What Happens at the Altar, Happens at the Cross

What perks you up? I perk up with the aroma of freshly brewed Café Bello coffee (or Café Madre Isla, when Café Bello is not available) made from Arabica beans grown in the mountains of Ajuntas, Puerto Rico, especially when it is served with the warmed frothed milk separated on top. Know what else perks me up? When I hear reference to the tabernacle in, well, anything!

Sometimes when I am doing mindless tasks at work, I plug in the Shure earphones and listen to Bible reading, SermonAudio, or music. Today, I was listening to one of my ‘contemporary’ Christian stations on Pandora and I hear lyrics referencing the brazen altar, the court, the holy place! Tabernacle worship in a contemporary song…Whoa, whoa, whoa, as my 14 month old granddaughter would say.

According to Pandora 16,398 people (besides me) listen to the artist Kutless.

Here are the lyrics their song, Take Me In.

Take me past the outer courts into the holy place
Past the brazen altar, Lord, I want to see Your face
Pass me by the crowds of people, the Priest who sing Your praise
I hunger and thirst for Your righteousness but it's only found one place

Take me in to the holy of holies
Take me in by the blood of the Lamb
Take me in to the holy of holies
Take the coal, touch my lips, here I am

That is the entire song. They just sing the same thing over and over again. What ever happened to great hymns with 19 verses? Like the one I want sung at my funeral?... http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/s/a/sandtime.htm . I digress.

Take me past… the brazen altar, Lord, I want to see Your face

I think I know what the song writer is saying. He doesn’t want to waste anytime to get to Jesus who is sitting within the veil at the right hand of Majesty on High (in the Holy of Holies). Hold on young whipper-snapper! If you really want to see Jesus, don’t rush too quickly past the brazen altar! Stop and consider what happens at that altar.

The brazen altar is better known as the altar of burnt offering. In fact, it is referred to as the altar of burnt offering about 2 dozen times in the Old Testament.

The burnt offering could be studied on different levels. The main level, perhaps, is that the offering is a type of Jesus. Let’s do a little comparison (the requirements for the burnt offering are found in Leviticus chapters 1 and 6).

The burnt offering was not compulsory like the sin and trespass offerings, but voluntary.
Jesus voluntarily went to the cross (Phil 2:8).

With some variation, depending on the animal offered, the animal was examined inside and out, it had to be blemish-free.
Jesus was examined and found to be blemish-free (1 John 1:1-2).

The offerer (the sinner) laid his hand on the animal’s (the innocent) head, actually leaned on it. The sin of the guilty was symbolically transferred to the animal that was innocent.
Jesus (the innocent) bore our sins, He actually became sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21).

The offerer slaughtered the animal (by the shedding of blood) and the priest sprinkled the blood. The slaughtered animal was accepted as an atonement for the sins of the offerer.
Jesus shed His blood (Heb. 12&13) and we believers are accepted (Eph. 1:6).

The animal was wholly consumed on the wood that was on the fire that was on the grate in the altar.
Jesus wholly did the will of His Father (Phil 2:8) even the blood-shedding death on the cross.

It was a sweet savour that burned continually before the Lord.
Jesus's sacrifice is a sweet smelling savour (Eph. 5:2).

Want to get to Jesus? Eger to get inside the veil, into the Holy of Holies? Don’t past the brazen altar in haste. Stop and take time to reflect and praise God for the cross. Because what happened at the altar, happened at the cross….

We will Jesus face to face, within the veil, soon enough….

Soon Thy saints shall all be gathered—
Inside the veil.
All with Thee—no more be scattered—
Inside the veil.
Nought from Thee, our hearts shall sever;
We shall see Thee; grieve Thee never;
"Praise the Lamb!" shall sound forever—
Inside the veil.
-- Elizabeth Dark

The Nike Golf Umbrella

After the end of the row of tents, you see a bright white rectangular structure. This must be the tabernacle in the wilderness. It is actually in the middle of the cross-shaped camp that you saw from the air. The reflection of the sun is very strong. Don’t tell me, you left your sunglasses in the DeLorean, didn’t you?

There is a column of smoke (or is it fire?) rising from inside the tabernacle. At the top of the column of smoke looks like a protective circular cloud; like a giant Nike golf umbrella, protecting the structure underneath.

Do you know what time it is? Eleazar asks.

You reach for your phone, but then remember what time period you are in. No, you reply, What time is it?

It is the time of the evening sacrifice.

