Albany Missionary Baptist Church (Albany, Oregon)

Tabernacle Lesson 1-Introduction to the Tabernacle

by

Tabernacle Model

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Lesson by Brother Walt Durgeloh

Lesson material outside of the Bible taken from:

  • Outlines “The Tabernacle, Lee Wright” from Bro. Barnett
  • Book – The Tabernacle of God in the Wilderness of Sinai 1977
  • Transparencies from Bro. Barnett tied to the book “The Tabernacle of God in the Wilderness of Sinai”
  • Book – Bible Analysis by Albert Garner 1956
  • Book – Tabernacle Fires by Lee Wright 1998
  • Book – ABC’s of the Tabernacle by E.E. Crawford 1974
  • Book – The Golden Key by Ben Bogard (tenth edition 1987)

 

Introduction to the TABERNACLE

Text: Exodus 25:8, Psalm 77:13, Hebrews 8:2

  • The tabernacle portrays many things about God, including many types of Christ, such as His work of salvation represented in the sacrificial acts. It shows a type of worship of the saved in the church today.
  • It is the first habitation that God ever caused to be built for Him.
  • The tabernacle is a type of the church and of heaven. A “shadow of Heavenly things” (Heb 8:5).  The part of the Tabernacle called the “Holy Place” is a type of the church, and the part called the “Holy of Holies” is a type of heaven.
  • The tribe of Levi supported the daily operation of the Tabernacle, with the priesthood handling all the sacrifices in the courtyard. Only the high priest could enter into the “Holy of Holies”. (Num 8:14-26).
  • All of the sacrificial offerings brought to the Tabernacle pointed to the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. (Heb 10:14).

 

  • Materials:

To the casual observer, it was just a skin covered tent with a wall of snow white linen around it.  You could not tell from the outside what it was made up of.

  • Over two thousand four hundred pounds of gold.
  • Over eight thousand pounds of silver.
  • Over eight thousand pounds of brass.
  • The best fabrics, cloth of blue, purple, scarlet, and hundreds of yards of the finest twined linen ever spun.
  • The finest lumber was hewn and sawed.
  • Goats hair and animal skins were prepared and finished to perfection.
  • The most expensive studded gems, oil for light, sweet spices, anointing oil, and incense.
  • Cords for the brass pins were made ready.
  • This structure was worth more than one and one half million dollars.
  • It was built by a people transit from Egyptian slavery who were camped in the wilderness, at the foot of Mt. Sinai. It was built to be portable and was moved many times.
  • Outside the courtyard wall, thousands of people were encamped. The Tabernacle with the funnel shaped cloud above was the center of attraction.
  • Used for about 500 years, until the Temple was built. 1 Kings 8:1-11

 

  • How it came to be

Exodus 24:12,18, 25:1,8-9, 31:1,18 Idea came from God. During the forty days and nights Moses spent on the mountain, he received not only the tablets with commandments of God, but also the divine instructions for the construction of the tabernacle.

 

  • Tabernacle statements of facts:

  1. Where God met, dwelt, and revealed Himself to His people Exodus 25:8, 22, Exodus 29:42-46.

Today He does this through His Church.  Matt 16:18., John 14:18-26, 2 Cor 6:16-18, Eph 3:21.

 

  1. The place where God spoke to His people. Exodus 29:42

Did speak to His people while here  Hebrews 1:2, Acts 1:2-3

Continues to speak today. Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22.

 

  1. The place where God accepted offerings. Lev 1:1-4  The animal was the sacrifice for the person’s sins (atonement).

Today we are acceptable through Jesus.  Through His grace. Eph 1:6, 2:8-9.  Rom 5:8-10.

Acceptable through service  Rom 12:1-2,  14:17-18;  1 Tim 2:1-4, 1 Peter 2:20.

 

  1. The place where God forgave the sins of the people. Lev 4:20, 26  6:7 (even trespass sins against each other).

Our sin nature is forgiven through Jesus   Eph 1:7, Mark 2:10

The Church is to practice forgiveness   Eph 4:32, Matt 6:14-15, John 20:23 (eternal consequences),  2 Cor 2:6-7 (Church can’t hold forgiveness ransom).

 

  1. The place where God received gifts. Exodus 23:15 (none shall appear before me empty), 28:38 (hallow in all their holy gifts).

Now Jesus receives through His Church.  Heb 7:8, 13:15-16

Why Teach From the Tabernacle

It’s place in Scripture

A.      2 Timothy 3:16-17 The study will be profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

B.      John 5:39, 46. With this study we can better know the “all things” of God.

 It’s picture to the present

A.      Hebrews 9:9  The Tabernacle is a “figure” (likeness) of the present.

B.      Hebrews 3:1-6  Moses’s house (Tabernacle) was a picture of Christ’s house (Church).

C.      1 Cor 10:6,11  The Old Testament (including the teachings of the Tabernacle) is to be our example for today.

It’s Use as a dictionary to the New Testament

  1. The Tabernacle helps give meaning to our study of the New Testament.
  2. The book of Hebrews is an example, how the contrast of the tabernacle to Jesus and the Church gives us a better understanding of the New Testament (Hebrews 3:5-6; Hebrews 5:1,5; Hebrews 8:1-2, Hebrews 9:11).

It’s order of building

  1. Several times God ordered Moses to build it according to the pattern shown to him while he was on Mt. Sinai. Exodus 25:9, 40; 26:30; 27:8; Acts 7:44; Numbers 8:4; Hebrews 8:5.
  2. No human invention (think we can improve what God has already shown us) was allowed. Isaiah 55:8-9, Proverbs 3:5, Proverbs 16:25.
  3. It’s pattern was to represent the things of heaven and of the future Church. Hebrews 3:5; 9:23-24; Acts 7:37-38.

It’s teaching is used by Christ

  1. Luke 24:27, 45 Jesus used the Old testament (including the Tabernacle) to help show Himself. To help our understanding of what He has done for us and what it means.

It’s study spotlights Christ as worthy

  1. Christ is worthy of more glory than the house He built (the Church), in His earthly ministry, and the Tabernacle built by Moses. Heb 3:1-6;

Matt 16:18 He built His Church, died for it.

Acts 7:37-38 Everything pointing to Jesus who was to come.

Ex 25:8 His place to meet with His people.

Heb 8:1-2 He is our high priest forever.

John 17:4 what more could he gave done or given?

Eph 2:20-22 the building (Church made up of us “stones”) has Jesus as the corner stone, the central piece, the foundation.

It’s prophetic study shows us what Heaven will be like

  1. Rev 13:6; 15:5; 21:3 Everything about the Tabernacle had a purpose in regards to showing how heaven was going to be.  A picture or model of heaven.