Chapter 14
THE TABERNACLE/TEMPLE
Before we begin our study of the Tabernacle/Temple let us pray.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before You in the Name of Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Holy Father, Almighty God we ask You to please bless our study of the Old Testament Temple. Please open our eyes, our ears and our heart and cause us to hear, see and understand the message or foreshadowing of the Old Testament Temple.
Amen
INTRODUCTION
In our previous studies we saw that the Old Testament feasts, sacrifices and offerings were foreshadowings to teach us about Jesus Christ and the benefits that resulted from His death and resurrection. In like manner, in this chapter we will discover that the Old Testament Tabernacle, also known as the Temple, was a foreshadowing of the New Testament Tabernacle composed of all the born again believers in Jesus Christ. The Bible also identifies this Tabernacle as the body of Christ or the church. To see this we will,
1. Review some historical background material relative to the various Tabernacles/Temples of the Old Testament.
2. Review the design and construction of the Tabernacle that was built under the supervision of Moses.
3. See that God's presence resided in the Old Testament Tabernacle/Temple.
4. Discover that the tabernacles or temples of the New Testament are: (1) Each individual born again believer in Jesus Christ and (2) The body of Christ, also known as the church, which is composed of all the born again believers.
With this introduction in mind, we begin with the following,
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Since the Old Testament talks about three tabernacles or temples, the following background material is offered to help clarify the chronology or timeline and historical setting of these tabernacles.
The first tabernacle was built under the direction of Moses. It was constructed during Israel’s exodus from Egypt to the promised land of Canaan. This tabernacle was identified as the Tent of Meeting. It was referred to in this manner because it was the place where God would meet and give direction to the representatives of Israel, who were Moses and the priests (Exodus 25:23). This tabernacle was in actuality a tent composed of wood boards, cloth and animal skins (Exodus 26:1-36). It was used throughout Israel’s exodus in the wilderness of Sinai. Each time the nation was to move from one place to another, the tent was dismantled, carried and reassembled by the Levites (Numbers 4:1-33). This tabernacle was also used by the Israelites during the early years of their stay in the promised land of Canaan. Specifically, it was used throughout the reigns of King Saul and King David.
In approximately 954BC1, under the direction of King Solomon, a son of King David, the second tabernacle/temple was built in Jerusalem (see1Kings 5:1-6:38). This tabernacle/temple was fashioned after the pattern of the tabernacle built by Moses. However, it was a permanent structure, which was composed of huge quarried stones. Until the time of the Babylonian invasion this tabernacle/temple was used by the Israelites for approximately 368 years. In approximately 586BC2, under the authority of King Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian army overran Jerusalem and took the citizens captive. During this military campaign they also destroyed the temple built by King Solomon.
After the return of the Jewish people to Jerusalem from their captivity in Babylon, a third tabernacle/temple was constructed. This tabernacle was also a permanent structure and was completed in approximately 512BC3 (see Ezra 3:1-618). However, even though it was fashioned after the pattern of King Solomon’s temple, it was smaller in stature.
Even though it is not part of the Biblical record, it is noted that in approximately 20-18BC4, King Herod rebuilt the basic structure of the temple. It is also noted that the work on the decorations and colonnades lasted for decades. King Herod's rationale for this undertaking was that he felt the tabernacle/temple built during the time of Ezra did not measure up to the glory of the one built by King Solomon5. It is noted that it was this temple that was standing during the days of our Lord and Savior’s sojourn upon this earth.
As Jesus foretold, in approximately 70AD6 the temple built by King Herod was utterly destroyed. This occurred under the command of the Roman General Titus during the overthrow of Jerusalem. It is noted that even to this day this temple lies in ruin. The reason for this will become evident in the remaining pages of this chapter.
Before we move on to our study of the Tabernacle or Temple it is noted that the words or nouns Tabernacle, Temple or Sanctuary are often used interchangeably. To see this let us read the following definitions, as they apply to our study, from the Second College Edition of Webster’s New World Dictionary.
