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The layout of the tabernacle

by David McKivett

We are continuing our study of the Tabernacle. We said previously that every part of the tabernacle speaks of Christ and His redemptive word. As the Holy Spirit illuminates our minds we can see God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit revealed in the tabernacle, we will understand the plan of redemption unfolded through the typology.

Almost every major doctrine is revealed in the tabernacle such as: Redemption, Salvation Justification, Substitution, Sanctification and The security of the believer. We shall look at these doctrines as we go deeper in the subject.

The tabernacle and the priesthood also reveals:

1. Jesus Christ in His humanity and deity and as, Saviour, Redeemer, Intercessor, High Priest and King

2. The individual believer what they are or should be in him

3. The church - the bride of Christ

The tabernacle had to be made according to the plan that was given by Almighty God.

Exodus 25:9 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.

Exodus 25:40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.

God never left it to man to decide how the tabernacle and the furniture were to be made. Man cannot decide how he is to approach God, we must go His way. I hear people say things like I worship God my way, and you worship Him your way. However it has nothing to do with my way or your way, we can only worship God His way. The bible says in Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

There is only one way to worship God and that is the Bible way. There is only one way to be saved and that is through Jesus. Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

The modern church of our day needs to wake up to the fact that God want his church to be run according to the pattern found only in the Bible, not by man’s ideas, what some creed or confession says, or some extra biblical revelation from a charismatic soothsayer. Every believer also needs to realise that the life he/she lives must be in accordance to scripture, not what is socially acceptable or politically correct.

Hebrews 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

God did not want Israel borrowing ideas from Egypt.

The Children of Israel had been slaves in Egypt for 400 years. However, Moses was not a slave in Egypt but a prince. For four hundred years Israel had seen pagan altars, temples and a pagan priesthood. Had it been left to them to design the tabernacle they would have most likely looked to the false worship of the land they had come out of and made all the furniture and the tabernacle resemble the pagan temples of Egypt.

God did not want Israel to look to Egypt for ideas. They were to look to God and make ‘them after their pattern’ shown to Moses.

The modern church today looks to the world for ideas. It seems that whatever takes place among the ungodly, within six months we get a Christianised version of it. Instead of looking to the bible, the modern church looks to world. Every kind of music is recycled, given a Christian dressing and is allowed into the sanctuary of the local church. The fact is, the compromising church in our day has turned the house of God into a nightclub, some even have disco type lighting. Some churches have even allowed people in that blow-up hot water bottles till they burst; break rocks with their hands, and breakout of handcuffs, just to get a crowd in. These so called churches get the lost in, keep them lost and entertain them so they remain lost. I even heard of one church that had so-called Christian wrestlers come in to perform.

Friends, we need to stop looking to the world for ideas. The truth is that in many places the church has not reached the world, but the world has reached the church. We need to get back to the bible. Instead of entertaining people we need to preach the word of God without compromise.

God wanted his tabernacle to reflect heaven not the world

The bible reveals there is a temple in heaven, a throne and an altar.

Rev. 7:15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.Rev. 9:13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

Because the Tabernacle was made only according to God’s revealed plan, it meant everything about it was to the honour of God, testified to God, and as long as people obeyed God, God accepted everything that was done at the tabernacle.

Friends, it is only when we come His way, worship Him according to scripture that He accepts our worship and us.

Introducing the Tabernacle

I will only introduce the tabernacle and the furniture this month and expound on it in more detail over the coming months.

The Outer Court - measured 150 ft by 75 ft by 7 ½

The Fence - The material used to make this was fine linen silver, brass and wood

The Gate measured 30 feet by 7 ½ high. The material used was the same as the fence, except that it had more colours. We shall see the significance of the colours as we continue this subject.

The Brazen altar – It was 7 ½ square and 4 ½ high and was made of shittim wood (acacia wood) and brass

The Laver size is not given, but it was made of brass and contained water

Inside the Holy place we find:

The Golden Candlestick or lamp stand - No size is given, but it was made of pure gold.

The Table of Shew Bread - It measured 1 ½ feet by 2 ½ feet by 3 feet high and it was made of shittim wood (acacia wood) and overlaid with gold.

Altar of Incense it measured 1 ½ feet square by 3 feet high and was made of shittim wood (acacia wood) overlaid with gold.

Inside the most Holy of Holies - We find the Ark of the Covenant and the mercy seat.

The Ark of the Covenant measured 3feet 9 inches by 2 feet 3inches and was made of shittim wood (acacia wood) overlaid with gold.

The Mercy Seat, which was not a seat as we think of a seat. There were no chairs in the tabernacle for none of the priests ever sat down because there work was never finished. Only Jesus ever made a perfect and complete sacrifice and was able to sit down.

Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God;

To be continued

We shall continue our study on this subject in the future

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Continued from above

We continue our study of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness by looking at the white linen fence that went around the tabernacle and outer court. The measurements of the fence was 150ft by 75ft by 7 ½ ft high. It was made of fine white linen.

White linen came from the flax plant. To grow flax the soil is prepared seven years before the flax seed is sown for this high grade, finely twined linen. After the ground is prepared the seed is then sown.

This speaks of the heart of the sinner being prepared for the word. In order that a person can receive the word something has to happen. Sinful man cannot receive the word. He is unable to receive or understand the gospel, except God does a work in him. 1 Cor. 2:14

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Jesus told us in a parable about the four kinds of ground in Matthew 13:1-9

The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. [2] And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. [3] And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; [4] And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: [5] Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: [6] And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. [7] And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: [8] But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirty fold. [9] Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Notice that the seed fell on different kinds of ground but only one kind of ground was good for the seed. Any farmer knows that no ground is automatically good for the seed. The ground has to be made ready. Since the fall of man and the curse on the earth, no ground is naturally good.

A sinner does not make himself good for the word. Anymore than the ground can make itself good for the seed. No man can make himself good enough to be saved, and no man is good enough to be saved. Read Romans 3:11-18

There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. [12] They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. [13] Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: [14] Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: [15] Their feet are swift to shed blood: [16] Destruction and misery are in their ways: [17] And the way of peace have they not known: [18] There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Roman 13 declares. None understandeth, no one seeks after God, there is none that does good there is no good ground for the word unless God has first made it good.

When we realise that we understand that salvation is 100% of God and zero of man. The doctrine of synergism goes out the wall. No one is saved because they were smart enough to make the right decision. You are not saved because you more intelligent and made the right decision to follow Christ. 1 Cor. 1:21 for after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. The reason you understood the truth of the gospel was because God did a work in you whereby you were able to understand. He made you good ground for His word.

As preachers we are like the sower in the parable, we have no idea where the good ground is, only God knows that, so we just go into the entire world and preach the gospel to everyone. Many will not hear but His sheep will hear his voice. These are the ones that God has made good ground for the Word.

Flax will grow anywhere

Flax will grow anywhere, in contrast to cotton or silk: This shows that God's righteousness is universally available. The blood of Christ can save sinners anywhere. The Gospel (and there is only one gospel) is just as effective in America, Uganda, Nigeria, Asia, and Europe Romans 10:12-13 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Harvesting is done by hand

Harvesting is done by hand. This tells me that salvation is individual. No one is saved because their parents are Christians. God has no grandchildren. A child of a Christian is no more saved that a child of a pagan or an atheist. Parents cannot decide heaven for there children, which makes infant baptism a waste of good water.

Laid in Water

The flax is laid in water for the flax plant to die and the linen fibers to "come alive-separated” this speaks of believers baptism. Baptism is for believers. By that I mean the person being baptised must believe. The parents cannot believe for their children. Parents have a responsibility to bring up their children in the knowledge of God, but they cannot believe for them. Infant baptism is not taught in the bible.

The water here also speaks of the cleansing of the word. Salvation is instant but we are continually being cleansed by the word. John 15:3

Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

Psalm 119:9

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

Combing, rough, treatment and bleached

Then comes the combing and much rough treatment, where many short hairy bits are removed. The combing makes the linen finer, and finer until it brings a soft, silky finish. It is then spun into thread, wetted and spread in the sun to bleach.

This speaks of trials and testing of the Christian life. Some of the ‘word of faith teachers’ teach that when you become a Christian you will be healthy, wealthy and prosperous. They mean By prosperous that you will have a big house, big car, and wear the most expensive clothes., if you support they ministry They call themselves ‘word of faith teachers’ but in reality they teach words of heresy.

Trials and persecution are normal in the life of a true Christian that stands uncompromisingly on the Word. Read the following scriptures

1 Peter 1:6-7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perished, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

1 Peter 4:12-14 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Jesus taught that persecution is normal in the Christian life.

Matthew 13:20-21 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; [21] Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

The fence

Finally what was once a flax plant becomes a white linen fence. This speaks of the righteousness of Christ and the righteousness of the believer in Christ. Jesus is declared to be the righteousness Lord. Jeremiah 23:6

In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Many in the bible testified to the righteous sinless nature of Christ.

Luke 23:4 So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no fault in this Man."

Matt 27:4 Judas said, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? You see to it!"

Matt 27:19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him."

Matt 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it."

Luke 23:39-41 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? "And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong."

Luke 23:47 So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous Man!"

John 8:29 "And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him."

Matt 3:17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

The believer has imputed righteous, so we stand righteous in him.

