CHRIST IN THE TABERNACLE

Old Testament Scripture: Exodus 25:1 23
"The Tabernacle"

New Testament Scripture: Hebrews 9:1 14
"How much more...the Blood of Christ"

Gospel: John 4:7 26
"I am the Messiah"

INTRODUCTION

Consider the Archeologist. They're the people who dig up things and try to re construct daily living and meaning from things found. They look, investigate, take notes, itemize, and make educated guesses about the items they find. From all the pieces they are able to find, and all the surrounding evidences they are able, with great accuracy, to document what life was like, what diseases were prevalent, what the customs were, what the religions were like, even able to judge what life was like within an individual family.

Let’s be Archeologists of The Word, and as we dig through the "remains" of the Tabernacle, I want you to see what meaning there is for this peculiar place; in not only the lives of such a peculiar people (the Hebrews), but for Gentiles well. I want you to see the relationship of CHRIST AND THE TABERNACLE.

God teaches us in His word that those things which exist here on earth, especially those things which are spiritual in nature, exist here only "as though through a glass darkly".

God says that there is an existence in His Heaven that makes all that we see here seem to be only a mirage, only a shadow of those things that exist FOR REAL there. It's on this basis that this study is founded. We're going to be looking at the Tabernacle, not to find the shadows, but to find the REAL.

We're fortunate, indeed, that our God has chosen to make Himself known to us. He has revealed Himself to us through direct revelation, The Word of God, the Prophets, and by Jesus Christ Himself, God Himself in the flesh.

There are seven facts we must know from His revelation before we begin our journey.
            1.    God desires to live among man
            2.    God desires to teach His Holiness
            3.    God desires to teach man of his sinfulness
            4.    God desires to teach THE ONLY WAY OF APPROACH to Himself
            5.    God desires to teach man how to sacrifice
            6.    God desires to teach man how to receive counsel
            7.    God desires to teach man how to prepare the Way for Christ

FOR JESUS SAID: "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

We find then THREE LESSONS in today's message:
There are Three areas of the Tabernacle, and therefore
There are three aspects of Christ to be learned here.

BUT FIRST: SOME DETAILS
The Tabernacle has at least five names in scripture
            1.    Sanctuary Set apart for a Holy God
            2.    Tabernacle A dwelling place for God while He is among them
            3.    Tent Temporary Dwelling place
            4.    Tabernacle of the Congregation For a God who would meet with His people
            5.    Tabernacle of Testimony For a God who testified to Israel and the world of His existence, Truth, and Glory

THE COURT OF THE TABERNACLE
The Court that surrounds the Tabernacle, approx. 175' by 90'. There is a White linen fence approx 9' high too high for sinful man to look in, and could not crawl in, for judgment met him in the BRAZEN SOCKETS

THE TABERNACLE ITSELF
It was approx. 52' by 15' by 21'high. Made up of 20 wood boards, on each side, covered in pure gold (humanity, and deity). Each board rested on two Silver Sockets (Redemption) which separate the Gold Covered boards from the ground, Christ was Human, but not from the seed of the man.

Over the Tabernacle was a roof made of animal skins (Sacrificial):
            1.    Badger (or Dolphin Translation) No comeliness on the outside
            2.    Ram Dyed Red Holy Animal Obedient unto Death
            3.    Goat The Sin Offering Animal, and the Scape Goat

Inside there are TWO areas. Inside EVERYTHING is made of Gold No Spot or Blemish. How different the inside from the outside! How different the Appearance from the Real! How interesting that the items inside the Tabernacle were laid out in the form of a CROSS!

Let us now begin our walk through the TABERNACLE and scrutinize each item and find REAL meanings for those things which appear only as shadows to those who look no further.

I.    THE COURT OF THE TABERNACLE

    A.    OUTSIDE THE COURT OF THE TABERNACLE

            ONE DOOR
                There was only ONE WAY in, The Curtain of Entry, for Jesus says: "I AM THE WAY" THE WAY TO FORGIVENESS.
                One door like the Ark of Noah
                On the East side Christ Crucified on the eastern side of Jerusalem
                Blue Heavenly
                Purple Royalty
                Scarlet Blood
                White Linen Purity
                Only this one door, One way to God into the Tabernacle, through the courtyard, into the Holy place, and into the Holy of Holies... Christ is there...