Shouldn’t be the time for the evening sacrifice?

Come and see.

As you approach the tabernacle, you realize that the white curtain is just tall enough that you cannot see over it. Eleazar walks you around to the east side where you see the one and only entrance.

The tabernacle has only one entrance, Eleazar explains. Jehovah is dwelling inside; He is manifested in that cloud-column. There is only one way to Jehovah. How many ways to you have in your system of worship? How many ways can you come to Jehovah?

One, is your reply as you remember that verse that you memorized so long ago, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way… no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Abba Father

Look! A fire! Just outside the camp you spot a fire that is burning wildly with flames leaping into the air. As you approach the smoke….what is that smell? It is awful! It smells like a combination of burning carcasses and burning animal dung. An odor you won’t easily forget.

Before the smell dissipates and before you actually get to the camp, you decide to land and hide the DeLorean. After all, you don't want it to be seen. You land the craft and hide it behind some rocks. You walk away from the vehicle and gaze toward the long line of tents. You observe people going about their business. Kids playing. Men tending to animals. So many tents. You cannot help but stare. As you walk along the line of tents, you spot someone walking toward you. A young man, neatly trimmed beard dressed in a blue and white costume. He was not dressed like anyone else.

He introduces himself as Eleazar, oldest surviving son of the High Priest, Aaron. Eleazar is a priest of the Most High God. Aaron and his four sons were hand-selected by Jehovah to serve Him as priests. He explains that since the death of his older brothers, Nadab and Abihu, he is next in line to be High Priest so that makes him High Priest in Training, or H-PIT for short. He has one younger brother that also serves as a priest.

Jehovah our God is one Jehovah, Eleazar exclaims. How many gods are in your system of worship? He asks.

One, you reply.

Is it Jehovah? Is He your God also?

Yes, He is my God also, you reply. And Jesus answered him, [The] first commandment of all [is], Hear, Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord; (Mar 12:29)

What is your system of worship like?

What do you mean, what is it like?

Well, our system of worship has been dictated by Jehovah to my uncle, Moses. Uncle Moses went up on the mountain for something like 40 days. While he was there, Jehovah gave him all kinds of details, details about how we are to worship Him. Uncle was given a pattern, a pattern of a specified place of worship, the tabernacle. The tabernacle is where Jehovah dwells among us. Does Jehovah dwell with you?

You ponder without speaking… Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are. 1Cr 3:16-17

Just as you finish, you hear someone call Eleazar’s name. Yes, Abba, Father, Eleazar replies. Abba, Father…that’s the term that Jesus used when talking to His father in the garden when He prayed Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee: take away this cup from me; but not what *I* will, but what *thou* [wilt].Mark 14:36. Abba Father… Doesn’t that have something to do with our relationship with God, the Father? For ye have not received a spirit of bondage again for fear, but ye have received a spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Rom. 8:15. And …But because ye are sons, God has sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Gal. 4:6.

Women Without Mirrors

The laver was the second piece of furniture in the court (the first being the altar of the burnt offering). The laver had a foot (or a stand), was filled with water and was used by the priest to wash their hands and their feet while they were in Jehovah's service (Ex. 30:19, 21, 40:31). No dimensions, shape, or details were provided for it.

We do know that the laver was metal. Depending on the version of the Bible and/or commentator, it was either brass, bronze or copper. The commentators I admire most call it copper, so will I. The copper came from mirrors. And he made the laver of copper, and its stand of copper, of the mirrors of the crowds of women who crowded before the entrance of the tent of meeting.—Ex. 38:8

A number of commentators say that priest saw their reflection, saw the dirt, and washed. But I don't get it. I just don't get it. When was the last time you washed your hands? or your feet? When was the last time you used a mirror to see how dirty your hands or feet were?

Mirrors back then were not the silver coated glass that reflects a perfect image, but flat pieces of polished metal (Copper). The flat mirrors were beaten or some how molded into some kind of basin to hold water. No longer flat, no longer casting a good reflection. Besides, the laver, and the water in it, was always dirty. Several time each day the priest had to wash the dust off their feet and the blood off their hands.

These commentators miss the point. It is not that the priest somehow sawtheir reflection, but that the women couldn't. The women were without mirrors.