Tabernacle – (1) The Jewish Tent of Meeting a) A temporary shelter as a tent. b) A dwelling place (2) the human body considered as a dwelling place of the soul …
Temple – (1) A building for the worship of a god or gods. (2) Any of three buildings for worshipping Jehovah, successively built by the Jews in ancient Jerusalem …
Sanctuary – A holy place, as a building set aside for worship of a god or gods. a) The ancient Temple at Jerusalem …
With the above background as a foundation for this study, let us now move on and explore,
THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST TABERNACLE, WHICH WAS THE TENT OF MEETING
We begin by first noting that the,
THE TENT OF MEETING WAS DESIGNED BY GOD
At the time that God gave Moses the Ten Commandments along with the rules and regulations for the Ceremonial Law, He also instructed Moses to build a tabernacle and its associated furnishings, that is altars, lampstand, etc. This Tabernacle was a foreshadowing and a type of the Heavenly Tabernacle. To see this let us go to the Old Testament and read what God said to Moses concerning the construction of this tabernacle and its furnishings.
Exodus 25:8-9
[8] And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. [9] According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.
In other words, the design and construction of the Tent of Meeting and its furnishings was a design given to Moses by God. In a similar fashion, God gave King David the design and plans for the Tabernacle/Temple that was to be built by his son Solomon. To see this let us read from,
1 Chronicles 28:11-12
"[11] Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement. [12] He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the LORD ..."
In reading how the Tent of Meeting was designed we find there were,
THREE MAJOR SECTIONS OR PARTITIONS
These three major partitions or sections were: (1) The outer court, (2) The Holy Place and (3) The Most Holy Place or sometimes identified as the Holiest of Holies.
To help receive a clearer picture of the Old Testament Tent of Meeting and the subsequent Tabernacles/Temples let us now review a description for each of the three major sections. To do this we will use the descriptions God gave to Moses for the construction of the first tabernacle which was the Tent of Meeting. For the sake of completion and clarity we will also review the physical description and purpose for the major furnishings that were placed within each of the three sections. It is not the purpose of this chapter to cover the spiritual significance and foreshadowings for these sections and their associated furnishings. However, these foreshadowings will be addressed in Chapter 16. With this in mind let us begin with,
The Outer Court or Courtyard
This portion of the Tent of Meeting was an area that surrounded the Tabernacle. It was 100 cubits in length and fifty cubits wide (see Exodus 27:18).
In the Old Testament days a cubit was the distance from a person's elbow to the tip of their middle finger7. It is noted that for today the conversion of cubits to inches is generally accepted that one cubit equates to eighteen inches8. Thus, the length of the courtyard was approximately 150 feet and its width was approximately 75 feet.
In front of the entrance to the Tabernacle itself was the
Bronze or Brazen Altar
This altar was also called the altar of Burnt Offering. This is recorded in,
Exodus 40:29
"[29] He set the altar of burnt offering near the entrance to the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, and offered on it burnt offerings and grain offerings, as the LORD commanded him."
It is noted that this altar was 7.5 feet long, 7.5 feet wide and 4.5 feet high (see Exodus 27:1-8).
As we discovered in previous chapters, it was in front of this altar that the animal sacrifices were slaughtered. After the sacrifices were slaughtered, the priest would take some of its blood and sprinkle it on and around the altar. It was on this altar that the priest would offer to God, via fire, the prescribed portion or portions of the sacrifice. The whole burnt offerings were also offered, via fire, on this altar (see Leviticus 1:1 – 7:38).
Between the Brazen Altar and the entrance to the Tabernacle was the
Bronze Basin or Laver
During the days of King Solomon this basin was constructed to hold approximately 18,000 gallons of water. Consequently, it was also identified as the Sea. Before the priests ministered at the Brazen Altar or go inside the Tent of Meeting they were to wash their hands and feet. To see this we go to,
Exodus 30:17-21
"[17] Then the LORD said to Moses, [18] "Make a bronze basin, with its bronze stand, for washing. Place it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it. [19] Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it. [20] Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die. Also, when they approach the altar to minister by presenting an offering made to the LORD by fire, [21] they shall wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.""
