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