The Tabernacle of Moses served as a mobile sanctuary, a temporary abode to represent and teach God’s truth after the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt, and during their wanderings before reaching the Promised Land. It was implemented because of the lack of faith in God, regardless of the signs and wonders that God manifested before their very eyes, indicating that man is driven by the desires of the flesh (carnality) through the five senses as opposed to the invisible spirit that is meant to guide man. The Tabernacle’s design and operation point the way to God the Father through Jesus Christ, therefore God told Moses to make the Tabernacle and everything in it exactly like he had seen it in heaven.
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Exodus 25:40
And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.
The inanimate structure consisted of a large court surrounding a tent known as the Tabernacle placed on the western half of the courtyard, with a bronze altar and a bronze laver (basin) placed on the eastern half of the courtyard with the altar nearer to the only gate of the perimeter on the east side. Obedience was required from the priests for God to manifest His presence within and without the Tabernacle. Essentially, God made it “alive” by His presence and response according to conformance or non-conformance of His instructed rituals and laws, for posterity to understand the spiritual significance of physical events and outcomes based on God’s character and purpose. Non-conformance of the Tabernacle’s design would deviate from God’s plan of the truth, so there was no room for error. The Tabernacle was a foreshadowing of God’s desire to live amongst His people.
2 Corinthians 6:16
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people
Following the plans and preparations made by David, the Tabernacle was succeeded by the Temple in Jerusalem which was elaborate, permanent and static, built by his son Solomon. The earlier sanctuary of Israel was a modest tent where God made His presence known, conveyed His will, and where animal sacrifices and rituals were performed to atone for sins, as a foreshadow of Jesus Christ, adhering to the fact that without the shedding of blood, there can be no forgiveness of sin.
Hebrews 9:22
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
There was no one to stand in the gap between God and man to atone for sin, therefore the entire Tabernacle complex was specified by God to symbolically point the way forward to the way, the truth, and the life of man’s reconciliation with God until the faith in Jesus Christ would come. His people rejected Jesus Who came in the flesh with signs and wonders, therefore, God sought other people who would believe in Jesus Christ through His disciples, and the majority who did not believe in Him were forsaken in 70 AD, represented by the trodding of the grapes of the vine in Isaiah 63. The vineyard in scripture symbolises Israel, just as the fig tree symbolises spiritual leaders who failed to bring blessings to the people of Israel, and because no man could be found to bridge the gap between God and man, God came down Himself in the flesh to bring salvation to those that believe.
Isaiah 63:2-5
2 Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?
3 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.
4 For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.
5 And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.
Isaiah 64:1
Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,
The eventual and true succession of the Tabernacle and Temple was, in reality, that of the body of Jesus Christ, Who rend the heavens, followed by His believers (church) because God does not live in buildings, but rather, in people who have faith in Him.
John 2:19-21
19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
1 Corinthians 6:19
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
The Courtyard
The courtyard enclosed by white linen hangings on the perimeter fence symbolised the body or flesh of Jesus Christ and later on, of man, and perhaps also symbolises the body of Christ (all believers) if one considers each post as symbolising a man, and the unity that comes with the white linen hangings connecting the posts. It contained the brazen altar of sacrifice for burnt offerings as one entered from the sole gate of the complex, which was on the eastern side where the “sun rises with healing in its wings”. The gate east of the Tabernacle is symbolic of the garden of Eden which was eastward in Eden (Kingdom of Heaven) where the Tree of Life (Christ) was, as is the east gate in Solomon’s temple where Jesus entered for the last time before He was detained and crucified.
Malachi 4:2
But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Genesis 2:8-9
8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
The real sun rises in the east to bring light and life to the physical world. Symbolically in scripture, the “sun” often refers to leaders such as the father of a family, the king of a country, a priest, etc, whereas the “sun with healing in its wings” symbolises Jesus the son of God who came to proclaim God’s Word, to deliver, and to heal His people from the effects of sin, which is why He entered the eastern gate in Solomon’s Temple for the last time, riding on a donkey before His crucifixion. The east gate was blocked as Jesus has fulfilled that scripture and will never again enter through the east gate in the flesh. It was Jesus’s life that was the light for those who believe, i.e. Jesus’s (the Word) life is mankind’s light (knowledge) to know and to be reconciled to the Father for salvation.
