From: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 1997 11:35 PM
To: Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup
Subject: The Outer Court of the Tabernacle
From: Mark Wilson
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject: The Outer Court of the Tabernacle
THE OUTER COURT # 2
In other studies we have seen the types and shadows of the Older Covenant
are pictures for us of spiritual truths for the Newer Covenant. The
Tabernacle of Moses is a picture for us of the Tabernacle of God.
REV 21:3
And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the
tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and
they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them.
God's desire has always been to dwell among His people and be their
God, Father and provider.
When Israel came to Mt. Sinai, God revealed His heart's desire to
them. He wanted them to come up the mountain into His presence and hear
His voice and obey.
EXO 19:4-6:
'You yourselves have seen what I did to
the Egyptians, and {how} I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you
to Myself. 'Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My
covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples,
for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of
priests and a holy nation. 'These are the words that you shall speak
to the sons of Israel. "
God's desire was for all of Israel to be a kingdom of priests and a
holy nation and a people for God's own possession. For that reason
God brought them out of Egypt and brought them to Himself. God had
tremendous plans for Israel but it required that all of them come up
into His presence and hear His voice, keep His covenant and obey His
voice. This is still God's desire and requirement today.
Israel was afraid because of the fire and turned back and stayed in the
valley.
DEU 5:4-5:
"The Lord spoke to you face to face at the mountain
from the midst of the fire, {while} I was standing between the
Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the Lord; for
you were afraid because of the fire and did not go up the mountain. They
requested that God not speak to them again but appoint a man to go up
the mountain, hear His voice and come and tell Israel what God said.
This is also a popular concept today but will not produce a kingdom of
priests and a holy nation.
DEU 5:27 'Go near and hear all that the
Lord our God says; then speak to us all that the Lord our God will speak
to you, and we will hear and do {it.}' God presented His plan which
the people rejected. Then the people presented their own plan and God
accepted it. However, Israel never fulfilled God's desire to become a
kingdom of priests etc.
Still, God wanted to dwell among His people. For that reason God gave
Israel the pattern for the Tabernacle and all the requirements to
sanctify a place for His presence.
EXO 25:8-9
"And let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them.
According to
all that I am going to show you, {as} the pattern of the tabernacle and
the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall construct {it.}
This truth has various fulfillments under the New Covenant. Each of us
personally are designed to become a temple of God for the dwelling of
God in the Spirit. The church is also the corporate dwelling place of
God. The Tabernacle of God is the final fulfillment and the reality of
all others. The tabernacle of Moses was constructed in three parts.
The Outer Court, the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. The Tabernacle
of God also has three places. The New Earth, the New Heaven and the New
Jerusalem. The Ark of God was in the Most Holy Place and the throne of
God is in the New Jerusalem. Man also has three parts. He has an outer
court, the body. A holy place, the soul and the most holy place, where
God dwells, the spirit. All three need to be sanctified and set apart
for God and His purpose.
1TH 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself
sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be
preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
While the whole tabernacle of Moses was the general dwelling place of
God, the exact dwelling place was in the Most Holy Place above the ark
of the covenant and between the two Cherubim.
EXO 25:22 "And there I
will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two
cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you
about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel.
God speaks from the Most Holy Place. Those who only visited the outer
court did not hear the voice of God.
There are hundreds of details in the construction of the Tabernacle.
Each one is important to our understanding of God's eternal purpose but
too involved for this study. We will just develop the more obvious
truths.
The Tabernacle was completely closed in by a curtain around the whole
perimeter with the exception of a gate. The Tabernacle was about 150
feet long and about 75 feet wide, while the gate was about 30 feet
wide. There was only one way into the Tabernacle and that was through
the Gate. Everything in the Tabernacle speaks of Jesus Christ. He is
the Way to the Father and the only Way. Unless we approach through
Jesus Christ there is no access. The gate closed says stay out, do not
trespass. However, the gate will open to provide access to all who meet
the requirements.
