Tabernacle Model

Ark of the Covenant The only object in the Holy of Holies, the sacred ark contained the two tablets with the Ten Commandments, the rod of Aaron that blossomed and the pot of manna.  The ark was covered by the "mercy seat" on which the high priest sprinkled the blood of the goat seven times on the Day of Atonement.  The ark represented the footstool of God's throne.

Exodus 40

Orders for Erecting the Tabernacle

The Erecting of the Tabernacle

THE TABERNACLE stood just beyond the laver. It was a rectangular tent divided into two rooms or compartments, the first, or eastward one, being 30 feet long by 15 feet high and wide. The second, or westward compartment, was a cube, measuring 15 feet each way. This was called the Most Holy Place, or the Holy of holies, and was a type of heaven wherein dwelleth God. The high priest only dare enter the Holy of holies, and he but once a year on the day of atonement. The word Tabernacle literally means dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. In the OT the Holy Spirit Tabernacled or dwelled with His people. In the NT the Tabernacle or the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit is the body of Christ. Christ is two parts, first the head, which is Jesus and we are the body. It is why it is important for the head and body to be in agreement. If one is out of sync with the other, little is accomplished including His will. If we are out of sync with each other then there is little that can be accomplished because a familiar spirit is at work. 

In the OT Tabernacle was a structure built by the people of Israel under the supervision of Moses, around 1450 B.C. The layout of the Tabernacle and the materials of its construction were specified in great detail to Moses by God at Mount Sinai, some weeks after Israel had been led out of slavery and Egypt by Moses as he was led by God. The Tabernacle was by God's design a portable construction so it could be moved from one place to another as they were led by God. When God told His people to move they all had specific tasks to perform in the taking down and care of the tabernacle and the re-setting up of the Tabernacle when they finally arrived at the place where God had led them. The Holy Spirit dwelled in the Holy of Holies and Holy Spirit provided for the people and kept them safe. They fully understood it was God that was taking care of them and when God told them to move they all moved so God would continue to care for them.

To start with, all the peoples tents were pitched facing the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle was a focal point of everyone's life, because God did care for them and provide for them.  Today we have a choice in our own lives to either pitch our tents and face God and dwell with Him and He with us as He is the center of everything and in doing so life is better or we put ourselves in the center of life and the result will all be disastrous. Keeping Him in the center is a way to get rid of doubt, depression and a host of other problems that seem to come upon us. We all go through the fires in life, but depending on where we pitch our tents, either towards Him or towards ourselves will always have two different outcomes and results. Pitching our tents towards Him will always bring peace, the fruit of the Spirit, stability and His supply as El Shaddai even in the hottest fires in life.

To accomplish the task of moving the Tabernacle from one place to another everyone had to be ready to move at a moments notice. Although the Tabernacle was important, the Tabernacle (the structure) in itself was not important except it was the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. In those days it was not about building permanent buildings, but following God in His will. His promise is that He would dwell with His people and care for His people but His people had to be focused on Him and God's will for His people as a group. Today we see the body, which is the Tabernacle or the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit and the old Tabernacle should give the body a clue as to how it should function as the body of Christ. Each of us today have been given a specific task. Some are fingers and some are toes, all designed to move the body through His blood if we are connected to Him and each other. The Old Tabernacle and the priests are an example for the body in how we are to move and work together, focused on Him and His will. 

Then and today it is not about building permanent structures or buildings so He would dwell with us, but in us dwelling with Him, focused on Him, He is present. The Tabernacle is an example for the body because each one in the body has been given a task and if we understand that and work together everyone will be cared for and move together in His will. The priests that moved the Tabernacle were skilled and the body and each member needs to be skilled in order to accomplish His will and all work together and move together in His will. The lesson of the Tabernacle for the body is to stay focused on Him each one of us and as the body.  We are to work with each other in love and unity, understanding the overall task of the body. The BODY working in LOVE and UNITY, FOCUSED on Him, is DESIGNED by GOD to SAVE LIVES. The point of the lesson is our lives are saved as we are led by His Spirit to work as one body to accomplish His will globally and it helps others, which is His will that the body represents His ways and reach out to all on earth in love.  

The Priesthood: The Priestly Covenant (part of the Mosaic Covenant) 

Numbers 25:10-13

Parts of the Tabernacle: Priests and High Priest

Three basic categories of priests;

1) High Priest King; Responsibilities: Administrative to the priests: Ruler, demonstrating God's ways to the priesthood and responsible to God for the priesthood and all the people. High Priests were able to go into the Holy of Holies once a year to commune with God, to hear from Him, instruction, etc. and then to share that with the priesthood. Further the responsibility was to intercede for all of the people and ask for God mercy for all. Originally the high priests were also high-priest kings, which happened until the time of the kings. 

2) High Priests; Responsibilities: Came after the time of the high priest kings, there were kings and high priests. There was a division in the responsibility between the high priest and the king. This started in Solomon's time. God's plan is and was then that the closer one was to God the more of a servant they were. 

3) Priests; Responsibilities: The job of the priest was to care for the Tabernacle and perform other duties, which included moving the Tabernacle, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit and caring for the needs of the people and the structure and communicating those needs to others. In the NT the priest  is called to be a servant to all, not be served. The priest also in the New Testament is to care for the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, which is the body of Christ and communicating those needs with others so all can be helped. It is by God's design so the weaker members can grow to be stronger and come to maturity so they can reach out to other members of the body and those in the world, which is where we all come from. We are all called to be a royal priesthood, which implies a place of maturity in Christ and the body of Christ. 

