EXODUS 25


This morning our thoughts will be on the structure of the Mosaic Tabernacle as a whole and its significance as the pictorial manifestation of God revealed among men. All the Tabernacle appointments were for glory and for beauty-for Divine glory and for spiritual beauty. Glory and beauty characterize everything pertaining to God, and we must get in harmony with the glory and beauty of God, for literally we are ugly - sin is ugly; the flesh is ugly; human nature is ugly.

Moses' face shone with the glory of God, for when he came down from the revelation of these things he had to cover his face, for Israel could not look upon him. Paul tells us that this symbolizes their groveling, earthly blindness. That true believers see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ; that they grow daily more like Him from glory to glory. Glory means excellence, and excellence means better­ness. We are changed into the same image from glory to glory, from betterness to betterness, closer and closer to the divine ideal, to the perfect beauty of character, spirituality, divinity, godliness.

The whole purpose of our lives is to increase in glory and in beauty, in excellence, in holiness, in godliness, in beauty of character, in fullness of love, in depth of understanding. If this does not occur, we live in vain.

Solomon declares, "God has made everything beautiful in His time" (Eccl. 3:11). Only beauty, true beauty, is eternal. All else must pass away. The very existence of beauty, the basic beauty of all God's works from the smallest to the greatest is one of the greatest arguments for divinity and is against the theory of evolution. Evolution is blind, earthly, grubby, carnal. It has no place or explanation for beauty and for glory.

The Tabernacle was God's plan, God's initiative, God's in­struction. "See thou make it according to the pattern shown thee" (Exod. 25:40). It was a great act of love and condescension upon God's part to dwell with Israel and to speak with them. God went all the way in approaching to man and taking them to Himself, but there were very strict regulations-no familiarity, no carelessness, no thoughtlessness in God's presence.

Among the very first things that happened in connection with this Tabernacle was the death of the High Priest's eldest sons, Nadab and Abihu. God must be honored in those who dare approach unto Him. Those who dwell in His presence must be sober, mature, circumspect, reverent. God will not tolerate careless, thoughtless, slipshod, half-hearted service.

The next great lesson was that God is only to be found where and how He appoints, "This is life eternal that they might know thee" (John 17:3), and He can only be known by that which He reveals about Himself; therefore, it is our wisdom to learn all we can that He has lovingly revealed.

How much do we really study the divine message? Half an hour a day is two percent of our life, and how many do even that? What tremendous dividends we expect from such paltry investments! There are fifty chapters of the Bible devoted to the Tabernacle and its service. We are told that all Scripture is given for doctrine, instruction, correction and reproof in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect - we have a long way to go, and these are things that point the way.

As we notice from our readings, particularly in the book of Hebrews, much of the language of the New Testament has its foundation in the Tabernacle service and cannot be understood without a comprehension of these things: the veil, the mercy seat, propitiatory, laver, altar, priest, high priest, the Lamb of God, sacrifice, offering, candlestick, the shedding of blood, the Tabernacle, the Temple, the Passover, the Firstfruits. All these are parts of the picture of the glory and beauty of God that the New Testament reveals in Old Testament terms.

All the deep principles of godliness are graphically and vividly portrayed in the Tabernacle service: holiness, obedience, glory, consecration, beauty, sacrifice, unity, dedication, fellowship, rejoicing, thanksgiving, forgiveness, mercy, reverence and love.

Bro Growcott - God Enthroned in the Ecclesia and in Our Lives



2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.

What can man offer to God? And yet, God allows us to give. He gives to us first that we may have the pleasure of giving to Him, for all is of Him.

*******

Fifteen (3 x 5) different types of gifts are commanded to be brought, but the essential requirement was, as we read in verse 2, "of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering." Nothing grudging, no compulsion, every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work of the Lord to do it.

Are we among the joyful and blessed number, whose heart stirs them up continually to the work of the Lord? Not as a duty, a task or a burden, but as an eager, irresistible fire in our bones. What an inestimable blessing! Yet this divine joy is freely available to all who seek it. As with the Mosaic Tabernacle, so with the everlasting Tabernacle that God is building from the human race, an eternal dwelling place of God by His Spirit. It must be from the abundance of eager and willing hearts.

