So I heard an ad on a local Christian radio stations about a church having a replica of the Tabernacle. In which it stated,

“A life-size replica of the Tabernacle as described in the Old Testament will be set up on our property.  MP3 guided tours will be available.”

And as many of your may know this of course this peaked my interest, being that I’ve really been studying and embracing the Hebraic foundations of our Christian faith.

Preface: Here is a brief recap of my interest into the Messianic Jewish roots to our Christian faith. I got saved in an Assemblies of God church, that was experiencing and outpouring of the Holy Spirit after its leadership had went to the Brownsville Revival in Pensacola, Florida. I hadn’t heard of it before, however the presence of the Spirit was strong, I received healing and was Baptized in the Spirit. I started going to bible school and went to visit the Pensacola Outpouring myself. I found some interesting things about the revival that have changed my life and perspective. Upon reading “When The Heavens Where Brass” I found out that Pastor Kilpatrick credits Dick Reuben for laying the foundation for the revival that happened there. While I was down there I picked up Dick Reuben’s teaching on the Pattern For Revival. About this time they were starting the Brownsville School of Ministry with Dr Michael Brown (Another Messianic Jew) as the head of the school. I was really feeling the Holy Spirit and thinking this can’t be a coincidence. I had also been listening to a teaching series from Tommy Tenney on the Tabernacle and the revival he was experiencing. This really started to wet my appetite for studying the Jewish and Hebraic heritage to the bible. I started doing a lot of studying of the Temple, the Tabernacle and the Feasts of the bible. I even started seeking out to take part in them and experience them for myself. I kept meditating on this statement that Dick Rueben was saying “when the pattern is right the glory will fall,” I couldn’t get it out of my spirit. The “pattern” he was talking about was that of the “tabernacle of Moses.” Since then I’ve done a lot of study on the Tabernacle or Israel. As part of my study I’ve started wearing a Talit myself when I attend congregation. A Talit (Prayer Tent-Shawl) is symbolic of the biblical Tabernacle and reminds us of our priestly duties. it’s a personal Tabernacle, the “Prayer Closet” Yeshua referred to, in the Beatitude sermon. It is also the “Tent” that Paul made by trade and the “Prayer Cloth” Peter blessed and healed the person who received it. Elijah’s mantle, was an earlier version of the modern Talit. A Talit is a portable prayer tabernacle and reminds the man of his duty as priest of the home. so as you can image this is a topic close to my heart.

Based on my experience, anything about the Tabernacle is an exciting idea plus I love the “Feast of Tabernacles” and camping. So I got my wife and son in the car and we headed down to check out this “Tabernacle Experience” they called it.

A Traveling Display or Experience?

So we arrived, we saw a church with and outdoor tent encampment. I’m thinking of a Tabernacle “experience” much like what is pictured above and its kind of similar from the outside. Maybe a little shorter. As we get out the car and are find where to pay (um, no merchandising the temple here, wait? Didn’t Jesus make a whip of cords for merchandising? in the temple?) and pick up the mp3 player for our experience, I noted some “trinkets” that look like TBN monthly donor gifts and I noted some blown glass trinket from “Egypt” of all places and it got me thinking, wait, pause! “Thats not Kosher!” “Tabernacle and trinkets from Egypt,” thinking to myself “Didn’t G-d deliver them OUT OF Egypt?” I had prayed and preparing my heart for a powerful “experience” I had taken a shower before leaving praying in a ritual “Mikvah” fashion asking G-d to forgive my sins, prepare my heart and I was earnestly wanting to encounter the Glory (Shekinah Kavodth) of G-d’s presence as I had when I was studying and praying through the Tabernacle on my own. Well the trinkets where a little check, in my spirit, but I was like, hey its the Tabernacle, how can you go wrong? Well see, optimism is good, but being blind isn’t.

