God’s Dwelling Place

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them” (Rev 21:3)

 

Copyright ã 2003 Rivkah Ministries By M. Larry Perrino

 

 

 

So how are we supposed to worship God?  What is the correct method of worshipping the Almighty?  A Samaritan woman told Jesus, “Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:20-24).

The Bible reveals fascinating details concerning how mankind must ultimately worship the LORD!  No, it is not important that we go up to some Holy Temple in order to worship God.  Nevertheless, the more that we are led by God’s Holy Spirit, we increasingly comprehend that our fundamental make-up is intimately connected with God’s Holy Temple!  Let us study how!

While we are not instructed to worship in “the Temple of God” during this age there are many examples from the Old Testament that we can use to learn more about worshipping God.  David, set-up a literal tent that he used for worship and praise.  However, he wrote, “But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple” (Ps 5:7); but, and pay close attention to this concept, when David wrote those words no holy temple existed.  How exactly was David intending to, “come into thy house?”  Was David merely speaking of some “yet future” temple?  We are going study David’s unique method of coming into the presence of the Almighty. 

We will gain knowledge in this Bible Study about the Tabernacle in the wilderness.  We will learn methods through which we can effectively worship the Almighty as David said, “toward thy holy temple!”  We need to find out things concerning the temple in which God wants us to worship!  Let us begin to seek information concerning that very temple.  

 

 

Unknowingly, Jacob confirmed a location for the second time that became a special place of worship upon this earth!  Actually, his grandfather Abraham had already performed a marvelous act of worship on the same exact spot, “And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him” (Gen 22:3).  You need to become mindful of the phrase, “this place.”  Genesis reveals about Jacob that he, “went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran. 11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. 16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. 17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Bethel” (Gen 28:10-19).  The Jews claim that ancient Bethel was actually what we now know as Jerusalem!

We have been focusing on a specific place where the patriarchs worshipped God!  Notice this magnificent location, “And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven: 23 And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath . . . 26 And now, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father. 27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? 28 Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to day: 29 That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place. 30 And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive” (1 Kings 8:22-30).

God promised Solomon that He would hear true worshippers from that place.  Notice that promise in the following passage, “And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. 13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place” (2 Chron 7:12-15).

In reference to Jacob’s original dream and his words, “How dreadful is this place;” the Jews referred to the temple that was set-up by Solomon as, “this place,” “Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple . . . the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, 28 Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple” (Acts 21:26-28).

It is interesting that Moses acknowledges all the four magnificent names of God in the great Psalm of God’s protection.  He references that “secret place” of protection, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust” (Ps 91:1-2).  This Psalm identifies the “secret place of the most High.”    

So what is the big deal of worshipping from a special place upon this earth?  If we wish to discover more about that “place” perhaps the first dwelling place made for God by man may hold some keys to our understanding.  Moses wrote, “he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation” (Ex 15:2).  How could Moses in his wildest dreams even imagine that he and the children of Israel could somehow prepare “an habitation” (dwelling place) for God?  What would a dwelling place for God look like?  Solomon asked, “But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth?” (2 Chron 6:18).  Amazingly, the answer is, “Yes!”  God told Moses, “let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them” (Ex 25:8).  Let’s learn about God’s dwelling place upon the earth.

However before we begin to learn about God’s dwelling places, we must learn things about sin and how sin must first be eliminated.  We read in the Book of Hebrews that blood is required for the removal of sin, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” (Heb 9:22).  Blood is necessary for the remission or removal of sin; remission also means forgiveness.  Paul explained in another place, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph 1:7).

Let’s understand that when Moses first set-up the tabernacle in the wilderness the Lord instructed him to sprinkle blood for the purification of all of the holy furniture and utensils to be used in the tabernacle.  These physical elements used in the tabernacle were pictures or shadows of things that were in heaven.  The point is that Moses went upon the mountain; from there he saw visions of things that are patterned in heaven!  Moses was told to make the articles in the temple according to this pattern, “And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount” (Ex 25:40).  Therefore, Moses’ act of cleansing was also significant, “It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these” (Heb 9:22-23).  This passage teaches that the blood used to purify the elements in the tabernacle could not possibly purify the actual utensils and furniture in heaven!  Now what does that mean?  The words, “the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices,” seem to clearly refer to the fact that heavenly things need to be cleansed by some sort of a “better sacrifice!”  What heavenly things need a sacrifice?

In order to unravel this mystery we must essentially go back as we establish in our minds the exact origin of sin!  Did sin originate in the Garden of Eden?  If not, where did sin have its origin?  Do you know?  Are you sure?      –     Discussion . . .

The Book of Job gives us some interesting facts concerning the creation of the earth, “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4-7).  This clearly reveals that there were “sons of God” present during the creation of the earth!  In fact they shouted for joy at its creation.  Therefore we can read where the earth was established, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void” (Gen 1:1-2).  What we need to realize is that during the time of this passage sons of God were present to witness the event.  The next few questions should be, “Who are these sons?” and, “Where did they come from?”