Bro Growcott - God Enthroned in the Ecclesia and in Our Lives

***

Freewill has been the basis of all God's requirements of the human race, from the interdict of the forbidden tree in Eden to the summons of the Gentiles by the hands of Paul to repent: not that man has ever been at liberty to disobey in the sense of being able to do so with impunity, but that the command has always been taken to presuppose the exercise of voluntary will, and the possibility of non-compliance as the result of that exercise.

Law of Moses Ch 11



7 Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.

'Precious stones'

God's final encampment upon the earth is to be in a Tabernacle made of materials supplied by the human race--living materials answerable to the precious things offered by Israel, gold, silver, precious stones, representing the good and honest-hearted among enlightened men.


8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

The tabernacle was divided into 3 parts: - the Outer Court, Holy Place and Most Holy Place.

These represent 3 stages in development of a Son of God _' mental (Outer Court), moral (Holy Place) and physical (Most Holy). Now we are in the Holy Place having been enlightened and come out of the Outer Court Apostasy given to the Gentiles (Rev. 1 1.2), which down treads the holy city for forty and two months (1260 years) (Rev. 18.6).

The true servants who endured the privation and persecutions of the Holy (heavenlies in Christ Jesus Eph.l,3,2,7), will enter into the Most Holy state, beyond the veil of the flesh, physically and into the glories of the Kingdom Age or Most Holy perfected state of the Israelitish theocracy.

Bro Richard Lister -

The Apocalyptic Messenger, April 2016

thomas.lister1@btinternet.com



9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

Two words are used for tabernacle - mishkan (dwelling place), from which Shekinah glory, and ohel (tent). So the tabernacle is both a dwelling place of Yahweh (Ex.25.22, PsIm.80:1), as we should be - a God habitation (Eph.2.22, 1 Tim.3:15 - pillar and ground (hedraioma = God habitation), and a tent, showing its temporary nature (strangers and pilgrims in the earth, having no continuing city, but looking for one whose builder and maker is God), where God would "meet and commune" with them (yaad and dabar) and dwell (shakan) with them (Ex.25.8, Is.9.7). *





10 And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.

The ark, mercy seat, and cherubim constituted the very core of the Mosaic economy. Conjointly, they were the apparatus through which the glory of God was visibly revealed, and the meeting point between God and the nation established.


They were secreted in the innermost recess of the tabernacle, concealed behind the veil, and imparting to that recess its character as the Holy of Holies. Whatever, therefore, they may conjointly or separately represent, is of the very first essence of Divine truth---of which the tabernacle was the enigmatical form. What the significance was there can be no difficulty in identifying. But first let us have the literal objects distinctly before us.

The ark was a box of hard wood, about 3 ft. 9 ins. long; 2 ft. 3in. deep; and 2 ft. 3 in. wide. The thickness of the wood is not stated; it would probably be about an inch. The wood was overlaid both outside and inside with pure gold. The box was finished on the top with an ornamental band or crown of gold all round.

Law of Moses Ch 12 **


The material of which the ark was formed carries on the harmony in other directions: wood covered with gold; two substances differing much from one another; the wood of a valuable sort, but still wood, and very inferior to the imperishable and beautiful metal with which it was clothed... an inferior clothed with a higher nature--first morally, then physically....It was therefore a perfect symbol for the sons of God in both stages: the present, when the inferiority of the natural mind is covered over by the golden armour of a Spirit-provided faith, and the future, when the earthly house of this tabernacle is clothed upon with the golden house which is from heaven, in being changed by the Spirit from the mortal to the immortal.

Law of Moses Ch 13 ***

The Ark of the Covenant/ Testimony


11 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.

The crown (or ornamental border) all round the top of the ark, is an intimation of the royal character of the whole organization. It is a kingly institution that is contemplated in the finished work of God on the earth. Christ and his brethren, manifesting the glory of God, will be a community of kings and priests, exercising power, receiving honour, and conferring blessedness--on the basis of God exalted in sacrificial vindication, and honoured by a tried faith (gold) in previous times of evil (wood). ***



12 And thou shalt cast 4 rings of gold for it, and put them in the 4 corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it.

