THE FOUR COVERINGS
The symbolic importance of the Four coverings over the tabernacle and how they relate to Jesus Christ.
First A Reminder--The Symbolic Meaning:
I. Fine twined linen mentioned in scripture is symbolic of Jesus perfect righteousness.
II. Goat’s hair mentioned in scripture is symbolically of Jesus being the substitutionary sacrifice.
III. Ram’s skins mentioned in scripture is symbolic of Jesus cleansing Blood.
IV. Badger’s skins mentioned in scripture is symbolic of Jesus physical appearance.
These four coverings have a significant meaning in the physical and spiritual aspect of the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies; as they point to Jesus Christ. Therefore the four coverings could only be understood once inside the Hoy Place and within the Holy of Holies:
I. Visible only and exclusively to the worshiper from the inside. Only those, that are in and part of Jesus Christ can see the Glory of the Father.
The outsider looked upon the outside of the tabernacle and saw nothing of its exquisite beauty inside. All they were able to see was the drab leather covering of badger skins, unattractive, somber, and unappealing to the natural eye. Each of the four curtains or coverings as called depending on the biblical translation used. The four coverings like the four Gospels, presents a different aspect of our Lord and Savior; Jesus Christ.
The Two Natures that were embodied into the person of Jesus of Nazareth.
A. Jesus the Word of God was set aside in the future, in the flesh to put on flesh as an example and sacrifice for mankind. (I Peter 1:20; John 1:14)
1 Peter 1:19-21 (VOICE)
19. but with the precious blood of the Anointed, who was like a perfect and unblemished sacrificial lamb.
20. God determined to send Him before the world began, but He came into the world in these last days for your sake.
21. Through Him, you’ve been brought to trust in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him for the very reason that your faith and hope are in Him.
John 1:14-16 (VOICE)
14. The Voice took on flesh and became human and chose to live alongside us. We have seen Him, enveloped in undeniable splendor—the one true Son of the Father—evidenced in the perfect balance of grace and truth.
15. John the Baptist testified about Him and shouted, “This is the one I’ve been telling you is coming. He is much greater than I am because He existed long before me.”
16. Through this man we all receive gifts of grace beyond our imagination.
B. Therefore His deity would not interfere with the natural process of growing up as a full and complete man, without the sinful nature (seed) of man. Jesus did not come from Mankind but God kind, born of a woman.
Colossians 2:8-12 (VOICE)
8. Make sure no predator makes you his prey through some misleading philosophy and empty deception based on traditions fabricated by mere mortals. These are sourced in the elementary principles originating in this world and not in the Anointed One (so don’t let their talks capture you).
9. You see, all that is God, all His fullness, resides in His body.
Jesus is the Word of God, Jesus is God in flesh.
10. You, too, are being completed in Him, the One who has dominion over all rule, all authority.
11. In Him you were also circumcised, set apart by a spiritual act performed without hands. The Anointed One’s circumcision cut you off from the sinfulness of your flesh.
Old Covenant was a circumcised of the flesh by man was temporal however the New Covenant was a circumcised of the Spirit which is eternal.
12. You were buried with Him beneath the waters of the ceremonial washing called baptism and then were raised up with Him by faith in the resurrection power of God, who brought Him back from the dead.
This explains water Baptism and its purpose.
LOOKING FROM THE INSIDE OF THE TABERNACLE OUTWARD
I. WHITE LINEN
Exodus 26:1-5 (Context 1-14) (VOICE)
1. Make the interior of the congregation tent out of 10 curtains made of the finest woven linens. Decorate it with blue, purple, and scarlet threads, beautifully embroidered by skilled workers with images of winged guardians.
The interior is speaking of covering not only the top but the sides and ends of the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. Remember that the walls were made out of wood and covered with gold. ’
2. Make each curtain 42 feet long and 6 feet wide.
This translation gives dimensions that we can understand and visualize.
3. Attach five of the curtains together to form one larger curtain. Then take the other five, and attach them to form a second curtain.
These curtains were fitted and tied together so that no light from the outside (False Doctrine) could be seen or let in. This speaks to me, that I need to be fitted and grounded in the Word of God, not allowing any false doctrine / False light (Gal. 1:8,9) to slip in.