The Bible actually teaches of a different creation that took place some unknown time prior to the earth’s creation.  There is a specific son of God who was created according to the following description from the Book of Ezekiel, “the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created” (Ezek 28:13-15).  Here we find an exalted being who was “perfect in thy ways!”  This son of God was named Lucifer (the light bringer)!   We are certain that his creation took place prior to Adam, “Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God” (Ezek 28:13).  By the following description we know that this son of God actually sat in the very throne room of the Almighty in heaven, “Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God!”  This passage clearly indicates that Lucifer was situated at the very throne room of God in heaven!

God laments one of His sons through Isaiah’s words, “How art thou fallen from heaven, Lucifer (Here is further proof that this son of God was in heaven), son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!” (Isa 14:12)  God answered his own question, “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High” (Isa 14:12-14).  This being was high and lifted up in his own sight.  He became filled with pride!  Noitce how Isaiah describes Lucifer’s downfall, “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. (This being made the choice to become proud and filled with iniquity!) By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence (His pride made him violent.), and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty (pride), thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities (The home or dwelling-place of this being was defiled or destroyed through his iniquity.), by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.” (Ezek 28:15-19).  Here then is a created being named Lucifer who had an exalted position in the kingdom of God.  Yet, he became filled with pride; his pride even caused him to change his God-given purpose!

So what have we learned?  Through pride, Lucifer became God’s adversary; he sinned and caused a destruction/desolation of the earth and God subsequently renewed the earth.  We never see the being known as Lucifer again; however we do find a being known as “the adversary” whose name translates into the Hebrew word “satan.”  We know from Ezekiel that Lucifer was in the Garden of Eden, “Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God” (Ezek 28:13).  However, we never see Lucifer again; instead, we find Eve talking to an adversary of God in the Garden of Eden, “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden” (Gen 3:1).  The book of Revelation identifies who that serpent is, “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Rev 12:9).  This being was banished from heaven; nevertheless, we need to realize that his sin actually originated in heaven!

Now let’s recall that several minutes ago we read how that there are heavenly utensils and other things that need to be cleansed, “but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these” (Heb 9:22-23).  This clearly indicated that heavenly things required purification!  Satan had actually introduced sin in heaven!

Now let’s put all of this information in the context of God’s dwelling place!  How many dwelling places for God does the Scripture reveal?  We can learn many things from studying where God’s chooses to make His dwelling place.  The bible identifies eight different specific locations of God’s choosing:

The Eight Dwelling Places of God
Dwelling Place	Scripture
(1) God’s heavenly Temple	“And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail” (Rev 11:19)
(2) The Garden of Eden	“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden” (Gen 3:8)
(3) The Tabernacle of Moses	“And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest's office. 45 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God” (Ex 29:44-45)
(4) The Tabernacle of David	So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: and they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God” (1 Chron 16:1)
(5) The Temple of Solomon	“And the house which king Solomon built for the LORD, the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits” (1 Kings 6:2)
(6) Herod’s Temple	“And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves” (Matt 21:12-13)
(7) The Millennium Temple	“Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. 27 My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore” (Ezek 37:26-28)
(8) The Holy City, New Jerusalem	“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God . . . 22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it (Rev 21:2-22)

Scripture reveals eight literal dwelling places; it is interesting that eight is the biblical number that signifies “new beginnings.”  God created the natural world so that it is replete with a pattern of seven elements.  It is for this reason that seven is a symbol that biblically indicates completeness.  Have you ever seen a double rainbow?  There are seven colors in a rainbow: (1) red, (2) orange, (3) yellow, (4) green, (5) blue, (6) indigo, and (7) violet.  The repetition of the first color red indicates a new beginning.  Likewise in music, there are seven notes in an octave (the term for eight notes).  We commonly relate to the notes as “do,” “re,” “mi,” “fa,” “so,” “la,” and “ti.”  The repeat of the first note “do,” indicates a new beginning.  There are seven days in a week.  We know their pagan names as Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  The repeat of the first day, Sunday, indicates a new beginning. 

Nachmanides the great Rabbi who lived in 12th century Spain explained a beautiful kabbalistic concept.  He said that seven is the number of the natural world.  There are 7 days in the week, 7 notes on the musical scale and 7 directions (left, right, up, down, forward, back and center). "Seven" -- represented by the 7 days of creation -- is the world of nature. "Eight" -- is that which is beyond nature.  Obviously, this concept is quite old.   