Our access through the Gate is by repentance. This means to change our
mind and change our direction. It means to turn and face God and at the
same time turning from sin. Those who acknowledge their error and turn
to Jesus Christ for forgiveness and set their face to please God have
open access through the Gate, which is Christ. However, repentance and
forgiveness are two different things. Repentance is on our part and is
initiated by us. Forgiveness is on God's part and has been provided by
Him through the blood of Jesus Christ. Repentance, like the gate,
provides access to the altar. This corresponds with Israel crying out
to God in Egypt. Forgiveness is provided through the sacrifice of God's
Lamb, Jesus Christ, on Calvary. This corresponds to the passover lamb
in Egypt. This takes place at the altar of bronze, which is the first
piece of furniture in the outer court. The altar speaks to us of
Calvary.
LEV 1:3 'If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall
offer it, a male without defect; he shall offer it at the doorway of the
tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the Lord. LEV 1:4 'And
he shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, that it may be
accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf. LEV 1:5 'And he shall
slay the young bull before the Lord; and Aaron's sons, the priests,
shall offer up the blood and sprinkle the blood around on the altar that
is at the doorway of the tent of meeting.
All the various offerings speak of Jesus Christ and His all inclusive
sacrifice on Calvary. It required many sacrifices in the Tabernacle
just to give us some insight into the tremendous provision God has made
for us at Calvary. Each sacrifice speaks of a different aspect of the
provision of Calvary. The sacrifices certainly speak of more than
forgiveness of sins.
Under the Old Covenant they brought bulls, heifers, goats, sheep and
birds along with various grain offerings and drink offerings but each
was a shadow of the reality of Calvary. Each of these sacrifices and
offerings looked forward to Jesus Christ and Calvary. None of these
sacrifices was able to take away sin or cleanse the conscience. That
was reserved for the blood of Christ alone.
HEB 9:6 Now when these
things have been thus prepared, the priests are continually entering the
outer tabernacle, performing the divine worship, HEB 9:7 but into the
second only the high priest {enters}, once a year, not without {taking}
blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people
committed in ignorance. HEB 9:8 The Holy Spirit {is} signifying this,
that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed, while the
outer tabernacle is still standing, HEB 9:9 which {is} a symbol for the
present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which
cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, HEB 9:10 since they
{relate} only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for
the body imposed until a time of reformation. HEB 9:11 But when Christ
appeared {as} a high priest of the good things to come, {He entered}
through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands,
that is to say, not of this creation; HEB 9:12 and not through the blood
of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy
place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. HEB 9:13 For if
the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those
who have been defiled, sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, HEB 9:14
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit
offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from
dead works to serve the living God? HEB 10:4 For it is impossible for
the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
HEB 9:22 And according to the Law, {one may} almost {say}, all things
are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no
forgiveness.
LEV 1:5 'And he shall slay the young bull before the
Lord; and Aaron's sons, the priests, shall offer up the blood and
sprinkle the blood around on the altar that is at the doorway of the
tent of meeting.
Many more scriptures could be used but this gives us a clear picture of
the sacrifice and the blood of Calvary through which we have forgiveness
of our sins by faith and much more.
The shadow of the altar defines for us our approach to Calvary. The
one who came for atonement of sins had to bring an offering with him.
He had to identify himself with the sacrifice that was going to die in
his place. He laid his hands upon the head of the sacrifice to identify
his life with it's death. The sentence of death was upon the sinner but
God permitted them to bring a substitutionary sacrifice to die in their
place. God had ordained that the soul that sins shall surely die. For
every sin there had to be a death take place. God permitted Israel to
bring an animal to die in their place. It was Jesus Christ that died in
our place at Calvary. The blood of bulls and goats could not take away
sin. It required a sinless and blameless man to die and shed His blood
to take away sins.
1CO 15:21 For since by a man {came} death, by a man also {came} the
resurrection of the dead. 1CO 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in
Christ all shall be made alive.
