Aurel Gheorghe

After spending 400 years in pagan Egypt, God’s people needed a picture lesson in the plan of salvation, thus He instructed Moses to build a tabernacle. 

The tabernacle consisted of three areas: the Courtyard, the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place – which represent the three steps in the process of salvation: justification, sanctification, and glorification. 

There is only one door to enter the Courtyard: Jesus is the door. The altar of burnt offerings where animals were sacrificed was located just inside the courtyard entrance - it represents the Cross. The animal represents Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice.

Between the altar and the entrance to the sanctuary was the laver. Here priests washed their hands and feet before offering a sacrifice or entering the sanctuary. The water represents cleansing from sin and the new birth.

In the Holy Place, there is a table of shewbread – it represents Jesus, the bread of life. The seven-branch candlestick also represents Jesus, the light of the world, while the oil represents the Holy Spirit. The altar of incense represents the prayers of God’s people. 

Between the Holy Place and Most Holy Place, there is a veil representing Christ. The moment Christ died on the cross, the veil tore top to bottom, symbolizing the death of the Lamb of God, which now allows the believer access to the Most Holy Place through the Christ High Priest the only Mediator between man and God.

In the Most Holy Place, there is only one piece of furniture, the Ark of the Covenant, which contains the two tables of stone on which God's finger wrote the Ten Commandments. Above them, the mercy seat symbolizes God’s mercy extended to those who repent of their sins (the blood of the animal sprinkled on the seat represented Jesus’ blood that would be shed to bring us forgiveness of sin).

December 05 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

I have read some articles on its symbolism, and one thing is clear, believing that later the Temple would replace the Tabernacle:

Jesus’ body is the curtain ripped in two that brings us to the holy presence of God.

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh....” (Heb. 10:19-20). (See also Matthew 27:51: “the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.”) Justin Taylor

Agreeing with Aurel Gheorghe who answered my question, too: "There was only one entrance to the enclosure and therefore only one way to get to the altar of God. When God puts up a fence and assigns the way in, nobody has the authority to question it or change it. Jesus claimed to be the only door (John 10:9) and the only way to God (John 14:6), which explains why Peter said,

“‘Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.’” (Acts 4:12 NKJV)

In today’s pluralistic society, many people like to think that every way is acceptable to God, but that attitude leads to death (Prov. 14:12; 16:25; Matt. 7:13-27).

The Wiersbe Bible Commentary

December 12 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report