Ezekiel 44:1-2
1 Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut.
2 Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut.
The sun is also symbolic of Jesus Who shines divine light (knowledge) on the moon (church, bride) to reflect God’s light to its people who live in darkness (lack of knowledge). The lack of understanding of God and His ways brings forth sin in mankind which requires forgiveness of sins for reconciliation with a holy God.
John 1:4-5
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Further westward, between the altar and the Tabernacle, stood the laver holding water used by the priests for ritual ablutions. Moving even further westwards from the laver, was the Tabernacle itself.
The linen hangings for the courtyard enclosure or perimeter were raised off the ground by posts with bronze bases (sockets), with hooks and pegs of silver to hold up the posts on either side. At the top of the posts were silver caps symbolic of the price of redemption required on mankind’s head. The silver hooks, and pegs which secured the posts from collapsing also symbolized the redemption required by man, for which Jesus paid the price. Ironically, Judas paid 30 silver coins for the capture of Jesus but the money belonged to Jesus’s ministry, though the true price was paid when Jesus laid down His life out of free will for humanity. The linen hangings were white representing righteousness and perhaps the shroud wrapped around Jesus for His burial. The bronze bases touching the ground represented judgment due to sin which Jesus took upon Himself on behalf of mankind.
The Courtyard Entrance
The entrance to the courtyard comprised 4 pillars holding up the linen hangings embroidered in blue, purple, and crimson. The 4 pillars at the entrance symbolize the start of our walk to physical and spiritual completeness when we become disciples of Jesus based on the 4 gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, as the pillars of the church whereby believers come to know the person and the work of Jesus Christ who came to bring grace and truth, not the law that came through Moses.
John 1:14-17
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
The white linen of the entrance hangings or curtains represents righteousness, as do people dressed in white linen in scripture, the embroidery of blue represents the spirit or heaven, purple represents priestly authority or royalty as kings wore purple attire, and crimson represents blood for atonement. The colours of the entrance gate represent that we enter with thanksgiving because of the blood of Jesus (crimson) Who redeemed us because He is our High Priest, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords (purple), and also because of the work of the Holy Spirit in Jesus (blue). It is appropriate that the colour blue mixed with the colour crimson, results in the colour purple, signifying that the Holy Spirit (blue) in the flesh and blood body of Christ Jesus (crimson) is the anointing that empowered Jesus Christ as king/priest (purple), Who was adorned with a purple robe before He was crucified as a propitiation for our sins. Jesus was the last Adam, a quickening (life-giving) spirit, as opposed to an earthly man like the first man Adam.
1 Corinthian 15:50
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Considering the above, we could then also say that Jesus was the one Who manifested heaven in earth as per His prayer because He came down rending (tearing apart or opening) the heavens as per Isaiah 64:1 below.
Matthew 6:10
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Isaiah 64:1
Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,
The colours in the sanctuary were prophetic of the person of Jesus Christ, and the work of the Holy Spirit, as they were placed at every entrance of the sanctuary, and on the inner layer of the roof of the Tabernacle to remind us of the work of Jesus throughout our walk as we grow in Christianity. The Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit in heaven bear witness of the Son. The blood, water, and Spirit on earth also bear witness of the Son, as follows:
- The Spirit of God points to His transforming work in our lives.
- Blood points to the remission of past sins and the forgiveness of present and future sins.
- Water points to the Word of God washing, renewing, and cleansing us from sin in the inner man to conform us to the image of Jesus, the Word made flesh.
1 John 5:6-8
6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life
Jesus’s life is the only way based on truth to a righteous life by faith, not by the works of the law, for only through Him can anyone approach and reconcile with God the Father Who has subjected all things to Christ. Jesus was the only one who could stand in the gap between God and man by fulfilling all righteousness, and taking away our sins by His death on the cross, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father interceding for anyone who believes. The point is that no man can fulfil all righteousness regardless of how hard he tries, and therefore, only God can stand in the gap and thus had to appear from heaven and humble Himself unto the likeness of man to fulfil the law so that we can receive the Holy Spirit that renews our hearts through love, and love fulfils the law for love does no harm. Mankind now fulfils the law by the power of the Spirit Who sheds love in our hearts and not by the letter of the law. We therefore learn to love because the Holy Spirit sheds love in our hearts.