Mirrors are used everyday by everyday people (not just women), to see their imperfections and to make the necessary adjustments so that others won't see them. When is a miror used? First thing in the morning (before anyone sees us) or before we leave the (house, restroom, car -- fill in the blank). We look at the image of ourselves. We wash our face, adjust our hair, shave, put on makeup, etc. We see ourselves in the mirror before anyone sees us. Then we walk away forgetting what we look like.

... like to a man considering his natural face in a mirror: for he has considered himself and is gone away, and straightway he has forgotten what he was like. But *he* that fixes his view on [the] perfect law, that of liberty, and abides in [it], being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of [the] work, *he* shall be blessed in his doing.

There will be a time when we won't need mirrors – when we are perfect (or complete) we will not need to see how we look, will not need to adjust our hair or put on make up before others see us. We will not have imperfections.

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part: but when that which is perfect has come, that which is in part shall be done away. -- 1 Cor. 13:9-10

X Marks the What?

Did you ever take a quiz or survey on Facebook? Since anyone can make up any quiz on any topic, the range of topics seem almost endless. There are several quizzes designed to test Bible knowledge. I took them and found all, but one, to be easy enough for a typical teen Sunday school student to pass. There is even one entitled "How bad of a baptist are you?" Since many of my baptists friends will be reading this, I won't say how I scored, but the questions seemed like they were made up by a disgruntled former independent fundamental baptist. I have thought about putting together a Facebook quiz on the tabernacle, but I don't think anyone would take it.

I once took the Facebook survey to name my five favorite movies of all time. Selecting the first four were easy, but selecting the fifth was difficult. It was a toss up between The Gladiator (2000) and the Back to the Future trilogy of movies from the 1980's. I do not see many movies. I rarely get excited while watching one. Sometimes I pay eight bucks for a movie, and just fall asleep. But when Maximus removed his helmet (in The Gladiator) and turned around to face Commodus and said My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next, I leaped from my seat...and I was watching the movie all alone in the dark in my living room!

The Back to the Future movies centered in a fictional town in California named Hill Valley. A somewhat modified nuclear-powered DeLorean was used for time travel. The main characters travel back and forth 30 years, back and forth 100 years, forward and back 30 years, etc. while trying not to disrupt the 'space time continuum' (whatever that is). It is always interesting to see the consequences of ones actions, decades later. In reality, though, we travel through time at a constant one second per second. We cannot speed it up, slow it down, or reverse it.

After struggling for was seemed for minutes with my decision, I picked The Gladiator as my number 5 favorite movie of all time.

What if we could travel back in time? Back further than 30 years, 100 years. Back further than the time of Roman empires and the gladiators. Back to about the year 1,400 BC and half way around the planet to the Sinai? Or what if we could get Google satellite imagery from then? What would it be like to travel back in time when the Israelites were traveling in the wilderness?

From a far off and a relatively high altitude, you might notice an X in the wilderness. Could it be buried treasure from some ancient pirates on the Red Sea? Nah, from the size of the X and based on your distance from it, you quickly surmise that this is a very big X. It must at least several miles big. Could it be incidental? Like an overgrown crop circle X in the wilderness?

As you approach, you notice that the X shape is actually made up of tents; drab gray canvas tents. There must be tens of thousands of tents (or maybe even a hundred thousand). As you take this all in, you realize you made a mistake. The shape is not an X, but the shape is a cross...a cross in the wilderness. A hundred thousands gray tents making the shape of a cross in the middle of the wilderness. Your thoughts immediately turn to Jesus ...who, subsisting in the form of God, did not esteem it an object of rapine to be on an equality with God; but emptied Himself, taking a bondman's form, taking his place in [the] likeness of men; and having been found in figure as a man, humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, and [that the] death of [the] cross. Phil 2:6-8

We Really Stink

For reason number 1, I wanted to say either 'Jesus in the offering', or 'Jesus in the furniture', or that 'the tabernacle itself is a portrait of Christ'. Then I glanced into Ada Halbershon's little book Outline Studies of the Tabernacle and she gives seven different statement that go like this: God did (something -- fill in the blank) in the Tabernacle, now He does (same fill-in) in Jesus. I could re-list her list, but going through them, one stands out.