13 And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.

14 And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them.

15 The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.

The rings on the four corners of the ark, to receive the gold-covered wood staves by which the ark might be carried, speak to us of the pilgrim stage of mortal life--during which the ark is carried from place to place as a matter of faith. The rings are gold, because they are part of the complete symbol of the perfect future carried by the poles. The poles are wood, covered with gold, because they represent mortal minds qualified by the knowledge and belief of the truth--a qualification that constitutes them priests, by whom only was the ark to be carried during its wanderings.

The staves were to be left in the rings and never withdrawn (Exod. 25:15), which was an intimation both that the hand of faith would never be taken by faithful men from the divine work as contained in the gospel (for the ark was the gospel in symbol), and that they were to be ready to follow that work in all its movements. The priests never knew where next the ark would have to be carried. The staves left in the rings were a hint to be ready at a moment's notice for the next movement, wherever it might be. The meaning of the parable in our own times can only be that faithful men are expected to follow the fortunes of the truth wherever they may lead. ***



16 And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.

It was intended to contain the stone slabs on which were written the ten commandments that formed the basis of the covenant between God and Israel--from which the ark was called the ark of the covenant.

These slabs were also called the testimony, because they testified or declared the will of God. From this the ark was also called the ark of the testimony. **


The Christ-body in the largest sense is a container and not a mere utensil of beauty. It is not a mere society of beautiful men and women ignorant of God and interested only in themselves. It is a society with internal contents to make it precious to God and advantageous to man.

First of all, the law of God, as represented by the tables of stone, is enshrined in every heart. It is this that distinguishes them from the ordinary run of human beings. The ordinary run of human beings is fitly described in the words of Paul: "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. They are foolishness unto him" Also, "The carnal mind is enmity against God. It is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be"

What a dreadful picture. It is ugly and true. A man that is not subject to the law of God is an abortion even now: how much more if such a one were immortal. Such a one cannot become immortal. The ark with its tables of stone inside is a prophecy that excludes it. It is obedience to divine law that makes a man beautiful to man and well-pleasing to God, and fit for divine use in the age to come.

The purpose is to give the earth into the hands of an order of men who have learnt obedience as the first law. Paul testifies that even Christ "learnt obedience by the things which he suffered" (Heb. 5:8), and Peter describes the accepted members of his body as "obedient children, not fashioning themselves according to the former lusts in their ignorance"...

Christ affirmed of himself that it was his meat and his drink to do the will of Him that sent him.

How happy will the earth be when it is in the hands of men like Joseph who" fear God", and whose controlling feeling towards all forbidden things is, "How shall I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" How different will such an order of men be from the arrogant and merciless possessors of power in the present evil world. When Joseph's brethren rule the world, God, in them, will be seated on the anti-typical throne of His holiness, resting on the anti-typical table-furnished ark, consisting of His manifested sons, on whose hearts the law is written.

This will be the blessedness promised from the beginning for "all families of the earth".

Law of Moses Ch 13 ***




17 And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.

The lid was a plate of pure gold, called the mercy seat, from the function associated with its use. **


The Mercy seat


Mosaic sacrifice has long since passed away in actual use, but its lessons and instructions are just as current as ever as to what God requires of those who seek Him.
The ordinances of sacrifice in general, and Christ's supreme sacrifice in particular -- the one great reality which fulfilled all the shadows -- were representative, NOT substitutionary. This is an essential and fundamental distinction. The substitution idea leads to all sorts of error. The representative principle guides us both in true understanding and true action. Christ's sacrificial death was not as a substitute, instead of us: it was as a representative, on behalf of us. He was one of us. He stood for all mankind. Only as part of him can we approach unto God. All are wrapped up and included in him:

If one died for (on behalf of) all, then were all dead" (2 Cor. 4:14).

This reasoning does not follow if "for" is taken as "instead of.
As a representative, as one of us, a strong one of the sin-stricken race, his death was beautiful and fitting, and a manifestation of God's holiness, and an opening up of a way out of death through travail unto joy, for himself and for us in him.

As one of us, our representative, he opened up the way of life. And we can follow him in that way to eternal life only by dying completely to ourselves and becoming a part of him, completely enclosed in him and covered by him. As a representative, a strong loving Elder Brother to lead the way and carry the weak, he manifested God's love and provision for man.

"BY HIS OWN BLOOD he entered in once into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption" (Heb. 9:12).

