and three cubits
high. Again five is the number of grace. Three is the number of completion. Three times five is
fifteen. Fifteen is the number of the Kingdom. All who come into the Kingdom must come by
way of the Brazen Altar.
The Brazen Altar was made of shittim wood overlaid with brass. This is the picture of
fallen man. Wood is the symbol of flesh. Flesh overlaid with brass reveals man being covered
with sin and his old, sin nature. Only by laying down the old life of sin on the Brazen Altar can
we grow into the new creation man created in righteousness and true holiness.
The Brazen Altar was where Israel brought their sacrifices before the Lord to atone for their
sin. The word atone means "to set aside, to placate, or to cover". Israel's sacrifices did not have
the power to forgive their sin. Their sin was set aside, placated, or covered. Only the blood of
Jesus has the power to forgive sin. Only by the blood of Jesus can our sins be totally expunged,
completely done away with. Our trip to the Brazen Altar is where we lay down our lives and begin
to grow in the Lord.
On each corner of the Brazen Altar was a brass horn. The horn is the symbol of power.
The brass horns represent the power of sin in each of our lives. As Paul stated,
"All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." *** Romans 3:23
Those who desire to enter into the glory of God must lay down their lives on the Brazen
Altar.
The Laver
As we progress through the Outer Court, we come to the Laver. The Laver is the next step
in our humbling process. God informed Moses:
"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:" *** Exodus 30:18-20
The Laver was a container to hold water. The priests were to wash in the Laver before they
entered into the Tabernacle. If they were not washed in the Laver, and entered into the Tabernacle
unclean, they would be struck dead.
The Laver is our symbol of water baptism. No one can enter into the Holy Place of God
without the benefit of water baptism. The Laver was the only instrument in the Tabernacle that
was not given dimensions. Spiritually speaking it makes no difference where we are baptized. We
can be baptized in a creek, a lake, a river, the ocean, or in a bathtub. A person can be baptized
anywhere there is enough water to submerge the body. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at
Rome:
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His
death?
Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up
from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
*** Romans 6:3-4
We are to be buried with Jesus by baptism. Being buried does not mean to have water
poured or sprinkled upon. It means to be totally submerged in water. Paul continued:
"For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the
likeness of His resurrection:
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be
destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." *** Romans 6:5-6
Again Paul referred to being planted, or totally covered. The old man, even though he has
been cleansed from sin, still needs to be crucified. Our body of sin must be abandoned in the
baptismal pool if we are to continue on into the Holy Place.
The Natural Light Covering of the Outer Court
The Outer Court is where man begins his walk in God. Unfortunately many believe
because they have been to the Brazen Altar and the Laver, this is all God requires of them. They
never go any further. As we view the Outer Court from a Scriptural point of view, it is easy to
understand why those who remain in the Outer Court never grow in the things of God.
There is no covering over the Outer Court. Those who remain in the Outer Court only
receive natural light. Without God's Spiritual illumination, the only understanding they have of
God's Word is what can be understood with the carnal mind. Those who remain in the Outer
Court have no Spiritual understanding because there is no anointing in the Outer Court. The
seed has fallen on good earth, but without the anointing, God's Word does not become life. The
Beloved John informs us:
"But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that
any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and
is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him." *** I John 2:27
We can only abide in Christ as we have been taught by the Anointing. Since there is no
anointing in the Outer Court, only natural light, those who remain there must depend on the
teachings of man. These have no anointed teachings in their lives.
The Outer Court Baby Realm
The Apostle Peter Informs us:
"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby:" *** I
Peter 2:2
The Outer Court, the Baby Realm, is also known as the Milk Realm. The writer of
Hebrews speaks of those who remain in the Milk Realm of the Outer Court:
"For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again
which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of
milk, and not of strong meat."
For everyone that useth milk is unskilful in the Word of righteousness: for he is a babe."
*** Hebrews 5:12-13
Those who remain in the Outer Court need to continually be taught the first principles of
the oracles of God. The word oracle means "a brief message or statement". Those in Outer
Court Assemblies are continually taught the first principles of the salvation message Sunday after
Sunday. The message is brief and contains no strong meat because the people cannot or will not
receive it. Paul wrote to Timothy of those who are. . .
". . .ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." *** II Timothy
3:7
Truth is the Spirit of Truth that came on the Day of Pentecost to cleanse God's people
from all unrighteousness. Those who remain in their Outer Court Assemblies never come to the
Spiritual revelation revealed in God's Holy Word. Jesus spoke to His disciples:
"It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto
you, they are Spirit, and they are life." *** John 6:63
God's Word is strong meat when it is Spiritually discerned. To those in the Outer Court
Assemblies, it is only milk. As the writer of Hebrews informs us:
"For everyone that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe."
*** Hebrews 5:13
Those who are unskilled in the Word of righteousness are still babes. The word unskilled
means "inexperienced". The unskilled are unable to use God's Word as a tool. The Word of God
contains wisdom, knowledge, and revelation. It is up to us to seek God through His anointing to
obtain understanding. The all-wise Solomon wrote:
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is
understanding." *** Proverbs 9:10
The fear or reverential awe of God's holy presence is the beginning of wisdom. Until we
come into the knowledge and understanding of God's Word, we will never obtain the wisdom His
Word reveals. Solomon further reveals:
"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get
understanding." *** Proverbs 4:7
Wisdom is the principal thing. The word principle means "the beginning or first thing".
We need to seek God's wisdom in everything we do. We need to seek the Lord for His knowledge
to do what He wants us to do or say. When we do this, we will get the understanding to
accomplish His will.
There is one other facet in our seeking God in everything we do. Paul revealed this to the
church at Ephesus:
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of
wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:" *** Ephesians 1:7
Through the Word, the Spirit of wisdom and revelation will bring us to the knowledge of
the Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory. Solomon declared:
"How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be
chosen than silver!" *** Proverbs 16:16
Wisdom from God's Word is better than gold, and we should choose understanding above
silver. Those who are unskilled in the Word of righteousness have no way of seeking God's
wisdom, knowledge, or His revelation. When there is no Spiritual anointing there is no
understanding of God's revealed Word. Therefore they remain babes. Their desire is only for the
milk of the Word. They are ever learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of God's
Spiritual truths. The writer of Hebrews continues:
"But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use
have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." *** Hebrews 5:14
Those who are skilled in the word of wisdom, knowledge, and revelation are coming into
full age or maturity. By the Word they can discern between good and evil.
There is no overcoming in the Outer Court. The Outer Court is only the area of
maintaining. Those who remain in the Outer Court Assemblies are trying to hang on to their
religious status quo. These are not proceeding on into what God has promised, nor are they
overcoming the things of this life so they may become inheritors in God's Kingdom.
The writer of Hebrews continues His discourse to those who choose to go on and enter
into God's presence:
"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection;
not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead,
and of eternal judgment." *** Hebrews 6:1-2
We are informed to go on, not hang on. We are to leave the principles of the doctrines of
Christ. Again the word principle means "the beginning things, the first teachings". We are to
go on into perfection. The word perfection means "to be complete or mature"; as we would put
it today, to grow up, become an adult. Perfection does not mean we will never make a mistake,
but as adults we can correct our mistakes, and not blame others for our failures.
The writer of Hebrews says we are not to lay again the foundations we have already laid.
What are these foundational teachings we are to leave behind so we may go on into maturity? The
writer lists:
1 Repentance from dead works
2 Faith toward God
3 Doctrines of Baptisms
4 Laying on of Hands
5 Resurrection of the Dead
6 Eternal Judgment
These six messages make up the majority of teachings Sunday after Sunday in the Outer
Court Assemblies.
