Introduction to the TABERNACLE
Text: Exodus 25:8; Psalm 77:13; Hebrews 8:2
o The tabernacle portrays many things about God, including many types of Christ, such
as His work of salvation represented in the sacrificial acts. It shows a type of worship
of the saved in the church today.
o It is the first habitation that God ever caused to be built for Him.
o The tabernacle is a type of the church and of Heaven. A “shadow of Heavenly
things”(Heb 8:5). The part of the Tabernacle called the “Holy Place” is a type of the
church, the part called the “Holy of Holies” is a type of Heaven, and the “Courtyard” is
a type of the Kingdom of Heaven.
o The tribe of Levi supported the daily operation of the Tabernacle, with the priesthood
handling all the sacrifices in the courtyard. Only the high priest could enter into the
“Holy of Holies”(Num 8:14-26).
o All of the sacrificial offerings brought to the Tabernacle pointed to the sacrifice of
Christ on the cross(Heb 10:14).
Materials:
To the casual observer, it was just a skin covered tent with a wall of snow white linen around it. You could not tell from the outside what it was made up of:
o Over two thousand four hundred pounds of gold.
o Over eight thousand pounds of silver.
o Over eight thousand pounds of brass.
o The best fabrics, cloth of blue, purple, scarlet, and hundreds of yards of the finest
twined linen ever spun.
o The finest lumber was hewn and sawed.
o Goats hair and animal skins were prepared and finished to perfection.
o The most expensive studded gems, oil for light, sweet spices, anointing oil, and
incense.
o Cords for the brass pins were made ready.
o This structure was worth more than one and one half million dollars.
o It was built by a people transit from Egyptian slavery who were camped in the
wilderness, at the foot of Mt. Sinai. It was built to be portable and was moved many
times.
o Outside the courtyard wall, thousands of people were encamped. The Tabernacle with
the pillar shaped cloud above was the center of attraction.
o It was used for about 500 years, until the Temple was built, 1 Kings 8:1-11.
How it came to be:
Exodus 24:12, 18; 25:1, 8-9; 31:1, 18- Idea and plan came from God. During the forty days and nights Moses spent on the mountain, he received not only the tablets with commandments of God, but also the Divine instructions for the construction of the tabernacle.
Tabernacle statements of facts:
1. Where God met, dwelt, and revealed Himself to His people,
Exodus 25:8, 22; 29:42-46.
Today He does this through His Churches, Matt 16:18; John 14:18-26; 2 Cor 6:16-18;
Eph 3:21.
2. The place where God spoke to His people, Exodus 29:42.
Did speak to His people while He was here, Hebrews 1:2; Acts 1:2-3.
Continues to speak today, Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22.
3. The place where God accepted offerings, Lev 1:1-4. The animal was the sacrifice for
the person’s sins (atonement).
Today we are acceptable through Jesus, through His grace, Eph 1:6; 2:8-9;
Rom 5:8-10.
Then we are acceptable through service, Rom 12:1-2; 14:17-18; 1 Tim 2:1-4;
1 Peter 2:20.
4. The place where God forgave the sins of the people, Lev 4:20, 26; 6:7(even trespass
sins against each other).
Our sin nature is forgiven through Jesus, Eph 1:7; Mark 2:10.
The Church is to practice forgiveness, Eph 4:32; Matt 6:14-15; John 20:23(eternal
consequences); 2 Cor 2:6-7(Church can’t hold forgiveness ransom).
5. The place where God received gifts, Exodus 23:15(none shall appear before Me
empty); 28:38(hallow in all their holy gifts).
Now Jesus receives these through His Churches, Heb 7:8; 13:15-16.
Why Teach From the Tabernacle?
I. Its place in Scripture:
A. 2 Timothy 3:16-17- The study will be profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
B. John 5:39, 46- With this study we can better know the “all things” of God.
II. Its picture to the present:
Hebrews 9:9- The Tabernacle is a “figure” (likeness) of the present.
A. Hebrews 3:1-6- Moses’s house (Tabernacle) was a picture of Christ’s house (Church).
B. 1 Cor 10:6, 11- The Old Testament (including the teachings of the Tabernacle) is to be our example for today.
III. Its Use as a dictionary to the New Testament:
A. The Tabernacle helps give meaning to our study of the New Testament.
B. The book of Hebrews is an example, how the contrast of the tabernacle to Jesus
and the Church gives us a better understanding of the New Testament,
Hebrews 3:5-6; 5:1, 5; 8:1-2; 9:11.
IV. Its order of building:
A. Several times God ordered Moses to build it according to the pattern shown to him while he was on Mt. Sinai, Exodus
25:9, 40; 26:30; 27:8; Acts 7:44; Numbers 8:4; Hebrews 8:5.
B. No human invention (thinking we can improve what God has already shown us)
was allowed, Isaiah 55:8-9; Proverbs 3:5; 16:25.
C. Its pattern was to represent the things of Heaven and of the future Church,
Hebrews 3:5; 9:23-24; Acts 7:37-38.
V. Its teaching was used by Christ:
A. Luke 24:27, 45- Jesus used the Old testament (including the Tabernacle) to help
show Himself. To help our understanding of what He has done for us and what it
means.
VI. Its study spotlights Christ as worthy:
A. Christ is worthy of more glory than the house He built (the Church) in His earthly ministry, and the Tabernacle built by
Moses, Heb 3:1-6. Matt 16:18- He built His Church, and died for it.
Acts 7:37-38- Everything pointing to Jesus, Who was to come.
Ex 25:8- His place to meet with His people.
Heb 8:1-2- He is our High Priest forever.
John 17:4- what more could He have done or given?
Eph 2:20-22- the building (Church made up of us “stones”) has Jesus as the corner stone, the central piece, the foundation.
VII. Its prophetic study shows us what Heaven will be like:
A. Rev 13:6; 15:5; 21:3- Everything about the Tabernacle had a purpose in regards to
showing how Heaven was going to be. A picture or model of Heaven.
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