The TABERNACLE

God's Instructional & Prophetic Model

Why Study the Tabernacle?

The design, materials, layout and operation of the tabernacle provide us with a wonderful and comprehensive illustration in type of God’s prophetic plan for the reconciliation of mankind through the sacrificial offering and ministry of Jesus Christ.

It stands as a representative model of God’s prescribed approval of how man is to appraoch God to enjoy restored fellowship with Him.

No less than 50 Bible chapters cover extensive details and teachings concerning the tabernacle, underlying its importance …

 

  • Exodus – 13 chapters

  • Numbers – 13 chapters

  • Leviticus – 18 chapters

  • Deuteronomy – 2 chapters

  • Hebrews – 4 chapters

 

What is a Tabernacle?

It is is essentially a TENT OF MEETING FOR FELLOWSHIP – a temporary dwelling place. In the case of the Tabernacle of the Bible, it serves as a temporal dwelling place for the presence of God amongst the children of Israel. It is often identified as the SANCTUARY, which indicates a specially designated and protected place set aside as holy, and free from outside interference. God desires to be at the very centre of mankind, His special creation. Therefore, the Tabernacle was set to occupy the central position of the encampment of His people Israel.

What is the Purpose of the Tabernacle?

The principal purpose of the Tabernacle is to underline the theme of fellowship (communion) between man and God. God is our Creator. We are made in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). God created us to have fellowship with Him. He established His covenant with man in the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15-17). However, man broke that covenant (Genesis 3:1-19). Nevertheless, God continues to desire fellowship with man and has prescribed the way back to redemption, reconciliation and restoration of fellowship. The Tabernacle serves as an instructional model for man to follow God’s plan of redemption. 

 

What can we Learn from The Tabernacle?

The Tabernacle teaches us about …

  • The Holiness (sanctity of God)
  • God’s desire for fellowship with man
  • Carnal Man’s separation from God through sin
  • God’s plan of salvation
  • God specifies the way of reconciliation
  • The ultimate sacrifice through Christ
  • The New Testament Church and access to God
  • The ultimate place of fellowship with God

WATCH VIDEO – THE TABERNACLE – GOD’S INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL

Made According to The Pattern

In Exodus 25:8-9 we read …

And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. 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.

And in Exodus 25:22 we read …

And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

God established the Tabernacle as a place of COMMUNION with the children of Israel via Moses. 

For Our Learning

In Romans 15:4 we read …

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

The Old Testament established the principles and the New Testament details the fulfilment of those principles through Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

In Hebrews 10:1 we read …

For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things

Under the Old Testament Law God introduced the principles of His plan and purpose in outline form – hence the term “shadow”. The substance was to be revealed in the sacrificial offering, once for all, and in the continued ministry of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:1-10).

 

THE WAY OF SALVATION

The Tabernacle details in type the pathway to salvation (restoration) according to the prescribed plan of God.

  1. The Fence, Gate & Court
  2. The Brazen Altar of Sacrifice
  3. The Brazen Laver
  4. The Door of the Tabernacle Sanctuary
  5. The Coverings of the Tabernacle
  6. The Holy Place
      • The Golden Lampstand (Menorah)
      • The Golden Table of Shewbread
      • The Golden Altar of Incense
  7. The Vail
  8. The Holy of Holies & The Ark of The Covenant
      • The Tables of Testimony
      • Aaron’s Rod that Budded
      • The Golden Pot of Manna

VIDEO – THE TABERNACLE – GOD’S INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL

The video below is a brief study on the design, layout and operation of the Tabernacle as a representative model of God’s plan for the redemption and reconciliation of mankind to Himself. The Bible uses types, shadows and symbols in the Old Testament, to point to the fulfilment in the New Testament through the sacrificial ministry of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. This brief overview serves as the basis for more in-depth studies on various aspects of the Tabernacle to come in the future.