The "going on" spoken of by the writer of Hebrews is laid out in the Tabernacle in the
Wilderness. As we come to the end of the thirty fold, maturing realm we come to the entrance
into the Holy Place. Before us is the door, but before we can enter in at the door there must be a
change of garments, another washing, and an anointing. There must also be a change in our
relationship with our God; a higher calling.
As we enter through the door, we enter into the Holy place. From this point on we will
find no brass because those who enter into the Holy Place have dealt with the old sin nature and
are ready for the next step in the Tabernacle in the Wilderness.
Those who enter into the Holy Place have left the Outer Court Assemblies. Their whole
desire is to seek God's higher calling in their lives. Sometimes this means leaving family, friends,
and old acquaintances. Our whole desire must become as Paul's when he cried out in his letter to
the church at Philippi:
"That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of
His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death;" *** Philippians 3:10
Only those whose whole desire is to know Christ Jesus and witness the power of His
resurrection in their lives will enter into the Holy Place. These will truly know His suffering and
be conformed to His death.
Those who are to know Him must leave all behind in the Outer Court. These have a mind
set that nothing can deter them in their quest for His Holy of Holies. The Holy Place is their next
step. The Holy Place is the priesthood realm. But before the priests could approach the Door to
the Tabernacle, they were to wash in the Laver. God's commandment was:
"For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:" *** Exodus
30:19
The priests' hands and feet were to be clean before they could enter into the Tabernacle.
This is a as true today as it was in the days of Moses. If we are going to draw nigh unto God our
hands must be clean. The hands represent our service to God. We cannot serve God with defiled
hands. Our service before God must be pure and holy, undefiled by the things of the world or the
carnal mind.
Likewise, our feet must be clean. The feet represent our walk before God. We cannot
draw nigh to God if we continue to walk in the ways of the world. Our service and our walk
must be purified if we are to approach unto our God.
Other related books which lay out a step by step growth from Salvation to
Maturity by the same author:
Where Are You In The Kingdom
From Repentance to our Promise Land
God's Prophecy in Stone
Further Discussion
*** The Gates of the Tabernacle
*** The Brazen Altar
*** The Laver
*** The Natural Light Covering
*** The Outer Court Baby Realm
*** Going On Into Perfection
Questions
1. What is God's symbol of righteousness to a lost and dying world?
2. For anyone to enter the Outer Court, they must bow down and enter through the .
When we do this we have taken our first step to enter into God's .
3. The Gate of the Outer Court is the point of in our lives if we want to continue
on the the Kingdom of God.
4. It is impossible to enter into the righteousness of God without first ______________
____________ in His sight.
5. What three areas in the Tabernacle do we need to walk into if we are to enter into the
presence of God?
6. What is our next step after we have humbled ourselves to enter the Gate to the Outer
Court?
What does this piece of furniture represent in our lives?
What do the horns on the Brazen Altar represent in our lives?
7. After we lay our lives on the Brazen Altar, what is the next step in our humbling process
in the Outer Court? What does this piece of furniture represent in our lives?
8. The priests were to wash in the Laver before they entered the Tabernacle. If they did not,
and entered in unclean, what would happen to them?
9. The Outer Court Realm is the fold realm, the realm, the
realm, the , and the realm.
10. God's Word is a tool. Who is unable to use God's word as a tool?
11. from God's word is better than gold.
12. What does the word perfection mean?
13. What do our hands represent to God?
14. What do our feet represent?
Chapter Three
The Boards of Shittim Wood
As we approach the Holy Place we find God gave Moses specific instructions on how to
build the Tabernacle. All the items in the Tabernacle were to be made of temporary materials
except the gold, silver, and brass. God informed Moses:
"And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up.
Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth
of one board." *** Exodus 26:15-16
The Tabernacle boards were to be made of shittim wood. The shitah tree was also known
as acacia. Shittim wood was very hard, heavy, and insect resistant. In today's measurement, the
boards for the Tabernacle would have been fifteen feet long and twenty-seven inches wide. It
would take a very large tree to get boards this size. Since they had no way to cut timber in the
wilderness and they were in a desert area, all the shittim wood for the whole Tabernacle had to be
brought with them from Egypt.
"And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south
side southward." *** Exodus 26:18
The Tabernacle was twenty boards long. The boards were one and a half cubits wide and
ten cubits high. So the Tabernacle was thirty cubits long; 1.5 x 20 = 30.
"Two tenons shall there be in one board, set in order one against another: thus
shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle." *** Exodus 26:17
The tenons were pins in the bottom of the boards to set in the sockets to hold the boards
in place.
The Silver Sockets
"And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets
under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his
two tenons." *** Exodus 26:19
The sockets were silver. Silver is the metal of redemption. Throughout the Tabernacle,
we witness God's redemption plan for His creation man.
The Tabernacle was held together by bars:
"And thou shalt make bars of shittim wood;; five for the boards of the one side of the
tabernacle,
And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for
the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the two sides westward.
And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end. ***
Exodus 27:26-28
The main supporting bar in the middle of the board ran from end to end. Then there were
five other bars used for support. Five is the number of grace. The main supporting bar represents
our Lord Jesus Christ who brought grace to all mankind. Without the main supporting bar and
His grace, our Tabernacle could not stand.
The bars fit in arms. This made the Tabernacle very solid to withstand the desert winds.
When God wraps His arms around us, we can stand no matter what adversity comes against us.
"And for the sides of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards.
And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two
sides." *** Exodus 26:22-23
The West side of the Tabernacle took six boards. The two corner boards overlapped, so
this made the Tabernacle ten cubits wide. The whole Tabernacle was thirty cubits long, ten cubits
wide, and ten cubits high.
Overlaid with Gold
"And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for
places for the bars: and thou shalt overlay the bars with gold." *** Exodus 26:29
All the boards and the bars were shittim wood, overlaid with pure gold. Wood represents
flesh. In the Outer Court the wood was overlaid with brass. This is a picture of our flesh being
covered with sin. In the Tabernacle, the wood (flesh) is covered with gold, or overlaid with the
presence of God.
The boards overlaid with gold were the strength of the Tabernacle, as God's Spiritual
boards (His body) overlaid with gold are the strength of His Kingdom.
The Door
There were two entrances in the Tabernacle: the Door and the Vail. The entrance into the
Holy Place is called the Door.
"And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and
scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework." *** Exodus 26:36
The Door to the Tabernacle was made like the Gate to the Outer Court with blue, purple,
and scarlet needlework on fine twined linen.
The Pillars
"And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay
them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets
of brass for them." *** Exodus 26:37
The door hung on five strong pillars. Again, five is the number of grace. God's complete
salvation and redemption plan is hung on His grace.
The pillars were made of shittim wood overlaid with pure gold. The hooks were also
gold. All things in God's presence are gold. But the sockets were brass, not gold, because they
sat upon the earth. This is an important fact. The Door was still in the Outer Court. Until man
enters through the Door into the Holy Place, he is still dealing with the old, sin nature.
Summary, Part 1
This completed the main structure of the Tabernacle. God informed Moses:
"And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was
shewed thee in the mount." *** Exodus 26:30
God made sure nothing was left to man's imagination, nor was any of the design left up to
Moses. God was the designer, the architect, and the overseer of the building of the Tabernacle.
Part 2:
The Coverings of the Tabernacle
The Covering of Fine Twined Linen
"Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen,
and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou
make them." *** Exodus 26:1
The first covering on the Tabernacle was fine twined linen. This covering was
embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet. The embroidered design was to be of cherubims.