Before entering they give you a pamphlet to read and then you have to wait in line to get your mp3 player. So I’m reading the pamphlet and the story is reading kind of “interesting” more like a Home Depot masonry builders manual for the tabernacle with references to craftsman, “the Master Architect,” the National Shrine, Moses being a foreman or draftsman type of construction contractor or overseer and the Levites where paid laborers, staff or professional clergy. At this point I was pausing and thinking, “hmm, could this be? Nah!” And then I read the testimony that I had seen on the website on the back of the pamphlet and it seems to have new added information. I’m finding there’s details they “conveniently” left off of the website, like the denomination that this is part of and the name of one of the people who is formative in that denomination. Now, I must state that this denomination has been through some controversy, bad press coverage and even accusations from former pastors that it was a Masonic organization. It doesn’t help that coming from a family that was involved in “Knight of Columbus” and having a dad that’s a stone mason (he builds abode brick homes for a living). I’m keenly aware of Free Masonry’s vices and influence, to my chagrin. So at this point my joy is turned to praying in the spirit for discernment and praying that the Lord would keep my heart. To me it was more of a “display” piece or museum style “exhibit” that they should have left off the description “experience.” Its not as bad as it may sound just a cautionary tale.

Here is how they bill the experience from their website and literature.

“Just as the original Tabernacle moved from town to town in the days of the Old Testament – our life-size replica travels across the United States, impacting communities and churches from California to North Carolina. Your church can host this interactive spiritual journey – which allows each visitor to feel as though they have walked through the real Tabernacle of Moses. Consider bringing this one of a kind experience to your Church and Community. Reservations are limited each year.”

By reading this you get the impression that its going to be more like an “experience” than an “exhibit” or “display” right? Well, I did. I should have known better, right? However, upon reading the literature they handed out on site which is more informative than their website, I knew it wasn’t going to be a biblically “kosher” or completely accurate “experience.” Which if you get the basics right your okay in my book. Which you can’t go wrong when its the Tabernacle of G-d, right?

So here’s how the literature reads further;

“The Experience: One step inside the Courtyard translates you into Old Testament times and brings you face to face with a life-size replica of the Tabernacle of Moses. A privately narrated tour through the seven interactive stations draws you further into the exhibit.”

Seven? Um, mine had ten stations on the tour. But hey. It’s all good. Accuracy isn’t vital here, where talking about an out dated temple, right? Err, it is G-ds temple so we should care about accuracy, right? Oh, and in the literature they point out that the temple is only 10 feet high when it’s supposed to be 15 feet high, and they state, we had no proper representation for the Golden altar or the Bronze laver.

“The Tabernacle Proper measure 15’ in height this Tabernacle Proper measures 10’. Otherwise all other dimensions are accurate. The Bible does not mention the dimensions of the Lampstand or The Laver.”

So wait, you said that it’s an accurate representation that’s a “replica” and then, well were not exactly sure or accurate? So um, well, its nice to see that you are showing something that many have not gotten to see or understand. I do really appreciate that. Seriously, I do!

As you read on it states,

“As you journey through the stations of this exhibit, the person of JESUS CHRIST is revealed in every aspect of the Old Testament Tabernacle. The Experience is formative as well as informative. It is simple, yet utterly profound. You will leave with a clearer understanding of Biblical history, worship, atonement of sin, and with a powerful message about the HOLINESS and the GRACE of GOD given to us through the death and resurrection of JESUS.”

Okay, so another clue “stations of” I’m like that sounds like the “Stations of the Cross.” More on that later.

As it comes to a close it states:

“Our hope for you is that, as you journey through GOD’s house, you would be ushered out of the ordinary and into His extraordinary presence. This is The Tabernacle Experience!”

Now this is the part that was misleading because I was prayed up and ready for an encounter with the glory of G-d only to be disappointed in that aspect that as far as it being “a” depiction of the tabernacle, it was “a” depiction, “a” replica, that they admit wasn’t “completely” accurate.