The concept of the eighth representing a new beginning to God and where God’s glory is manifest is very important.  Eight souls were saved out of the flood of Noah to make a new beginning for humanity on the earth. The waters of God’s flood judgment came on the eighth day, “And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth” (Gen 7:10).  The flood Judgment of God on the earth in the days of Noah is definitely associated with eight.  The most important event of mankind, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, occurred at the beginning of the eighth day.  We will recall that early that Sunday morning as the High Priest lifted-up the wave sheaf, Jesus simultaneously ascended to the Father. This was certainly a new beginning for mankind.  The very name, “Jesus,” represents the epitome of a new beginning.  Greek numerals were identified as characters of the Greek alphabet during the writing of the New Testament.  That is the Greek letter “alpha” (a) was always equivalent to 1, and the Greek letter “beta” (b) was equivalent to 2 up through “omega” (w) which was equivalent to 800, etc.  The name Jesus appears in the Greek as follows:  Ihsouj.  The numerical value of the (I) = 10, the numerical value of the (h) = 8, the numerical value of the (s) = 200, the numerical value of the (o) = 70, the numerical value of the (u) = 400, and the numerical value of the (j) = 200.  Therefore 10+8+200+70+400+200 = 888; the epitome of a new beginning!  In God’s symbolism of numbers the eighth represents, “that which is raised to a higher spiritual level” or a “new beginning.” 

Jesus was circumcised on the 8^th day, we learn, “And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, (SALVATION) which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb” (Luke 2:21-22). 

With the perspective that eight is the number of “new beginnings” as well as indicating being elevated to a “higher spiritual plain,” we must understand that the number most associated with Jesus Christ is eight.  Interestingly, John does not merely describe the work of the Holy Spirit in great detail, but as if to emphasize the “higher spiritual plain” of this “new beginning,” through that same Holy Spirit, he mystically expresses eight different works of the Holy Spirit. 

Let’s notice the atmosphere on the day when the glory of God filled Solomon’s temple, “Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:) 13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; 14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.  6:1 Then said Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. 2 But I have built an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for ever” (2 Chron 5:12-6:2).

The rabbinic term Shekhinah is actually an abstraction of the concept of "dwelling," which is generally understood literally. The Tabernacle, as depicted in the Priestly tradition, represents a royal house with all its necessary facilities. Moses wrote for God, “let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them” (Ex 25:8).  Jewish Sages have pointed out that the Scripture does not say, "Make a Sanctuary for Me . . . so that I may dwell in it [i.e., the Mishkan]," but rather, "So that I may dwell among them [i.e., the People]." This is more than a pleasant expression. What we begin to realize is that God is not primarily concerned with a temple made of wood and stone; rather, the purpose of the physical temple was to inspire Christians to make themselves temples for the Shechinah!

Adam knew that God dwelt in him because the breath that he had received from God, “Ruach” was blown into his nose and he could obviously hear that breath when he exhaled. Jewish Sages have recorded that the curtains in the Temple used to move as the Temple breathed!  They used to call this phenomenon, “Rauch HaKodesh,” literally translated as the, Breath of the Holies!  Today we would call it, “The Holy Spirit,” “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house” (Acts 2:2). 

The term "Shekinah" means "dwelling" and is used to describe God's presence in this world. The word Shekinah is not found in the Old Testament. Its earliest appearance is in the Jewish oral traditions where it is used with regard to God dwelling among the Children of Israel.  Interestingly, the New Testament agrees with the Old Testament, “In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Eph 2:22). 

The Apostle John taught that God Almighty dwelt among humans, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt (succah or tabernacle) among us” (John 1:14).  Yes Jesus came to into the world but notice how He explained and even amplified this same concept, “but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works” (John 14:10).  Later the Apostle John wrote, “I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them” (Rev 21:3). 

Just as the glory of God appeared in the Tabernacle, David desired to build a tabernacle so that God’s glory could be manifested among His people. (see I Chronicles 28).  David wrote, “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple”(Ps 27:4).  The great king continued in the very next verse, “in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me” (Ps 27:5). 

The Apostle John explains in the Book of Revelation that God will dwell with His people, “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them” (Rev 21:3). The glory of God will actually illuminate New Jerusalem, “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof” (Rev 21:23). 

The Apostle John in another place used the Greek word “parákleeton” to describe the Holy Spirit.  That Greek word implies a legal expression; it is translated in 1 John 2:1 as the “advocate” who goes along side the accused. John illuminates  that this “counselor” will bring into being eight distinct results:

In heaven there was a pattern of things to be built upon earth, “It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Heb 9:23-24).

Paul reveals that Moses was given a pattern of the things that were in heaven, “if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: 5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount” (Heb 8:4-5).  David was likewise given the pattern through the Holy Spirit for the construction of Solomon’s Temple, “2 And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD” (1 Chron 28:12).