Cherubims always protect the holiness of God. In the book of Genesis we discover God set
cherubims at the East end of the Garden so man could no longer partake of the Tree of Life and
live. The prophet Isaiah spoke of God dwelling between the cherubims, *** Isaiah 37:16. The
prophet Ezekiel spoke much about the cherubims being around the throne of God. The Psalmist
also wrote:
"The Lord reigneth; let the people tremble: He sitteth between the cherubims; let
the earth be moved." *** Psalm 99:1
God sits between the cherubims. The cherubims are always in the presence of God.
When we enter into the Holy Place, we enter the protection of the cherubims.
When one enters into the Holy Place all that is visible is the pure linen with its
embroidered work and the pure gold that covers the boards. This reveals God's righteousness,
His purity, and His holiness.
God informed Moses how to make the ten curtains:
"The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one
curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure." ***
Exodus 26:2
The ten curtains were to be twenty-eight cubits long, and four cubits wide. As we stated
before, ten is the number of God's divine order. Twenty-eight is a combination of 4 x 7. Four is
the number of God's creation and seven is His perfect number. The number twenty-eight reveals
the perfection of God's creation. Everything in the Tabernacle and the Outer court are in God's
divine order to bring His creation man again into His image and likeness.
The Couplings Loops of Blue
"The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains
shall be coupled one to another.
And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the
selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of
another curtain, in the coupling of the second.
Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in
the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second; that the loops may
take hold one of another." *** Exodus 26:3-5
Five curtains were to be coupled together. Again, five is the number of grace. Five
curtains were coupled together to make one curtain. The other five curtains were also coupled
together. So the first covering on the Tabernacle was two curtains twenty-eight cubits long and
twenty cubits wide.
On the edge of each curtain were fifty loops of blue. Fifty is the number of the Holy Spirit
and blue is also the color of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the binding force in the body of
Christ. Without the Holy Spirit there would be nothing to hold us together.
"And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with
the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle." *** Exodus 26:6
Again, we witness the Holy Spirit, holding together God's redemptive plan for His
creation man.
The Covering of Goat's Hair
The next covering upon the Tabernacle was goat's hair.
"And thou shalt make curtains of goat's hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle:
eleven curtains shalt thou make.
The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four
cubits: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure." *** Exodus 26:7-8
The goat's hair was black. Moses was informed to make eleven curtains. Eleven is the
number of confusion, incompleteness, or disorganization. Black is the color of sin. When we
were in our sin the things of God were confused, incomplete, and in a state of disorganization.
We had no conception of what God desired us to be, or what He expected of us.
When man sinned in the garden the presence of God departed. A void was left in man.
From the time of creation, man has tried to fill that void with ambition, money, sex, drugs,
alcohol, all kinds of entertainment, sports, the list is endless. When we come to the realization
only God can fill that void, the confusion will end. Incompleteness in our lives will become
fulfillment. Disorganization will become an orderly walk.
"And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves,
and shalt double the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tabernacle." *** Exodus
26:9
Of the eleven curtains, five were coupled together, and six were coupled together. The
sixth curtain was to drape over the front of the Tabernacle to be a backdrop for the door. The
Door as the Gate was not made to open. The Door was lifted and the priest entered under the
Door. To do this he had to pass under the goat hair covering in order to enter in through God's
righteousness. This is to show us, that we too, are to overcome the old sin nature by humbly
submitting ourselves to the righteousness of God.
"And thou shalt make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outmost in
the coupling, and fifty loops in the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second."
*** Exodus 26:10
Again we see the fifty loops. Even in our sin the Holy Spirit is always there to hold our
lives together. Even though sometimes we do not recognize Him or allow Him to be part of our
lives, the Holy Spirit is there drawing us unto God. Many believe their coming to God was
spontaneous. A good message was preached, a song touched their heart, or a friend or relative
spoke to them. The Apostle Paul declared:
"According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that
we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:" *** Ephesians 1:4
Those who come to Christ's saving grace were chosen in Him before the foundation of the
world. Paul continued:
"Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself,
according to the good pleasure of His will," *** Ephesians 1:5
We were predestinated to be His adopted children. The word predestinated means "to
decide beforehand, to be predetermined, and foreordained". Being predestined does nothing for
us until we repent. Many whom God has called refuse to come to repentance. As Jesus declared:
"For many are called but few are chosen." *** Matthew 22:14
The Holy Spirit safeguards us until we come unto repentance. This protection remains
with us until we come into the fullness of Christ. It is only by the anointing that we can enter into
the New Day and into God's presence.
The Fifty Taches of Brass
"And thou shalt make fifty taches of brass, and put the taches into the loops, and
couple the tent together, that it may be one." *** Exodus 26:11
Moses was informed to make the taches to hold the curtains of goat's hair out of brass. It
is not God who holds our sin together. Our sin nature is held together by sin or brass.
The Coverings of Ram Skins and Badgers' Skins
The coverings of fine twined linen and goat's hair curtains were made large enough to
hang over the front, the back, and both sides of the Tabernacle.
There were two more coverings on the Tabernacle over the goat's hair and fine twined
linen:
"And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a
covering above of badgers' skins." *** Exodus 26:14
The covering over the goat's hair was made of rams' skins dyed red. There were no
dimensions given for the rams' skins or badgers' skins. There is a reason no measurements were
applied to the rams' skins dyed red or the badger skins. The rams' skins dyed red wondrously
represent the blood sacrifice of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. His sacrifice is limitless. For this
reason God gave no dimensions to the rams' skins dyed red.
When we enter into God's salvation plan for His creation man, our sins are lovingly
covered by the blood of Jesus. Our sin, represented by the covering of goat's hair, is forever
sandwiched between the blood of Jesus and the fine twined linen righteousness of God. Our sins
are forever sealed under the blood as long as we walk in God's righteousness.
The KJV of the Bible declares the outer most covering of the Tabernacle was made of
badgers' skins. Since badgers' skins were not suitable for the outer covering of the Tabernacle,
scholars believe it was the skin of an animal called the Dugong; an animal which resembles the
porpoise. The skin of the Dugong has a bluish cast. The outside covering of the Tabernacle was
therefore blue. The color blue marvelously represents the Holy Spirit covering over every work
of God in our lives.
It is by this Holy Spirit covering in our lives we stay in God's will, walking in His way to
grow up into the head which is Christ and come into His glory. God's whole plan of redemption
is covered by the Holy Spirit anointing.
Summary, Part 2
This completed the structure of the Tabernacle. Anywhere the Tabernacle was set up it
was always to face the East, toward the New Day. God's New Day lies directly ahead of us.
By viewing the Tabernacle through Spiritual eyes, we can know and understand God's
redemption plan for His creation, man. Those who are desiring to become kings and priests unto
their God must walk beyond the Brazen Altar and the baptismal cleansing of the Laver in the
Outer Court. They must continue on to the entry of the door into the Holy Place of God.
Those approaching the door need a change of clothes before they can enter in. This
change is shown in the priestly garments. All those who desire to become priests of God also
need an anointing, and another washing.
God has given explicit instructions to those who desire to enter into the priesthood realm
of God. Jesus spoke to John:
"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the
dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and
washed us from our sins in His own blood,
And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and
dominion for ever and ever. Amen." *** Revelation 1:5 - 6
Further Discussion
*** Clean Hands and Feet
*** The Boards of Shittim Wood
*** The Silver Sockets
*** Overlaid With Gold
*** The Door
*** The Pillars
*** The Coverings of the Tabernacle
The Covering of Fine Twined Linen
The Covering of Goat's Hair
The Coverings of Ram Skins and Badgers' Skins
*** The Couplings of Blue
*** The Fifty Taches of Brass
Questions
1. All the materials in the Tabernacle of Witness were to be made of temporary materials
except what three things?