We then get the MP3 player that walks you through the station of the tabernacle. This seriously reminded me of the stations of the cross that Orthodox churches have you go through about the time of Easter and then it hit me. “We ARE coming up on the Easter and Passover season,” oh so this is something like “the stations of the cross” but for non-Orthodox believers. You can’t exactly do the stations of the cross and say well this isn’t the stations of the cross. Kudos for originality, sort of. Anyways, so I’m listening to the tape, hoping for some historical or Jewish perspective only to be disappointed. Its was a pretty descent replica of the Tabernacle and it took you through the actual items in the temple, however it didn’t really cover the proper perspective and historical use of many of the items. And that’s the part where I felt the “experience” went wrong. Had they said it simple a “replica” were you can view it and see what it looked like, I would’ve still went to see it and been okay. I prefer to know things like that in advance. I was all excited about this experience to only be let down and on a topic that I care so much about it was disappointing to say the least.

So lets go through the experience and I’ll walk you through the stations of the Tabernacle they had set up, what they pointed out and what my thoughts were:

“Weave the tunic of fine linen and make the turban of fine linen . . . Make linen undergarments as a covering for the body, reaching from the waist to the thigh. Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die,” ~ Exodus 28:39,42-43

The first station is the white linen garment, which is just a piece of cloth in a bowl, you listen to an explanation about the costly cloth the priests used for their garments. And you get to keep a square to take with you. Thank you for the souvenir, because well the “Egyptian” blown glass I won’t be buying today is not on my souvenir list today.

“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags,” ~ Isaiah 64:6

They point out how all are righteousness is like a filthy rag and they mention that the priest would go through a Ritual Mikvah (Bath) before putting on their priestly robes and entering the priestly duty.

“They built the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood, three cubits high; it was square, five cubits long and five cubits wide. They made a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar were of one piece, and they overlaid the altar with bronze,” – Exodus 38:1-2

The next station is the Altar of Burnt Offering, where the sacrifices were made for the atonement of the people of Israel’s sins. This is the place that I wish there was a clear message on the atoning work of the Cross and honestly since Yeshua is our Paschal (Passover) lamb, there should have been a cross or focus on the fact that Yeshua died so we don’t have to sacrifice animals for the remission of sins. This would have been an excellent focal point for the salvation message through Yeshua’s shed blood.

They do mention that sinners would place their hands on the head of the sacrificial animals to symbolize their transgression being transferred to the sacrifice for their sins. At this point it started to feel like an Orthodox indulgence or something, they have you take a piece of wood and throw it in the fire “symbolizing” you throwing your sins in the fire. Yeshua died so I don’t have to throw anything in a fire. A piece of wood doesn’t relate to a blood sacrifice, its more like a barbecue than and bonfire. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. Yeshua fulfill d that once for all so that no one and nothing has to pass through fire for sin anymore. I really wish the power of Yeshua’s death as our mediating sacrificial lamb was preached at this point not a stick thrown in a fire. The focus was on transferring our sin unto the “cross” as what the altar represented. Which the focus was on the sacrifice not the altar, the sacrifice was for the remission of sin. Yeshua took on our sin not the cross, it was with great weeping and agony on Gethsemane that Yeshua received the wages of our sin that He bore on the cross for us. The cross doesn’t remove sin Yeshua blood does. Which He was on a Cross when He died for us. However the two guys crosses next to Him can’t save. Its Jesus blood that saves.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a bronze basin, with its bronze stand, for washing. Place it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it. Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it. Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die. Also, when they approach the altar to minister by presenting an offering made to the Lord by fire, they shall wash their hands and feet so that they will not die,” ~ Exodus 30:17-21

The Bronze Laver was the next station. Psalms states the those who approach G-d must have clean hands and a pure heart. The ritual of washing your hands and traditional prayer upon washing your hands is a significant one.

Baruch attah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam asher kiddeshanu bemitvotav vetzivanu al netilat yadayim

Blessed are you, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments and has commanded us about washing the hands

*Note the traditional Hebraic prayers and context was not referenced during the “Tabernacle Experience,” I have included them for reference.

The focus here was upon the priests need to clean up after their sacrificial duties and before entering the Holy Place. Adonay’s command was that they were to clean themselves before they began their duties. This cleansing wasn’t about being clean as it was about preparing your heart and mind. The scripture “you shall love Adonay your Elohim with your whole mind, body and soul” was upon my lips before entering the outer courts. I kept having a desire to pray the “Shema” and the “Aaronic benediction,” as I was in a representation of G-ds most holy place. I desire to be right when I am in G-ds presence.