The New Covenant is a better covenant, because of the work of the Son and His sacrifice all may be priests and high priests to enter the Holy of Holies to have audience with God and even go boldly before the throne. God's true priests are in a position to demonstrate the will of God to all and His power according to the gifts and the calling in the Five Fold Gift Ministry (Jesus Ministry to all on earth, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to edify the body so it will grow to maturity, so the body will become strong and one in Him so they can do the work that Jesus did on earth). The work of the sons of adoption, who are lead by His Spirit as they have surrendered their lives completely to Him, looking out for the needs of the people in the body and those in the world, are also to bring all believers to maturity so they can enter the Holy of Holies so they can commune with God and walk in the Kingdom of God. 

One has to remember that people in the OT could not be sons of God. The best they could hope for was salvation. In the NT all can be sons. John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to those who believe in His name. Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Sons of God are called to represent the will of the Father as Jesus did, and not their own. Sons keep His Words, Commandments and Covenants. All either have a heart to be a son or have a heart to build our own kingdoms here on earth. The difference is eating from either the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil so we can decide what is Good or not or even right or not or eat from the Tree of Life, having no will except the will of the Father. Sons, a royal priesthood, willing to be set aside for His purpose, sanctified by Him and made to be holy in dwelling with Him, willing to sacrifice all for Him. 

To be a son of adoption it takes being broken, so we will give up our ways of doing things for His ways and once a son and broken, it is important to be son of light to all: 

Luke 16:8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely; for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

John 12:36 While ye have Light, believe in the Light, that ye may be the children of Light." These things spoke Jesus, and departed and hid Himself from them.

Ephesians 5:8 For ye were one time darkness, but now ye are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

1Thessalonians 5:5 Ye are all the children of light and the children of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Examples;

    1) high priest-kings 

        a) Melchizedek

        b) Moses

        c) Aaron

        d) David

        e) Messiah (Jesus)

        f) Christ (head and body)

    2) high priests

        a) Phinehas (Solomon's time)

It should be noted that in the NT under the New Covenant that all in Christ are all called to be of a Royal Priesthood but with that also comes more responsibility and more accountability for what happens around us. With that priesthood comes the anointing of God to help us get the job done. It gives us access to the Holy of Holies and an audience with God, but not really for ourselves or even our families it is for ministry and what we have been called and chosen by God to do. Today many are deceived and misled because they are taught that the anointing is for seeking God for things that they want in life. We have the infilling of the Spirit of God and in addition we also have the anointing, which is a mantel of the power of God on us to help us do what we are called to do. In looking at Acts chapter 2 we see an example of the infilling or the first people that were born again. Prior to this we if we look back at the book of John, Jesus blew on each the Spirit of God or the mantel to help them in ministry. It was the same mantel that was given kings, prophets and priests in the OT. 

People however, could not be born again until Jesus ascended back to heaven. Peter when He spoke in Acts was not only born again at that point as the Spirit of God descended on those in the upper room, but prior also had the mantel that Jesus breathed (John 20:22) on Him, which empowered him to speak as he did in Acts. It is why He said it is better for you that I go because one greater than He would come to dwell with them. In scripture we see several categories of believers. The first is the believer. One first does after all need to believe. In Acts we find that people did not know of the Holy Spirit or the work of the Holy Spirit. These were believers. Once accepting the Holy Spirit it becomes about being crucified with Christ and being dead to our own lives and giving Him our lives and learning to trust Him and seek Him for direction. Then old things shall pass away and all becomes new. At this point the very seed of God is planted in a person, but like any other seed it needs to be watered and nurtured so it will grow. The Word is like a seed that is sown all over the place and we are like the ground. Seed falls on all sorts of ground but only takes deep root in good soil and the soil are the things of the Spirit as a person learns to surrender their lives to Him. 

As there is growth there comes stability and maturity and we become like a loaf of bread where there either is leavening which will destroy the loaf and all those that eat from that loaf or there will be the bread of life, where there will be no leavening and all that eat from that loaf will find truth and life. Each of us are a loaf. As priests if the leavening is out of us then people who we influence, teach and preach to, will either find leavening or they find life. Should we eat from the Tree of Knowledge it becomes a pull of right and wrong thinking allowing us to make our own decisions in life because we have learned not to make mistakes. Us making decisions is like being gods of our own lives. By eating from the Tree of Life we give up our wills and our desire to make our own decisions to be led by His Spirit, which is what makes us sons of God. In this there is life and liberty and grace, because of forgiveness and love. The focus of life instead of Knowledge will be to desire to Tabernacle or dwell with God and for Him to want to Tabernacle or dwell with us.  For the most part if the fruit is from the Tree of Knowledge then the fruit will more than likely be about learning and with learning comes more books and more church buildings. People are attracted to knowledge so they can have the power of God to get what they want in life. So they can be blessed or so they think. Real blessing of God comes from walking with Him and dwelling with Him and He with us. It is about His covenants, commandments and His ways. This may sound like a bunch of rules but designed by God so He will bless us because we desire to do His commandments and keep His words.