2. The boards of the Tabernacle of Witness were made of . Another name for this
wood is .
3. The main supporting bar of the Tabernacle of Witness represents what?
4. What does wood represent in our lives?
What does wood overlaid with brass represent?
5. When God wraps His arms around us, we can
.
6. What always protects the holiness of God? God set these at the East end of the Garden so
man could no longer partake of what?
7. When one enters into the Holy Place all that is visible is the with its
embroidered work and the that covers the boards. This reveals God's
, , and .
8. What is the binding force in the body of Christ?
9. What does the number eleven represent? When we were in our sin the things of God were
, , and .
10. What does goat's hair dyed black represent?
11. What does the ram's skins dyed red wondrously represent?
12. Our sin, represented by the covering of goat's hair, is forever between the
blood of Jesus and the fine twined linen righteousness of God. Our sins are forever
as long as we walk in God's righteousness. Praise the Lord!
Chapter Four
The Priestly Garments
Only those who were clothed in their priestly garments could enter into the Holy Place.
As we view the priestly garments through Spiritual eyes, we see clearly what we must become if
we are to enter into the Holy Place in God. God informed Moses:
"And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for
beauty." *** Exodus 28:2
The priestly garments were go be glorious and beautiful.
"And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the
Spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he
may minister unto me in the priest's office.
And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod,
and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy
garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the
priest's office." *** Exodus 28:3-4
The priestly garments were to consist of a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a broidered coat,
a mitre, and a girdle. Each piece has a Spiritual meaning to those who are drawing nigh unto
God.
"And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen." ***
Exodus 28:5
The priestly garments were to be made of the same material as the curtains, the gate and
the door. The same colors used throughout the construction of the Tabernacle are also used in
the priestly garments. The prophet Ezekiel, speaking of the priestly garments, informs us:
"They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches
upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat."
*** Ezekiel 44:18
The priests who enter into God's Holy Place can wear nothing that causes sweat. Sweat is
the sign of labor. Those who enter into the Holy Place will have ceased from their own labors.
The writer of Hebrews spoke of those who will enter into God's rest:
"For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as
God did from His." *** Hebrews 4:10
God rested from His labors on the Seventh Day. His Seventh Day is directly ahead for
His creation. Those who have ceased from their own labors will enter into His rest. The prophet
Isaiah spoke of those who are ready to enter into their Holy Place in God:
"Awake, awake: put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O
Jerusalem, the Holy City: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the
uncircumcised and the unclean." *** Isaiah 52:1
Mount Zion is the highest place in Jerusalem. God chose Jerusalem as the place where He
would put His name, *** I Kings 11:36. Spiritually speaking, Jerusalem consists of those who have
chosen the High Place of God to dwell in. These have put on their beautiful garments. and have
ceased from their own labors. Jesus declared those who would make up His Holy City to John on
the Isle of Patmos:
"And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white:
for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." *** Revelation 19:8
The Holy City, New Jerusalem, will be inhabited by those who are clothed in their priestly
garments of fine linen, clean and white. These have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus and
cleansed in the baptismal pool. They have been made ready to enter into the Holy Place of God.
Before they can enter in they must have a change of clothing. They must adorn their priesthood
garments.
The Ephod
The first article of clothing for the priestly garment was the ephod.
"And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine
twined linen, with cunning work.
It shall have the two shoulderpieces thereof joined at the two edges thereof; and
so it shall be joined together." *** Exodus 28:6-7
The ephod was an ornamental garment made of fine twined linen. It was woven with
threads of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet. The ephod draped over the front and back of the priest.
It was held together by two shoulder pieces, and was put on like a sleeveless sweater. This
beautifully reveals that the front and the back of the priest was covered with the righteousness of
God, and interwoven with all the tenants of our faith. The gold color represents God. The blue
color represents the Holy Spirit. The purple color represents the royal sovereignty of God, and
the scarlet color represents God's saving grace.
The Curious Girdle
"And the curious girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same,
according to the work thereof; even of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and
fine twined linen." *** Exodus 28:8
The curious girdle was a belt-like garment worn around the middle of the loins to hold the
ephod in place. The loins is the area between the hips and the ribs. The phrase "girt up the loins"
appears many times in God's Word.
The loins are the pivotal point of the body. It is the sign of strength, activity, and power.
This area of the body also symbolizes humility, sorrow, righteousness, and faithfulness. The loins
also contain man's regenerative powers.
If we are to enter again into the presence of God, our loins must be girt with the curious
girdle. Strength, activity, power, humility, sorrow, righteousness, and faithfulness must become
part of our regenerative life. Without these attributes in our lives, we can never come again into
God's image and likeness.
The Two Onyx Stones
God informed Moses to take two onyx stones and engrave the name of six of the tribes on
each stone. These were to be set in settings of gold, *** Exodus 29:8-11.
"And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of
memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the
Lord upon His two shoulders for a memorial." *** Exodus 28:12
The onyx stones on each shoulder of the priest were linked together with a chain of gold.
The chain draped in front of the breastplate. The High Priest was to bear the names of the twelve
tribes of Israel before the Lord as a memorial. Even though these names were separated on the
shoulders of the priest, they were linked together by God. This reveals we are to become one in
God with no separation, no division. God only has one body who will enter into His presence.
Twelve is the number of God's government. There were twelve patriarchs, twelve tribes,
and Jesus had twelve disciples who became the twelve apostles who were set over the early
churches. The High Priest was to bear the names of God's chosen government before the Mercy
Seat as a memorial before God. When the prophet Isaiah prophesied the birth of Jesus, he
declared:
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be
upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The
Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." *** Isaiah 9:6
The government was to be upon Jesus' shoulders. Jesus did not become the shoulders of
the church. God's Word declares He became the head of the church, *** Ephesians 5:23. His
shoulders represent the leadership He has ordained in His true church. This leadership is called
the eldership. God's government rests upon the shoulders of His chosen leadership, those elders
who are properly set in the body.
Spiritually speaking, the shoulders represent the seat of government. The arms are
attached to the shoulders. The arms are the strength of the body. The hands are attached to the
arms. The hands represent our service and ministry before our God.
The High Priest was to bear the onyx stones upon his shoulders when He entered into the
Holy of Holies. When he did this he was proclaiming God's chosen leadership could enter into
the presence of God if they were properly attired in their priestly garments. We must understand
God is not looking for a religious uniform. He is looking for those who are Spiritually prepared
to enter into His presence, those whose righteousness and true holiness is displayed in everything
they say and do.
The Breastplate
The next article of clothing was the breastplate of judgment:
"Thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work
of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and
of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it. *** Exodus 28:15
The breastplate was made in the same fashion as the ephod:
"Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span
shall be the breadth thereof." *** Exodus 28:16
The breastplate was made foursquare and it was folded over to form pockets. God
informed Moses what was to be displayed upon the breastplate:
"And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row
shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.
And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.
And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.
And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in
their inclosings.
And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according
to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they
be according to the twelve tribes." *** Exodus 28:17-21
There were four rows of stones with three stones in each row. A name of one of the
twelve tribes of Israel was to be engraved on each stone. As we view the breastplate Spiritually,
we discover many interesting facets to these jewels set in God's Word. The breastplate contained
12 stones. By comparing these stones, we discover these are the same stones that make up the
twelve foundations for the wall of the Holy City, New Jerusalem.