"God brought Jesus again from the dead THROUGH THE BLOOD OF THE EVERLASTING COVENANT" (Heb. 13:20).

Viewed as a substitute, dying instead of us, bearing God's wrath, the innocent punished for the guilty, there is no beauty, no justice, no glorifying of God, no manifestation of God's righteousness. God did not in anger punish Christ for our sins. Rather in love He forgave our sins for Christ's sake:
"Whom God hath set forth to be a (hilasterion: a 'mercyseat,' a place of extending mercy) through faith in his blood, for the remission (forgiveness) of sins that are past, that He (God) might be just, and the Justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus" (Rom. 3:25-26).

Christ is the golden mercyseat, the coverlid of the Ark, the Cheribim-throne of the glory of God. The Mosaic mercyseat was purified unto God's service by the sprinkled sacrificial blood-"by his own blood he entered . . ." Viewed as a substitute, the Mosaic sacrifices and the great fulfilling, culminating sacrifice of Christ teach us nothing as to the way we must walk. They just take the responsibility off us and put it on someone else. Substitution is a heathen conception of sacrifice, not a scriptural one.

Perceived as representatives of us, Christ's sacrifice and the Mosaic sacrifices in all their host of detail and regulation teach us a great treasure of guidance and instruction, of solemn responsibility and joyful duty.

"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifices of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His Name ... To DO GOOD and to COMMUNICATE (koinonia: share, distribute) forget not, for with SUCH SACRIFICES God is well pleased" (Heb. 13:15-16).

Bro Growcott - Living Sacrifice



18 And thou shalt make two cherubim of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.

From each end of the lid rose a winged cherubic figure, facing inwards, with wings extended, so as to meet the wings of the other in the middle over the mercy seat. The two figures were formed out of one piece. Four rings were fixed on the sides of the ark to receive two long poles or staves of shittim wood, covered with gold, by which the ark might be easily carried.

Such was the simple structure which formed the throne of God in the midst of Israel when the tabernacle was finished. The divine glory rested on the mercy seat between the cherubim, and communicated with Moses on due occasion.

When Moses, having any matter to submit for the Lord's decision, entered the tabernacle, "then he heard the voice of one speaking to him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim" (Num. 7:8,9).

This was the literal operation of these ordinances for the time then present. Paul declares them to have been "the example and shadow of heavenly things" (Heb. 8:5). It is their significance in this character that is important for us to know: for their literal use has long since passed away. **


The cover-lid or mercy seat was all of gold. This is an intimation that the Mediator (who is the anti-typical propitiatory or mercy-seat) should be without fault, and would exercise his function as intercessor in the immortal state.

The over-arching cherubic glory-bearers were also all of gold and of one piece with the mercy-seat. This takes us forward to the kingdom when the perfect mediator will also be the perfect ruler of all the earth; for the cherubic figures relate to the day of power. Yet since the glory to be revealed springs out of the sufferings of Christ, therefore the cherubic figures stand upon and form part of the blood-sprinkled cover-lid or mercy-seat.

Law of Moses Ch 13***



The meaning of the word "Cherubim" is uncertain. Several meanings have been suggested...

The simplest and most fitting explanation of Cherubim (singular, Cherub, with a hard "ch" sound in the Hebrew) seems to be from Che-rab, "like the Head" (compare Mi-cha-el, "Who like God"). Certainly the basic idea of the Cherubim is likeness to the Head-no meaning could possibly be more fitting or significant.

And Rab, "Head," means greatness, especially numerical greatness. It is translated "great" one hundred twenty-eight times, "many" one hundred ninety times, "multitude" seven times. They are a "great multitude that no man can number."

This matter of likeness to the Head is indeed the very heart of the Truth. The Redeemed who form the Glorious Cherubim figure will be so constituted SOLELY on the basis of their LIKENESS to God and to Christ. Only such as have spent their lifetime endeavoring to develop this likeness will form part of the heavenly host. Those who have spent their energies on other things will not be there.

The Ark and the Cherubim were the heart and center of the whole Mosaic system. This was the only object in the Most Holy Place, and God's glory as it dwelt in the midst of Israel was manifested "between the Cherubim." The Mosaic Cherubim were of "beaten gold." Gold is Faith, and beaten gold is tried, proved, adversity-tested Faith. In Exodus 25:20 we are told-

"Their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall their faces be."