If one wants to be blessed by God then we all need to learn to do things His way. If we want people to pray for us and walk with us then we should learn that if we pray for others and are willing to walk with others then people will pray for us and walk with us. What we do to each other we do to Him, but also when we do for others we are blessed by God. Tithing is an important issue that many do not like to talk about. The facts are that if we tithe then our finances are His problem. If we do not tithe then our bills are our problems. In keeping His covenants we can be blessed by the hand of God, by not keeping His covenants we receive the curse of the Law. As His people we fall into one category or the other and as His Royal Priesthood we are to represent to all on earth His ways and as His priesthood we become responsible to God to tell all the truth and represent His ways, so they may know the truth for the truth will set them free, if we as His priesthood will do our jobs. 

Needless to say, to be a priest one did have to be resolved to keeping His ways and commandments. Scripture tells us that we are called to a royal priesthood, but then we also must be willing to keep His ways and represent those ways to all people. In doing so and in walking together in the NT the body forms the the Tabernacle as that is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. This place was in the OT the Holy of Holies, but only the high priest could enter once a year if he was fit to do so. The high priest was responsible to God to represent God's ways to the priesthood and all the people. Today we all are able to go into the Holy of Holies to dwell or Tabernacle with God. In the Tabernacle in the OT and the NT had the full power of God to deal with all things and or problems, but it had to be done His way. In the OT it was about building the structure and maintaining the structure. In the NT it is about building the body and maintaining the body and that can only be done with the Five Fold Gift Ministry, because that is God's way. To do it any other way will always bring division and discord and sooner or later the lack of love and unity and the focus becomes teaching and preaching and building building and selling books, with each step further from God and His power. When we choose to work outside of the five fold gift ministry less prayer and praise takes place and more preaching and teaching. God dwells in the praise of His people. In the NT, His house is a house of prayer. In that comes His presence, direction and power to take the people to a place of safety and provision. The power or anointing is there for all to receive, because He freely gives, but with that power comes accountability for what happens around us in our communities. The more we seek Him, praise Him and walk with each other for when we do He is present the less problems there will be in the community.

The first five books of the Bible were written down by Moses; they are called the Torah, the Hebrew word for 'law'. Jesus said He had come not to abolish the law, but to fulfill or accomplish the law, showing us how to walk in faith and love to walk in the Law and become the Law and how to accomplish His will by love for God (Matthew 5:17). We should want to keep the commandments because of love and respect for Him, not because it is required.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

"The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (John 1:17). The word 'truth' here is alethia in Greek, meaning 'reality'. The 'truth' John speaks of is Jesus as the Word, who was God and who became flesh and dwelled or tabernacled among us (John 1:1,14). (The Greek word translated as 'dwelt' here is more literally translated 'tabernacled'). God dwelled in Jesus and if we are focused on Him in Him He dwells with us as sons in the rebirth. John 1:12 "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." How we become sons is to be led by His Spirit, being focused on Him and His will. We are not automatically sons, but have the power to become sons because a true son has no will of his own, but the will of the Father who sends the son.

The Tabernacle is a picture, a foreshadow of Christ which is made of two parts, the head which is Jesus and without Him we can do nothing, but also the body, which is the Temple, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, not just an individual but if the body works as one without division in agreement and the only way to be in agreement is by His Spirit. One sign of His Spirit is that the body would be in agreement, not on things of the flesh but the things of God. The real Tabernacle of God with men is Christ, head and body. In the book of Exodus, when God dictates to Moses the detailed design of the Tabernacle (some 1450 years before the birth of Jesus), He speaks forth a description of just who and what the coming Messiah (Christ) would be. The body by God's design, is designed to move and not stay stuck in one place, represent Him and His will to all on earth.  Through Him by His design we are to walk with Him and each other no matter how great the distance is between any of us. We are to walk together by His Spirit, holding each other up, locally and globally. 

The following should be noted:

1) That they all for the most part worked together in unity, perhaps not love, but they did understand that they were somewhat dependent first on God and secondly each other. They probably did not spend a lot of time sitting around talking having theological discussions and or debates. It was after all, God's way or they died. They either followed or wandered and died.

2) God took care for them as they were focused on God. He provided for them.

3) God protected them. Israel was the most powerful nation on earth and anyone that came up against them were destroyed.

4) They, for the most part understood the power of praise. Generals did not lead the armies of Israel, praisers did. They entered the gate with thanksgiving and entered the outer court with praise. 

5) God's dwelling place is with His people, because they seek Him, know He is God and they want His ways to honor God. They did not build buildings. 

6) They all knew God was God and for the most part all knew God's plan for them and their individual roles for them. They did have different tasks and each knew their own task.

7) The priesthood were not a great bunch of people that did everything the right way, but chosen of God. 

8) It is interesting to note that there is a direct correlation between the body of Christ in the NT and the Tabernacle of the OT.

9) People did walk together, because they were in agreement, because of the Spirit of God as they were focused on God and anytime His people called by His name walk together in agreement God is present and the power of God is there to deal with all problems that man may have.

The Priestly Covenant is set in the final end of Israel’s forty years of wilderness wanderings. Israel had come into the land of Moab, fresh from victories over the Amorites. Balak, king of Moab, consequently requested the services of the seer, Balaam, that he might “curse this people for me since they are too mighty for me; perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed” (Num 22:6). 