"And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of
precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a
chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the
ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an
amethyst." *** Revelation 21:19-20
These are the same stones in the breastplate. The names are not the same because of
translation, but they are the same stones:
"And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the
twelve apostles of the Lamb." *** Revelation 21:14
Instead of the names of the twelve tribes, the foundations bear the names of the twelve
apostles. The twelve apostles make up the foundation of the Holy City. The twelve stones
proclaim God's Spiritual tribes sealed in the seventh chapter of Revelation.
The breastplate was foursquare. Jesus described the Holy City as a city that lieth
foursquare, *** Revelation 21:16. God's Holy City will be made up of His twelve Spiritual tribes
that are closest to His heart.
The breastplate was made of the same fine twined linen, interwoven with gold, blue,
purple, and scarlet. It was to be worn upon the breast of the priest. The breast is the symbol of
compassion and love. When the High Priest entered into the Holy of Holies, he was bearing the
names of those who were closest to God' heart. Today the breastplate symbolizes God's Holy
City made up of God's Spiritual tribes that are closest to His heart.
The Gold Rings in the Breastplate
There were gold rings in each corner of the breastplate. The breastplate was held in place
by gold chains. These golden chains were fastened to the gold settings in the shoulderpieces of
the ephod. Chains are made up of links. As we gain Spiritual understanding, we discover
everything God does is all linked together and tied directly to His promises.
The bottom of the breastplate was secured by a piece of blue lace. It was fastened to the
gold rings just above the girdle on the ephod. Everything God has ordained is secured by the
Holy Spirit of promise.
The Urim and Thummin
"And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim;
and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the Lord: and
Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the
Lord continually." *** Exodus 28:30
Moses was to put the Urim and Thummin into the pockets of the breastplate. No one is
quite sure what the Urim and Thummin were. They were believed to be stones used by the High
Priest to determine God's will. Today the Urim and Thummin is replaced by the Holy Spirit
anointing. It is only by and through God's anointing that we can determine God's will.
The Robe
The next garment Moses was required to make was the robe for the ephod:
"And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
And there shall be an hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof: it shall have a
binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of an
habergeon, that it be not rent." *** Exodus 28:31-32
The robe was to be worn under the Ephod. It was made in one piece, woven from top to
bottom with a hole for the head to pass through. The robe had slits for the arms, and was
sleeveless.
"Beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple,
and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round
about:" *** Exodus 28:33
On the bottom of the robe, Moses was to put pomegranates, colored blue, purple, and
scarlet. Between the pomegranates, Moses was to place bells made of gold. Because the
pomegranate is full of seeds, it has become the symbol of fruitfulness and plenty. It is also used as
a sign of joyfulness. When the priest walked the bells made a sweet tinkling sound.
"And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he
goeth in the Holy Place before the Lord, and when he cometh out, that he die not."
*** Exodus 28:35
Many believe if there was sin in the priest's life when he entered into the Holy of Holies, he
would be struck dead. They would know this by the sound of the bells .
The priestly robe was blue. The ephod and the breastplate rested upon the blue robe.
The Holy Spirit undergirded everything the priest was to perform. The Holy Spirit must be the
undergirding in everything we, too, accomplish for our God.
The Gold Plate and the Mitre
God informed Moses to make a gold plate:
"And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings
of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD."
"And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the
forefront of the mitre it shall be." *** Exodus 28:36-37
The plate of pure gold was to be attached to the mitre. The mitre was a pure linen bonnet.
These were to be worn by the regular priests and the High Priest. There was one difference in the
High Priest's mitre. The High Priest's mitre was topped with a crown. The crown was made of
dark blue braided cloth, and covered the top of the linen bonnet. The golden plate was attached
to the High Priest's mitre by this braided crown.
The gold plate was to be displayed on the front of the priest's mitre. It was to read,
HOLINESS TO THE LORD. Those who desire to enter into the presence of the Lord must have
their heads and minds covered with the righteousness and holiness of God. The foremost thing in
their minds must be their holiness unto their God. Nothing but holiness and righteousness will
enter into the presence of God.
The High Priest had the blue crown upon his mitre. Those who enter into the Holy of
Holies must bring every thought and every action under the direction and control of the Holy
Spirit. The Psalmist writes:
"O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before Him, all the earth." ***
Psalm 96:9
We must worship our God in the beauty of holiness. The prophet Zechariah spoke of the
day of entering in when he wrote by the anointing:
"In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE
LORD; and the pots in the Lord's house shall be like the bowls before the altar.
Yea every pot in Jerusalem shall come and take of them, and seethe therein.
and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord
of hosts." *** Zechariah 14:20-21
Horses are the symbol of power and strength. All power and strength must display
HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD. Every pot in Jerusalem (the true place of worship) and Judah
(the land of praise) will display holiness before God. There will be no Canaanites (traffickers,
merchandisers of men's souls) in the city of the Lord of host. God's holiness must be the
foremost thing displayed in our lives. God directed Moses concerning the gold plate:
"And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the
holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it
shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord."
*** Exodus 28:38
The High Priest was to bear Israel's iniquity before the Lord. The plate of gold had to be
in place upon the mitre before the High Priest was acceptable before the Lord. If our
righteousness and holiness is not present, we, too, will not be acceptable before the Lord. As
Paul declared to the church at Ephesus:
"To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the
beloved." *** Ephesians 1:6
The Embroidered Coat
The next article of clothing Moses was to make was the priestly coat:
"And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of
fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework." *** Exodus 28:39
Throughout the Bible, the embroidered coat was used as a sign of priestly attainment.
The embroidered coat was to be worn under all the other garments. It was to be longer than the
robe so as to be seen beneath the length of all the other priestly garments. This symbol of
priesthood must be seen through everything we say and do.
Both Joseph and Sameul were types of this priesthood anointing. Jacob made a priestly
coat of many colors and gave it to his son, Joseph. Because Jacob bestowed this high honor upon
Joseph, his brothers were angered and wanted to kill him. Instead they sold him into slavery in
Egypt. Another use of the embroidered coat was when Samuel's mother wove him a priestly coat
every year.
The Linen Breeches
"Thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins
even unto the thighs they shall reach:" *** Exodus 28:42
The last garment Moses was to make for the priestly garments was linen breeches. The
linen breeches were to be worn under the embroidered coat. The linen breeches were to cover the
priest's nakedness. Our whole being must be covered by the righteousness of God or we stand
before Him naked.
Summary
Everything in the priestly garments were fine twined linen. The priest's clothing was to
display nothing but righteousness. Interwoven throughout were the threads of gold, blue, purple,
and scarlet. Every tenet of our faith is to be interwoven in the righteousness of God. Paul
enlightened the church at Corinth:
"But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and
righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:" *** I Corinthians 1:30
Wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; these four things are beautifully
and masterfully displayed in the Tabernacle and the priestly garments. Our priestly garments do
not produce sweat. Only those who have ceased from their own labors will be allowed to adorn
their priestly garments.
God is moving forth, ready to anoint His priesthood company, those who are ready to
enter into the Holy Place. Before any priest could enter in, he had to adorn his priestly garments.
Before we can enter into the Holy Place, our priestly garments must be in place.
But before the priests could put on their priestly garments and enter the Door of the
Tabernacle, it was necessary for them to receive another washing, and an anointing.
God is preparing a people to enter in, and draw nigh unto His presence. We are getting
close to that day of entering in. Praise God!
Further Discussion
*** The Priestly Garments
The Ephod
The Curious Girdle
The Two Onyx Stones
The Breastplate
The Gold Rings in the Breastplate
The Urim and Thummin
The Robe
The Gold Plate and Mitre
The Embroidered Coat
The Linen Breeches
Questions
1. Only those who were clothed in , could enter into the Holy Place?
2. What were the priestly garments to consist of?
3. Who will enter into God's rest?
4. Before the priests can enter into the Holy Place what must they have?
5. What does the color gold represent?
6. What four colors were to be woven into the priest's ephod? What do these four colors
represent in the ephod?