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Matthew 3:15
And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
Romans 5:5
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
The gate on the eastern side of the courtyard perimeter symbolizes the door by which “the Way” to salvation and life is entered as we approach the bronze altar and the bronze laver before reaching the Tabernacle.
John 10:9
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
The first element we see is the brazen altar where they sacrificed animals for the remission of sins. Jesus was the last sacrifice, and the only way to salvation is by accepting His sacrifice for our sins, as we realise and acknowledge that Jesus is “the Truth” given to us through the faith that God instils in the believer by grace, whether through a miracle, the Word, or the changed life of someone close. Bronze represents the judgement we deserve but Jesus took on all judgment for our sin.
Continuing “the Way”, we then approach the bronze Laver, where the priests washed their hands and feet to enter the Tabernacle or serve at the brazen altar. Washing their hands was in obedience, but I believe it also helped them to keep a “good” conscience for service to God. This represents the new birth where we are water-baptised and regenerated in spirit when we receive the Holy Spirit, which is why Jesus said, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”, referring to entering the Tabernacle in the Old Testament, and to the real Kingdom of God that is within the believer in the New Testament. I believe, however, that the water referred to in John 3:5 below refers to the washing of the water of the Word, which cleanses our mind from our worldly belief system. The water in the laver therefore represents both the keeping of a good conscience and the water of the Word of God to renew our minds where we start to understand or see “the Truth” and become desirous of “the Life” in Christ Jesus through the scriptures.
John 3:3-5
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Ephesians 5:26
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
When we continue on “the Way” and enter through the second entrance, consisting of 5 pillars and the embroidered linen hangings, into the Holy Place, we start to serve God in spirit and “the Truth” presumably through the five pillars of the epistles of Peter, Paul, John, Jude, and James, who preached the message of grace, also represented by the 5 pillars. Here we have entered the Kingdom of God as we are born again by the spirit at the laver and are concerned with our service to God through testimony, prayer, and fellowship, represented respectively by the candlestick (menorah), showbread, and altar of incense. It is here where we truly grow in our relationship with God and learn to die to self-will as we walk with God in this “New Life” where “the Truth” becomes endemic in our lives.
Finally, we enter through the veil, torn or taken away by Jesus Christ, with the four pillars representing physical and spiritual completeness, however, the regeneration of mind and body only comes when Jesus reappears to the believer/s the second time for salvation. This means that we are always in the process of salvation, and complete salvation is only truly complete when Jesus reappears the second time.
Hebrews 9:28
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Phillipians 3:20-21
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
1 Peter 1:7-9
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
We enter “the Life” that God has planned for us in this world, however, to be fully effective in service to God, His people, and His purpose in our lives we must have died to self-will or the flesh. Those who do not meet the requirements will struggle in ministry as their flesh will be a stumbling block to their congregants and themselves.
Galatians 2:19-21
19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
The Brazen Altar
The brazen altar for sacrifice was the first element encountered after entering the courtyard and was made of bronze representing judgment. This is where they made sacrifices to atone for sin and where the ashes were left at the foot of the altar in a bronze jar, representing judgment, and were covered in purple cloth when travelling. Jesus was the final sacrifice to atone for sin for all people, and all time, and wore a purple robe just before His death.
Numbers 4:13
And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon:
We must acknowledge that Jesus is the truth given to us through the faith that God instils in the believer by grace, whether through a miracle, the Word, or the changed life of someone close. Bronze represents the judgement we deserve but Jesus took on all judgment for our sin. John 12:32 says that Jesus “drew all men to Himself” but I believe that the word should be “judgment“, not “men“, which is in italics, denoting that the word was not included in the scripture. We know that not all men have been drawn to Jesus but all judgment was. We can see this from the previous line (verse 31 in John 12:31-32) that refers to judgment. The question we must ask is, “Did Jesus not take the judgment for all unto Himself?”. The answer is, yes! If Jesus had drawn all men unto Himself there would be none in hell, or going to hell, from that time forward. Many will say that every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, and thus no one will go to hell! True, every knee will bow, and every tongue confesses that Jesus is Lord because even the devil does that.