Where is heaven located?  It is amazing that the bible actually gives us an answer concerning the location of God’s throne in Heaven!  Relating to creation, Job said, “He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing” (Job 26:7).  David spoke about the congregation of God being in the north, “ the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north” (Ps 48:2).  Obviously, satan coveted the throne of God; notice where he said he would go to get that throne of God, “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north” (Isa 14:13).  The prophet Ezekiel saw the Lord coming out of the North, “I saw visions of God . . . the hand of the LORD was there upon him. 4 And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire . . . 24 And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty” (Ezek 1:1-24).

Jesus was asked a powerful question one day, “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matt 22:36-40).

Our body is actually the temple of God, “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” (2 Cor 6:16).  Essentially, we are the heavenly Jerusalem, “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven” (Heb 12:22-25).  Our bodies are “this place!”

Jesus changed the place of worship, “But I say unto you, That in this place (Jesus was speaking of his body) is one greater than the temple” (Matt 12:6).  A new location called “this place” has been established, “For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. 6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief” (Heb 4:4-6).

Realize that man is himself a trinity! We refer you to the Rivkah Ministries Bible Study entitled “Spirit, Soul and Body” (you can obtain a written copy and or sound file from http://Rivkah.org on the World Wide Web.)   We remember Paul’s clear, concise and foundational statement concerning the human makeup, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess 5:23). Paul clearly states that we are made-up of three differing aspects or components, (1) Spirit; (2) Soul; and (3) Body. Now we can begin to make the link between the Holy Temple of God and our inner temple.

Using all of these elements of the tabernacle, let’s piece together a Biblical mosaic as we observe the structure and other elements within the Tabernacle in the wilderness. Sixty pillars that held up the curtains around the outer court.  Each pillar was held up by two ropes meaning that120 ropes held up the pillars of the Tabernacle, “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out” (Rev 3:12). 

 

 

 

 

		(Outer Court)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                          

 

 

 

 

			100 X 50 X 5 = 1,500

 

 

The tabernacle is much more than sacrifice and offerings, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but (3 outer court) righteousness, and (2 inner court) peace, and (1 Most Holy Place) joy in the Holy Ghost” (Rom 14:17).  The Holy Ghost is the core element.  Jesus said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matt 22:37); since, “God is love” (1 John 4:16) then love is the core element that we seek to get to the light of God, “God is light” (1 John 1:5).

Parts of Body	Where in the temple?	What is the source of light?
Body   These believe  that God answers prayer.	Outer Court Brazen Altar (Blood Sacrifice) or at the Bronze Laver (Washing of Water).  Brass implies Trials!    Bronze=Fire	Natural Sun Light In the Outer Court the physical sun is the only source of light. Here, vision is limited to only those things that are natural.  These must learn that there is more intense and powerful light available from God.
Soul (Mind)   These know that God is Good!	Inner Court (The Holy Place) These must realize that they still need to advance to the next level! These know that they are hungry.  They have advanced beyond milk and they are continually eating shew bread but not yet ready for spiritual meat!	Menorah Light This level is merely a transition to the next. We must move from the Holy to the Divine!  Priests would maintain and light the Menorah.  Oil and fire correspond to spirit filled Christianity!  However, in the Holy Place, it takes both flesh and spirit to produce light! Often, when light comes, flesh gets confused about who produced the light!
Spirit   These  know God!	Sanctuary (Most Holy Place) These have penetrated beyond the veil!  They have arrived at the very Mercy Seat – Ark of God! These operate in the Love of God, “keep yourselves in the love of God,” (Jude 21)	Shekina Glory These get their light from God in the Most Holy Place, There is no physical light in this section of the Temple.  All light in the Most Holy Place comes directly from God! “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12)

What does all of this have to do with our faith?  Notice that there were two veils that needed to be crossed.  In order to get from the outer court into the Holy Place they needed to cross a veil!  In order to get past that veil requires going past five posts; five posts signify the five fold ministry in the New Testament Church!  We must pass the veil of our flesh.  We move from natural light (human understanding) into supernatural understanding (menorah light).  Like going from the outside bright light day into a restaurant where there is muted lighting, “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor 2:14).  Many Christians satisfied in the Holy Place of the sanctuary; there, they receive the spiritual understanding from the menorah and are fed spiritual bread from the table of shew bread and offer prayers at the altar of incense; however, we must get into the Most Holy Place! 

In order to get into the Most Holy Place we must pass through Veil Two!  We get past this veil by discerning between the mind and the spirit, “piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb 4:12).  In order to get past this level we must be living by the Word of God, “the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword” (Heb 4:12).  We get there by faith, “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Rom 5:2).  We must pray at the altar of incense, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God” (Jude 20-21).

We will remember that Jesus said, “the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24).  We must, “Walk in the Spirit” (Gal 5:16); by doing so we will bring our minds into complete subjection to the word of God.  In so doing, we become fruitful like Jesus, “your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” (John 15:16).   Remain in the Most Holy Place and from there we continually worship the Almighty God!