7. The ephod beautifully reveals that the front and the back of the priest was covered with
the of God, and interwoven with all the .
8. Strength, activity, power, humility, sorrow, righteousness, and faithfulness must become
part of our what?
9. What is always displayed on the shoulders of the priest?
10. What makes up the foundation of the Holy City?
11. The like the ephod was also made of the same fine twined linen, interwoven
with gold, blue, purple, and scarlet. It was to be worn upon the of the priest. The
breast is the symbol of and .
12. What fruit has become the symbol of fruitfulness and plenty, and joy?
13. A gold plate was to be displayed on the front of the priest's . It was to read,
.
14. Those who desire to enter into the presence of the Lord must have their and their
covered with the righteousness and holiness of God. The foremost thing in their
minds must be their Unto their God. Nothing but and
will enter into the presence of God.
The High Priest had the blue crown upon his mitre. Those who enter into the Holy of
Holies must bring every and every under the direction and
control of .
15. Throughout the Bible, the embroidered coat was used as a sign of priestly
. This symbol of priesthood must be seen through everything we and .
Chapter Five
Becoming a Living Sacrifice
After the priests cleansed their hands and feet in the Laver, they were ready to approach
the Door of the Tabernacle. Our walk and service toward God must be cleansed from all
impurities and unrighteousness before we can enter into the Holy Place. All these changes are to
take place in the thirty-fold, milk realm before we can enter into the sixty-fold realm.
In the Outer Court there is another washing we must partake of. God informed Moses:
"And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation, and shalt wash them with water." *** Exodus 29:4
This washing was the washing of the whole body, not just the hands and feet. The
Apostle Paul revealed this washing of the whole body in his letter to the church at Ephesus:
"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave
Himself for it;
Christ gave Himself for the church. Why?
"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
5:26-27
If we are to enter into God's Kingdom, then our whole body must be cleansed by
the washing of water by the Word. God's Word will cleanse our whole body because it
will change our way of thinking. When our thinking changes, the things in our lives that
caused sin will be done away with. When our thinking changes, sin will have no more
dominion in our lives. By and through the anointed Word, Christ will have a church He
can present unto Himself. This washing of water by the Word will prepare a glorious
church without spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish. This is our consecration unto
the Lord. Once the body has been totally cleansed by the washing of water by the Word,
we are ready to put on our priestly garments.
The Priestly Garments
"And thou shalt take the garments, and put upon Aaron the coat, and the
robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the
curious girdle of the ephod:
And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown upon
the mitre.
Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint
him." *** Exodus 29:5-7
Once we put on our priestly garments, then we are ready for the anointing of God.
Moses was given very strict orders how the anointing oil was to be made:
"Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred
shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty
shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels,
And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of
oil olive an hin:" *** Exodus 30:23-24
Olive oil represents the Holy Spirit anointing. But added to the anointing oil were
four other ingredients: myrrh,cinnamon, calamus, and cassia. All these spices have a special meaning in our
anointing. Cinnamon and cassia were added for their fragrance. Our anointing will make
our lives a sweet savour unto our God. The calamus was also called aloe. Aloe is for
healing. When we come into the Holy Place this is where our healing begins to take
place.
There are three areas the body of Christ needs healing. When we think of healing
we think of the healings needed in the physical body. The physical healing of the body is
certainly important, but there are two other healings needed in the body which are of
equal importance. The first of these is the healing of the soul. The soul needs to be
healed of all its past sins. The last healing needed is in our relationship to our Father.
This healing can only take place as we learn to communicate with the Father, both
through prayer, and most of all by learning to listen. The aloe in the anointing oil is a
sign of these healings.
The Suffering Realm
There were three gifts given to Jesus at His birth by the wise men: myrrh,
frankincense, and gold:
Myrrh, although very fragrant, was added as the symbol of suffering. The gift of
myrrh was to show the suffering Jesus would suffer for all mankind.
Frankincense, a very bitter herb, was given to reveal Jesus would suffer the bitter
taste of death.
The third gift Jesus was given was gold. Jesus' appearance on the cross was one
of beaten flesh. He was the perfect picture of God's beaten gold.
After Jesus' death, Nicodemus brought spices to anoint His body:
"And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night,
and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
"Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the
spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury." *** John 19:39-40
As we view the sweet spices used in the anointing of Jesus' body we understand
that myrrh (Jesus' suffering) was mixed with aloe. The use of the aloe was used to
proclaim Jesus would be healed of His death condition and that His suffering had ended.
His victory over the grave was assured. By the Word we have this same assurance.
Death will be overcome when we receive His anointing. At Jesus' death, His body was
wrapped in linen cloth. Even in death Jesus was wound (or covered) with the
righteousness of God.
When the priests were anointed with the anointing oil, they became a sweet
smelling savor unto the Lord. The anointing brings us into the suffering realm. We need
to understand that suffering accompanies our anointing. If we desire to draw nigh to God
through the Door into the Holy Place we must understand we are entering the suffering
realm. God instructed Moses on the use of the anointing oil:
"Upon man's flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other
like it, after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you."
*** Exodus 30:32
The anointing oil was only to be poured on those who were entering the Holy
Place of God. This anointing was not for the flesh. It is not to be poured upon those who
are only playing church and have no interest in the things of God. The anointing oil was
not to be poured upon those who only exercise their religious obligation. This anointing
will change man. It will not be poured out upon those who do not desire change.
God informed Moses no one was to try to duplicate the anointing oil because the
oil represents the Holy Spirit anointing. Yet today many have worked up their emotions
and have called it Spirit. We are warned through the pen of Moses:
"Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a
stranger, shall even be cut off from his people." *** Exodus 30:33
Those who operate on their emotions and call it Spirit will not be allowed to enter
into the Tabernacle of the Congregation.
A Necessary Change of Clothing
As we have witnessed, those who enter through the Door must have a complete
cleansing by the washing of water by the Word. They must also have a complete change
of clothes. Nothing worn in the Outer Court can enter into the Holy Place of God. The
Apostle Paul called this "putting on the new man".
". . .which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." ***
Ephesians 4:24
This new man must receive the anointing of suffering before they can enter into
the Holy Place.
The Sacrifice of Consecration
Before the priest could enter into the Holy place there needed to be a sacrifice
made:
"And this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them to hallow them, to
minister unto Me in the priest's office: Take one young bullock, and two
rams without blemish,
And unleavened bread, and cakes unleavened tempered with oil, and wafers
unleavened anointed with oil: of wheaten flour shalt thou make them.
And thou shalt put them into one basket, and bring them in the basket, with
the bullock and the two rams." *** Exodus 29:1-3
"And thou shalt cause a bullock to be brought before the tabernacle of the
congregation: and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head
of the bullock.
And thou shalt kill the bullock before the Lord, by the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation" *** Exodus 29:10-11
The bullock was an animal used for sacrifice or service. It made no difference to
the bullock whether he pulled the plow or laid on the altar. We are to become that
bullock whose life is laid on the altar of God to be used for sacrifice or service. The
Apostle Paul foretold the sacrifice we must make with our lives:
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present
your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service." *** Romans 12:1
We are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God. Our lives must be holy.
A holy life is all that is acceptable before God. Paul declares this is only our reasonable
service to our kind and merciful God. Our living sacrifice must also be one of service
before our God. God informed Moses:
"And thou shalt take of the blood of the bullock, and put it upon the horns
of the altar with thy finger, and pour all the blood beside the bottom of the
altar." *** Exodus 29:12
Moses took the blood of the bullock, and put it upon the horns of the altar. Horns
are the symbol of power. Becoming a living sacrifice before our God will release the
power of God in our lives: the power to change, and the power to act in His name.