John 12:31-32
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
James 2:19
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
The Lord gave us beauty for ashes through His sacrifice as the propitiation for mankind’s sin. This was represented by the purple robe they placed on Jesus when they placed a crown of thorns on Him, which probably turned the robe into scarlet when blood flowed from His head or from the lashes He received beforehand. This may explain why Mark and John saw a purple robe but Matthew saw a scarlet robe, i.e. John and Mark may have been there earlier and saw them adorn Jesus with the purple robe before the blood mingled with the robe, whereas Matthew may have come later and saw a scarlet robe. Alternatively, it may have been that Matthew saw it from a different angle where there was a shadow and it appeared different. We often make the same mistakes with colours depending on angles and shadows.
Matthew 27:28
And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
John 19:5
Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!
Mark 15:17
And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,
When Jesus died the temple veil split in two and opened the way to the Father for all who believe, and the oblation was no longer necessary, but God allowed a 40-year trial period for His people Israel to turn to Him, just as He did with Moses. Those who believed avoided the tribulation from the Roman soldiers because they abided in Christ as they kept the oil (Holy Spirit) burning (praying), those who did not abide in Christ died in 70 AD or were taken captive as they did not keep the oil burning, as symbolised by the 10 virgins in Matthew 25. This was the end of the old Jewish world or religion, with the new living way being introduced to the entire world of Jews and Gentiles, even though it had already started after Jesus died, however, the cut-off date to believe or “burn”, so to speak, was in 70 AD, or before if one was trapped in Israel when the Romans started to invade cities. Many believe that Hebrews 1:10-12 below is about the end of the world, however, it relates to the end of the Jewish world which waxes old and shall be changed, or should I say the end of the Old Covenant to introduce the New Testament and is therefore linked to Hebrews 8:13 below.
Hebrews 1:10-12
10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
Hebrews 8:13
In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
The brazen altar had 4 horns representing power or strength and salvation to all the corners of the earth, i.e. north, east, south, and west, meaning that it is for everyone regardless of gender, nationality, race, or culture. Holding onto a horn of the altar could save one from the penalty of death but was not guaranteed as experienced by Joab, David’s army chief. The Sea of Solomon, a large round container for washing, that replaced the laver, also had 12 bulls holding up the sea, and 3 bulls pointed in each of the 4 directions of north, south, east, and west.
The Laver
The laver was the next element after the brazen altar of sacrifice, also made of bronze representing judgment, and was used to wash the priests’ hands and feet before they served in the temple. The bloody hands from animal sacrifices would mix with water cleansing them for service to God. This reminds us of the spear thrust into Jesus’s side when blood and water rushed out before He died and gave up His spirit. With Jesus, we are cleansed by His blood and the water of the Word and are therefore acceptable to God.
The laver is a foreshadowing of our water baptism in Christ where our sins are buried with Christ and we are raised to new life by the Holy Spirit. The Laver therefore symbolises the resurrection from a sinful life into a new life signifying a good conscience towards God and man. We must first receive Jesus Who died for our sins, and only then can we be filled with the Spirit (water is also a metaphor for spirit) Who assists us in understanding the Word of God. We come to the Laver defiled, washed by the water of the Word and made clean through a clear conscience in baptism and a renewed mind by the Word of God. We have a constant and endless stream of water available to purify the soul of the believer, only then can we be ready for service to God, which is why Jesus said that His Words are spirit and life.
Ephesians 5:25-27
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
John 6:63
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
The Tabernacle
The Tabernacle (tent, not courtyard) structure itself represents the soul of man and the interior was divided into two rooms where the north, south, and west walls were made from wooden frames overlaid in gold, with 5 bars overlaid in gold to secure the frames for each of the walls. Wood represents the frailty or carnality in the soul and thus needs renewal to the divine nature represented by the overlaying of gold. The soul itself is indestructible represented by a very durable wood, but its character can be corruptible due to sin. The two rooms were the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies). At the east entrance were the 5 pillars with embroidered hangings, and at a distance of 20 cubits into the Holy Place were the 4 pillars with their embroidered hangings, called the veil, which separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.
