APPROACHING THE TABERNACLE
I. THE MAIN PURPOSE FOR THE TABERNACLE
Exodus 25:8 (Context 1-9) (NAS)
8. “let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them.
The tabernacle was also intended to show the believing Israelite. “I Am” wanted to have a daily relationship with them and to dwell with His chosen people.
II. NAMES GIVEN TO THE TABERNACLE
The word, “Tabernacle” has various names in Scripture. However it refers only to the building that houses the “Holy Place” and the “Holy Of Holies. It is known as:
a. “Tabernacle of the Congregation"
Exodus 27:21 (Context 20-21) (KJ)
21. In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the Lord: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.
b. “The Tent of Meeting"
Exodus 27:21 (Context 20-21) (NAS)
21. In the tent of meeting, outside the veil which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall keep it in order from evening to morning before the Lord; it shall be a perpetual statute throughout their generations for the sons of Israel.
The phrase, “outside the veil” is speaking about the Holy Place not the Holy of Holies.
Exodus 27:21 (Context 20-21) (VOICE)
21. In the tent of meeting, outside the veil which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall keep it in order from evening to morning before the Lord; it shall be a perpetual statute throughout their Generations for the sons of Israel.
c. “Tabernacle of Testimony”
Revelation 15:5 (Context 1-5 KJ)
5. And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
It was the one and only place where God witnessed and testified to Israel their duty and responsibility to Him at the door. (Exception: Moses on Mount Sinai).
III. APPROACHING THE DOOR
THE DOOR
Entrance To The Holy Place
Exodus26:36, 37 (Context ) (NAS)
36. “You shall make a screen for the doorway of the tent of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of a weaver.
One of the reasons that this scripture calls the tabernacle a tent is that there are four layers covering the building of the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.
Another reason is that the prayer shawl, which the Hebrew name is called tallit. One of the translated words is “tent".
37. “You shall make five pillars of acacia for the screen and overlay them with gold, their hooks also being of gold; and you shall cast five sockets of bronze for them.
a. Doorway represents Jesus Christ
b. Blue represents remembrance
Numbers 15:38-40 (NAS)
38. “Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue.
39. It shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, so as to do them and not follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you played the harlot,
40. so that you may remember to do all My commandments and be holy to your God.
c. Purple represents royalty;
d. Scarlet represents sacrificial blood;
e. Fine twisted linen represents righteousness;
f. Acacia wood represents humanity;
g. Gold represents deity;
h. Bronze represents judgment;
All these items symbolically point to Mankind, Jesus and judgment.
The Word Of God Defines What and Who Is This Door / Veil.
Hebrews 10:19-22 (Context 19-25) (KJ)
19. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20. By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21. And having an high priest over the house of God;
22. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Preparation For Priesthood
Exodus 29:4-11 (Context 1-32) (KJ)
4. And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water.
5. And thou shalt take the garments, and put upon Aaron the coat, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the curious girdle of the ephod:
6. And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the mitre.
7. Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.
There are three steps in obedience:
First the symbolic washing of water (Baptism) then the covering of a sinless garment (Right standing) now the anointing oil (the Holy Spirit).
8. And thou shalt bring his sons, and put coats upon them.
9. And thou shalt gird them with girdles, Aaron and his sons, and put the bonnets on them: and the priest's office shall be theirs for a perpetual statute: and thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons.
10. And thou shalt cause a bullock to be brought before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron
and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the bullock.
11. And thou shalt kill the bullock before the Lord, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Are we not High Priest as well? Wasn’t the Lamb of God killed for our cleansing, and the washing of the Word of God gives us a newness of mind and new direction. Now it’s not about us but our Lord Jesus Christ. So the question for all of us is, how are we preparing for the Lord’s service as a High Priest?
Importance of the door
GOD SPOKE IN PERSON WITH MOSES
Exodus 33: 9 (KJ)
9. And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked to Moses.
So the scripture stood at the door, there is a shape and form and we are made in His likeness. Just as the Old Testament the Door was the only access to the Father. The Door / Veil / Jesus is still the only way to the Father. The door is always the mediator between God and man, through and in the blood of Jesus Christ.
“I Am” The Door
John 10:7-10 (Context 7-18) (NAS)
7. So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
8. “All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
9. “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
10. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Be aware of the different Gospels out in the world today.
Galatians 1:6-10 (VOICE)
6. Frankly I am stunned. I cannot believe that you have abandoned God so quickly — even after He called you through the grace of the Anointed One — and have fallen for a different gospel.
Paul is saying that individuals treat God like their own personal lives, not staying in one place, always too impatient and having no substance to their faith.
7. Actually there is only one true gospel of the Anointed, and you — because of divisive prodding by others — are accepting a distorted version which is not the gospel at all!
Individuals seem to be looking for something that fits their own ideology so they don’t have to be accountable to any one, another lie from the evil one.
8. No matter the source of the false gospel, even if it is preached by us or a heavenly messenger, ignore it. May those who add to or subtract from the gospel of Jesus be eternally cursed!
9. Listen again: if anyone preaches to you a gospel other than what you have accepted, may he find himself cursed!
Plain and simple, whatever mankind listens to, pastors, evangelists, from a pulpit or a television, watch and be alert of other voices, which have no authority or power, until we give it to them!
10. Do you think I care about the approval of men or about the approval of God? Do you think I am on a mission to please people? If I am still spinning my wheels trying to please men, then there is no way I can be a servant of the Anointed One, the Liberating King.
The Bottom line: Trust God, Live forever with Him or don’t and pay the price eternally! Your choice, make it a good one.
A continual sacrifice
Exodus 29:42-43 (NKJ)
42. “This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations of the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the Lord, where I will meet you to speak with you.
43. And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by glory.
This continual sacrifice is a daily walk with the LORD today, for we all have to fight against our carnal flesh and the oppressive spirit of Satan.
Today everybody can only approach a Holy God; in and through Jesus, The Son of God, the manifested Word of God.