                THE FENCE, 175' by 90' (540' around) by 9' high. The White Linen speaks of Christ and His Walk, spotless and Holy. The Wood Posts, holding up the White Linen, speak of His humanity, plain and Earthy. The Brass (copper) Sockets, speak of Judgment. These items speak together of the fact that Man has been judged and found wanting. The Fence and Curtain keep him from the presence
of God, were it not for that which has been provided for within...

    B.    INSIDE THE COURT YARD...

                First we face the BRAZEN ALTAR - CHRIST OUR JUSTIFICATION

                Sacrifice and Sufferings of Christ He was Judged and found to be sin FOR US. Made from Wood (Humanity, Christ's) overlaid with pure Gold (Deity, Christ's).

                Next we face the BRAZEN LAVER - CHRIST OUR SANCTIFICATION

                Christ Cleanses us by the Water of the Word. Christ makes one fit for God's presence by the Washing in His Blood. Completely made of BRASS (copper), for Judgment is God's business, and God's business alone. It was there that the Priests washed their hands and feet. It was not only their Work that needed cleansing, but their Walk as well.

II. THE TABERNACLE ITSELF

            A.    THE HOLY PLACE
                For Jesus Said: "I AM THE TRUTH" The Only Way to Blessings. The ministering place of any Priest. Entry way closed off by a second curtain on five pillars.

                  1.    THE GOLDEN CANDLESTICK - "CHRIST OUR LIGHT"
                        Solid Gold The Perfect Light of Christ, About the size of a Man. 7 branches and shaped like an Almond Tree
"Perfect light, revealer of Truth"

                  2.    THE TABLE AND SHOWBREAD - "CHRIST THE PLACE OF FEEDING, AND THE BREAD OF LIFE."
                        Approx 40" by 21" by 30" high, Wood (humanity) covered with Gold (Deity). "The Table of communion" no chairs, not to sit at but to serve from. Around the Edge a border The bread was carried through the wilderness W/O falling "They shall not pluck them out of My hand"! The Bread was sprinkled with Frankincense Feeding with the pleasant fragrance of intercession.

                  3.    THE ALTAR OF INCENSE - "CHRIST OUR INTERCESSOR
                        The Great High Priest." After the Order of Malchesidek. Approx 21" square and 3 and 1/2 ' high speaks of the universality of Prayer for all, all are loved Carrying rings Take Prayer with you where ever you go.

          B.    THE INNER PLACE THE HOLY OF HOLIES CHRIST HIMSELF
            For Jesus Said: "I AM THE LIFE." The Only Way into God's Presence. The High Priest, Once a year, on the Day of Atonement Yom Kippur for the Sins of the People. Closed off by a 3ed Curtain. A hand's breadth in thickness, hung on 4 pillars. Until Christ's death it was a hindrance between man and God, both Spiritually and Physically, only the High Priest allowed once a year (inner Veil rent at Christ's death Heb 10:19 20).

                        1.    THE ARK OF THE COVENANT GOD'S EARTHLY THRONE - "CHRIST HIMSELF"
                        Approx 4' by 3' by 3'high. Wood overlaid with Gold the Hypostatic Union
                                INSIDE:
                                1.    THE LAW (The Standards of God)
                                2.    THE MANNA (The Provision of God)
                                3.    AARON'S ROD THAT BUDDED (The Sustenance of God), "Root out of Dry Ground" Virgin Birth

                        2.    THE GOLDEN MERCY SEAT PROPITIATION (2 forms) - "CHRIST OUR SATISFACTION CHRIST OUR PLACE OF SATISFACTION"
                                Solid gold beaten out of one piece. Cherubim at each end, heads bowed hands and upper wings covering eyes, lower wings touching walls of tabernacle "hovering over the Seat of Mercy". The Shekina Glory dwelling between the Cherubim

                                It was to the Mercy Seat that the High Priest would come, once a year, and sprinkle blood on the day of atonement. This would enable God to cover the sins of the High Priest and the people on the Basis of what Christ would eventually do on the Cross 1,500 years later.

                                Blood sprinkled upon the Seat of Mercy (Christ blood shed for us); Blood Sprinkled upon the Ground (Christ blood shed upon the earth for mankind). The Mercy Seat is the Cover or lid of the Ark to keep man from experiencing "THE LAW" and dying from a terrible judgment; Man unable to "keep" the LAW.

                                Thank God, Christ our Mercy Seat, covers the LAW and protects us from judgment.

CONCLUSION
So then, this completes our Walk through the Tabernacle. It is my hope and prayer that while there, you have seen Christ. For as He has said, "I am the Way, The Truth, and The Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

2011-11-20