The balance of the blood of the bullock was to be poured out at the foot of the
altar. This foretold the death of Jesus on the cross. When the Roman soldier drove the
spear into Jesus' side, Jesus blood was poured out at the foot of His altar as His sacrifice
for all mankind. The writer of Hebrews spoke of the value of this sacrifice:
"Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the
power of an endless life." *** Hebrews 7:16
Because of Jesus' unselfish sacrifice, it is no longer necessary for man to pour out
the blood of innocent animals to atone for their sin. When we become a living sacrifice,
we obtain the power of an endless life. Paul continued his revelation to the church at
Rome:
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect will of God." *** Romans 12:2
When we become a living sacrifice, we are no longer conformed to the will and
ways of the world. When our minds are renewed by the washing of water by the Word
we will know the acceptable and perfect will of God. Many are depending on God's
permissive will, but until we come into His perfect will, we will never enter into the Holy
Place of God.
The Sacrifice of Two Rams
There was another sacrifice required before the priest could enter into the Holy
Place. This was the sacrifice of two rams. God gave Moses direction concerning the two
rams:
"Thou shalt also take one ram; and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands
upon the head of the ram.
And thou shalt slay the ram, and thou shalt take his blood, and sprinkle it
round about upon the altar." *** Exodus 29:15-16
This time the blood was not to be applied on the horn of the altar or poured at the
foot of the altar, it was to be sprinkled. The priests were to dip their fingers in the blood,
and sprinkle it around, and upon the altar. This was an offering to atone for guilt. At
times we know we have done something not pleasing to God, or have walked in a way
not pleasing to Him. This is when we need the trespass offering in our lives. The
sprinkling of the blood represents the Spiritual application of the blood in our lives.
When the blood is Spiritually applied, it Spiritually cleanses our thinking processes.
When our thinking has been cleansed, we can deal with the trespasses in our lives. The
writer of Hebrews spoke of this cleansing:
"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
Our conscience is the Spiritual side of our mind (heart). When the blood is
sprinkled (or Spiritually applied), then our conscience is clear. It is then we can draw
nigh unto God because our hearts have been purified before God. The pure water we
wash our bodies with is the pure Word of God. When our thinking is right, then our
bodies are cleansed also. It is impossible for the body to sin. All sin originates in the
heart (mind) of man. When our hearts are pure before God, sin is no longer a problem.
When our thinking changes our sin nature is dealt with.
"And thou shalt cut the ram in pieces, and wash the inwards of him, and his
legs, and put them unto his pieces, and unto his head.
And thou shalt burn the whole ram upon the altar: it is a burnt offering
unto the Lord: it is a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the Lord."
*** Exodus 29:17-18
This trespass ram was to be totally burnt or destroyed, just as the old man is to be
totally destroyed. When the sprinkled blood does its job, and the old man comes under
the control of the Spirit, then we can put on the new man. Paul spoke of this new man in
his letter to the Ephesians:
"And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in
righteousness and true holiness." *** Ephesians 4:24
The Second Ram
Aaron and his sons were to sacrifice a second ram:
"And thou shalt take the other ram; and Aaron and his sons shall put their
hands upon the head of the ram.
Then shalt thou kill the ram, and take of his blood, and put it upon the tip of
the right ear of Aaron, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and
upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right
foot, and sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about." *** Exodus 29:19-20
This was the ram of consecration. The word consecration means "to set apart".
Aaron and his sons were to be set apart in the service of God. Blood is God's symbol of
cleansing. The second ram's blood was to be applied to the tip of the priest's right ear, to
the thumb of the right hand, and the big toe of the right foot.
The ear represents our hearing.
Our hearing must be consecrated to hear the instruction of our God.
The right hand is the hand of ministry.
The thumb is the strength of the hand.
Our ministry must be cleansed and set apart from any worldly influence so
we will not bring reproach upon His name.
The big toe is man's balance.
When man's big toe is lost, his walk is never balanced or straight. Our walk
before God must be cleansed, totally set apart for God's use.
If our hearing, our ministry, and our walk are not cleansed and set apart totally
unto our God, we will never enter into the Holy Place.
After anointing the priest's ear, hand, and toe with the blood of the consecration
ram, the blood was again to be sprinkled around the altar. This represents our total
commitment to God on the altar of sacrifice. We must give to God our whole man:
spirit, soul, and body.
"And thou shalt take of the blood that is upon the altar, and of the anointing
oil, and sprinkle it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons,
and upon the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be hallowed, and
his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him" *** Exodus
29:21
After the anointing of the ear, thumb, and toe of the priest, the blood was to be
sprinkled upon his priestly garments. After the sprinkling of the blood his garments were
to be sprinkled with the anointing oil. Our priestly garments, our robes of righteousness,
must not only be cleansed by the blood, they must also be anointed by the Spirit if we are
to serve in the Tabernacle of the Congregation.
The Door of the Tabernacle
Once all the ritual and ceremonies were over, and the priests were properly
dressed, they could approach the Door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. Again the
Door, as the Gate, did not open. To enter the Door of fine twined linen the priests had to
bow down or humble themselves .
The Door was ten cubits wide and ten cubits high, or it was one hundred square
cubits. Entering through the Door of the Tabernacle, was again, to enter into God's
divine order.
The goat hair covering also hung partly over the entrance of the Door. This was a
symbol of our old sin nature. One may ask, "Weren't we totally forgiven our sin in the
Outer Court?" Yes, but the affect the sin had on our lives still must be dealt with. There
must be a healing of the damage our old sin nature created. This healing must take place
in the Holy Place.
The goat hair covering is on the Holy Place to remind us of this healing. This is
called the healing of the soul (or heart) of man. Even though God has forgiven our sin,
many times we refuse to forgive ourselves. The sin problem remains because we refuse
to accept God's forgiveness, and feel a need to be punished.
So many times we remain convicted of our sin because we do not apply the blood
Spiritually in our lives. This holds us back from entering into God's promises. The
effects of these past sins must be dealt with in the Holy Place before we can enter into the
Holy of Holies. We must allow the Holy Spirit free access to our whole life, spirt, soul,
and body if we are to be healed.
When all preparations are made and we are properly clothed, properly washed, and
properly anointed we are ready to enter through the Door into the Holy Place in God.
The Holy Place is where we become a living sacrifice unto our God.
Further Discussion
*** Becoming a Living Sacrifice
*** The Suffering Realm
*** The Sacrifice of Consecration
*** The Sacrifice of Two Rams
Questions
1. What will cleanse our body because it will change our way of thinking?
2. What does olive oil represent?
3. What gift given to Jesus was to show the suffering He would suffer for all mankind?
4. Frankincense, a very bitter herb, was given to reveal Jesus would suffer the
of .
5. Death will be overcome when we receive what?
6. What accompanies our anointing?
7. What two purposes was the bull used for?
8. What are horns the symbol of?
9. What does the word consecration mean?
10. Blood is the symbol of .
11. The ear represents our .
12. The right hand represents the hand of .
13. The thumb is the of the hand.
14. The big toe represents man's .
15. When all preparations are made and we are properly clothed, properly washed, and
properly anointed we are ready to enter through the into the Holy Place
of the Tabernacle of Witness.
