LESSON 17 The Tabernacles (Part II)

 LESSON 17

The Tabernacles (Part II)

The Shadow of New Testament Truths

Bible Portion: Heb. 9

Memory Verse: Heb. 10:1

the very image of the things can never with these same sacrifices, For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.

Introduction

What is the importance of the Tabernacle for us? Let us consider the truths found in the institution of the Tabernacle.

1. Represents Jesus Christ: Just as Christ is depicted all throughout the Old Testament in different ways, so also, through the Tabernacle, God reveals His Son Jesus Christ.

a. The Tabernacle was the place where God and man met together. Only through Jesus Christ can man approach God and meet with Him. "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me," said Jesus Christ (John 14:6).

b. Just as God made His abode in the Tabernacle. He lived in Jesus Christ. "In Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9). All those who came in contact with Jesus could see the glory of God, which dwell in Him (2 Pet. 1:16-17).

C. The Tabernacle was constructed according to God's plan, as shown to Moses on the mountain. The physical body of Jesus Christ was planned by God before the ages through the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit(Luke 1:35; Isa. 7:14; 9:6)

d.

Although the Tabernacle was unattractive externally, its interior was beautiful and filled with the glory of God (Exo. 40:34). In the same way, Jesus had neither form nor comeliness nor beauty to be desired but was marvelously glorious internally (Isa. 53: 2-3)

2. Represents the Church (1 Tim 3:15): The Church, which is the body of Christ, is the holy temple of God where He dwells now (Matt. 18:20; 1 Cor. 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16; Heb. 8:9; 9:9; 1 Peter 2:5-6; Eph. 2:21-22). God does not dwell in temples made by human hands (Acts 7:48; 17:24). On the other hand, he dwells in the Church, His Temple. The cornerstone of this Temple is Christ. The Holy Spirit is building the church with living stones, the believers who receive life through Jesus Christ. As the Tabernacle was built by craftsmen filled with the Spirit of God, the church is now being constructed by spirit-filled servants.

3. Represents every Believer:

Believers are temples of God (1 Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19). Just as the Tabernacle had three sections. Courtyard, Holy Place, and Most Holy Place, a man also has three constituents - body, soul, and spirit (1 Thes. 5:23). The Glory of God dwelt on the Throne of Grace in the Most Holy Place. Similarly, God establishes His Throne inside the believer. As the glory of God descended on the Tabernacle, believers were filled with His glory. Just as the three parts of the Tabernacle are linked together in worship, so also the body, that the Tabernacle should be kept holy. Similarly, a believer must keep the soul and spirit of a believer are all involved in worship. God commanded

himself holy in all aspects.

4. Represents three ages:

a. The Courtyard of the Tabernacle is where sacrifices are offered. It points to the Old Testament age in which rituals, sacrifices, and offerings were part of worship.

b. The Holy Place represents the church (New Testament) age. The golden candlestick, the table of showbread, and the altar of incense are placed here. Believers are called to shine forth as lights, filled with the Holy Spirit, partaking of the Lord's Table and offering the incense of prayers and praise (1 Pet. 2:5-9).

c. The Most Holy Place points towards the golden age that is to come in the future. As its length, breadth, and height are equal, the dimension of the New Jerusalem is equal (Rev. 21:10-16). It is illuminated by the glory of God, and there is no need for any lamps, neither the sun nor the moon to provide light in the place (Rev. 21:23; 22:5)

5. Represents earth, heavens, and Heaven of Heaven: Jesus Christ came to this world and offered Himself as a sacrifice of atonement. He ascended across the heavens and entered into the presence of the Father with His own blood (Heb. 9:11-12; 4:14). The Court of Tabernacle stands for this earth where Christ offered Himself, the Holy Place stands for the heavens (sky and the planetary formations) and the Most Holy Place stands for the Heaven of heavens where Throne of God is

established (Heb. 9:23-24).

Thus, we see that the Tabernacle represents Christ, the Church, the individual believer, the three periods of time, and the whole universe comprising of earth, heavens, and the heaven of heavens. In the next few chapters, we shall study how the articles in the Tabernacle and its various rituals of worship stand as pointers to New Testament truths. Let us realize our responsibilities and the position as New Testament believers to which we are called and dedicate ourselves to the presence of God as His true worshipers.

Questions

1. Which are the various subjects that are represented by the Tabernacle?

2. Prove that the Tabernacle is a shadow of Christ.

3. In which Temple does God dwell now?

4. Show how the three sections of the Tabernacle represent three periods of time.

5. How are the earth, the heavens, and the heaven of heavens represented by the three sections of the Tabernacle?

6. How does the Tabernacle represent a believer?