Unable to secure this favor from Balaam, Balak at Balaam’s instigation (Num 31:16) invited Israel “to the sacrifices of their gods” (Num 25:2), seeking thereby to subvert and assimilate Israel through idolatry and immorality—an invitation that Israel all-too-readily accepted (Num 25:3). The gravity of the situation is blatantly illustrated when one of the men of Israel took a Moabite. The Biblical Covenants used in Num 25:8 in the OT, may have reference to the Tabernacle compound. Such an act was strictly forbidden by Levitical law and would have defiled the sanctuary. 

Today we find that the priesthood is still in place as we have been called to a royal priesthood to represent not our own will, but the will of God to all on earth so His will can be done on earth as it is in heaven. His true priesthood will have no will of their own like Jesus, but only the will of the Father as Jesus being a servant as Jesus was. It is by God's design so people will know the truth. His true priests will not attempt to manipulate the power of God, but are called to care for His ways and covenants as they are more focused on His presence and walking with Him than desiring the things of this world and what it has to offer. Prayer, praise, thanksgiving, forgiveness, self examination and God's presence will be the focus of this lot having the power of God as sons, not to move separately from God, but being led by His Spirit so people will know the truth so they can be set free. 

This group will teach and preach Christ crucified, both head and body with the body surrendering their lives and will to God, because after all God knows what is best for His people. The Tabernacle is and was the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit and the focus of the priest is doing things God's way so He will Tabernacle or dwell with His people as His people desire to Tabernacle or dwell with God. This priesthood will seek love and unity and will carry the promise of peace with them, “Behold, I give him My covenant of peace; and it shall be for him and his descendants after him, a covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God, and made atonement for the sons of Israel” (Num 25:11-13). While there may be a hurricane all around them, they will be at peace in the eye of the hurricane because God does dwell with them.

The Promise

Gods provision for His priesthood is to care for them because they do care about God's commandments and precepts. To accept Christ is to accept both Jesus as the head and we are the body. He adopts us and we are to adopt each other so they can see His love and care for others. As adopted heirs we fall in the blood line of Jesus if we have accepted His blood. Because of Jesus and our acceptance of Him all of His fall under the covenants being grafted in as God's people, Jews and as His royal priesthood are to demonstrate His grace, love, ways, righteousness, forgiveness, covenants, commandments, power, peace, provision and the fruit of the Spirit, putting God first in all things always facing God being moved by His Spirit for the blessings of God and the blessings of God will always come on those that Tabernacle with God.

It is not possible for man to comprehend the things of the Spirit of God. It is only possible to either accept them or reject them. If we fully accept them then we will have died with Him and become a part of His life and His plan for us and the body. On the other hand man often attempts to accept Him with the mind intellectually. One way will produce the fruit of the Spirit and the other way control, manipulation and the focus will be on things, instead of His presence. The Priestly Covenant promised a perpetual priesthood to the descendants of Levi because of the righteous act of Phinehas in freeing Israel from the consequences of God’s wrath. That priesthood will continue throughout the future millennial kingdom under the rule of David’s descendant and forward into the future. 

The Anointing:  

It is important to note that to this point that only the priests and the high priest had the anointing of God. It was much like a mantel. The anointing was a covering for the priests so they could do the job. To this point there were no kings and the time of the prophets had not yet arrived. Later we know that Saul was the first king because the people wanted a king against God's will for them. Saul as we know was a rather poor choice for a king as we know. People moved by sight and wanted a king. Israel noticed that other countries or people had a king and believed that because they did have a king, that the king was there to care for and protect the people. God did given in, but told them they would not like a king. God's people have always sort of wanted a buffer in-between them and God. We see this clearly when Moses came down with the commandments, "Speak thou with us and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die." We do much the same thing today with pastors in churches. We like them to hear from God and tell us what to do instead of walking with God. Perhaps that may be a critical analysis, but it is why we put pastors on pulpits or stages in church buildings so we can sort of do what we want or think is best and come back on Sunday and feel good about it all. Didn't work then and still doesn't work today. God's desire is to walk with each of us and for us to walk with Him daily. Either we are doing it or not. Either we are focused on Him or not. 

Kings also were given the anointing of God to do what they were chosen to do. A real king was to serve and care for the people and not be over the people. Prophets came in as a result of the priesthood going in the wrong direction and the kings going in the wrong direction as it became a struggle to who was over the other. Prophets also had the anointing of God. They spoke for God and represented His ways although we can see that even the prophets at times had a short attention span and wanted to do what they wanted to do instead of what God wanted them to do. We see this clearly in Jonah who was a prophet of God. Israel had always thought of God as their God and only their God. After all everyone in other kingdoms had their own gods. God's intent for Israel was for His people to represent His ways to all people on earth because He loves all people and because it was the Holy Spirit that has breathed life into all. Without the Holy Spirit there is no life. 

