 THE
TABERNACLE OF MOSES (intro)
God has devoted over 40 chapters in His written word to the
tabernacle of Moses. More than any other subject. If we add to that the chapters on the
priesthood and the sacrifices, along with the cloud, it is clear God expects us to
recognize the importance of studying these scriptures and having a clear understanding of
this subject. This earthly tabernacle is a picture for us of the true one, that is in
heaven. Do not that point pass you by . Understand what the Bible is saying, that by
looking at the earthly tabernacle we can see into heaven itself. Even though it is just
picture, type or shadow, much can be learned from studing a picture.
HEB 9:24 For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a
{mere} copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God
for us; .
In Hebrews chapters 8 and 9 the writer says the tabernacle of
Moses is a copy of the heavenly tabernacle. The service of the earthly tabernacle is a
shadow of heavenly, spiritual things. HEB 8:4 Now if He were on earth, He would not be a
priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; HEB 8:5 who
serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned {by God} when he
was about to erect the tabernacle; for, " See, "He says," that you make all
things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain. "
Hebrews the 9th chapter explains how the first covenant had an
earthly sanctuary with it's gifts, sacrifices, food, drink and various washings. They
offered the blood of bulls, goats and calves and the ashes of a red heifer along with
various regulations for the flesh.
Now God has enacted a whole new covenant and appointed Jesus
Christ as the only mediator of God's new covenant with man. In the same way the old
covenant had an earthly sanctuary, the new covenant has a heavenly sanctuary. In the same
way the earthly sanctuary had a priesthood to oversee the divine worship so also the
heavenly sanctuary.
The earthly sanctuary had a high priest who was taken from among
men so he could have compassion on the weak, the ignorant and the misguided. The heavenly
sanctuary also has a high priest who has been taken from among men, for the same reason.
Our high priest is God's son, who has been made a high priest forever after the order of
Melchizedek.
In the earthly sanctuary the priests approached God with the
blood of bulls and goats, which could not remove sin from man. Now our high priest has
entered the heavenly sanctuary with his own blood and has obtained eternal redemption.
This redemption is able to remove sin from man and provide the promise of an eternal
inheritance for those who have been called. 1
When we understand the shadow we will understand the reality. The
earthly tabernacle is the shadow, the heavenly Tabernacle of God is the reality. The
earthly priesthood is the shadow, the heavenly priesthood is the reality. The law of
carnal commandments and physical requirements is the shadow. When God puts His laws in our
minds and writes His laws upon our hearts we have experienced the reality. The old
covenant is the shadow, the new covenant is the reality. Being taught to know the Lord by
an earthly priesthood is the shadow. Being taught to know the Lord by God himself, is the
reality.
The earthly tabernacle and all it's appointments, as the shadow,
is a clear representation of the reality. Therefore God instructed and warned Moses to
construct the tabernacle exactly according to the pattern shown him at Mount Sinai.
Deviating from the pattern will bring us to a wrong conclusion of the reality.
Exodus 25 to Exodus 40 are the details of the pattern Moses was
shown on Mount Sinai. This includes the order the tabernacle was set up. Since this is
just the shadow, God must give us the revelation of the reality. Flesh and blood can not
reveal this to us. Only our Father who is in heaven. God's purpose is not to bring us
again to the shadow but to bring us to the experience of the reality. The experience, not
just the doctrine of reality.
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