A number of years ago I did a study on the tabernacle from the book of Exodus. I went as far as constructing the outside and inside furniture as well as the tabernacle itself 1/4” to the foot. This gave three dimensional visual aid to the subject matter discussed. I’m sorry we can’t do that here, but I do have some old sketches I’ve drawn, that I will include in the teaching.

I don’t know of a more beautiful study of the Messiah allegorically expressed as is revealed in the second book of the Old Covenant: Exodus (out of or way out). This study has united the Old and New Covenants into one truth for me.

Exodus speaks of many wonders: God’s mercy in redeeming His people, grace, the end of the period of grace and commencement of the dispensation of law, the Passover, and of course the tabernacle!

The History

The tabernacle was a tent for God to “dwell in” amidst His people. Today we are members of that tabernacle, we are His people and God dwells within us. The tabernacle, as was the law, given to show the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man. The tabernacle was given to show Israel the only approach to God was through a high priest and by the sacrifice and bloodshed of a lamb without spot or blemish. Today as well as then, we must have a high priest to mediate between God and man. We must also bring a sacrifice, and blood must be shed from a lamb without spot or blemish! This Priest, created after the order of Melchisedek, is of course our Master the Messiah. The book of Hebrews tells us He will hold this office indefinitely.

The Blood

We must first understand the significance of the blood. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Hebrews 9:22

It dates back to the time Yahweh God had to shed blood in the garden of Eden to cover the shame and nakedness of man under sin, with animal skins; and will probably be the only remission throughout the ages! Of course, all sacrifices up to the time of Messiah’s crucifixion were merely allegorical and whenever the blood is mentioned after the crucifixion, it is His blood that is referred to! Through the blood we have:

• forgiveness of sins Matthew 26:28
• justification Romans 5:9
• sanctification Hebrews 13:12
• cleansing 1 John 1:7
• peace Colossians 1:20
• nearness to God Ephesians 2:13
• eternal inheritance Hebrews 9:14-15
• and finally victory Revelation 12:11

The Pillar Cloud or Pillar of fire

It was a visible expression of the invisible God. Speaks of Messiah, the Word became flesh and dwelled among us.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.

John 1:14

It was like a large umbrella by day giving shade in the hot desert. At night it was a pillar of fire lighting up the whole encampment and giving warmth on cold nights. When the Pillar Cloud moved from one locale to another, the entire camp moved. Speaks of the Holy Spirit.

The Court and its Wall

The wall of the court encompassed the Tabernacle and the outside furniture. It was 150 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 7 1/2 feet high. It was made of fine twined linen laying against brass pillars, resting on brass sockets and supported by silver hooks, rods, and chapiters. Brass speaks of judgement, silver, the redemptive work of Messiah and the white linen, the righteousness of Almighty God. In short: the righteousness of God keeping man out! Note: the outer court was 1500 square feet and the law lasted for 1500 years!

The Gate and Two Veils

The Gate was at the east wall of the court. It was 37 feet wide, hanging from four pillars, made of fine twined linen dyed blue, purple, and scarlet. Blue is a heavenly color, purple royalty and scarlet a blood color. There were two doors or veils to the Tabernacle. An outer Veil which opened from the Court into the Holy Place, and an inner Veil which opened from the Holy Place into the Most Holy or Holy of Holies. Both of these Veils were of fine twined linen and had the same three colors as the gate.

This, of course, speaks of Christ as the Way, the Truth and the Life. The Way to salvation through the Gate to the Brass Altar (the crucifixion of the Sacrificial Lamb), the Truth through the first Veil about Messiah being the Bread of Life (represented by the Table of Shewbread), the Light of the World (represented by the Golden Lampstand) and Christ the Intercessor (represented by the Golden Altar sending sweet incense upward towards God Almighty). The Life through the second Veil leading into the Holy of Holies where there was one piece of furniture: the Ark of the Covenant with the solid Gold Mercy Seat. This is where Yahweh God met Moses and the High Priest once a year.

The Tabernacle Coverings

The Tabernacle as a whole speaks of Christ as He dwelt among men. For it is written: “the logos (word) became flesh and tabernacled among us, full of grace and truth.” The Tabernacle had four primary coverings, we will handle them from the outside in.

First was badgerskin which speaks of the uncomeliness of Messiah.

Isaiah wrote:

For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or comeliness that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Isaiah 53:2-3

Second was rams skin dyed red. Speaks of Christ’s sacrifice.

Third was white goat’s hair woven. Speaks of Christ’s righteousness.

Fourth and last was fine twined linen dyed blue, purple and scarlet. The true characteristics of Messiah manifest together.

The Boards and Bars

The Boards made up the siding of the Tabernacle. There were 48 of them in all, 20 on each side and two on each corner. They were cut from acacia wood, 15 feet long and 2 1/4 feet wide. They were overlaid with gold, bound with four Bars on the outside and one Bar running through the heart of every Board binding them all together.

The Boards speak of Christians. We said we are members of Christ, God's Tabernacle. As the acacia tree, we were once rooted into the ways of the world, but by the grace of God, and our trust in Him as well as Messiah, we have been severed as the tree was. Now this leaves the tree to be trimmed and fitted, just as we must be trimmed of our worldly ways and fitted into God's ways. After the Board was shaped to proper size, it was not set again upon the earth, but rested upon sockets of silver. Silver always speaks of the redemptive work of Messiah and we rest on His work. As members of the Body of Christ, we await perfection, just as the Boards wait to be overlaid with gold.

The outer four Bars that bind the Boards together speak of Doctrine, Communion, Fellowship and Prayer. The Bar that ran through the heart of each Board speaks of the Holy Spirit in each believer's life.

The Furniture

The outside furniture consisted of a Brass Altar and a Brass Laver. The Brass Altar was just inside the gate of the court. It was 7 1/2 feet square, made of acacia overlaid with brass. It had four brass horns, one at each corner. It was kept burning at all times. This is where Aaron and his sons met the guilty Israelite. The Israelite put his hand on the head of the lamb then slit its throat and it was accepted as an atonement for his sins. Altar means high place, Brass is always symbolic for divine judgement, arising smoke speaks of resurrection, together speaks of the crucifixion and resurrection of Messiah making atonement for our sins.

The inside furniture in the Holy Place consisted of a Golden Lampstand made of pure gold which speaks of Christ as the Light of the World, the Table of Shewbread made of acacia overlaid with gold showing the humanity as well as the divinity of Messiah and the Golden Altar also made of acacia overlaid with gold. On the Altar was burning Incense which speaks of Christ the Intercessor.

Inside the Most Holy Place was one piece of furniture, the Ark of the Covenant. It too was acacia overlaid with gold, within was Aaron's budding rod, a jar of manna and the two tablets or Tables of the Covenant. Speaks of Christ the treasure chest which contains all the wisdom and knowledge of God. On top of the Ark was the Mercy Seat made of pure gold. This speaks of God's throne where He met the High Priest Aaron once a year.