Jonah was appointed to go to Nineveh. Nineveh was some of the worst of the worse. It was said that it was better to commit suicide than to be taken alive by the Ninevites if conquered. The Ninevite army would go and take other cities as they were a warring bunch. One of their tactics was they had brass shields which when polished shined brightly in the sun. They would come against a city facing the sun so the sun would shine on the shields, which looked like from a distance that fire was coming down on the city, causing confusion. The Ninevites lived off of others work. They robbed everyone. Jonah was to deliver the message of God that they would be destroyed for their wickedness. Jonah said no thanks and went in the opposite direction going to Tarshish, because he thought God would find someone else to deliver the message. Of course we know that there was a great storm on the sea and Jonah was thrown overboard per his instruction to save the lives of the others and was swallowed by a fish and delivered to Nineveh. There are many lessons to be learned that correlate with the Book of Revelation. We all know that things will come to an end because of the luke warm heart of believers sooner or later. Repentance was in order then and now. A foot note is that God did destroy Nineveh, but because they repented and turned to God the were spared for some 120 years and were not destroyed until they went back to their wicked ways of doing things.

Important components in the Tabernacle and the Holy of Holies (the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit)

The structure of the Tabernacle Sanctuary building was made from wooden Boards overlaid with gold. There were two rooms:

1. the first room, on the East side (right), was called the Holy Place; the priests would enter the Sanctuary via the Entrance Door curtain on the East side (far right); the room contained:
   1. the Showbread Table,
   2. the Lamp stand (inside at bottom)
   3. the Golden Incense Altar (middle);
   the Veil (middle, left of center) separated the Holy Place from the inner room
2. the inner room, to the West (left), was called the Holy of Holies, where only one man (the High Priest) once per year was permitted entry; this was where God's presence and glory resided over the Ark of the Covenant.

Almost nothing of the gold-covered Boards was ever visible from the Outer Court, because there were four large coverings over the Sanctuary:

Outside the Tabernacle the twelve tribes were positioned in a particular order. It should be noted that one of the important aspects of the Tabernacle is that everyone pitched their tents all facing the Tabernacle. All were very focused on God and the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit at least when it all began. Much like today with people that are filled with His Spirit at first are very focused on the things of God, often after a while many loose focus and get caught up back in the things of the world. It is important to understand that it was important for the Israelites as well as believers today to stay focused on our particular calling and purpose. Back in the days of the Tabernacle if they stayed focused everyone of the priests had a particular job to take down the Tabernacle and move it. There was a cloud by day and fire by night. If it moved the people had to be ready to move everything at a moments notice, because God provided everything for them. Much like today if we stay focused He does seem to provide for us and take care of our needs. It is one of the benefits of coming to God through Jesus and staying focused on God and not of the things of this world. It is a simple lesson that is often forgotten or not understood.

The first lesson is that the Tabernacle was not a permanent structure. By its design it could be moved from one place to another. Those that followed God were cared for and were not lost. Same principle holds true today. Today we build permanent structures called churches and tell people that is where they will find God. God dwells with His people not in buildings. The second lesson is to stay focused on His will for us so we are taken care of as a part of His covenant with His people. Part of that staying focused back then is to understand that when God moved the people followed and each had a particular job to do when God did move. The same is true today. Everyone in the body has been given a particular job to do and gifts to help them in that job, but few know what that job is or what to do or perhaps do not want to do things God's way. Either way, problems come when we do not stay focused on Him, His ways, our jobs in His service in what He wants us to do. 

The next lesson to learn is that the priests were somewhat of a rebellious lot. They did understand however that they needed God for the most part. They were there as His servants not because they did everything the right way but because they were chosen by God to do things for God and represent God's ways to the people. In those days they were not idolized as many ministers are today. Today we sort of like to build building and hire ministers that look good, sound good, can behave and have a lot of knowledge. After all who wants to follow an idiot. However, God usually calls people that are less than desirable to serve because they have come to a realization that they need God badly. They need Him in every part of their lives in order to even get along in life. His true ministers and priests have been broken for the most part understanding that God is all grace and love Him much because they have been forgiven much. Because of this they seek Him. God changes them and they give their lives to Him. They are represented in the communion service as the broken body. "My body has been broken for you." The bread that is broken for others. God can use all and desires to use all, good and bad. He is looking for those that have a broken heart so He can do surgery on them. Either any of us have been broken or not. It is about self examination.

Placement of the Tabernacle: 

The Tabernacle was placed a certain way length wise from east to west. The only way in then was the East Gate. The only way in today is the East Gate, which is Christ, both and head and body. The facts are if we His people do not do what we are called to do, people will not even know to go through the gate. To the east the tribes of Judah, Issachar and Zebulun faced. To the west facing the Tabernacle the tribes of Ephraim, Manesseh, which is from Joesph and Benjamin were positioned outside of the outer wall. To the north Dan, Naphtali and Asher and to the south Rueben, Simeon and Gad. Inside in the outer court the priests or Levites performed the duties of the priests. Levi dwelled in the outer court.

Also on the outside there was another alter which is not talked about much which was set aside for the priests and the high priests. It was a place where God dealt with priests and their own sin to prepare them to even enter the east gate so they could represent the ways of God. 

THE GATE: The Way, the Truth and the Life The Way: Jesus Christ, Yahweh  (East Gate) John 14:6

The East Gate: The entrance and the only way in into the outer court of the Tabernacle.

This gate is the person of Jesus, the Word of God, He is the Way into the kingdom of God.  Jesus said "I am the door", and He also stated "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." John 14:6

"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

"Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep." John 10:7

It was at the East Gate that the tribes of  Judah (praise), Issachar (for hire) and Zebulun (dwelling) were stationed.