In addition, this basin was also used to ceremonially wash or baptize Aaron and his male descendents into the priesthood. This is recorded in,
Exodus 40:12-15
[12] “Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle of meeting and wash them with water. [13] You shall put the holy garments on Aaron, and anoint him and consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest. [14] And you shall bring his sons and clothe them with tunics. [15] You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to Me as priests; for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.”
Let us now proceed to review the design and construction of,
Tent of Meeting or Sanctuary
The Tent of Meeting consisted of three walls made of forty eight boards that were overlaid with gold. The width of each board was one and one half cubits. Twenty boards, standing upright, were used for each length. The remaining eight boards were used for the back wall, which was the width. Thus, the Tent of Meeting was approximately 45 feet long and 18 feet wide. A description of this construction is recorded in Exodus 26:15-29.
The roof of the Tent of Meeting was made with four coverings: (1) badger skins, (2) ram skins, (3) goat hair and (4) linen. A description of this roof is provided for us in Exodus 26:1-14.
The entrance to the Tent of Meeting was made from woven yarn and linen thread. This curtain was supported by five pillars that were overlaid with gold. A description of this entrance way is provided in,
Exodus 26:36-37
""[36] For the entrance to the tent make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen--the work of an embroiderer. [37] Make gold hooks for this curtain and five posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold. And cast five bronze bases for them."
The inside of the Tent of Meeting structure was partitioned by a veil or curtain into two sections. This veil or curtain was sometimes identified as the Inner Veil. The largest partition was called the Holy Place and the second partition was identified as the Holiest of Holies or the Most Holy Place.
With this division of the Tent of Meeting in mind let us now read about the furnishings that were placed within them. We begin with,
The Holy Place
The Holy Place contained three major items. One of the items placed in the Holy Place was called,
The Table of Show Bread
This is sometimes translated to be the Table of the Bread of the Presence. A description of this table is found in,
Exodus 25:23-30
""[23] Make a table of acacia wood--two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high. [24] Overlay it with pure gold and make a gold molding around it. [25] Also make around it a rim a handbreadth wide and put a gold molding on the rim. [26] Make four gold rings for the table and fasten them to the four corners, where the four legs are. [27] The rings are to be close to the rim to hold the poles used in carrying the table. [28] Make the poles of acacia wood, overlay them with gold and carry the table with them. [29] And make its plates and dishes of pure gold, as well as its pitchers and bowls for the pouring out of offerings. [30] Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me at all times."
Let us notice the following verses,
23 … Thus, the table was 3 feet long, 1.5 feet wide and 2.25 feet high.
30 … The Bread of the Presence was to be placed upon this table. The Bread of Presence was actually twelve loaves of bread. To insure freshness, on each Sabbath, the priests replaced the old loaves with twelve new ones. To see this let us read from,
Leviticus 24:5-8
""[5] Take fine flour and bake twelve loaves of bread, using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf. [6] Set them in two rows, six in each row, on the table of pure gold before the LORD. [7] Along each row put some pure incense as a memorial portion to represent the bread and to be an offering made to the LORD by fire. [8] This bread is to be set out before the LORD regularly, Sabbath after Sabbath, on behalf of the Israelites, as a lasting covenant.""
Let us notice the following verses,
5-6 … The book “The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge”9 tells us that the twelve loaves represented the twelve tribes of Israel. I believe this was to illustrate that the Israelites were always before the Presence of God.
The second item that was placed in the Holy Place was,
The Lampstand or Candlestick
The Lampstand was designed and constructed to hold seven oil lamps. A description of this fixture can be found in,
Exodus 25:31-40
""[31] Make a lampstand of pure gold and hammer it out, base and shaft; its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms shall be of one piece with it. [32] Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand--three on one side and three on the other. [33] Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. [34] And on the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. [35] One bud shall be under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair--six branches in all. [36] The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold. [37] "Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it. [38] Its wick trimmers and trays are to be of pure gold. [39] A talent of pure gold is to be used for the lampstand and all these accessories. [40] See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."