I remember hearing a speaker say that we are good at witnessing and that we are good at providing assurance to the young believer, but we really stink at teaching acceptance (may not have been his exact words...). There was a program in his church to teach acceptance to young believers -- and it took three years to go through the program(!). So, for reason number one why the study of the Old Testament tabernacle should not be neglected (with a little help from the late Miss Halbershon)...drum roll if you like...the tabernacle was the place where God accepted the sinner:

If his offering be a burnt-offering of the herd, he shall present it a male without blemish: at the entrance of the tent of meeting shall he present it, for his acceptance before Jehovah. And he shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt-offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. Lev 1:3-4

We are now accepted because of Christ:

Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ; according as he has chosen us in him before [the] world's foundation, that we should be holy and blameless before him in love; having marked us out beforehand for adoption through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to [the] praise of [the] glory of his grace, wherein he has taken us into favour in the Beloved: in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of offences, according to the riches of his grace...(from Ephesians 1...a really long sentence...wasn't sure where to break it).

Walk, In Reverse

The number 2 reason that the study of the tabernacle should not be neglected is because each of the aforementioned Levitical offerings represent the Christian walk, in reverse! I mean, the Levitcal offerings in reverse represents the Christian walk. The offerings are provided in order by God representing God's view point. From man's point of view, it is the opposite. Consider the offerings in reverse:

• the trespass offering was for sins known - we first repent of our sins that we know about


• the sin offerings were for unknown sins - as we grow and read the bible, other sins (that we do not realize are sins) are brought to light and need confession.


• the peace offering - 'peace' is the result of the first two


• the meat (or meal) offering was with oil, either mingled, or sprinkled - signifying the indwelling and the filling of the Holy Spirit


• and then there is the voluntary continual burnt offering. -- signifying the voluntary continual surrender and submission to God's will

Jesus, the Offering

Using the KJV lingo, there were five Levitical offerings. In order, as presented: the burnt offering, the meat offering, the peace offering, sin offering and the trespass offering. Each offering is a partial picture or representation of Jesus. Every detail provided for each offering represents a detail about Jesus. The number 3 reason that tabernacle study should not be neglected in that Jesus is the offering.

Especially since ...the blood of bulls and goats [is] incapable of taking away sins.

Stop and Think

When a lifeguard rescues someone drowning, the potential drowning victim is saved from becoming a drowning victim. There is an instant when the lifeguard becomes the saviour and the victim becomes saved. From that point on, the relationship between the lifeguard and person may be significantly different.

There is an instant in time when we became 'born again'; when we became a 'believer'; when we became saved. Jesus was our saviour and we were saved. From that point forward, our relationship with Jesus is significantly different.

The number 4 reason that study of the tabernacle should not be neglected is because Jesus as our high priest is not emphasised enough. I am not saying that Jesus as saviour and/or Lord is emphasised too much, just that Jesus as High Priest is not emphasised enough.

Reading quickly through the book of Hebrews, here is a list of what Jesus is doing right now as our High Priest:

• He offers both gifts and sacrifices for sins: - Heb. 5:1, 8:3
• He has compassion on the ignorant - 5:2
• He offers up prayers and supplications - 5:7
• He entereth into that within the veil; - 6:19
• His priesthood is continual. - 7:3
• He makes a surety of a better testament. - 7:22
• He ever liveth to make intercession for us - 7: 25
• He is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens - 8:1
• He is mediator of a better covenant, - 8:6

Now, knowing He is currently serving as your high priest, in addition to being your saviour, does this make any impact on you? On the way you live? On the way you approach God? Maybe it doesn't change things for you, but it sure makes me stop and think...

The Way

The number 5 reason that tabernacle study should not be neglected is because it describes the approach of the redeemed to God.

Israel was redeemed. Their redemption came in two steps. They were redeemed from the wrath of God (Passover night, Ex. 12) and redeemed from the bondage of the Egyptians (the Red Sea crossing, Ex. 13). They were redeemed from wrath and bondage, so that they could be redeemed unto God. But, there was still sin in the camp. God cannot dwell among sin, so He gave instructions for the proper approach so that He could dwell among them.

Modern day believers are redeemed in two ways: redeemed from the wrath of God and redeemed from the slavery of sin. They are redeemed unto God. The believer's approach to the Father is the person of Jesus Christ who said: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father unless by me. John 14:6.

The Dwelling Places of God

The number 6 reason that tabernacle study should not be neglected is because it It was the the first time God dwelt among His people: And they shall make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. Ex. 25:8.

The second time God dwelt among His people: And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we have contemplated his glory, a glory as of an only-begotten with a father), full of grace and truth. John 1:14

And what about now? Do ye not know that your body is [the] temple of the Holy Spirit which [is] in you, which ye have of God; and ye are not your own? I Cor. 6:19

Three persons of God in three different dwelling places.