Exodus 36:34
And he overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold to be places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.
The Tabernacle (entire tent) with its two rooms was 30 cubits long, 10 cubits wide, and 10 cubits high, i.e. cuboid in shape. From the entrance of the Holy Place on the east side to the veil was 20 cubits, making the Holy Place 20 cubits long, 10 cubits wide, and 10 cubits high, also cuboid in shape. This leaves the balance for the Most Holy Place 10 cubits in length, width, and height, forming a cube. A cube is known in geometry as a perfect shape and represents stability, and in scripture, it represents the spirit or the subconscious. This is also seen in Revelation 21-2 when the Holy city “new Jerusalem” comes from heaven as a cube, symbolic of the Holy Spirit ushering in the “city” of spiritual believers in Christ. It is not a physical city, but rather, the bride of Christ, i.e. the believers who are born again and thus have the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Revelation 21:2
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Revelation 21:15-16
15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
The Tabernacle symbolises man’s soul but is divided into two aspects, the conscious and the subconscious. The subconscious is also known as the spirit. The two rooms symbolise these two aspects, where the Holy Place is the conscious soul and the Most Holy Place is the subconscious soul, as follows:
- The conscious soul (Holy Place) needs renewing from carnality to the divine nature by the Word of God (see Romans 12:2), represented by the wooden framed structure overlaid in gold. This is where the priests provide service to God and their people which involves physical rituals and abiding by the law. Today we enter the Kingdom of God by faith based on God’s grace. The conscious soul includes:
- the conscious mind
- the will
- and emotions
- The subconscious soul (Most Holy Place) also needs renewing as mentioned above due to its wooden framed structure overlaid in gold, it includes:
- The subconscious mind (spirit of the mind), which is part of man’s heart, and is represented by the box of the Ark and is affected by the mercy seat which are the things of God breathed into man at birth and renewed at the born-again experience. The Word of God terms the subconscious mind as the “spirit of the mind” which needs renewing to the divine nature as depicted by the wooden Ark overlaid in gold (see Ephesians 4:23). The Ark contained the laws, the rod of Aaron that budded, and the pot of manna. The latter two were lost reflecting man’s hardness of heart through disbelief in God’s authority and provision, and the law tablets that remained in the Ark represent man trying to be like God through laws instead of the spirit by faith.
- The Spirit of God in man is represented by the mercy seat above the box or chest of the Ark, i.e. God appeared and spoke amid the mercy seat and the cherubs whose wings overshadowed the mercy seat. The things of God are placed in our subconscious mind at birth and at the born-again experience but God leaves certain aspects of our carnal nature in our subconscious mind to train us in overcoming certain obstacles in our lives, just like God left some enemies in the land of Israel to test and train the Israelites for battle after Joshua died, i.e. to grow in faith we need to be challenged, see Judges 3:1-4. Our experiences from the conscious soul (mind, will, and emotions) affect our subconscious mind and thus our subconscious mind gets corrupt if we allow our will to deviate from God’s ways, which is why our subconscious mind (spirit of the mind) needs to put on the new man as per Ephesians 4:23. I remember that when I became born again, I lost the desire for many things that I had enjoyed in the world but never lost my propensity to become angry when I perceived/assumed that people did something wrong, and I knew I had to learn to overcome this by putting on the new man. The Most Holy Place therefore includes man’s heart comprising of the subconscious mind (the box of the Ark below) and God’s presence (the mercy seat above the Ark) to influence us positively, however it is also influenced by our conscious soul represented by the staves of the Ark touching the veil. We know when we sleep at night, our concious mind is transferred to our subconscious mind through REM sleep. In other words, the Ark of the Covenant represents man’s heart with the mercy seat and the conscious soul (mind, will, and emotions) influencing our hearts.
Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Ephesians 4:23
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
The communication between the Holy Place (conscious soul) and the Most Holy Place (subconscious soul) is symbolised by the staves (poles) of the Ark of the Covenant touching the veil from within the Most Holy Place. A bulge of the staves could be seen from the Holy Place on the veil.