Let us take special note of verse 40. Again we are reminded that the Temple and its furnishings were designed by God.
The Lampstand along with its lamps were to be placed in front of the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. One of the functions of the priests was to insure that the lamps were to be lit at the proper times of day. To see this let us read from,
Exodus 27:20-21
""[20] Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. [21] In the Tent of Meeting, outside the curtain that is in front of the Testimony, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the LORD from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come."
The last major fixture to be placed within the Holy Place was
The Altar of Incense
A description for this altar can be found in,
Exodus 30:1-6
""[1] Make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense. [2] It is to be square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high --its horns of one piece with it. [3] Overlay the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it. [4] Make two gold rings for the altar below the molding--two on opposite sides--to hold the poles used to carry it. [5] Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. [6] Put the altar in front of the curtain that is before the ark of the Testimony--before the atonement cover that is over the Testimony--where I will meet with you."
Let us notice the following verse,
2 … The dimensions for this altar was: 1.5 feet long, 1.5 feet wide and 2 feet high.
Every morning and evening the priest was to burn incense upon this altar. This was done so that the sweet aroma of the incense was continually present before God. To see this let us read from,
Exodus 30:7-8
""[7] Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. [8] He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the LORD for the generations to come."
Let us recall that in previous studies, incense was symbolic of the people’s prayers (see Revelation 5:8).
Separating the Holy Place from the Holiest of Holies was,
The Inner Veil
The inner veil or curtain was composed of blue, purple and scarlet yarn with fine linen thread. This is recorded in,
Exodus 26:31-33
""[31] Make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim worked into it by a skilled craftsman. [32] Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases. [33] Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place."
This brings us to,
The Holiest of Holies or Most Holy Place
It is in this portion of the Tent of Meeting where Moses was told to place,
The Ark of the Testimony
The Ark of the Testimony, which is sometimes referred as the Ark of the Covenant was a wooden container that was 3.75 feet long, 2.25 feet wide and 2.25 feet high. It was overlaid inside and outside with pure gold. To see and expand upon this let us read from,
Exodus 25:10-16
[10] “And they shall make an ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits shall be its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height. [11] And you shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and shall make on it a molding of gold all around. [12] You shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in its four corners; two rings shall be on one side, and two rings on the other side. [13] And you shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. [14] You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, that the ark may be carried by them. [15] The poles shall be in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it. [16] And you shall put into the ark the Testimony which I will give you.
The items that were in the Ark of the Covenant are identified in,
Hebrews 9:4
[4] … the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;
Let us notice that the following three items were placed inside the Ark of Testimony or Ark of the Covenant:
1. The Golden pot of Manna – This was placed in the ark so that the Israelites would always remember that the Manna was the bread God sent to feed them throughout their wilderness journey from Egypt to the Promised Land of Canaan ( see Exodus 16:32-34).
2. Aaron’s Budded Staff or Rod – This was to remind the Israelites that He, God, chose Aaron and his male descendents to be priests (see Numbers 17:1-12).
3. The two Tablets of the Covenant – This was to remind the Israelites of the commandments He, God, wrote and gave to Moses for them to follow.
On top of the Ark of Testimony was,
The Mercy Seat
The design and construction of the Mercy Seat can be found in,
Exodus 25:17-22
[17] “You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits shall be its length and a cubit and a half its width. [18] And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. [19] Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim at the two ends of it of one piece with the mercy seat. [20] And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another; the faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat. [21] You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. [22] And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.
Let us notice the following verse,
22 … It was above the Mercy Seat where God would meet with Moses and/or the High Priest. More specifically, in the Old Testament days, the Presence of God resided between the two cherubim that were on top of the Ark of the Covenant.