4. Make loops out of material dyed blue and attach them on the outer edge of both sets of curtains.
Remember what the blue stood for.
Numbers 15:37-40 (Context 32-40) (VOICE)
37. Once again the Eternal One spoke to Moses.
Eternal One:
38. Tell the Israelites to make fringes on each corner of their clothes and include a blue thread in each fringe. They should do this forever,
39. as it will bring to mind all My commandments and remind them not to wander off to do whatever their eyes see or hearts desire, and pursue them without restraint.
40. Instead, they will remember and do all of My commandments and be holy to your God.
So if you read the complete context of scripture, you see that God required absolute obedience to His commandments, or judgment would be given (Death). Then God said to put on the corners of their clothing, the blue thread, for remembrance. This clothing that God was speaking about was their tallit (Prayer Shawl); all men wore them starting around the age of 14. It was also a Hebrew custom to be buried with it, for it represented Gods Law and Gods Word.
Interesting note is that several words used to define the tallit such as: tent, cloak, cloth, and garment can be found within the bible. However the reader needs to read the complete context of scripture to verify the right usage of the various words used.
Cont. Exodus 26:5-6 (Context 1-14) (VOICE)
5. Attach 50 more loops to the long edge on both sets of curtains so that the loops match up with one another.
6. Make 50 gold clasps to connect the curtains together so that all the curtains for the interior of the congregation tent form one continuous piece.
1. This covering; first layer from the inside looking outward, which formed the ceiling, represents Christ in all the glory of His perfect righteousness and redemptive work.
2. This covering had cherubim’s embroidered within it symbolic of the protection of Gods holiness, purity, perfection, and righteousness. Cherubim’s are also mentioned in the book of Revelation praising and worshiping God continually around His throne.
3. It was made up with the four colors: blue, scarlet, purple, and white, which is symbolic of Jesus Christ:
BLUE--stands for Judgment, remembrance and Obedience of God. (Numbers 15:38-40)
SCARLET--for His sacrificial death.
PURPLE--for His royal character and His regal nature; it also represents wealth. (Ester 8:15; Position of authority Daniel 5:7, 29; Rich Luke 16:19)
WHITE--His sinless righteousness and perfection.
Revelation 19:8 (VOICE)
8. She had been given the finest linens to wear, linens bright and pure, woven from the righteous deeds of the saints.
Revelation 19:7-9 (NAS)
7. Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”
8. It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
9. Then he *said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he *said to me, “These are true words of God.”
II. GOAT’S HAIR COVERING, SYMBOLIC OF THE INNOCENT SUBSTITUTE
Exodus 26:7 (Context 1-14) (VOICE)
7. Next make 11 panels of tent fabric out of goat hair to cover the congregation tent and protect the beautiful embroidered curtains inside.
a. This curtain of goats’ hair is different than all the others; it was one yard longer than the curtains.
b. This species of goats that have a fine white silky hair, like that of the Angora goat.
c. The white border speaks of the righteousness covering and surrounding the entrance or access to God and his throne. This speaks of and points directly to Jesus; as the mediator between God and mankind, being the only access (Door).
The Goat also represented a sacrificial death and a covering
On the Day of Atonement:
1st Goat for sacrifice
2nd Goat was let loose in the wilderness, (Hence the term “Scapegoat”) symbolic of the Atonement / covering.
Exodus 26:8-9 (Context 1-14) (VOICE)
8. Each of the 11 panels is to be 45 feet long and 6 feet wide.
9. Attach five panels together to form a single wide panel. Then attach the remaining six to form a second panel. Fold the larger panel over at the front of the tent.
10. Make 50 loops on the long edge of each of these panels and
11. 50 bronze clasps to connect the panels together, so that this covering for the congregation tent may function as one continuous piece.
12. The extra length of the leather tent panels—the remaining half panel—will hang over the back of the congregation tent.
13. The extra length in the sides of the tent panels should be left to overlap so that the tent is covered completely.
III. RAM’S SKINS COVERING
Exodus 26:14 (Context 1-14) (VOICE)
14. You must add two more layers to protect the congregation tent: an inner layer made of red-dyed rams’ skins and an outer layer made of sea-cow hides.