1 Kings 8:8
And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day.
It is important not to mistake the elements or items in the Holy Place for the conscious soul. Instead, they represent the services rendered based on the relationship with God by the conscious soul, symbolized by the cuboid room. Conversely, in the cubed room of the Most Holy Place, which represents the subconscious soul, the items symbolize the spirit, whether divine or human. This is because the subconscious soul, the inner man, does not offer conscious services through ritual but is founded only on a relationship with God in spirit and truth, meaning that only abstract (spiritual) issues are dealt with as the blood of Jesus has been sprinkled in the true heavenly tabernacle, which was not made of hands, once and for all.
- The Holy Place consists of the following:
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- The cuboid structure of the Holy Place symbolizes the conscious soul which includes the conscious mind, will, and emotions.
- The table of showbread and the altar of incense, both crafted from wood and overlaid with gold, carry symbolic meanings. Wood represents human frailty or carnality, while gold signifies the transformation of the conscious mind, will, and emotions towards a divine nature, ultimately rendering selfless service to God and His followers.
- Pure gold elements, such as the candelabrum (Menorah), symbolize God’s Word as the light of the world. Its composition, devoid of wood, signifies that God’s Word is pure and reliable, needing no enhancement or renewal. The Word should remain unaltered by human interpretation; instead, it requires study in spirit and truth for accurate dissemination. The Holy Spirit aids in comprehending the Word, imparting it from the Most Holy Place to our conscious minds, enlivening the Word as we study and articulate it.
2. The Most Holy Place consists of the following:
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- The perfect cubed walls symbolise the subconscious soul and within are items/elements representing the spirit of the mind and the spirit of God in man. Any subconscious aspect, whether of God or man is also known as spirit.
- The gold-covered wooden chest or box of the Ark of the Covenant symbolizes the spirit of the mind in humans (the subconscious mind), which is part of the subconscious soul and an aspect of the human heart which needs renewing to the divine nature. It is from the subconscious mind that we receive dreams based on personal beliefs, desires or fears. The wood represents our human nature, which requires transformation into the divine nature, as symbolized by the gold overlay. The connection from the subconscious mind to the conscious soul of man is represented by the gold-covered staves on the sides of the Ark touching the veil. The subconscious mind is changeable (corruptible) due to man’s beliefs and behaviours from the conscious mind, will, and emotions. Here, man reacts to situations based on what is in the subconscious mind. To renew our subconscious mind (spirit of the mind) we must study the Word in our conscious mind (in the Holy Place) and act thereon, where over time our reaction to situations changes from old habits to new habits. Faith in Jesus and what He did is what removes guilt from our hearts after we confess sin. Lack of faith will keep us in carnality and maintain continued condemnation due to sin, even after asking for forgiveness, meaning that we are operating purely by our carnality in the conscious and subconscious soul for the heart is deceitful in every way.
- The pure gold mercy seat with the overshadowing cherubim symbolises the spirit that God breathed in man and is upon the wooden chest or box of the Ark of the Covenant. This is where God appears; between the mercy seat and the overshadowing wings of the cherubim; and is the source of our dreams, visions, intuition, and fellowship from God. It is this connection with God (between mercy seat and box beneath) that was pure before the fall of man because there was no sin and no law in the subconscious mind of man, i.e. man was filling His conscious and subconscious mind with God’s ways, not carnal ways until they decided they could know good from evil. After the fall, guilt became a problem in the conscious and subconscious mind and man struggled to approach God, but today, Jesus forgives sins and we can come to God boldly without hesitation. The wings of the cherubim cover the believer’s sin from guilt and condemnation when we confess the sin that we committed based on the law sealed in the box (subconscious mind/heart) below it. The pure gold represents that it is incorruptible and unchangeable. I believe the cherubim over the mercy seat represents the grace and seal of the Holy Spirit over the believer’s heart and convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment.
