The Tabernacle

Foreshadows Christ and Salvation and

God’s eternal covenant.
(Hebrews 8)
 The Tabernacle

It was a portable place of worship used by the Israelites in the

wilderness, from the time of the Judges to 10th century BC.
 The Tabernacle with God’s Shekhina
glory

Picture with permission of the Temple Institute, Jerusalem

The Tabernacle or ‘Mishkan’ means ‘tent of meeting’.
It represents the ‘Shekhina’ or indwelling presence of God.

God’s glory filled the tabernacle. A cloud covered it by day and

a fire by night. (Exodus 40:34, 38; Numbers 9:15)
 The Perimeter Fence and the
Gate

The tabernacle was a place of protection or hiding place

(Psalm 27:5)
Jesus is the Gate (John 10:7) and the
‘narrow way.’ (Matthew 7:13)
 The Coverings and curtains

3 layers: badger skins on the top represent lowliness, the

pilgrim aspect of the church
rams skins dyed red represent the blood of the Lamb
(Jesus)
fine linen represents holiness/purity decorated with
blue, purple and scarlet tapestry.
 The Tabernacle –with roof removed

A rectangular structure with a perimeter fence of

fabric, poles and staked cords facing East.
Two sections separated by a veil: The Holy Place
The Most Holy Place
 The Curtains

The curtains were made of goat hair = sin offering

dyed blue= heavens/perfection
purple= royalty
scarlet= blood
 The 7 branched Lampstand
‘Menorah’

It was decorated
with almond buds
which mean
‘watch’/ ‘be
ready’
(Jeremiah 1:11-12)
Stood on the left (South). Hammered out of one
piece of gold.
Light shining from the alphabet on the menorah
onto the stones on the High Priest’s shoulders
would spell out an oracle or decision.
Jesus is the ‘Light of the World’
 The table with the
Showbread

A gold overlaid table stood on the right (North).

Each Sabbath 2 piles of 6 loaves were placed on it as an offering.
(These represent the 12 tribes of Israel.
Jesus is the ‘Bread of Life’ (John 6:35)
 The Laver

The laver was a huge bronze basin on a bronze base.

It was used by the priests for washing their hands and feet
before they offered the sacrifice/ritual cleansing.

Jesus is the ‘Living Water’ (John 4)

 The Altar of the Burnt
Offering

Used for burning

the
sacrificial lambs,
bulls and goats.
Symbolic of the
sacrifice
of Jesus on the
cross
Made of acacia wood overlaid with bronze.
It had 4 horns at its corners and a bronze grating.
Rings at the sides were for holding it on poles.
 The Altar of Incense
Used for
burning incense
each morning
and evening.
Symbol of
prayer.
(Revelation 5:8),
inviting the
sweet presence
The altar of incense was made of acacia wood
of the and
Lord.
it had 4 horns, all overlaid with pure gold.
I had 2 rings on each side so that it could be
carried on poles, also made of acacia wood and
overlaid with gold.
 The Ark of the
Covenant
Stood in the Holy of
Holies.

Made of pure gold

symbolising the
divine/purity/excellence

Symbolises God’s
presence with His
people
The Cheribim - overshadowing protection under God’s and
wings-represent the
fullness of the Holy Spirit
His atonement
The Mercy Seat - God’s Judgement seat- eternalandcovenant.
propitiation
Hebrews 9:5, Romans 3:25
GRACE through the blood sacrifice of His Son, JESUS.
 The Ark: Contents

The 2 Stone Tablets of the Law with the 10 Commandments (Exodus 5)

Aaron’s rod, which budded – symbol of authority (Numbers 17:8)
Jar of Manna : Jesus is the fresh Bread (John 6:32-35 )
These were to serve as a reminder of the covenant.
 The Veil
This separated the Holy Place from the Holy of
Holies.

Once a year on the Day of Atonement the High Priest went

through into the Most Holy Place after making the sacrifices
and burning incense. (Leviticus 16)
When Jesus died on the cross the veil in the Temple was torn
in two making the way open to us to enter His presence.
(Matthew 27:51)
 The High Priest

8 garments were worn all year round: an ephod or apron, breastplate,

robe, embroidered coat, mitre, girdle, plate and linen breeches.

On the Day of Atonement he wore 4 white linen garments: a robe,

breeches, girdle and mitre- symbolising purity
 Golden chains and hooks attached this to the
ephod.

4 rows of 3 stones represent the 12 tribes of Israel:

sardius, topaz, carbuncle
emerald, sapphire, diamond
ligure, agate, amethyst
beryl, onyx, jasper.
An onyx stone on each shoulder: the Urim and Thummin
used to determine God’s will as the light shone on them.
 Jesus is our Great High Priest
He is the mediator of the New Covenant
(Hebrews 8 and 9)

‘He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not
man-made.’ (9:11) and ‘ entered the Most Holy Place once for all though
His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption’ (9:12b)
 The Temple
built by King Solomon

Picture with permission of the Temple Institute, Jerusalem

The Ark was brought by King David to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6)

and the Temple was constructed by his son, Solomon, on the same pattern as
the Tabernacle according to God’s commandments.
(1 Kings 6-9)
 The Temple construction (1 Kings
5-7) - model

The walls of each room were panelled with cedar and carved with flowers, palm leaves
and cheribim and overlaid with gold.
Sacrifices were made in the courtyard outside.
Only the priests and Levites were allowed inside the building.
The Temple was where God’s presence
was:
His eyes and His heart.

Isaiah had a vision of the Lord seated on the throne, His train filled the
temple and He was surrounded by cheribim.
(Isaiah 6:1-7)
He was awe struck with God’s holiness and his own unworthiness.
 The Second Temple (Zerubbabel’s
Temple)
was built after the Exile.
King Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to
Jerusalem in 538 BC and gave back all the
gold and silver objects taken by the
Babylonians.

It was not completed in 515 BC because of

opposition and discouragement.

It was similar to Solomon’s temple, but not

so splendid.
 Herod’s Temple
It was built between 19 BC and 9 AD

It was 2x higher than Solomon’s Temple and

covered with gold so that it was a dazzling sight.
 Herod’s Temple

It had an outer Gentile Court, which anyone could enter, a Women’s Court, Court of
Israel and Priests Court.
 Herod’s Temple
was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70

Painting by Francesco Hayez

The ‘Kotel’ (Western Wall) is all that
remains of Herod’s Temple:

This is the focal point where Jews in Israel have

been able to pray and celebrate the Feasts Since
the re-unification of Jerusalem in 1967.
 Synagogue
construction followed the plan of the original
Tabernacle and temples in Jerusalem

At its front an ark, aron kodesh, containing the Torah scrolls is

comparable to the Ark of the Covenant This is the holiest spot in a
synagogue, equivalent to the Holy of Holies.
A candelabrum ‘ner tamid,’ similar to the original Menorah burns
constantly.
At the center is a large elevated area, known as the ‘bimah’ where
the Torah is read, equivalent to the altars in the Tabernacle on
which incense and animal sacrifices were offered.
 Christians no longer need to build
temples.
We are temples of the Holy Spirit

Jesus said that the Holy Spirit does not live in temple made with
hands, but He dwells in us.
‘Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy
Spirit.’ (1 Corinthians 6:19)
 The Third Temple

Ezekiel was given a vision of perfect Millennial Temple

(Ezekiel 41-43) with the same attributes as the
Tabernacle, but far superior.
Temple Time Line
 The New Jerusalem
Will come down from heaven

‘…now God’s dwelling place is with men..’

( Revelation 21:3)
‘God Almighty and the Lamb are its Temple’
(Revelation 21:22)