Israelite Camp & Tabernacle Tabernacle Judah East South West Issachar Zebulun Rueben Simeon Gad Levites Ephraim Manasseh Benjamin Dan Asher Naphtali North

Tabernacle MostHolyPlace HolyPlace Laver Altar Courtyard

MostHolyPlace HolyPlace Laver BronzeAltar Ark of the Covenant Table of Shewbread Menorah Altar of Incense

Tabernacle

Bronze Altar

Tabernacle Bronze Altar- Cut View

Tabernacle Laver Laver

Tabernacle Table of Shewbread

Tabernacle Altar of Incense

Tabernacle Menorah (Lampstand)

Tabernacle Menorah (Lampstand) from Roman conquest of Herod’s Temple

Tabernacle Ark of the Covenant

Discussion Question: Why might most of the items be gold overlay rather than solid gold?

Discussion Question: What New Testament concepts might the Tabernacle represent?

Tabernacle MostHolyPlace HolyPlace Laver BronzeAltar Ark of the Covenant Table of Shewbread Menorah Altar of Incense

How does this all fit together? Good Question! Eden:God created the garden and humans met with and served God in it. It was a very close relationship…until…. Adam and Eve hid from God (because of the guilt and shame of their sin) and God sought them out. It is God that has initiated the search for lost mankind attempting to reconcile man to God and reestablish unbroken relationship between us. Remember the four right relationships? Therefore the Tabernacle provided a relationship bridge And would then lead to Christ – another relationship bridge to God

THE TABERNACLE The Wilderness Tabernacle Design of the Tabernacle proper given to Moses by God. Exodus 25 thru Exodus 27 The Tabernacle design included not only the building but also -its furnishings -its attendants (priesthood) -the attendant’s apparel -the pattern of service of the attendants -the identity and purpose of feast days

POSTS THROUGHOUT TABERNACLE COURT HOLY MOST HOLY Wood Copper Gold Copper Gold Silver

 The gate separated people from the magnificent and holy God.  God could only be approached with repentance and sacrifice when the people came inside the gate. (Psalm 15:1, 2)

Jesus referred to himself as the gate (door). Anyone who enters through Jesus will receive eternal life. (John 10:9)

Burnt Offering Altar Sacrifices Fire never went out Fire for altar of incense

 7.5 ft long  7.5 ft wide  4.5 ft high The measurements of the bronze altar:

 The bronze altar was made of (acacia) wood.  The altar was square and covered with bronze (brass).  The four corners of the altar had horns overlaid with bronze.

 Burnt offering (bull, sheep, goats without blemish, or birds) (Leviticus 1:1-17)  Grain offering (Leviticus 2:1-16)  Peace offering (goat or lamb) (Lev. 3:1-17)  Sin offering (bull, goat, or lamb) (Lev. 4:1-35)  Trespass offering (female of the flock, lamb, goat kid, bird or grain) (Lev. 5 & 6)

 A proper sacrifice was an animal that was valuable and perfect, not flawed.  Sin was serious. Only shed blood which stands for life, could pay for sin.  By laying his hand on it, the person identified with the animal sacrificed.

The Bronze Altar When John the Baptist saw Jesus approaching he informed the people that Jesus is the “Lamb of God” who will take away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)

Tent of Meeting 7 pieces of furniture 3 courts of worship

Coverings Curtains of fine linen Goat hair Ram’s skins dyed red Badger skin

The Two Chambers OT vs. NT

 The lampstand was made of one talent of pure hammered gold, one solid piece.  It had a central shaft with six branches, three on each side, making it a seven-branched lampstand.  Each branch had knobs, flowers, and an almond-shaped bowl to hold pure olive oil.

 The priest’s duty was to trim the wicks and keep the lamps lit.  The lampstand was designed to provide light for the Tabernacle.  The lampstand was the first item seen upon entering the Tabernacle as a reminder to his people that God is light.

 The Word of God is a light for believers. It guides them through life, and protects them from evil and darkness. (Psalm 119:105)  The Bible says that Jesus is God’s Word in human form. (John 1:1, 14)  Jesus referred to himself as the light of the world and those who follow him will never walk in darkness (John 8:12; 9:5; 12:46)

Followers of Jesus are called to be lights in dark places. Phil 2:15-16 In teaching the saints and evangelizing the lost, through words and actions, the light of Christ is projected from believers. (Matthew 5:14-16)

Table of Shew Bread Gold plated 12 loaves New each week Old eaten by priest

 3 ft long  1.5 ft wide  2.25 ft. high

Altar of Incense Gold Fire from bronze altar Incense taken off altar and placed in priest’s censer

The Altar of Incense The High Priest burned incense upon it every morning and evening.  The fire for the incense came from the Bronze Altar in the outer court.  The Lord required a special sweet incense, a mixture of spices, used only for the Tabernacle (Exodus 30:35-37), to be burned on the altar of incense.  The priest was in danger of death if any other incense was burned. (Lev. 10:1-2)

 The veil was a divider between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.  The veil was a barrier between God and man.  Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies) through this veil. (Leviticus 23:26-32)

The Veil  When Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the Temple was torn from top to bottom. (Matthew 27:51)  The torn veil symbolizes the ability of every believer, not just a high priest, to approach God through the death of Jesus.  Because of Jesus, sin no longer separates believers from God.

Holy of Holies Overlaid with gold Manna Aaron’s rod Stones with 10 Commandments Mercy Seat

Contents of the Ark Aaron’s Rod = Acceptableness of the “Royal Priesthood” to Jehovah (Numbers 17) Golden Pot of Manna (incorruptible Ex 16:32) = Immortality of Christ & the Church (Rev 2:17) Tables of the Law = Christ met the full requirements of God’s perfect law.

Jesus & the Tabernacle Hebrews 9:11,12 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation… Hebrews 9:11,12 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation…

“The whole point of the tabernacle system of worship was on the one hand to show God’s intent to have fellowship with his people, while on the other hand showing that the way for this was not yet open. The key phrase is “not yet.” Therein is summed up the entire Old Testament.T the way was not open to God; it was barred. But it was not simply not open, but not yet open – not yet, that is, until the time of Christ. “ - Richard D. Phillips Hebrews (Reformed Expository Commentary)

Holy Place John 8:12, “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.“”

The goal of redemption was for God to dwell among His people! Exodus 25:8-9; And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

The journey from outside the tabernacle into the Holy of Holies is a journey where Christ, our perfect High Priest, leads each step of the way. The Bronze Altar is a type of Christ our Substitute and Sacrifice. The Laver is a type of Christ our cleansing and regeneration. The Candlestick is a type of Christ the Light of the World. The Table of Shewbread is a type of Christ the Bread of Life. The Incense Altar is a type of Christ our Intercessor and Advocate. The Mercy Seat (Ark Cover) is a type of Christ our Propitiation.