Chapter Six
All who desire to enter through the Door into the Holy Place must be cleansed by the
washing of the water by the Word. They must also ask for, and receive, the firstfruit anointing
that came on the Day of Pentecost. Paul tells us:
". . .Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." *** Romans
8:9
To enter through the Door into the Holy Place, we must put on our priestly garments of
fine twined linen, our robes of righteousness interwoven throughout with God, and His royalty,
the Holy Spirit.
Once we have humbled ourselves to enter the door into the sixty-fold realm, we soon
realize we have entered into the suffering realm. Sixty is the number of suffering. The Holy Place
is where God begins to deal with our flesh by cutting away our fleshly thoughts, our fleshly ideas,
and our fleshly activities. Paul called this the circumcision of the heart, and in the Spirit, ***
Romans 2:29.
The Holy place is where we allow the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit to change us.
Change is never easy. The sixty-fold realm is where God chastens and corrects us to bring us
again into His image and likeness. Only after we come into His image and likeness in the Holy
Place can we enter again into His presence in the hundred-fold realm of the Holy of Holies. The
writer of Hebrews proclaims God's chastening in our walk:
"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?" *** Hebrews 12:6-7
When God chastens us, He is dealing with us as sons. Those who endure chastening are
overcomers in the Kingdom of God. Jesus revealed to John on the Isle of Patmos:
"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be
My son." *** Revelation 21:7
Only the overcomers are God's sons, only His sons will inherit all things. God's
chastisement is administered in the sixty-fold, suffering realm of God. The author of Hebrews
warns:
"But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards,
and not sons." *** Hebrews 12:8
If we refuse, or do not endure, the chastisement of the Father, we become bastards in His
sight. A bastard is one who has no father. Those who refuse to enter the suffering realm have
chosen another father, instead of the Father of lights. The Apostle James proclaims to us:
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the
Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." ***
James 1:17
There is no variableness, nor shadow of turning in our God. We must walk in the same
way as Jesus our example walked if we are to enter into the Holy of Holies into the presence of
God. As we study the Scriptures we come to the revelation that our knowledge comes from the
Old Testament, and our understanding is revealed by the Spirit in the New Testament.
By the Holy Spirit anointing, Moses revealed:
"A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to his tenth
generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the Lord." *** Deuteronomy
23:2
No bastard will enter into the Tabernacle of the Congregation. By the book of Hebrews
we come to an understanding why chastening is so important in our lives:
"Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:
nevertheless it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are
exercised thereby." *** Hebrews 12:11
Chastisement yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness in our lives. God does not
chasten us for His pleasure, He chastens us for our good. His chastisement will bring the needed
changes so we will be acceptable in His sight. The easy message in the church today is that God
accepts us as we are. This damnable message has crept into the church unawares. The lie of "no
change is necessary" has been believed and accepted by many.
The Instruments of Worship in the Holy Place
In Moses' Tabernacle we discover God's way to His throne. In the Holy Place there are
three instruments of worship:
The Candlestick
The Table of Shewbread
The Altar of Incense
In the Outer Court there were only two instruments of worship: the Brazen Altar and the
Laver. Two is the number of witness. The Outer Court is where we first witness God's plan of
salvation and redemption.
The Holy Place has three instruments of worship. Three is the number of completion.
The Holy place is where God brings us to completeness, or maturity. When we enter the Holy
Place we are surrounded completely by gold and pure twined linen. We are surrounded by God,
and covered over by His righteousness.
The Candlestick
The first article of worship we encounter in the Holy Place is the Candlestick. God was
very meticulous in His design of the Candlestick. He informed Moses:
"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." *** Exodus 25:31
When God gave Moses the design for the candlestick, He referred to every part of the
candlestick as His. This was not by accident. It is easy to see the candlestick is masculine:
"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:" *** Exodus 25:32
There was one candlestick (singular), and six branches. The candlestick was the central
figure. Six branches were attached to the candlestick. God, in His infinite wisdom, was revealing
Jesus as the central figure of the Bible.
The candlestick was pure gold, of beaten work. The word beaten means "molded by
hammering". Being the Son of God, Jesus was pure gold. He certainly displayed the beaten work
of God. The prophet Isaiah, speaking of Jesus, revealed:
"As many were astonied at Thee; His visage was so marred more than any man,
and His form more than the sons of men:" *** Isaiah 52:14
Jesus' appearance on the cross was one of beaten flesh. He was the perfect picture of
God's beaten gold. Jesus suffered more physical pain than any man could endure.
The Branches
If Jesus is the candlestick, the central theme of the whole Bible, then who are the
branches? There were three branches on each side of the candlestick. The three on the one side
of the candlestick represent the Old Testament. The three divisions of the Old Testament reveal
how God ruled His ancient people. God's people were first ruled by patriarchs, next they were
ruled by judges, and thirdly, they were ruled by kings.
The three branches on the other side of the candlestick represent the New Testament.
This reveals our way back into the presence of God. We first know Jesus as our Saviour. Then
we knew Him as the Holy Spirit, or the Risen-Glorified Christ. Now we know Him as the All
Glorious ruling and reigning King, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, *** Isaiah 9:6.
The Candlestick and its branches were not to hold candles. The light from the Candlestick
and its branches was produced by pure beaten olive oil. God commanded Israel:
"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." *** Exodus 27:20
This olive oil was not taken from the olive press. It was to be beaten by hand. All debris,
leaves, and twigs were to be removed before the olive was used. The olive oil used was pure
white, and burned clean.
The Candlestick and its branches is one of the most important symbols displayed in the
Tabernacle in the Wilderness. As we begin to look at the Spiritual aspects of the Candlestick, we
discover what the Candlestick represents. Jesus revealed to John on the Isle of Patmos:
"The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in My right hand, and the seven
golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the
seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches." *** Revelation 1:20
The Candlestick is the symbol of the church. The Tabernacle itself is called the Tabernacle
of the Congregation. The word congregation means "the appointed meeting place". There are
three words that have been used interchangeably for the church:
congregation
assembly
church
As we have discovered, the word congregation means "meeting place. The word
assembly means "to gather together". The word church is the Greek word EKKLESIA and
means "the called out, or chosen ones". So the church, the called out ones, (EKKLESIA) gather
together (assemble) in the meeting place (the congregation).
The Tabernacle is the place where man is to be prepared to meet His God. The Holy
Place is where the church meets. The church does not exist in the Outer Court. The church
began on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came and sat upon those in the Upper Room.
The Holy Spirit came upon those who had separated themselves unto God, and had come
together in one accord.
The only light in the Holy Place was produced by the pure beaten olive oil. Olive oil
represents the Holy Spirit anointing. The Holy Spirit is the light of the church. Jesus proclaimed:
"As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." *** John 9:5
In the Outer Court there was only natural light. There was no covering over the Outer
Court. Jesus is the light in the Outer Court. Jesus is the only light to a lost and dying world.
Only by the Holy Spirit anointing can we enter the Holy Place. When we enter into the
Holy Place, we begin to walk in the light of the Holy Spirit of God.
To enter into the Holy Place, the church realm, we must enter in through the Door. Jesus
proclaimed to the Pharisees:
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold,
but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber." *** John 10:1
In Jesus' words, those who try to enter into the Kingdom of God any other way than
through the Door are thieves and robbers. Many try to come into the Kingdom by religion. Their
way has failed. Religion does not promote life. Those who follow their religion only do as their
religion dictates. Jesus spoke of those who follow their vain religions:
"This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their
lips; but their heart is far from Me.
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of
men." *** Matthew 15:8-9
All religions are man-made. Their beliefs are cut in stone and go no further than the
revelation of the founder of their religion.
Jesus continued to reveal to the religious Pharisees the way into His Kingdom. Jesus
spoke plainly when He stated:
"Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of
the sheep." *** John 10:7