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming he abandons the sheep and runs away."  John 10:11   

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness;  come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God . It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people , the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise;  give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalms 100:1-5
                                                                        
We have entered into a new and living way, through Jesus Christ (the anointed one) and because of this we have access into the Holy of Holies. Through His death He rent the curtain in two whereby we have access into the Holy of Holies. Through our death burial and resurrection with Him we also have access to the Holy of Holies to approach the Father with boldness. In so doing we give our lives to Him to become a royal priesthood to demonstrate God's ways to all people. The East gate provided that way in, it is only by this Door, the Way that one can have true access to God the Father. He became not only the sacrificed lamb, but also the scapegoat. His priests carry His anointing and represent His ways and lead people to Him. They sacrifice their lives to be part of Him, "Christ."

"For you have been my refuge,  a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings." Psalms 61:3,4

Now the entrance also is an exit. We have been shown the Way, this is where we come back out into the world as Ambassadors, reaching out to lead others back in. "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" As Ambassadors we lead them back to the Gate, where they will find refuge and strength as they partake of Him.

" I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find  pasture." John 10:9                    

The Gate, the Way, the Truth and the Life, the Way, Yahweh is the only Gate, Jesus Christ.

THE BURNT OFFERING ALTAR (Exodus 27:1-8) The Burnt Offering Altar was the first item to be seen after entering through the Door or the gate into the Tabernacle's Outer Court. It was made from acacia wood overlaid with bronze. Wood is a biblical figure of man (Psalm 1:1,3 & Jeremiah 5:14). Acacia wood is a strong, high quality wood, signifying the best of the best,  which is Jesus. Bronze in the Bible speaks of God's judgment, particularly His judgment over our rebellious thinking and speaking against Him (as in Numbers chapter 16:29-40 and Jude 11). Since the wood is overlaid with the bronze, the Altar reminds us of man under God's judgment for our rebellion against Him and His ways. Since the wood is acacia wood, this speaks of Jesus bearing the judgment of God for us on the cross if we turn to Him and follow Him.

Sacrifices in the OT and the NT always cost a life. Sin costs lives. Without the shedding of blood or the taking of life there is no remission of sin, even though in today's culture it is rather disturbing, but then again so should sin be equally disturbing, however sin seems to be alright where the sacrifice for sin seems to be repugnant. The offering had to be without blemish, the very healthiest and best available. This foreshadows the Lord Jesus, Who was examined by Pilate, who declared "I find no fault in Him at all" (John 18:38).

The penalty of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Sin was defined by the law, the 'Torah', the first five books of the Bible, however Jesus redefined sin to be anything not of God or pleasing to God or not being focused on God. We are to be judged for every idle word even. In God's eyes everything matters and is all a condition of the heart. Man does make mistakes and there is grace for mistakes. According to the Law then and now we are all under a death sentence unless we sacrifice our lives to Him, if we have truly been bought with a price. Jesus did pay the price for us should we accept Him and His ways, which is God's ways as He had no will but the will of the Father and did not represent Himself, but only represented the Father who sent Him. Jesus did not come to start a new religion. He came and died so that all may enter through Him and be God's people, Jews. We are grafted in by accepting His blood and the sacrifice made for us, however it should be noted that when we do that we also accept all of His covenants and His ways.

Romans 2:29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and whose circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter, and whose praise is not from men, but from God.

1Corinthians 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.

Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Philippians 3:3 For we are the Circumcision who worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh—

 As Abraham told Isaac in faith "God Himself will provide a lamb for the burnt offering" (Genesis 22:8), and He did: a male lamb hanging on a tree (Genesis 22:13) within eye-shot of Mount Moriah (Genesis 22:2,14), which is where the Temple Mount still is today, in Jerusalem. In fullfilment of all of these indications, God did not withhold His only Son (Genesis 22:16 John 3:16), the Lord Jesus Christ, who was the lamb provided by God: He was crucified within eye-shot of Mount Moriah at the Feast of Passover in 33AD, "the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). Believe in Him. Seeing Jesus die, even the Roman centurion declared: "Truly, this man was the Son of God" (Mark 15:39).

After its blood was poured out, the burnt offering was entirely consumed by burning, the only products being ashes and aroma. The ashes were removed from the camp to a "clean place" (Leviticus 6:8-13). The burning offering was a pleasing, sweet aroma to God (Lev.1:9,13,17) to make the person accepted before God and forgiven (Lev.1:3-4). In Ephesians 5:2, Paul shows us clearly that the burnt offering was an exact picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, who "loved us and gave Himself up for us" on the cross, "an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma".

The final part of the fulfillment, the carrying of the ashes to a 'clean place', came as Jesus' dead body was taken down from the cross: "in the place where He was crucified there was a garden and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been laid. They laid Jesus there" (John 19:41-42). John, an eye-witness to all this, wrote "he who has seen bears testimony, true testimony, so that you also may believe" (John 19:35).

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture, the flock in His care, hearing His voice (Psalm 95:7). The problem is we have rebelled against God our Maker, we have not listened to His voice. The normal destiny of any sheep entering into the Tabernacle was certain death. However, Jesus has laid down His life for us His sheep. When the wolf of death came, Jesus did not run away, as would a hired shepherd, who did not own the sheep (John 10:12-13). In Jesus' own words "I am the Good Shepherd; and I know My sheep, ... I lay down My life for the sheep" (John 10:14-15).

