The Tabernacle of Moses is a symbolic picture of heaven (Hebrews 9:23-24). The Bible reveals there are three heavens (2 Corinthians 12:2), and we can understand more about these heavens by looking at the three parts of the Tabernacle – the Outer Court, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies.
In addition to this, the Tabernacle is a representation of our spiritual lives. The Tabernacle reveals the progress that we are to make toward maturity as Christians. Everything in the Tabernacle is symbolic (Hebrews 8:5), and the entire Tabernacle represents important truths for us today.
A person entered the Tabernacle through a gate into the Outer Court, and this is where the journey begins.
Altar – Born Again
Within the Outer Court, the first stage was the Brass Altar (Exodus 27:1-8). The Brass Altar was the place where animals were sacrificed for sin. The Brass Altar represents the sacrifice of Christ on the cross for our sins. When we believe the gospel, we accept Christ’s sacrifice, and we are born again.
After being born again, we become like spiritual newborns, and now we are called to grow spiritually. We will grow into spiritual maturity as we progress along the pathway that God has laid out for us.
Basin – Water Baptism
The next step in the Tabernacle was the Brass Basin (Exodus 30:18-21). The Brass Basin was full of water, and the priests were to wash themselves in this Basin. This Basin is a symbol of water baptism. After trusting in Christ and becoming born again, we are to be baptized in water. Water baptism represents washing our sins away and burying the old man of our flesh. The only prerequisite for being baptized in water is being born again (Acts 8:37).
Screen – Holy Spirit Baptism
The next step in the Tabernacle was a Screen that separated between the Outer Court and the Holy of Holies. This Screen represents Baptism in the Holy Spirit. When we are baptized in the Holy Spirit, our eyes are opened spiritually, and we enter into a new spiritual awareness with God. We are able to understand God’s word more fully, and we are increasingly able to function in our spiritual gifts within the church.
These first three stages of the Tabernacle – being born again, being baptized in water, and being baptized in the Holy Spirit are all referred to as the milk (or basic principles) of the word of God (Hebrews 6:1-2). After we follow these basic principles in our own lives, we are ready to go on to spiritual maturity.
After passing through this Screen, (being baptized in the Holy Spirit), we enter the Holy Place.
Table of Bread
Within the Holy Place of the Tabernacle, there was a Table of Bread (Exodus 25:23-30). This Table was made of gold, which represents the presence of God. It had a crown around the top of it, which represents God’s authority. On this Table, there were 12 loaves of bread, which the priests were to eat. This bread represents Christ and his word.
Jesus is the bread of life, and he is the word of God. Jesus said that we must partake of the word of God in order to truly live (Matthew 4:4). All God’s people are priests today (1 Peter 2:9), and we are all called to partake of the bread of God’s word. The twelve loaves represent the apostolic word of God, for there were twelve apostles. In the New Testament, the apostolic word of God is revealed, and the apostolic teachings are foundational for the construction of the church. We are called to obey the full extent of the apostolic teachings, including the radical instructions of Jesus in Matthew 5-7 and the radical church practices of Acts 2 and 4. As we do this, we will grow into spiritual maturity. Our maturity is determined by the extent of our obedience to God, which in turn is a reflection of our faith.
Golden Lampstand
The Golden Lampstand was also in the Holy Place (Exodus 25:31-40). The Lampstand represents the church (Revelation 1:20). The Lampstand was made of solid gold, representing the presence of God. It was made of only one piece of gold, representing unity. It was hammered into shape, representing that as believers face challenges together, they will come into divine order. The Lampstand had a center stick and six branches on the sides, representing that Christ is the vine and we are the branches. The Lampstand gave light, representing that the church is the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). The Lampstand was fed by oil, representing that the church is to be full of the Holy Spirit. Seven lamps of fire burned from the Lampstand, representing that the church in its ideal state will reveal the glory of God to the world.
The Golden Lampstand, like everything else in the Tabernacle, was to be constructed according to God’s precise instructions. God didn’t leave the design of the Tabernacle up to people. In a similar way, the church today is to be built according to God’s word, not according to human ideas. We are not to add things to God’s design or take things away; we are to stick to God’s word. Only then will the church be able to fulfill its purpose. At the end of the age, every church will be judged by God’s word, and only that which has been built according to God’s word will stand. Everything else will be destroyed.
Altar of Incense
The next stage in the Tabernacle was an Altar of Incense. Incense is a symbol of prayer. This Altar was right before the Holy of Holies. The Altar of Incense represents that at the end of the age, God’s people will pray with great power, causing the heavens and the earth to be shaken (Revelation 8:3-6). These powerful prayers will precipitate awesome end times events. The church will only be able to accomplish this spiritual warfare effectively when she first grows into maturity by partaking of the fullness of God’s word (Table of Bread), and being molded together into a glorious church for Christ (Golden Lampstand).
Veil
After the Altar of Incense, there was a Veil (Exodus 26:31-33). This Veil blocked the way into the Holy of Holies. This thick veil represents the flesh of Christ (Matthew 27:51), which was broken on the cross. When Jesus died on the cross, this Veil was torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51), representing that now the way was made into the Holy of Holies in heaven, into the fullness of the presence of God. We go through this Veil in order to access God’s throne. God is calling his saints to come to maturity so they can live in this place before the throne of God, hearing him and seeing him, and revealing his words and works to the earth (Revelation 14:5).
Ark of the Covenant
Inside the Holy of Holies, there was the Ark of the Covenant. The ark was a box which contained the stone tablets of the 10 commandments. The Ark represents the holiness and justice of God. At the end of the age, the ark will be seen in God’s temple (Revelation 11:19), representing that when the church is ready, at the end of the age, God’s presence will be powerfully within his church.
Mercy Seat
Above the Ark was the Mercy Seat, which was made out of solid gold. At the two ends of the Mercy Seat there were two cherubim of gold. Cherubim are powerful angels around the throne of God. God dwelled and spoke to his people from above the Mercy Seat which represents the throne of God. This is the location Jesus lived in spiritually, even when he walked on the earth. We are to be conformed to the image of Jesus, and are called to live in the same way, before God’s throne, bringing heaven into the earth.
Full spiritual maturity is found in the throne of God, in the heavenly Holy of Holies. Someday, the saints of God will achieve this position of full maturity before God’s throne, and then it will be the end of the age.
Where are we as individuals in the Tabernacle journey? Where is our church in the Tabernacle journey?
There is more ground to cover, for the bride is not yet prepared, and no saints have yet achieved full maturity. Let’s keep pressing onward until we reach this glorious goal, for we are not dead yet, and we can still accomplish something for God upon the earth.
by Peter
Lincoln House Churches 