ROM 5:12 Therefore, just as through
one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death
spread to all men, because all sinned--
Since by man sin and death entered into this world, it must also be by
man that forgiveness and reconciliation be provided. However, it must
be by a sinless and blameless man who was not born into this world
through the first Adam because all who were born of him were already
sinners. The only solution was for the Word of God to become man and
die for the sins of the whole world. He would have to live on this
earth sinless and blameless, without spot or disobedience until the time
of His offering Himself as the substitutionary sacrifice for all of
mankind, that exercised faith. This is the reality of Calvary.
Each of us who want forgiveness of sins, must personally identify with
Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on their behalf. We must, in effect, lay
our hands upon Jesus and identify our life with His death knowing by
faith that He died in our place. The sentence of death was upon us but
He took our place. His blood was shed for all of mankind but we must
appropriate it for our sins personally by faith. Without His blood
there is no forgiveness.
Now, the rest of the Tabernacle speaks of going on with God to fulfill
His eternal purpose. God has not just called us to be "saved" but to be
a kingdom of priests and a holy nation and a people for God's own
possession. He not only wants to dwell with us, He wants us to hear His
voice, keep His Covenant and obey His voice. Under the Old Covenant,
eleven of the tribes of Israel could go no further than the altar and
forgiveness of sins. Only the tribe of Levi could participate in next
provisions of the Tabernacle. They were the priests and Levites that
served in the Tabernacle. Once again God has called each one of us to
be kings and priests to Him.
REV 1:6 and He has made us {to be} a kingdom, priests to His God and
Father; to Him {be} the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
REV 5:10 "And Thou hast made them {to be} a kingdom and priests to our
God; and they will reign upon the earth."
REV 20:6 Blessed and holy is
the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second
death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and
will reign with Him for a thousand years.
1PE 2:9 But you are a chosen
race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for {God's} own
possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called
you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Now, if we see how the sons of Aaron were consecrated to become
priests, we will see how God has called us. First they stepped up
between the altar and the laver and removed their normal clothes. This
speaks to us of laying aside our former manner of life. Our garments
speak of our covering. These earthly garments are like fig leaves in
the garden. They don't hide our nakedness in the presence of God.
God's plan is for us to be clothed with Christ or to put on Christ as a
garment.
After removing the garments, they stepped up to the laver and they were
washed all over.
EXO 40:12 "Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to
the doorway of the tent of meeting and wash them with water. EXO 40:13
"And you shall put the holy garments on Aaron and anoint him and
consecrate him, that he may minister as a priest to Me. EXO 40:14 "And
you shall bring his sons and put tunics on them; EXO 40:15 and you shall
anoint them even as you have anointed their father, that they may
minister as priests to Me; and their anointing shall qualify them for a
perpetual priesthood throughout their generations. Aaron was the High
priest and also had to be washed all over with the water, the same as
his sons. Jesus Christ is our High Priest and He also went to the
Jordan to be baptized by John. John didn't want to do it but Jesus said
he must permit it because He had to fulfill all righteousness.
MAT 3:14
But John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by
You, and do You come to me?" MAT 3:15 But Jesus answering said to him,
"Permit {it} at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to
fulfill all righteousness."
Then he *permitted Him. Baptism is
required in order to participate in the eternal purpose of God.
LUK 7:28 "I say to you, among those born of women, there is no one greater
than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than
he." LUK 7:29 And when all the people and the tax-gatherers heard
{this,} they acknowledged God's justice, having been baptized with the
baptism of John. LUK 7:30 But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected
God's purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John. This
may seem like a very small thing to reject John's baptism but God
evaluated it as a pivotal experience. Our great High Priest treated
John's baptism as righteousness fulfilled. In the same way, all His
sons who are to be priests must also be baptized and put on the garments
of God.