This is the good news of the Burnt Offering Altar: whether were Jew or Gentile, we are all under God's judgment because of sin. Jesus, "Who did no sin, neither was there any deceit found in His mouth" (I Peter 2:22) became the offering slaughtered in our place. By believing in His death, "carrying up our sins in His body onto the tree" (I Peter 2:24), we can be made acceptable to God, restored to the Shepherd and to His flock (I Peter 2:25). Then we can enter into His courts with praise and thanksgiving (Psalm 100:3-4).

The Burnt Offering Altar and the Laver form a combined experience of Christ.

THE ALTAR made by Moses was 7½ feet square by 4½ feet high. It was made of acacia planks covered with copper, and was filled with earth or unhewn stone. Solomon's altar was 30 feet square and 15 feet high, while Herod's altar was 75 feet square and 22 feet high. It needs to be remembered that Herod was placed in power by the Romans and not God. The temple had deteriorated since the time of Solomon. All sacrifices were slain by the worshiper's own hand at the north side of the altar.

THE LAVER (Exodus 30:17-21)
The Laver was a large bronze basin containing water. The Bible does not record its size or dimensions. The purpose of the Laver was two-fold, the first was to wash. Having entered through the Door into the Tabernacle's Outer Court, the priests had to wash their hands and feet at the Laver before they could either enter into the Sanctuary Building or make any offering to the Lord at the Burnt Offering Altar. God warned Moses that if the priests did not wash they would die (Exodus 30:20-21). It is therefore a serious requirement that we "wash" as we come to handle any of the things of the Lord, because those who believe in the Lord Jesus are considered priests in the New Testament sense, (I Peter 2:9 and Revelation 1:6). The second purpose of the Laver was a point of self examination, because the water also acted a mirror. The priests looked after each other in their iniquities. Iniquities are sin, but iniquities are often the sins that we do not see in ourselves. They are the blind spots that we all have. Priests then and today need to move in humility to accept the fact that we all have blind spots that need to be dealt with. It is a difficult thing to hear often that we have short comings that hinder our relationship with God. We all like to think we are OK. We are instructed by scripture though, to confess our faults one with the other, so we can be healed. 

The New Testament speaks of washing in two ways; The first is the baptism (Acts 22:16), after we believe (Acts 16:31-33). This is all for the remission of sin. John baptized with water even before Jesus came along, but Jesus baptized with fire. The second washing of the water is in the Word (Ephesians 5:26; John 13:8-10; 15:8), according to the pattern in Exodus 29:39 at least twice daily (in the morning and evening). It should be noticed that today we call scripture the Word of God, which did not exist at the time. Only a few had the scrolls. The Word spoken of here in scripture is the Word Jesus and people became the Word. We become the Word by surrendering our lives to Him and seeking Him and His ways. He gives us His fire. His life and presence. We have been given God's Spirit. We all are to be living Epistles. 

 We need to become living epistles so that we can live by His Words and keep His Words and commandments (Matthew 4:4) and we need to confess our sins to God, because He is faithful and righteous to forgive and cleanse us (I John 1:7-9). When God forgives, He forgets (Hebrews 8:12). This is the combined experience of the Laver and the Burnt Offering Altar. The Word of God washes us, our "hands" and "feet", especially from the dirtiness of the world around us, but we also have to be resolved to repent and no longer desire to be of this world or a part of this world. It gives us God's perspective on our human conduct in the world and on the thoughts of our minds and hearts (Genesis 6:5). When Ephesians 5:26 speaks of the washing of the water in the Word, the word for washing is "laver" in Greek. As we become His Word, the Lord shines into our hearts and speaks to us. 

The effect of the washing (laver) in the Word is to cleanse: "How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word" (Psalm 119:9). This results in us taking God's side more and more in our living. We become set apart to God. 'Holy' or 'sanctified' ('holified') means just that: set apart to God. Such sanctified people are called 'saints' in the New Testament. Paul writes "to the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called (to be) saints, together with all those in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Corinthians 1:2).

Saints are believers that have given their life to God through Christ who have experienced the washing of God's Word in their living. We may have been greedy persons focused on self, swindlers, drunkards, abusers of drugs, thieves, liars, fornicators, homosexuals or in a host of other things not of God, etc. before we came to the Door in the curtains of the Outer Court. But, do not be deceived: no one can inherit the kingdom of God like this (I Corinthians 6:9-10). "And these things were some of you." We were all at one time some of these and even with Christ still caught up in some of these things, which is why we need to forgive, so we can be forgiven. You were washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of God (I Corinthians 6:11). We are washed at the Laver and set apart to God (sanctified) as a result; we are justified at the Burnt Offering Altar by faith in Jesus' death on the cross as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).

Jesus as we know did not come to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved. The good news is that Jesus did give His life and if we are like Him, we too will also give our lives and will to the Father as Jesus did because we have been bought with a price, we are no longer our own. We all are to follow the ways of God through Jesus to have access to God. Part of the Good News is that Jesus died for us and if we are of Him we are broken for others so they can see Him in us. We are a part of the Good News if we are of Him and in Him. It should be understood that much of this is a process in life in understanding Him and His ways. He proves Himself worthy of our praise if we are seeking Him. We are called and chosen to be His priesthood of a better covenant. 