The Holy Place and the Most Holy Place became one room when Jesus tore the veil, reconciling man to God so that we can consciously interact with God in boldness in the subconscious aspects of man (Most Holy Place). This restores man to the same position when God breathed into man and became a living soul, implying that there was no veil at the time of man’s creation which separated the conscious (Holy Place) from the unconscious (Most Holy Place), i.e. man spoke/heard God freely. In other words, the spirit that God breathed into man forms part of the soul symbolised by the same wooden frames upholding the Tabernacle from the first entrance in the Holy Place to the western wall at the back in the Most Holy Place. The boards were made from an extremely durable wood; Shittim wood from Acacia trees, symbolising the indestructible nature of the soul and spirit, though the soul can be corrupted through deceit and sin. Trees and wood represent man and the carnal nature and the overlaying gold represents the transformation to the divine nature.
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The boards were held together by five bars, from top to bottom, symbolising unity and grace, and the middle bar which spanned from end to end through the centre of the boards in each wall is perhaps that of Jesus being our main bond and strength as an anchor for our soul. Note that the middle bar went in through the board as opposed to outside the boards, representing Christ in us as an anchor for our souls and the hope of glory.
Hebrews 6:19
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
Also, the 5 pieces of linen sewn together and embroidered with blue, purple, crimson and cherubs, spanned across the roof of the Tabernacle as a covering for our souls and may represnt the 5-fold ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Perhaps the 3 sets of skins above the embroidered linen represent those who came before the church, such as:
- The patriarchs.
- Moses and the law.
- The prophets of old up to John the Baptist.
Perhaps, the Tabernacle boards forming the walls could also symbolise the unity of souls in the body of Christ, just as the perimeter posts symbolise the flesh of the body of Christ. After all, the Tabernacle was also called the “Tabernacle or tent of congregation”.
Exodus 31:7
The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle,
The fact that a woman (church or bride of Christ) did the embroidery may represent that the church is meant to cover believers with the word to change our hearts through faith until we come to the fullness of the stature of Christ.
Ephesians 4:10
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
The Holy Place
The first entrance to the Tabernacle was from the east past the laver (water basin) into The Holy Place, where on the north side was the table with the Bread of the Presence (showbread), on the west side next to the veil was the altar of incense, and on the south side was the seven-branched candelabrum (menorah). The veil separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies), but the staves of the Ark of the Covenant could be seen as slight bulges on the veil. This represented that the subconscious mind (spirit of the mind), represented by the wooden Ark covered in gold, has contact with the conscious soul. For example, the still small voice we hear is symbolised by the Ark communicating an issue through the staves touching the veil. The issue could be a conscience issue, a word from God, or a conviction from God.
The Holy Place had no windows depicting the deep darkness in the soul, the only light came from the menorah which shone continuously, representing the Word of God that gives light (knowledge) to the world. The entrance was made from embroidered hangings from five pillars, which probably represented grace and the 5 pillars of the message of grace, i.e. to enter God’s presence is to be in God’s grace and mercy. It had the same colours as the sanctuary entrance and represented a similar situation, albeit into the Holy Place, whose frames stood on silver bases representing redemption of the soul.
In the Holy Place, we continue to renew our minds and induce the renewal of the spirit of our minds through action, until we come to the knowledge of God by casting down imaginations until we conform to the obedience of God. In other words, in the time of Moses, their disobedience and lack of faith forced God’s hand into giving them laws to follow so that they could fulfil their own righteousness instead of God’s righteousness. Many Christians today still follow this ignorance of establishing their own righteousness instead of God’s, as do all religions of the world.
Romans 10:3
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
The Tabernacle and the laws served as an alternative means for God to guide His people due to their unbelief, signifying a rejection of God. Aware that no man could fulfil all the laws, God permitted them to attempt to prove themselves until they recognized their need for divine assistance. Therefore the tabernacle and the laws served to tutor them in the things of God until faith would come through Jesus Christ so that they could be justified.
Galatians 3:24
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Even though God faced rejection through disbelief, He still bestowed grace upon Israel, albeit in a more arduous manner through the Tabernacle’s rituals and laws, to facilitate their understanding of Him and His ways. It appears that human beings need to experience challenges before submitting to truth, which is why God tests people. I also hold that this manifestation of God’s grace was to enable them to demonstrate their capabilities and prevent their destruction by their adversaries, representing Satan. I believe God indicated this when He told Moses to get away from them so that He could destroy them.