Got the Picture?

Like the old Ragu Spaghetti sause commercials, it's in there. The number 7 reason that the study of the tabernacle should not be neglected, is that every New Testament doctrine is in someway pictured in the tabernacle. For instance, we have atonement, redemption and justification in the altar of burnt offering. Regeneration and progressive sanctification are pictured in the laver. Intercessory prayer at the golden alter of incense. Get the picture?

Got Understanding?

From thy precepts I get understanding (Ps 119:104)

Precepts are the thou shalt's and the thou shalt not's in the Law of Moses, the first five books of the Old Testament. David got understanding from understanding them. How well do you understand them? How well do you know them (I mean, besides the big ten)? Besides the big ten, can you name any? There are actually 603 other precepts recorded for us in the Law.

The number 8 reason that the study of the tabernacle should not be neglected, is that out of 613 precepts in the Law, all but 98 have something to do with the tabernacle. Want understanding? Get it the same way David got it...know thy precepts...start with the big 10 if you like, but don't stop there.

No Explanation Needed

9-11. All one has to do is mention the phrase 9-11. We all know what year it was, we don't need an explanation. We know what happened on that day, we don't need an explanation. Depending on how old you are, you remember exactly where you were when you first heard, you don't need an explanation.

Reason number 9 that the study of the tabernacle should not be neglected is that in days of biblical writing, from Moses to John, people were familiar with the tabernacle/temple form of worship. Since they were, some things did not have to be explained.

For example, when Zacharias saw his vision of ...a lamp-stand all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and its seven lamps thereon, seven [lamps] and seven pipes to the lamps, which are upon the top thereof...or when John wrote ...having turned, I saw seven golden lamps. They knew that the lamp in the tabernacle was made of gold, burned olive oil and had 7 lamps.

When they read that Abraham was to offered up Isaac as a burnt offering, they knew that a burnt offering was to be filleted and totally consumed on the altar.

When David said Jehovah reigneth...He sitteth [between the] cherubim, they knew that in the holiest of holiest, on the mercy seat that covered the ark, were two golden cherubim. God made His throne and met with Moses on the mercy seat between the cherubim.

When John wrote in the opening of his first epistle, that which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes; that which we contemplated, and our hands handled, concerning the word of life; they may have realized that this sounds like the burnt offering, that had to be examined for perfection and handled and cut up and placed on the altar.

They even told time by the activity in the tabernacle/temple. When Ezra writes ...at the time of the evening oblation (or sacrifice)..., they knew what time he meant. It did not need explaining.

The Forgotten Fifty...

Those are the top ten reasons why the tabernacle is not studied, now I would like to share the top ten reasons why the tabernacle should be studied. Here, again, this is personal opinion and there may be some overlap between the two lists.

The number 10 reason that the tabernacle should be studied is because there are a total of 50 chapters of the Bible that describe the design, construction and the service in the tabernacle. Fifty chapters! The offering for the building materials begins in the 25th chapter of the second book of the Bible, Exodus. Most of the rest of the book has to do with the design and construction of the structure and its furniture. The next book, Leviticus, begins with Jehovah speaking to Moses from the freshly completed tabernacle and most of that book deals with the service in the tabernacle. There are a handful of chapters in the books of Numbers, Deuteronomy and Hebrews that round out the 50.

We know the story of creation. The creation story is covered in just 2 chapters. We know the Christmas story. The birth of Christ takes up less than 2 ½ chapters. We know the life of Joseph. The story of Joseph takes up about 13 chapters. Or how about the book of Daniel? Twelve chapters. What do we know about the tabernacle?

Fifty chapters is a lot of Bible page real estate. If it is that important to God, then maybe it should be important to us and we should study it.

The Forgotten Fifty…chapters of the Bible.

There are 2 Types of Redeemed People in the World

And the Number 1 reason for the tabernacle not being studied is…drum roll, please… the priesthood of the believer is so misunderstood.

Aaron and his sons were hand-selected by God to serve Him, the Kohathites were not. Aaron and his sons were set apart for certain services and they even stood out by their dress, the Kohathites did not. Aaron and his sons could enter the holy place, the Kohathites could not. Once in the holy place, Aaron and his sons got to maintain the lamp, offer up incense, and even break bread with the Almighty, the Kohathites could not. Aaron and his sons could eat their portions of the 'meat offering' and the peace offering and could clothe themselves in the skins from the burnt offerings, the Kohathites could not. Aaron and his sons played a part in the various offerings, the Kohathites did not. Aaron and his sons were priests, the Kohathites were not.