Jesus is the gate and the entrance to the Tabernacle so we can dwell with God and God with us. Jesus bought us entrance into the outer court but it is up to us when we enter the outer court to either go further into the Holy of Holies or stay in the outer court. We also through Jesus have been given access to the inner court and have access to the come boldly before the Father, which was limited only to the high priest once a year in the old Tabernacle. It should be understood that we cannot do anything in ourselves to be good enough. None of us are good enough nor can we ever be good enough to enter on our own. Should we understand this we will forgive others. If we do not understand this and begin to think because we do the right things in life that we become good enough then we will not be so forgiving and even critical of others, which can and will put others in further bondage. If we judge others, judgment falls on us. We are called to walk in love with each other and forgive one another as He has forgiven us. We are called to exhort one another in our Holy Calling and Purpose and if we go in that direction we become more like Him. There are two schools of thought. One school is to wait until we are good enough to serve and the other school of thought is to begin to serve and because of that we get closer to Him and become more like Him so we can be perfected in Him. The Laver affords us the opportunity to wash in but also look into to do some self examination to determine whether we look more like Him than ourselves. 

In doing so as He died, we also died with Him and He has been resurrected we also are resurrected with Him and already seated at the right hand of the Father haven been given every blessing according to Ephesians. Should this have happened in us we walk already in the kingdom of God and work to establish the kingdom of God here on earth to work to build His temple, the body to edify each member of the body. The disciples were set apart as priests of Jesus and His covenant and we if we are of Him truly are also of that lineage and priesthood through the blood and the washing of the blood and the acceptance of the sacrifice for the atonement of sin. Jesus dwells or Tabernacles with God and we as a part of Christ dwell and Tabernacle with Jesus and the Father. 

THE GOLDEN ALTAR, or altar of incense, was 3 feet high and 18 inches square. It was hollow, made of boards covered with gold and having at each corner a golden horn. On it rested a golden bowl in which coals of fire from the brazen altar were placed, on which incense was poured, thus filling the whole tabernacle with a fragrant smoke, a sweet-smelling savor unto the Lord. It was a type of prayer.

THE GOLDEN LAMP (Menorah) was made of gold. It had seven lamps: a central one, and three on arms at each side, pointing toward that central light. One of the oldest symbols of the Jewish faith is the menorah, a seven-branched candelabrum used in the Temple. The kohanim lit the menorah in the Sanctuary every evening and cleaned it out every morning, replacing the wicks and putting fresh olive oil into the cups. The illustration at left is based on instructions for construction of the menorah found in Exodus 25:31-40. The menorah is a symbol of Israel and our mission to be "a light unto the nations." (Isaiah 42:6). The sages emphasize that light is not a violent force; Israel is to accomplish its mission by setting an example, not by using force. This idea is highlighted in the vision in Zechariah 4:1-6. Zechariah sees a menorah, and God explains: "Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit."

THE TABLE OF SHEWBREAD was 3 feet long, 27 inches high and 18 inches wide. It was also made of acacia, which the Jews called "never-dying wood." It was overlaid with pure gold, and having "a golden crown to the border thereof round about," that is, a border or raised edge to prevent that which was placed upon it from accidentally falling off. On it every seventh day the priest placed twelve loaves of bread, each made of two omers, or one gallon, of flour. Each man was allowed to gather one omer of manna a day. There were twelve loaves, or one for each tribe, and each loaf, contained a double portion. In the NT we see the sacraments also known as the Lord's table, which consists of the cup filled with wine, which is symbol of Jesus shed blood in atonement for sin. The other part is the bread or loaf which is representative of the body of Christ, " My Body has been broken for you." Instead of 12 tribes there is now one tribe and one gate into the Tabernacle. It is interesting to note that the word SHEW means prophecy, showing or representing God's ways to man. To understand and partake of the sacraments is a blessing, to partake and not understand is a curse. Each of us are to be broken so that we will care more about Him and others and His way's more than ourselves and our own ways. It is understanding that what we do to each other we do to Him, whether good or bad.

THE ARK OF THE COVENANT, as before said, rested in the Holy of holies. A chest made in the wilderness by express divine command, 3 feet 9 inches in length, 2 feet 3 inches in width and height, made of shittim-wood and covered with gold plates within and without, encircled near the top by a border or crown of gold, and covered by a lid of solid gold, which was called 'the mercy-seat.' On each end of the 'mercy-seat' was placed the golden image of a cherub, facing inward, and bending down (over) the ark. Two gold rings were attached to the body of the ark on each side, through which passed the staves or poles, made of shittim-wood, and overlaid with gold; these were used in carrying the ark from place to place, and were never taken out. The ark was so called because in it were the two tables of the law of the covenant between God and Israel. The cherubim upon it indicated the place where God revealed himself, made his presence felt among the Israelites: consequently the Holy of holies, in which was the ark, was the dwelling of God. This being so, we see the propriety of covering the ark, of keeping it behind curtains, so that only the high priest saw it, and of intrusting it to the care of a particular Levitical family, the Kohathites. The high priest could only see it when surrounded by clouds of incense. The contents of the ark were the two tables of the law, the pot of manna, and Aaron's rod that budded."