Vessel

Paul (authorship controversy understood) writes in the Book of Hebrews, chapter 9, that the design of the Tabernacle/Temple actually reflects a Heavenly design. In other words, it reflects things in Heaven that God wants to show us. A cursory examination of this fact will reveal aspects of the architecture of ourselves and our relationship with God as well.

If we set up the Tabernacle as laver (sea) and altar of sacrifice in the courtyard, menorah and table of showbread in the holy place, and altar of incense and ark of the covenant (with the veil separating them) in the most holy place, then we should be able to see the reality of these “shadows” if we could look into Heaven.

Fortunately, John provides that glimpse in Revelation 4 and 5. When John is taken up to Heaven, the first thing he sees is the Throne of God. This paper proposes that the furniture/elements of the Tabernacle are dimensional and holographic images of God’s throne.

The one piece of furniture we would quickly pick as God’s throne is the Ark of the Covenant. This is the place where the Shekinah glory rested or sat. After relishing the shimmering glory of the Father, one would note 24 elders on 24 thrones surrounding the LORD’s Throne. This is the Table of Showbread. The table of showbread or “bread of presence” kept representations of the people of God present before Him at all times. Why has this representational body (working much more solidly than the HoR or senate) grown to 24? The easiest explanation is 12 tribes and 12 apostles. Regardless, it is “us,” those who place their trust in the LORD for salvation.

At this point a fascinating phenomenon should be observed: what is necessary to experience as separate iterations on earth (the ark and the table) are fully integrated in Heaven. What we needed to experience in pieces before John is experiencing as an integrated whole.

The next item mentioned is the seven lamps blazing. This of course is the menorah, the seven spirits of Elohim, which denotes the complete presence of God. In this holy place the desire of our Holy God is fulfilled. He wants to commune with man. Notice how concurrently redeemed humanity and God in all of His glory are present. This is what the candlestick and the table of showbread were showing us on earth.

The observer should now note that the throne rests either before or directly on “a sea of glass.” This is the Laver. This is not the chaotic sea of prophecy representing the masses of peoples (especially gentiles), but this is the Holy Sea of the God’s people—representing the peace of God that binds the redeemed to their Redeemer.

The final conspicuous piece of furniture is the altar of incense revealed in Heaven to be the four cherubim at the four corners of the throne, constantly bringing praise up before the Holy Trinity. Aha, this is why the incense is to connected to the ark of the covenant and must constantly be lit to bring the sweet smelling aroma before the Lord.

So, we have a complete understanding of the ark of the covenant, table of showbread, menorah, laver and altar of incense as the Throne of God in segments that a mere three-dimensional being can understand. However, there’s something missing. And by missing, it causes me terror. It is the very piece that gives me the bold access that I desire. As a sinner, I cannot enter into the holiness of God. How is it I can see the redeemed connected to the Throne, and yet I do not see that which redeemed me.

John felt the same vacuum. When a scroll showed up with writing inside and out and seven seals, he wept and wept because no one was able to open it. He empathized with my plight.

But wait, do not weep, the Lion of the tribe of Judah is able to open it. And he looked, and standing in the midst of the Throne was a Lamb that had been slain. This is the altar of sacrifice. I fall down in gratefulness before the LORD. I have access. The Throne is complete.

What have we just built? A hologram? The Throne of God? A simple model? A complex understanding of God’s desire to co-exist with humanity in all holiness? Perhaps. What I can be sure of is that if you are among the redeemed, we’ve built a picture of you.

What?

There has been no Tabernacle or Temple on earth for nearly 2,000 years. You are the Temple of God.

Let us see if we can go deeper into your design. Mm, the altar of sacrifice, does not the Lord ask us to take up our cross and follow Him? This a daily call to sacrificial living.

The idea that the altar of incense is within us gives a new meaning to the scripture “pray always.”

The sea of glass: “What you forgive on earth, I will forgive in Heaven.”

The candlestick: “You are the light of the world.”

The table of showbread: “Lo, I am with you always.”

The ark of the covenant: “From out of your inner being will flow rivers of living water.” “The Lord has written them on the fleshly tablets of our hearts.”

Each of these is a study in itself, but let us discover a wider application before we look at the furniture of the Tabernacle prophetically, which it undoubtedly is.

The Lord probably never set foot inside the Temple while He walked amongst us for the first 33 years of his earthly life. He certainly came around it, answering questions as a child, being brought up to its brow by Satan, and tossing over money-changing tables in the court of the gentiles. Why?

Because the Lord worked on a much bigger stage. Remember when the Lord said that He does the works that He sees the Father doing? Can we designate some of those works?

God’s intention is to make the earth a Temple where He can dwell with humanity. He will not be denied.

So, consider this, when the Lord rises from being baptized, the dove alights upon Him, and a voice descends from Heaven: this is a taste of the Throne of God.

When He says, “He who has seen me has seen the Father,” feeds the thousands, and has the Last Supper with His disciples, this is the table of showbread.

When He calls Himself the Light of the world and is transfigured brighter than the sun, this is the Menorah.

When He walks upon the water and calms angry seas, this is the Laver.

When He gives us the injunction of daily prayer and goes to be alone with the Father, this is the incense altar.

When He goes to the cross, this is the altar of sacrifice: the place where He looks weakest, but is actually His strongest.

Finally, according to prophecy, the Lord will marry Heaven and earth, with His Throne at the center and the earth as His footstool. (Throne.)

We will toss our crowns before Him. (Showbread.)

The Father and the Son will be our Light. (Menorah.)

The River of Life will sustain us. (Laver.)

We will thrive in a dance of praise to Him. (Incense.)

And our lives will be spent for each other. (Sacrifice.)

Thus we scratch the surface with the iterations of the furniture of the Tabernacle. Man writes with sledge hammers. God writes mountains, planets, nebulae, Heaven and earth with a fine painter’s brush.