Exodus 26:31-33
“And thou shalt make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made: And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver. And thou shalt hang up the veil under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the veil the ark of the testimony: and the veil shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.” (Exodus 26:31-33)
The word translated veil means a separation or a divider. It was curtain which divided the tabernacle into two separate rooms, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies. It was woven on the same pattern or a very similar one to what was used in making the inner covering of the tabernacle.
Four posts or pillars were to be made to support it. They were to be placed under the joint between the two separate tarps to support the roof as well. By making them slightly longer than the boards of the wall, they would also raise the roof enough to cause water to drain off and reduce the tendency for the roof to pull the walls in. The pillars were to be placed on silver sockets similar to what supported the wall, overlain with gold and supplied with gold hooks to support the veil.
Again the wood of the pillars represents Christ’s humanity, the gold his deity and the silver his purity. Revelation 19:8 tells us “for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” The blue depicts his heavenly nature, the purple his royalty, and the scarlet his sacrifice. The only way into the Holy of Holies was through the veil, figuratively through Christ, and only the high priest was permitted to pass through the veil and only on the Day of Atonement.
When Solomon built the Temple, it was modeled on the Tabernacle but somewhat more involved. Later Esra rebuilt the temple using the same design again and it was rebuilt again in Herod’s day. The veil dividing the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies was utilized each time. Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, and Luke 23:45 all record that the veil was rent when Christ was crucified. Hebrews 9:7-8 explains it’s importance. “But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:”.
By keeping the Law, the people could postpone sentencing for their sin, but never eliminate it. When Christ died, he removed the sin and opened the door for everyone to come directly to the throne of God. Both the Old Testament saints and we are saved by faith in his sacrifice for us. They just had to wait until he came to receive it. The tearing of the veil portrays that Salvation was now accessible to everyone. The Jews promptly sewed it back together.
Furniture Arrangement
Exodus 26:34-35
“And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place. And thou shalt set the table without the veil, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.” (Exodus 26:34-35)
The Ark of the Covenant with the Mercy seat on it was to be placed as the only piece of furniture in the Holy of Holies. With the mercy seat representing the Judgment throne of God, the Holy of Holies represents heaven.
The Holy Place or front room represents the place called “Abrahams bosom” in Luke 16:22, the place where the saints waited until Christ was crucified. I don’t want to trivialize it, yet in some ways, it was almost like a waiting room, with buffet table to provide food for those who waited. When Christ tore the veil away, there was no longer a need for the waiting room.
The Table of Show bread was to be placed on the right or north side of the Tabernacle as you entered with the Golden Candle stick on the left or South side. Straight ahead was the Altar of Incense, which will be described later, just in front of the veil.
The Door
Exodus 26:36-37
“And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework. And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.” (Exodus 26:36-37)
The doorway of the tabernacle was to be covered with a linen curtain or tapestry similar to the veil, but no description of the pattern is given. It was to be embellished with embroidery or needle work. Five pillars were to be made to support the door hanging and front edge of the Tabernacle. By making them slightly higher than the walls, they would provide additional drainage. These pillars were to be covered with gold, with gold hooks, but the sockets the set in were to be of brass rather than silver.
In John 10:9, Jesus said, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved…” The only entrance to the Tabernacle was through this door, and as said in John 14:6, “…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Jesus is represented by the door in all the same ways the veil represented him except that the brass sockets represent judgment.
“And thou shalt make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made: And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver. And thou shalt hang up the veil under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the veil the ark of the testimony: and the veil shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.” (Exodus 26:31-33)
The word translated veil means a separation or a divider. It was curtain which divided the tabernacle into two separate rooms, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies. It was woven on the same pattern or a very similar one to what was used in making the inner covering of the tabernacle.
Four posts or pillars were to be made to support it. They were to be placed under the joint between the two separate tarps to support the roof as well. By making them slightly longer than the boards of the wall, they would also raise the roof enough to cause water to drain off and reduce the tendency for the roof to pull the walls in. The pillars were to be placed on silver sockets similar to what supported the wall, overlain with gold and supplied with gold hooks to support the veil.
Again the wood of the pillars represents Christ’s humanity, the gold his deity and the silver his purity. Revelation 19:8 tells us “for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” The blue depicts his heavenly nature, the purple his royalty, and the scarlet his sacrifice. The only way into the Holy of Holies was through the veil, figuratively through Christ, and only the high priest was permitted to pass through the veil and only on the Day of Atonement.
When Solomon built the Temple, it was modeled on the Tabernacle but somewhat more involved. Later Esra rebuilt the temple using the same design again and it was rebuilt again in Herod’s day. The veil dividing the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies was utilized each time. Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, and Luke 23:45 all record that the veil was rent when Christ was crucified. Hebrews 9:7-8 explains it’s importance. “But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:”.
By keeping the Law, the people could postpone sentencing for their sin, but never eliminate it. When Christ died, he removed the sin and opened the door for everyone to come directly to the throne of God. Both the Old Testament saints and we are saved by faith in his sacrifice for us. They just had to wait until he came to receive it. The tearing of the veil portrays that Salvation was now accessible to everyone. The Jews promptly sewed it back together.
Furniture Arrangement
Exodus 26:34-35
“And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place. And thou shalt set the table without the veil, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.” (Exodus 26:34-35)
The Ark of the Covenant with the Mercy seat on it was to be placed as the only piece of furniture in the Holy of Holies. With the mercy seat representing the Judgment throne of God, the Holy of Holies represents heaven.
The Holy Place or front room represents the place called “Abrahams bosom” in Luke 16:22, the place where the saints waited until Christ was crucified. I don’t want to trivialize it, yet in some ways, it was almost like a waiting room, with buffet table to provide food for those who waited. When Christ tore the veil away, there was no longer a need for the waiting room.
The Table of Show bread was to be placed on the right or north side of the Tabernacle as you entered with the Golden Candle stick on the left or South side. Straight ahead was the Altar of Incense, which will be described later, just in front of the veil.
The Door
Exodus 26:36-37
“And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework. And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.” (Exodus 26:36-37)
The doorway of the tabernacle was to be covered with a linen curtain or tapestry similar to the veil, but no description of the pattern is given. It was to be embellished with embroidery or needle work. Five pillars were to be made to support the door hanging and front edge of the Tabernacle. By making them slightly higher than the walls, they would provide additional drainage. These pillars were to be covered with gold, with gold hooks, but the sockets the set in were to be of brass rather than silver.
In John 10:9, Jesus said, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved…” The only entrance to the Tabernacle was through this door, and as said in John 14:6, “…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Jesus is represented by the door in all the same ways the veil represented him except that the brass sockets represent judgment.
That was a very enlightening article.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I have been very familiar with the construction of the Tabernacle for many years, this is the first time I see the real spiritual meaning with its details.
Thanks for posting.
Thanks, Frank.
ReplyDeleteMany Christians have been taught that the Old Testament teachings are irrelevant to us but as I study, I become increasingly aware that the Old Testament was all written to help both us and the Jews understand God's plan. The illustrations help us understand many things the New Testament teaches. Glad your enjoying it.
I have met a fair number of Christians who were clueless about the "waiting room" as you called it, or Abraham's bosom; when mentioned they seem dubious. Though this teaching should hardly interfere with fellowship, I think it is important for Christians to understand that before Christ came in the flesh sin was covered by the shadow (the law and animal sacrifice) but taken away in Him. You put it succinctly. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteSo many have not understood that God's plan was made before the foundation of the world and has never been changed. As a result they believe salvation depended on different things at different times. The Tabernacle is just the earthly illustration of the spiritual reality.
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