Perfection Revealed in the Tabernacle of Moses
(week 42/06)
Olubi Johnson
In our article this week, we will start reviewing one of our ‘hidden manna’ articles: perfection in the Tabernacle of Moses. It is a truth that is presently being emphasized by the Holy Spirit as the Church is pressing into the fullness of Christ to manifest the glory of God in its fullness to our generation.
The Tabernacle of Moses
The tabernacle was a large tent designed by God and built by the Israelites, as directed by Moses, who was given the design at Mount Sinai. It was the dwelling place of God’s glory (His presence), and a mobile place of worship for the entire camp of Israel as they journeyed through the wilderness. The tabernacle was divided into three compartments: It had an outer court, the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place.
The outer court (Exodus 30:17-21) was the largest, as it contained the other two compartments, and it was bordered by a screen of curtains, but was not covered. The only entrance into the tabernacle was through the outer court, where the brazen altar (Exodus 27:1-8) and the brazen laver (Exodus 30:17-21) could be found. The brazen altar was where burnt offering and animal sacrifices were made (e.g. sin offering) and the brazen laver was where the priests washed their hands and feet prior to performing their duties. Only the Levites were allowed by God to serve in the tabernacle, which meant that all the priests had to be from this tribe (Numbers 3:6-17). Not all Levites, however, qualified to be priests, and in the outer court ordinary Levites could be found assisting the priests in their duties.
The Holy Place was the next compartment in the tabernacle and it was completely enclosed along with the Most Holy Place . Only the priests were allowed to enter into the Holy Place which was illuminated by the candlelight of the golden seven-branched lamp stand (Exodus 25:31-39). Inside the Holy Place, apart from the lamp stand, there was the table overlaid with gold, upon which the shewbread was placed (Exodus 25:23-30) and also the altar of incense (Exodus 30:1-10) which stood in front of the veiled entrance of the Most Holy Place.
The Most Holy Place beyond the veil contained the Ark of the covenant where the glory and the presence of God was (Exodus 25:10-22). Inside the Ark were the two tablets of stone in which the ten commandments were engraved, a golden pot containing manna and Aaron’s rod that blossomed. Only the High Priest was allowed to go into the Most Holy Place,and then only once a year on the Day of Atonement.
Growth into Perfection in the Tabernacle of Moses
Many of the fundamental truths of our redemption in Christ are hidden symbolically in the structure, and furniture of the tabernacle of Moses.
In particular, we can find the truth of our spiritual growth into cleansing perfection hidden in the tabernacle. Cleansing perfection is a spiritual condition in which the sin substance in the soul and body have been completely cleansed out by the power of the Holy Spirit through the Word. This does not mean the Christian can no longer sin, but it is a state which must be maintained by a diligent walk in the spirit.
In general, we can say the outer court represents 30-fold Christianity or the wood and earth vessel Christian.
The Holy Place represents 60-fold Christianity or the silver vessel Christian.
The Most Holy Place represents 100-fold Christianity or the gold vessel Christian.
Mark 4:20 KJV: And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirty fold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
2 Timothy 2:20 KJV: But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
Furthermore, there are three levels of the understanding of Word of God symbolically revealed in the Tabernacle of Moses: the brazen laver, the shewbread and the hidden manna.
Next week, we will examine this truth in more detail