Romans 4:22-24 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. [23] Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; [24] But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

Even as linen showing the righteousness of Christ was hung on the fence so one day all believers will be clothed in white. Rev. 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Our righteousness is not achieved by anything we do, but what Christ has done. No one can make himself or herself righteous, and no one is righteous apart from Christ.

1 Cor. 1:30

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

2 Cor. 5:21

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The subject will be continued in the future

By David McKivett

Exodus 27:16-17

And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework: and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four. [17] All the pillars round about the court shall be filleted with silver; their hooks shall be of silver, and their sockets of brass.

We want to continue our study of the tabernacle by looking at the Gate, which was the entrance into the court of the tabernacle.

The gate of the Tabernacle always faced east. This meant the entrance was located in the direction of the sinner. The reason we say that east is the direction of the sinner can be sen in the following accounts.

After Adam and Eve sinned God placed a Cherubim with a flaming sword East of Eden to keep the way of the tree of life,

Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

After a quarrel between herdsmen man or Abraham and Lot’s Herdsmen, Lot chose to go east towards the reprobate city of Sodom.

Genesis 13:11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

When Pharaoh refused to hearken unto God it was the east wind that brought the judgement of locust on the land.

Exodus 10:13 And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.

By locating gate at the east God was showing grace and mercy towards the sinner. There was only one gate, which meant there was only one entrance. Only one way that man could approach God.

The Gate speaks of Jesus.

Jesus is the only way. Some will try to tell us that there are many ways to God. They teach that each religion is a way. However Jesus made it clear there is no other. John 10:7

Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

Salvation is not in a religion or not in a church. It is in a person and that person is Jesus the Son of the Living God.

If you ask some people if they are saved they May reply yes, I am Baptist, I am Pentecostal, I am free Presbyterian or I am Catholic. However, salvation is not in a church or a denomination. Many that go to church have never been to Jesus. Their names are on the church roll but are not written in the lamb’s book of life. Apart from Christ there is no salvation, no forgiveness of sin, no way to heaven. The Bible says in Acts 4:12, ‘Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.’ To be saved, to receive eternal life a person must go through Jesus.

John 10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

Jesus is ready and willing to receive anyone that calls upon Him, no matter, where they come from or how bad they may have been.

Jesus came to where Sinners were.

As we mentioned the fence gate leading to the tabernacle was located east in the direction of the sinners. Jesus being the way of Salvation came to where sinners were and still comes to where they are today. The religious leaders attacked Jesus because he mixed with sinners.

Matthew 9:10-13 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 13But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Thank God Jesus still comes to where sinners are. In 1974 He came to me and changed my whole life. The Bible says in 2 Cor. 5:17 ‘Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.’

If you are reading this and do not know Jesus as you Lord, and saviour, then I want you to know that Jesus is there to hear you if you call upon Him in repentance. . You may go to church, but have you been to Jesus? If you should die today where will you spend eternity? You can call upon him now and ask Him to save you. Jesus said in John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

The colours of the gate.

The Gate was made of Linen and had four colours woven into it, white, blue, scarlet and purple. The colours reveal much about the person and ministry of Christ. White represents the righteousness of Christ, scarlet represents the blood He shed for our sins, purple represents Christ as our king, and blue reveals his deity.

The four colours also reveal the four Gospel writers. Each gospel writer reveals a different aspect of Jesus and His ministry

Mathew shows Christ as king. Purple is the colour of kings (see Judges 8:26, John 19:1-5). Mathew says about the kingdom of God than the other gospel writers.

Matthew 2:1-3 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

The word Kingdom is mentioned all the way through the Mathew’s gospel

Mark reveals Christ as the suffering servant.

Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Scarlet is the colour of blood. Romans 5:9

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Luke reveals Christ as the perfect man. Luke has more to say about the virgin birth than the other gospel writers. He reveals Christ in His sinless humanity. Jesus was tempted but never sinned. White is the colour of righteousness and purity.

John reveals Christ in all his deity. Jesus was fully God and fully man. When I say Jesus is fully God I am not saying Jesus is the father. There is one God, and within the being we call God there exists three persons namely the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We call this the doctrine of the trinity.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

Blue is the colour of the sky. Jesus came from above. He was God manifest in flesh.

1 Tim. 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

John 3:13

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

John 3:31

He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

1 Cor. 15:47

The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

I close this lesson with the words the song, ‘Lord, I lift your name on high’

Lord, I lift Your name on high
Lord, I love to sing Your praises
I'm so glad You're in my life
I'm so glad You came to save us

Chorus:
You came from heaven to earth
To show the way
From the earth to the cross
My debt to pay
From the cross to the grave
From the grave to the sky
Lord, I lift Your name on high

We will continue our teaching on the tabernacle in the wilderness in the next edition.

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Tabernacle in the Wilderness part 4