The Cherubim looked perpetually toward each other and toward the Mercy Seat. They looked nowhere else: their interest was nowhere else. Only such as do likewise will become part of them. In like manner, Ezekiel's Cherubim "turned not" (Eze 1:12)-

"They went every one straight forward: whither the Spirit was to go, they went."

Natural Israel never saw the glorious golden Cherubim: the veil was in the way - the "veil of the flesh." The priests who served in the Holy Place continually looked on representations of the Cherubim, for they were woven on the inner veil and the ten inner curtains.

The Mosaic Tabernacle represents the wilderness journey; the Solomon Temple represents the Millennial state. So we find the Cherubim more prominent and visible in Solomon's Temple. Representations of them are there found in the outward Appointments of the Temple, so they can be seen by all the worshippers and not just by the priest. The Cherubim multitude will in that day have been manifested to the world.

Bro Growcott - The Living creatures and the bow


The golden candlestick stood on the left hand of the holy place as one entered from the door.

22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

I will commune with thee

The words, then, that came out of the mouth of Jesus, are to be received as the direct teaching of the Eternal Spirit, and to be interpreted of him. When, therefore, the utterance saluted the ears of the disciples, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father," the Eternal Spirit was communing with them from upon the Mercy-Seat, from between two of the Cherubim upon the Ark of Testimony.

He was speaking of himself, and not of the flesh which he had anointed. That flesh was the caphporeth, coverlid, or propitiatory, to be sprinkled with blood, as the result of the condemnation of sin unto death in the flesh (Rom. 8:3). It was the Veil, which, in regard to the Elohim, Jesus and his Brethren, divides their present and future states. It was the veil rent in twain by the stroke of death, in which the ETERNAL ELOAH "forsook" the Eloah Jesus; and they continued "twain" until his post-resurrectional ascent to the Father (John 20:17).

Eureka 1.2.2.


'... the position occupied by the glory is eloquent in another way. It sat enthroned in the very heart of the tabernacle, which stood in the very middle of the holy court which was reared in the very midst of the chosen families of Levi, whose tents were pitched in the very centre of the whole congregation--an immense encampment of over two millions of people.

God, the centre of Israel's national life--the pivot upon which all their operations, public and private, turned.

What does this tell us but that God should be the centre and root of our lives? Without God, life is barbarous and ephemeral. We see it in nations and individuals around us. They are moved and controlled by their wants, their fancies, their desires--"God is not in all their thoughts", They live without nobleness, and they die without hope. God proclaims to us by the Mosaic parable that He should be first in our knowledge, in our love, in our service, in prayer and hope and continual confidence. **


The Table of Shewbread



23 Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.

The Table (shittim wood [human nature - thorny and hard] covered with pure gold [faith]), of shewbread (bread of the faces/ presence), stood in the holy place (north side), upon it twelve loaves of unleavened bread, eaten by the priesthood every Sabbath, representing Israel's true fellowship with Yahweh which will be perfected in the great Sabbath of the kingdom age, and foreshadowed in the memorial supper of true fellowship, each first day, which connects us directly to the priests of Yahweh partaking of the shewbread under the Mosaic type. (Lev 24;5-9, Num 4;7, Jhn 6;31-65, 1 Cor 5; 6-11, 1 Cor 11). 

The meal table in a household is always a very important gathering place for the whole family, parents and children, young people, to discuss and learn of the wonderful ways of Yahweh, and to eat and enjoy together of his gracious provision for the natural as well as the spiritual man (Prov 1;80 Psa 127;3-5, Deut 6;6-7). A table in the wilderness prepared of Yahweh (Psa 23:5) sustains the faithful in their daily continual (Num 4;7) weekly service to Yahweh, as it did David the shepherd, minding the lambs in the valley of death. *


*


24 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about.