Aaron had a cousin named Korah. Korah was a Kohathite. Kohathites were a family within the tribe of Levy that were in charge of moving the tabernacle and its furniture when the camp moved from place to place during the wilderness journey (Numbers 4:1-15). Korah was not a happy camper. He was not happy with his role that he was assigned and got a small, but powerful, mob together to lead a rebellion against his cousins, Moses and Aaron. His protest -- It is enough; for all the assembly, all of them are holy, and Jehovah is among them; and why do ye lift up yourselves above the congregation of Jehovah? (Num. 16:4)

Moses responds -- Even to-morrow will Jehovah make known who is his, and who is holy; and he will cause him to come near to him; and him whom he has chosen, him will he cause to come near to him. (Num. 16:5).

From Moses’ response we get a definition of the priests. They were owned by God by His choice, they were holy, and they had the right (or privilege) to come near to God. In that day, there were two types of redeemed people in the world: the priest and the congregation (everyone else). Today, there are two types of redeemed people in the world: those that think that there is still two groups (priest and the congregation), and those that do not. The congregation has been eliminated, therefore the latter type is correct. All redeemed are now priests and as priests we are all on a level playing field. I like the way Peter puts it:

To whom coming, a living stone, cast away indeed as worthless by men, but with God chosen, precious, yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. --1Pe 2:4b-5

But ye [are] a chosen race, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a possession, that ye might set forth the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness to his wonderful light; -- 1Pe 2:9

All of the redeemed are a holy, kingly priesthood owned by God by His choice with the right (or privilege) to come near to God. Wow.

Let’s take another look at Korah’s complaint. He said that the priests should not be exalted over everyone else because all of the redeemed are holy and Jehovah is dwelling among them. This statement, by the way, costs him his life (Read all about it in Numbers 16).

Something strikes me as odd, though, about his complaint. If you fast-forward to today where there are the two groups, and someone that belongs to a church in the group that still believes that there are separate groups (the congregation and the priesthood), and a congregant made Korah’s complaint, he might just have a case(!). We are all redeemed and Jehovah is dwelling with(in) us, so no one should be lifting themselves above the congregation.

To him who loves us, and has washed us from our sins in his blood, and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father: to him [be] the glory and the might to the ages of ages. Amen. Rev 1:5b-6

The Blood

Reason Number 2 that the tabernacle is not studied is because Jesus is now our high priest. What was it that set the high priest apart from the regular run-of-the-mill priest? What was common between them (the first ones, anyway)? Their blood. The first high priest was Aaron and the first priests were his four sons (Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar). Now Jesus is our high priest and we (believers) are priests. What do we have in common? The blood.

Having therefore, brethren, boldness for entering into the [holy of] holies by the blood of Jesus the new and living way which he has dedicated for us through the veil, that is, his flesh, and [having] a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, sprinkled as to our hearts from a wicked conscience, and washed as to our body with pure water. Heb. 10:19-22

Our True Tabernacle is Heaven

Reason Number 3 why the tabernacle is not studied is because … our true tabernacle is heaven (Heb. 8: 2). Well, if our true tabernacle is heaven and we know what the tabernacle was like, then we know a lot more about heaven than we think we do. God showed Moses the pattern for the tabernacle. I am convinced that when on the mountain Moses was permitted to see a vision of Heaven itself. When you look at the written accounts of people that have witnessed visions of heaven (like, Ezekiel, Isaiah, and John), you can see similarities between the account. If you know the tabernacle, you can see elements of the tabernacle in each account, especially in the Apocalypse.

As a random example let's look at Revelation 8:3.

And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, that he might give [efficacy] to the prayers of all saints at the golden altar which [was] before the throne.

John is in heaven and sees the golden altar of incense. And did you notice where it was located? Before the throne. In the tabernacle, the golden altar was located in front of the veil in the holy place...and behind the veil in the 'holiest of holiest' was the arc. On the arc was the mercy seat where Jehovah sat between the cherubim, His throne. What was missing in John's account? The veil. Why? Because it was rent. (I know that you knew that, especially if you have been following my posts...)

The Shadow Knows

Know the Shadow

The number four reason for not studying the tabernacle is that He takes away the first that he may establish the second (Heb. 10:9). God Himself says that He replaced tabernacle/temple worship, so, why study it?

