The tabernacle and Christ

The Tabernacle and How It Points to Christ

In the tabernacle of Moses · Exodus 25 to 40 · A shadow of good things to come

God told Moses to build a tent so that he might dwell among his people, made exactly after a pattern shown on the mountain. The New Testament teaches that the whole of it, its court and furniture, its priesthood and sacrifices, was a shadow whose substance is Christ. Here is a deep, honest walk through every part, from the gate to the ark, tracing what it was, what it meant for Israel, and how it is fulfilled in Jesus.

Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.Colossians 2:17 (KJV)

Walk it from the gate to the ark

The tabernacle led inward through growing holiness: the outer court with its altar and laver, the holy place with its light, bread, and incense, and beyond the veil the most holy place with the ark and the mercy seat. Every station opens onto Christ.

• The Tabernacle of Moses · The whole pattern
• The Outer Court · The court and the gate
• The Bronze Altar · Sacrifice
• The Bronze Laver · Washing
• The Holy Place · The first room
• The Golden Lampstand · Light
• The Table of Showbread · Bread
• The Altar of Incense · Prayer
• The Veil · The barrier removed
• The Most Holy Place · The innermost room
• The Ark of the Covenant · The throne of God
• The Mercy Seat · Atonement
• The High Priest · The mediator

Typology here is kept honest. Where the New Testament names an object's fulfillment in Christ, as with the torn veil (Hebrews 10:20), the mercy seat (Romans 3:25), the sacrifices (Hebrews 9 and 10), and the high priest (Hebrews 4 and 7 to 10), each page says so. Where a link is a devotional reflection drawn by later readers, as with the laver or the lampstand, each page says that too. Nothing is fabricated, and every verse is quoted from the King James Version.