The wood was shittim (thorny acacia), but it is entirely overlain with pure gold so that no flesh is seen (Deity manifestation) (1 Tim 3;16). The gold is pure, that is refined by fire to purge out the impurities (Job 23;10), and speaks as a whole of pure fellowship with Yahweh (Exo 19;5-6) since the table and its use are one and testify to the harmony of fellowship of the body of Israel with Yahweh, a Oneness (Jhn 17), which is marred by heresy (2 Thess 2, 1 Tim 6; 3-5), corruption (1 Cor 5), idolatry (Jer 7), false teaching (Lev 10, 3 Tim 3;13, 2 Tim 4; 2-4) apostacy (2 Pet 2 1-4, 1 Jhn 4;1-4), and this shown by their rejection in BC 606 (2 Kgs 25, 2 Chron 36) and AD 70 (Matt 21;43). *



25 And thou shalt make unto it a border of an hand breadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about.

The Table of shewbread was of special construction, with a crown of gold, and a border, also bearing a gold crown, therefore it had a double crown representing a tried and precious faith and its reward, a crown of righteousness (2 Tim 4;8, Rev 4;4) and the crown of a King Priest (Rev5;10). * 



28 And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them.

The table had four gold rings at the corners for the two staves, to carry it through the wilderness, a heavy burden borne by the Kohathites (Num 3).

This reminds us of the waste howling wilderness (bemidbah) which we are traversing as strangers and pilgrims, with the precious things of the truth, our daily burden (charge) (1 Tim 6;12); and the memorial supper, a temporary institution which will cease at Christ's coming, when the true significance of the One Body will be revealed (Eph 4; 1-6, 1 Cor 10;16-18). *


29 And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them.

Intimately connected with the table were various dishes (chargers = platters Num 7;13), covers and bowls (flagons and chalices)(Ex 25;29), all pure gold, showing that wine, the drink offering was associated with the bread (brought in the golden platters), a feast of fragrance (Phil 4;18, Eph 5;2). Thus a further connection with the memorial supper (bread and wine) is seen, symbolising the great sacrifice of sacrifices, around which our fellowship with one another centres, even the Lord Jesus Christ who freely gave his life that we might obtain life. *



30 And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway.

On the right-hand side of the holy place, against the inner side of the south wall of the chamber, stood a table about 3 ft. long, 18 in. broad, and 2 ft. 3 in. high, made of hard wood covered with gold (Exod. 25:23). On it were placed two piles of cakes, of fine flour, six in a pile, twelve in all. On each pile (or row) was placed a vessel containing a quantity of frankincense in process of burning. The cakes were to be renewed every sabbath, and the old ones eaten by the priests in the holy place.

They were called the shewbread (Exod. 25:30), because always on show, "before the Lord". But what were they there to show? First, the national constitution in twelve tribe subjection to the law of Moses. We learn this from their number, which connects them with the "twelve tribes of Israel", and from the statement that the cakes were to be considered as taken from them as an offering for a memorial (Lev. 24:7-8). This clue unites with certain apostolic expressions in attaching an Israelitish character to the whole economy of true religion and hope and holiness, as existing in this imperfect state.

Law of Moses Ch 14



The typical manner in the wilderness sustained Israel, who fed on the bread of Yahweh, but are dead, so that a more enduring bread is indicated, even the bread of Yahweh, 'which giveth life everlasting'. 'Your fathers ate bread in the wilderness but are dead'. 'The words that I speak they are spirit, they are life.'

But the priests of Yahweh fed on the shewbread every sabbath (Lev 24; 5-8). The bread of the faces, or the bread of the divine presence, where they sat down, Aaron and his sons, in holy fellowship, and partook of the holy bread and drank the holy wine, illuminated by the lampstand in the holy place, an intimate and holy gathering in the divine presence, a feast of Yahweh, redolent with profound significance.

There in the holy place once a week, was union with Yahweh, the name bearing angel, can we comprehend the fulness of this sacred feast. Well it is, or should be there, in the memorial feast, a most sacred gathering in the divine presence, in remembrance of the righteous Son of Deity, who rent the veil of the flesh, opening the way into the Most Holy of all. 'Where two or three are gathered together in my Name, that worship me in spirit and in Truth, I will dwell among them.' (Matt 18;20, Jhn 4;24). *



31 And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.

The golden candlestick stood on the left hand of the holy place as one entered from the door.