The tabernacle was a shadow of things to come…If the tabernacle was a shadow and we now have the real thing and the real thing is more excellent (Heb. 8:6), why study the shadow?

For one thing, if we are familiar with the shadow, we will recognize the real thing, and, recognize the counterfeit.

Know the shadow.

The Bold Approach

Reason number 5 that the tabernacle is not studied is that …with the rent veil and Jesus entered as our forerunner, we are encouraged to… approach therefore with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and find grace for seasonable help (Heb 4:16). Without the veil, we are told to approach the throne with boldness. Boldly approach to… let your requests be made known to God.

How do you get to the throne? I guess you could just barge in, but, to get to the throne (where Jehovah sits between the Cherubim), we need to first enter the door (of the tabernacle)… pass by the Altar of Burnt Offering…pass the laver… enter the Holy place…walk between the Table of Presence and the lamp stand… and then the golden altar of incense. What is the significance of this approach and what does it mean to the New Testament Believer?

When the ancient Israelite was encamped around the tabernacle, their tents were pitched afar off. So when they had an offering, they had to travel to the door of the tabernacle with the offering. As New Testament believers need to come in prayer. God is not going to come to you in prayer, you need to come to God.

The Altar of Burnt Offering was the first thing they came to...where an innocent animal was sacrificed for the guilty sinner. When we come to God in prayer, we remember the Innocent One that shed His blood for us, the guilty sinner.

The next thing in line is the laver, where the priest were instructed to clean their hand and feet. As New Testament believers we still sin and need to confess our sins to be cleansed from all unrighteousness.

Then and only then, can we get to the Golden Altar of Incense with our requests.

The way we approach God today is as important as it was then. Approach boldly...but don't forget the steps.

Dying to Enter

Reason Number 6 that the tabernacle is not studied is that with the rent veil, Jesus has entered into the ‘Holiest of Holiest’ as our ‘forerunner’ … Wherein God, willing to shew more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of his purpose, intervened by an oath, that by two unchangeable things, in which [it was] impossible that God should lie, we might have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us, which we have as anchor of the soul, both secure and firm, and entering into that within the veil, where Jesus is entered as forerunner for us... (Heb. 6:17-20). If He is the forerunner, then aren’t we to follow?

Do we have any right to follow? I don’t think so. The high priest was directed to stay out of the Holiest of Holiest that he die not (Lev. 16:2), except for one day a year. Many of things happened on that Day of Atonement but there was one thing required of the high priest when he entered the Holiest of Holiest on the that day that he die not. …And he shall put the incense upon the fire before Jehovah, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy-seat which is upon the testimony, that he die not. Lev. 16:13

So, in order to live, (or, die not) the high priest had to stay out of the Holiest of Holiest all year except for the Day of Atonement, and on that day he must put the incense upon the fire before Jehovah, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat. The life of the high priest was dependent on these.

Jesus died so He could enter.

The Rent Veil

Reason number 7 for not studying the tabernacle is because …the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom. Doesn’t this signify that we (believers) now have direct access to Jehovah?

The veil was hung between the holy place and the ‘holiest of holiest’ where Jehovah dwelt between the cherubim. It kept the priest from entering into the presence of Jehovah but, at the same time, permitted them to enter the holy place and conduct their daily priestly duties.

If the tearing of the veil means that we now have direct access, then what does Hebrews 10:20 mean when it speaks of the veil as Jesus’s flesh … the new and living way which he has dedicated for us through the veil, that is, his flesh…?

To answer, it helps to know what the veil looked like, what it was made of, how it was hung and what it was hung on. Since the veil is a type of Christ, studying the tabernacle [and the veil], helps us understand Him.

Life is a stranger's sojourn

Strangers Welcomed

Reason Number 8 for not studying the tabernacle is because tabernacle worship was for ancient Israel. The Israelites were God’s chosen. God redeemed them out of Egypt unto Himself (see 1 Chron. 17:21). Though redeemed, the Israelites were sinful, thus the necessity for the tabernacle and tabernacle worship. Even though the instructions for tabernacle service were given to Moses for the Israelites, Jehovah made provisions for the stranger-- the non-descendants of Jacob.

Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I [am] the LORD your God. Lev. 24:22

As one born among you shall the stranger who sojourneth with you be unto you; and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am Jehovah your God. Lev. 19:34

See? Tabernacle worship was not just for ancient Israel, it was available to all, all that will. Whosoever will. Why? Because before they were redeemed, Israel was a stranger. Like Israel, we (as New Testament believers) are redeemed, yet still sin. Our approach to God was typified in the tabernacle of ancient Israel. The better we understand the tabernacle, the better we understand the proper way to approach God.

Welcome, Stranger!

And having begun from Moses

Reason Number 9 for not studying the tabernacle--it is so Old Testament. According to some random trivia site I found on the internet, there are 593,493 words in the Old Testament and 181,253 words in the New. Each word is inspired. Many more inspired words in the Old Testament. Just because it is in the Old Testament is not a reason not to study it.

Not only is it Old Testament, it was in the Law. But, you may say, we are under the Law no longer (Rom 6:14); hasn’t it been nailed to the cross (Col 9:14)? Besides, wasn’t salvation in the Old Testament somehow based on the Law? Have you ever read Ps. 119? I know that you know that there is a reference to the Law, precepts and statute in nearly each verse. The Law refers to the first 5 books of the Bible. The tabernacle design and service were dictated by God in the Law. Precepts are all the Thou shalts and thou shalt nots in the Law. Did you know that 5 out of every 6 precepts have something to do with the tabernacle? So what was David referring to when he wrote Psalm 119? Maybe the same that Jesus was referring to on the road to Emmaus: And having begun from Moses … he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27. Or after breaking bread with His disciples in Emmaus…these [are] the words which I spoke to you while I was yet with you, that all that is written concerning me in the law of Moses...must be fulfilled. Luke 24:44

No Devil in These Details

It is a mystery to me why the Old Testament tabernacle is studied by so few. Bible-believing Bible-thumping Christians are truly illiterate with respect to the tabernacle of the wilderness. Sure, we wade through the latter half of Exodus and Leviticus when we read through our Bibles on our read-your-Bible-in-a-year programs. We feel a sense of relief when we get to the end like it is something to endure and not something to enjoy in study. It’s kind of like genealogies in say, the first 11 chapters or so of First Chronicles. We read through them, maybe looking for a familiar name, or we may even look up a few in a Bible dictionary to see some of the name defined. We may even go so far as replace the name with its definition to see if it makes sense or not. But we do not spend time in study. We study the New Testament. We spend time on many stories in the Old. The creation story is studied as if it took up most of the Old Testament. The 10 Commandments are studied. We feel a certain connection to the 10 Commandments – they make sense to us, even in this day. In the book of Exodus, the 10 Commandments come a little before the instruction to build the tabernacle. There is a reason for this order, but we don’t feel any kind of connection to the tabernacle.

I developed this top-10 list. The top ten reasons that the tabernacle is not studied. These are based on personal observations – my personal observations ranked in reverse order. There is no Biblical basis for this list or its order. You may not agree; that’s okay.

The Top Ten Reasons that the Tabernacle is Not Studied:

Reason Number 10

The Number 10 reason that the tabernacle is not studied today is because it is boring. Details make it boring. Many details are given in its design and and seem to repeated in the construction. Let’s look at a couple quick examples:

The instruction for the tabernacle proper:

And thou shalt make the tabernacle [with] ten curtains of twined byssus, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubim of artistic work shalt thou make them. The length of one curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits -- one measure for all the curtains. Five of the curtains shall be coupled one to another, and [the other] five curtains coupled one to another. And thou shalt make loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain at the end of the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make [them] in the edge of the outermost curtain in the other coupling. Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make at the end of the curtain in the other coupling: the loops shall be opposite to one another. And thou shalt make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains together with the clasps, that the tabernacle may be one [whole]. Ex. 26:1-6

So much detail, so few verses. We are given sizes, numbers of curtains, materials of construction, colors, coupling methods, even the number of couplings.

Another example: Instructions for the construction of the laver are given in Ex.30: Thou shalt also make a laver of copper, and its stand of copper, for washing; and thou shalt put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and shalt put water in it. The instructions as they were followed a few chapters later: And he made the laver of copper, and its stand of copper, of the mirrors of the crowds of women who crowded before the entrance of the tent of meeting. Ex. 38:8. Details. We are not only told what it is made of, copper, we are also told the source of the material and who offered it. But, interestingly, we are not given the dimensions for the laver.

There is a reason for each detail given. There is a reason for each detail omitted. Boring? Maybe. But when we look into the details, you won’t find the devil in them…you’ll see some of the many facets of Jesus Christ.