Numbers 14:11-12
11 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?
12 I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.
The Most Holy Place
The Most Holy Place, representing the subconscious soul, is referred to in scripture as the “inner man” by Paul in Ephesians 3:16 below. It was the most sacred area of the Tabernacle and was only accessible through the veil from the Holy Place and had no windows. The veil was also embroidered in blue, purple, and crimson with cherubs and was held up by 4 pillars which also signified physical and spiritual completeness. The cherubs are symbolic of the cherubs guarding the way to the Garden of Eden. Dying to self is the only way to enter through prayer, communion and being a light to the world, and I believe that is what Enoch did to be translated when God took him.
I say the inner man is the subconscious soul of man because that is from where rivers of living water flow from our belly spoken by Jesus. Rivers of living water symbolise the anointing from the Holy Spirit that resides in our belly when we’re born again by the spirit. The Old Testament links this but refers to our “innermost parts” being in the belly as per Proverb 18:8 below. Paul also refers to the inner man, as opposed to the innermost parts, but I believe they are the same thing for the heart of spiritual man is in the belly, represented by the Most Holy Place. See Ephesians 3:16 below.
John 7:38
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Proverbs 18:8
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Ephesians 3:16
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
We also see this in Ezekiel’s temple where water flows eastward from the threshold of the temple. The water gets deeper as we walk along touching the ground. It eventually becomes a river that cannot be crossed as it takes us freely once the ground is out of reach. This represents that the more we have our feet in the ground, the more we are in control of our own lives, but as soon as our feet cannot touch the ground, the Holy Spirit then takes control of our lives and the anointing flows freely.
Ezekiel 47:1-6
1 Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.
2 Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.
3 And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles.
4 Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins.
5 Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.
6 And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river.
The Most Holy Place could only be entered by the high priest once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) to sprinkle sacrificial animal blood. By this act, the most important of the year, the high priest atoned for his sins, those of the priesthood, and the people.
Leviticus 16:14-16
14 And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.
15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:
16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.
The Most Holy Place was the innermost room and was located at the west end of the Tabernacle after the Holy Place and housed the Ark of the Covenant, a symbol of Israel’s special relationship with God. It also housed the golden censer that belonged to the high priest. Before the veil, at the entrance to the Most Holy Place, stood the altar of incense overlaid with gold.
God appeared to the high priest once a year on the day of Atonement enthroned on the mercy seat; a lid of solid gold resting on the Ark of the Covenant, panelled together with solid gold cherubs, one at each end. The Ark was a wooden chest covered in gold and contained the tablets of the Ten Commandments, the rod of Aaron that budded, and the Pot of Manna. The wooden chest is symbolic of the subconscious mind (spirit of the mind) or part of the heart of man being connected symbolically from the subconscious mind or spirit of the mind (in the Most Holy Place) to the conscious soul (Holy Place) through the wooden staves by touching the veil separating both rooms. The slight bulge seen in the Holy Place represents the subtilty of listening to the subconscious mind (spirit of the mind) by the conscious mind.
There were no windows in the Most Holy Place representing that God lives in deep darkness for He is the light of the World and needs no one to give Him advice.
The Tabernacle Cover
The first cover of the Tabernacle which could be seen from inside the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place was an embroidered sheet of linen split into 5 equal pieces and was 28 cubits long, 2 cubits short of the 30 cubit tabernacle length. This may have represented a shortcoming of the requirements of the needed church for fulfilling God’s will through the law. There were 2 sets of 5 white linen curtains sewn together and held by 50 golden clasps. One set with embroidered blue, purple, and crimson thread, with cherubim, represents the 5-fold ministry which would come with the ministry of Jesus Christ. The 50 clasps holding the other 5 pieces of linen probably represented the freedom that people received at the 50-year jubilee. Today, Jesus is our eternal jubilee. The other 5 pieces of white curtain sewn together probably represent the covering of God’s grace over the church where it is justified in righteousness by faith. The red, purple and blue thread represent covering by the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ and the blood.
The Camping of the Israelites
See the article The Israelite Camp and the Cross of Christ for details on how they camped when the cloud (heaven) settled.