GAL 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed
yourselves with Christ. The Amplified Bible says " For all of you who
have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ as a garment". There
are also the garments of salvation, the garments of praise and the
garments of righteousness. This corresponds with the Red Sea baptism
and the songs of Moses and Miriam. The authority over Israel changed
following the Red Sea. Of course, these garments all speak of Christ.
Our baptism precedes the garments.
When all the garments, including the bonnet, were put on, the next
preparation of the priest was the anointing. The priest stepped up
between the laver and the doorway of the sanctuary. Then they brought
out the horn of anointing oil and poured it upon the bonnet.
PSA 133:2
It is like the precious oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard,
{Even} Aaron's beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes. PSA 133:3
It is like the dew of Hermon, Coming down upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the Lord commanded the blessing-- life forever. It was this
anointing that qualified the priest to minister to the Lord.
EXO 40:15
and you shall anoint them even as you have anointed their father, that
they may minister as priests to Me; and their anointing shall qualify
them for a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations. "
This anointing speaks to us of the BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. This
corresponds with the Mt. Sinai experience and the Feast of the Fiftieth
Day. Baptism speaks of an immersion from the top of the head down to
the feet. When Aaron was anointed with the oil it flowed from the top
of the head down to the feet.
Jesus is our High Priest and He also had to have this anointing in
order to qualify as our High Priest.
MAT 3:16 And after being baptized,
Jesus went up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were
opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, {and} coming
upon Him, MAT 3:17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, "This
is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased."
ACT 10:38 "{You know
of} Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and
with power, and {how} He went about doing good, and healing all who were
oppressed by the devil; for God was with Him.
LUK 4:18 "The Spirit of
the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the
poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery
of sight to the blind, To set free those who are downtrodden, LUK 4:19
To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord. " LUK 4:20 And He closed the
book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of
all in the synagogue were fixed upon Him. LUK 4:21 And He began to say
to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of the anointing. It
is this anointing that qualifies us to minister as priests to the Lord.
Of course, in the same way that the Levites ministered to the people
without the anointing, some today insist that is acceptable to God
also. It is true that the Levites, who did not have the anointing, did
many things in the Tabernacle and were valuable to support the priests
but they could not enter into the Holy Place to minister to the Lord, to
burn incense, trim the lampstand or participate in the shewbread. This
was reserved for Aaron and his sons.
2CH 29:11 "My sons, do not be
negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him, to
minister to Him, and to be His ministers and burn incense."
1JO 2:27 And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him
abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His
anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie,
and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. The New Covenant
promises us that we will not have need of men to teach us for we shall
all be taught of God. It is that anointing that teaches us.
Jesus said JOH 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will
send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your
remembrance all that I said to you. The Holy Spirit, who is the
anointing, will teach us all things. Some have searched for a better
way, but God's way is by the anointing.
Jesus would not permit His disciples to minister in any way until they
had received the anointing. They had to wait until the fourth feast,
the feast of Pentecost, to be clothed with power on high. That was the
garment they needed for the anointing oil. It should be obvious that
all who speak in tongues are not manifesting the power of God and the
full anointing.
Some invite Jesus Christ to come and dwell in them as Savior. Some
receive both Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, along with His gifts.
Some also receive the Father.
JOH 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him,
"If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him,
and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him. When the Father,
Son and Holy Spirit come to make their abode with us and in us, the
reality of the Tabernacle is fulfilled in us, for this time period. The
requirement is to love Jesus and keep His word.
The outer court experiences are the foundation for fulfilling this reality.
HEB 6:1 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us
press
on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead
works and of faith toward God, HEB 6:2 of instruction about baptisms,
and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and eternal
judgment. HEB 6:3 And this we shall do, if God permits. These are the
foundations that first must be laid in our lives before God will permit
us to go on to the reality. Repentance, faith toward God, baptism in
water and the baptism of the Holy Spirit are just the foundations. If
we have experienced these, we still need to go on to maturity or to the
reality of fulfillment. The foundations are not designed as our
dwelling place but are necessary for the proper building structure (the
sanctuary ) where we are to dwell.
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