1. Rams’ skins tanned and dyed a deep crimson red color,
2. The symbolic meaning of the rams skin was the covering of blood of Jesus Christ as mans sacrifice for sins.
3. The rams’ skins pointed to the Lord Jesus Christ in the role of a substitutionary sacrifice for sinners.
4. It speaks of the substitutionary atonement made by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ on our behalf. (Abraham & Isaac)
5. The skins, of course, speak of the complete covering for the sinner, who dwells underneath this canopy. (Four Gospels)
IV. BADGER SKINS COVERING
Exodus 26:14 (Context 1-14) (VOICE)
14. You must add two more layers to protect the congregation tent: an inner layer made of red-dyed rams’ skins and an outer layer made of sea-cow hides.
Questions have arisen in respect to the meaning of the actual animal of the badger
The Hebrew word tachash is translated, “badger skins.” No one knows what the Hebrews meant by this word
Other translators render it as:
1. “Goatskins” (NBSV),
2. “Porpoise-hides (REB)),
3. “Hides of a sea cow,” (NIV)
4. “Badgers’ skins” KJ Ezekiel 16:10, refers to a foot covering,
5. “Leather.” (NRSV))
A covering of badgers’ Skins, the Septuagint translates the Hebrew word “Achah,” or skins of a blue color (Ezekiel 16:10)
The badgers’ skins were not pretty to look at.
Isaiah 53:2 (KJ)
2. For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
SO WHAT DOES THIS SYMBOLIZE
1. An individual had to enter into His presence to see the beauty and holiness of Jesus the Christ.
2. The badger skin / flesh / hide was the only covering visible to the outsider,
3. This is all that the world could see. God did not want us to react first by emotion but by faith, our spiritual man, our heart.
4. To see Christ as the Son of God, the glorious Redeemer, we must see him from within. We must be in Christ to know the beauty of Christ. The only way to be in Christ is to come through the door, by way of the bloody cross which offers redemption, if we repent and turn towards and in His fellowship.
This is something you don’t try as a new fad, but a new lifestyle, both physically and spiritually.
1. First we need to acknowledge that everything we have tried has not worked and has not lasted; there is still that empty feeling.
2. So how do I start this life journey with a God that I can Not See?
3. In the Bible the scripture says that God has given everybody a measure of faith. Now the problem here is you have a choice; a choice of what you believe in (Faith) and to whom you listen to. God does not want puppets but a creation that will chose his escape plan from a sin filled environment, the World. That is why God gave His written Word, the Bible that makes it very simple to start a life as a Christian.
John 3:11-18 (Voice)
11. I tell you the truth: we speak about the things we know, and we give evidence about the things we have seen, and you choose to reject the truth of our witness.
12. If you do not believe when I talk to you about ordinary, earthly realities, then heavenly realities will certainly elude you.
13. No one has ever journeyed to heaven above except the One who has come down from heaven—the Son of Man, who is of heaven.
14. Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness. In the same way, the Son of Man must be lifted up;
15. then all those who believe in Him will experience everlasting life.
16. For God expressed His love for the world in this way: He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not face everlasting destruction, but will have everlasting life.
17. Here’s the point. God didn’t send His Son into the world to judge it; instead, He is here to rescue a world headed toward certain destruction.
18. No one who believes in Him has to fear condemnation, yet condemnation is already the reality for everyone who refuses to believe because they reject the name of the only Son of God
The perfect covering
It only takes a couple of minutes to ask Jesus to forgive you of all sin, which is disobedience to His Word, the Bible. Then take Him at His Word and accept His sacrificial Death on the cross. Ask Jesus to come into your being / spirit and cleanse you. The next important step is called repent / repentance, which means to change direction / course. Without lifestyle changes from fleshly desires and actions there is no forgiveness. Change starts internally and reflects from the inside out. Then find a Church that teaches Gods Word, as you start this new life in Jesus Christ read the first four books of the New Testament slowly. Get to know this Jesus; His birth, life, Death and Resurrection.