With this in mind we can now see that,
GOD’S PRESENCE RESIDED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT TABERNACLE OR TEMPLE
To see this a bit more clearly let us read what happened after the Israelites completed the construction of the first Tabernacle or Tent of Meeting. This event is recorded for us in,
Exodus 40:33-35
"[33] Then Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. And so Moses finished the work. [34] Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. [35] Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle."
In addition, the Bible also teaches us that after King Solomon built the second Tabernacle/Temple God also filled It with His presence. To see this, let us read what happened after the Temple was completed and all its furnishings were placed in their proper place. It is recorded in,
1 Kings 8:10-11
"[10] When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. [11] And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple."
It is noted that the Presence or Glory of God residing in the physical Old Testament Tabernacle/Temple, was also a foreshadowing pointing to the time when God would inhabit another physical temple. This brings us to,
THE NEW TABERNACLE OR TEMPLE … THE BORN AGAIN BELIEVER(S)
To see this, we begin by reading how Jesus prepared His disciples for this glorious blessing. He did this by telling them that His own body was to be destroyed and resurrected. To make the point He said this by the Temple constructed by Herod after He cleansed it from the corruption of those who were making a profit from its services. This incident is recorded in,
John 2:13-22
"[13] When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. [14] In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. [15] So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. [16] To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!" [17] His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me." [18] Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?" [19] Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." [20] The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?" [21] But the temple he had spoken of was his body. [22] After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken."
Let us notice the following verses,
20 … The Jews had no clue as to what Jesus was telling them.
21 … Jesus was not talking about the physical Tabernacle or Temple that was constructed by King Herod. No! Jesus was talking about His own physical body.
Since we know that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and is the second person of the Godhead we can readily accept His statement when He said His body was/is a Temple. But, what about us, that is you and I, the born again believer? Can we accept the fact that the Bible teaches that we too are a tabernacle/temple of God?
For us to apprehend and accept the truth of this statement we must accept and take to heart the fact that every born again believer in Jesus Christ has God the Holy Spirit dwelling inside them. To see this let us read what Jesus said to His disciples during the Feast of Tabernacles. It is recorded for us in,
John 7:37-39
"[37] On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. [38] Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." [39] By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified."
To amplify Jesus' words a bit more, let us now read the following excerpt from the first letter Paul penned to the born again believers who belonged to the Corinthian church. The passage of interest is,
1 Corinthians 3:16
"[16] Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?"
To emphasize the significance of this, let us also read the following passage,
1 Corinthians 3:17
"[17] … God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple."
In addition to each one of us being a temple of God the Holy Spirit, the Bible also teaches us that we are also collectively being built into a Holy Temple of God. To see this, consider,
Ephesians 2:19-22
"[19] … you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. [21] In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. [22] And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."
The above dwelling identified in Ephesians 2:19-22, is the spiritual building composed of all the born again believers. It is called the body of Christ or the church. To see this let us first recall that every born again believer in Jesus Christ is a member of the body of Christ. This truth is clearly stated in,
1 Corinthians 12:27
"[27] Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."
This body, that is the body of Christ composed of all the born again believers, is the church that Jesus came to build. To see this, let us read from,
Colossians 1:18
"[18] And he is the head of the body, the church; ..."
This brings us to,
THE POINT OR MESSAGE OF THIS STUDY
In addition to being a tabernacle or temple for God the Holy Spirit each individual born again believer in Jesus Christ is part of the Body of Christ that is also called the church. This church is not a building made of wood, brick and mortar. No! It is a spiritual building composed of you and I, the born again believers. It is a holy habitation of God the Holy Spirit. This church that our Lord Jesus Christ came to build is the fulfillment of what the Old Testament Temple and the people who served it were pointing to. The church is that group of people He bought and paid for with His own body and blood. It is that body of people who have been set apart and made holy through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. Namely, the church, composed of all the born again believers of all time is the body of Christ.
Let us close this study by prayerfully reading the following Scripture,
1 Peter 2:4-5
"[4] As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him-- [5] you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
Blessed be the Lord forever!
AMEN and AMEN