The candlestick - illuminate the faces of the Cherubim on the beautiful vail, foreshadowing the future state, when the whole earth will be irradiated with the glory of Yahweh, through the Cherubim (Ezk.l, Rev.4). *


The Seven Branched Lampstand


37 And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.

Ye are the light of the world. ...Let your light so shine before men (Mtt.5.14-16).

The Seven lamps will illuminate and purify the world. Prior to this time of worldwide blessing the splendid ones draw in their glory while the nations are judged and purged forty years.

The lamp was to be kept burning always, continually, and never let go out. So It is with us, the lamp of the Truth has to be kept continually burning, hence Paul's warning to Timothy (2 Tim2:1,2) but look what was happening (2Tim 3.I3, 2Tim 4. 3-4). The ecclesial lampstand of Apostolic Truth, was burning with a smoky flame, and let to go out in apostasy (2Thess.2), which grew and grew into the Man of Sin Apostasy through the first 6 seals (Rev.6), and was already mature by the fourth Seal.

The oil supply of the pure Word was not forthcoming. The children of Israel had to supply the Tabernacle with pure olive oil from their olive trees, in the olive harvest, shaking the trees, and collecting the fruit, crushing the Olives (beaten), and removing, filtering out all bits of flesh, to give the purest best quality olive oil, for the pure flame of the Lampstand, replenished daily (evening and morning) by the Aaronic priesthood.

This typifies the labours and responsibilities of the holy orders of the saints (true believers), now, in their probation. Otherwise darkness, or at best a smudgy corrupt flickering light giving an unclear light, which is darkness (Mtt.6.22,23). This entailed keeping the wicks trimmed daily so that it preserved the pure flame of divine light. In the days of Samuel (Eli), the lamp went out, because of the prevailing Apostasy at Shiloh, and Yahweh destroyed Shiloh by the Philistines (1 Sam.3.3, 4.9-11).

This was a lesson in Jeremiah's day (Jer.7), and is what is found when Christ comes with the same consequences. "When the Son of Man cometh, shall he find The Faith on the earth." (Lk.18.1-7). *

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Seven is the number of divine perfection and spoke of that perfect order which is to come (Rev.21.22,23), after the reign of Gentile darkness symbolised by Six (Rev.13.17,18) These seven lamps were to be lit (cause to ascend) that they might give light over against it (the face if it) (mgn.). That is that they might illuminate the faces of the Cherubim on the beautiful vail, foreshadowing the future state, when the whole earth will be irradiated with the glory of Yahweh, through the Cherubim (Ezk.l, Rev.4).

The seven lamps of fire that issue forth from the throne in Zion, accomplish this of work purifying and purging the earth from of all its superstition, blasphemy and abominations, and humbling down the lofty looks. of man (Rev.4.5, Is.2).

Bro Richard Lister

The Apocalyptic Messenger March 2016



40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.

Let a man study the appointments of the Israelitish worship, and the ordinances thereof, and the provision of suitable structures in connection with that worship; first, in the construction of the tent used during the sojourn in the wilderness, and secondly, in the erection of a more permanent building when the tribes were at rest in " the land of promise."

Let him see how God concerned himself about minute details, and gave instruction concerning matters which were to all appearance of trivial nature. Let him note how the size,

weight, and disposition of all the materials which composed the tabernacle were carefully specified, how a " pattern " was given for its construction, and how the workmen were specially endowed with skill to form the materials in exact counterpart of the design given (Exod. xxv. 9-40; xxxi. 3-6).

Let him note how the same thing was repeated when the Temple (called the Temple of Solomon) was constructed. This also was built after a Divine pattern. David received the design from God (1st Chron. xxviii. 11, 12), and David's son Solomon put up the building

according to this pattern; and, as in the case of the tabernacle, the materials for its construction had been provided by the " spoiling" of the Egyptians in judgment, so in the case of the Temple, the gold and silver and other requisite materials were provided by the Divine

subjugation of the surrounding nations (1st Chron. xviii.7-11; xxix. 10-16).

Neither was Solomon left to his own unaided skill, but he was fortified by God-given

wisdom for the work of construction. Let him, then, study the prophecies which proclaim

the future of the Israelitish race, and he will discover a complete analogy to these two cases. That future will surpass their past in every point. Their national and political ascendancy in the earth will revolutionize the world.

Temple of Ezekiel's prophecy - Bro Sulley.