They stated that this ritual of washing represented the purified life of service before G-d. Here is another point that I felt the focal point should have been on Yeshua’s blood washing away our sins as scarlet and making us white as snow. The fact that water and blood came out of Yeshua’s side is significant in that He forgave our sins as a sacrificial lamb and washed us with His blood, making us clean before the Father. Yeshua removed the requirements of the Outer Courts because Adonay desires for us to come in and “tabernacle” with Him to “sup” with Him in the cool of the day.

They stated that in the New Testament “its through the watering of the word we are washed” and though that’s true, after conversion! I wish they focused on the power of the blood to wash away our sins.

“They made the bronze basin and its bronze stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting,” – Exodus 38:8

They did make a good point here about how they used women’s mirrors to make the bronze laver and I like how this parallels that The Word causes us to see our reflection. This was a good point that sunk home with me. Jesus does cleanse us the church “to make her holy, cleansing her by washing with water through the word and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless,” (Ephesians 5:26-27).

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the Lord a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them. Each one who crosses over to those already counted is to give a half shekel. . . This half shekel is an offering to the Lord. All who cross over, those twenty years old or more, are to give an offering to the Lord. The rich are not to give more than a half shekel and the poor are not to give less when you make the offering to the Lord to atone for your lives. Receive the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting. It will be a memorial for the Israelites before the Lord, making atonement for your lives,” ~ Exodus 30: 11 – 16

The next station is the Golden Boards and Silver Bases. They point out that the ransom money was used to fashion the golden boards. Acacia wood covered in gold like the rest of the furnishings of the Tabernacle. It’s important to note that the cross that Yeshua was hung on was most likely made of Acacia wood. The 48 silver foundations where used to support the boards. G-d’s commanded the same amount as a ransom from everyone. HaShem shows no partiality. Every Jew was required to give a half shekel to atone their lives. They did make a powerful point here that Adonay still requires the same ransom for all of us. The atonement for our transgressions is the same and its fulfilled by Yeshua. We are all equal when it comes to being joined as heirs of G-ds promises, to Abraham’s descendent and those who accept His seed, HaMaschiach, as their fully adopted brothers into the Common Wealth of the Household of Israel.

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect,” ~1 Peter 1:18-19”

The next station was the Lampstand, a Menorah, with one stem and three branches on each side, totaling seven candles and it was the size of a man. The display lamp held candles however the biblical lamp was an oil lamp that contained pure olive oil, (Exodus 25:31-40). The Menorah in the Tabernacle was a piece of gold that was hammered from one piece. Of course they didn’t call it a Menorah, they just call it a lampstand.

Baruch atah Adonay Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kidshanu bemitzvotav vetzevanu o goyim v’natan-lanu et Yeshua Meschicheinu o ha-olam. Amayn.

Blessed are you, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments and has commanded us to be a light to the nations and Who gave to us Yeshua the Messiah, the Light of the World. Amen.

The Levites were commanded to “keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening till morning,” (Exodus 27:20-21). I couldn’t help but reflect upon the Chanukah story and how the New Testament records Yeshua in Jerusalem at the time of Chanukah during the feast he declares himself to be “the light of the world.” I was thankful of Yeshua being our Chanukah light and reflected on my family’s Chanukah celebration this past year. The story of Chanukah is the miracle of the Feast of the Dedication where they only had enough oil for one day and once G-d lit the oil he miraculously made it burn for eight days till fresh “kosher” anointing oil could be made. It was a powerful miracle and Yeshua declared himself to be that “Light.” Yeshua calls us a city on a hill and a light to the world. We should reflect that light and just like on Chanukah you put the light out where all the world can see and not hide it, we should shine bright.

Now I was a little confused on the next part when they asked us to extinguish one of the branches and re-light it. Um, this made me pause because it was believed that G-d would light the candle and it was the priest duty to keep it full of oil and not let the oil run down so that the fire wouldn’t die. G-d was the one who lit the fire, not a work of mans hands. The priests duty was to keep the oil full, the lamp ready and burning, to not let the fire go out. They would pray and dedicate the lamp and believe G-d to miraculously ignite the fire. I like this because its a focus on G-d being the one who ignites the fire and passion, its not a strange fire or work of man.

“Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.” Psalm 43:3

When the Israelites were in the wilderness Adonay would send fire by night to guild his peoples. He wanted to bring His children to His holy mountain. When YHVH was on the mountain revealing Himself to Moshe (Moses) He stated some things that where profound to me, He said “I wilt that all were prophets” and He also said “tell the people to sanctify themselves for tomorrow I will come down the mountain.” G-d wanted to have a relationship with all of Israel and all His people like He did with Moshe and Adam to walk with them and talk with them. That is why Yeshua came to rend the veil and give us free access to boldly come before the thrown. He tour down the dividing wall in His blood.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;” Numbers 6:24-25

They mentioned how light is symbolic of the presence of G-d. He G-d gives light to his people to keep us from stumbling in the darkness of this world. They did mention the Aaronic Benediction here as a prayer prayed by the Aaron.

Aaronic Benediction

Ya-ve-recha Adonay ve-yeesh-me-recha. Ya-er Adonay panav e-ley-cha vee-choo-ne-cha Yeesa Adonay panav e-lay-cha v’yasem l’cha Shalom. B’Shem Yah’shua ha-Ma-she-ach sar ha-shalom, shalom.

May the L-rd bless you and keep you. The L-rd make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you; may the L-rd life up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. In the name of Yeshua the Messiah, the Prince of Peace, Shalom.

They mentioned that the Lampstand was the only light in the Tabernacle, and that Yeshua the only true light in this world. Yeshua shines through our darkness so we can see G-d’s radiance and experience it in our lives.

“Make a table of acacia wood. . .Overlay it with pure gold and make a gold molding around it. . . and make its plates and dishes of pure gold, as well as its pitchers and bowls for the pouring out of offerings. Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me at all times,” – Exodus 25:23-24, 29-30

The next station was the Table of The Show Bread (or Bread of Presence). They did pretty good here. They got it right stating that the Shewbread, also meant Bread of Presence or Face Bread. Yah’s glory is akin to His face or presence. Have you ever brushed up against someone you love cheek to cheek. When I feel the intimate presence of G-d in worship this is how I feel that G-d face is pressing against mine. I remember how Yeshua said, “I Am, The Bread of Life” and that He says “I want to come in and Sup with you.” Yeshua when He instructed His disciples on the Amidah (standing prayer), “when you stand praying,” He reminded them to pray this way “give us this day our daily portion of the bread.” I find it interesting that it says “the bread” not just “bread” but “the” bread. We should seek G-d face and presences daily. Not just the works of His hands.

Ha Motzi

Baruch atah Adonay Eleoheinu Melech ha-olam, ha-motzi l’chem min ha’eretz. Amayn.

Blessed are thou, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth. Amen.

It was a common practice to break bread and drink wine. It was very similar to chips and dip being offered when you go to a friends house. Well this is one of the first things offered in G-ds house is to break bread with him. I love this. As it speaks of spiritual food and physical food, its speaks of relationship and intimacy. The twelve loaves represented the twelve tribes of Israel and the union they shared with HaShem. At that time, when you broke bread, it was believed that two lives where bonded together, when they shared meal. That’s why in the betrothal sharing a glass of wine is symbolic of the acceptance of betrothal, it was believed there was a bond shared and that the drinking of win and breaking of bread was symbolic of the commitment and bond shared. The offering of twelve loaves every Sabbath was an acknowledgement of their dependence upon G-d for the bond that kept their lives together.

Kiddush

Baruch atah Adonay Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, borey p’ree ha-gaphen. Amayn.

Blessed are thou, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine. Amen.

At this point they went into a spiel about Eucharist and instead of biblical Chalah bread they had some broken Matzo with wine and suggested partaking of the Eucharist. I wish there was some Chalah bread as it is the Table of Show Bread. However it does deepen many Protestants commitment to partaking in Eucharist as a way to remember the L-rds death. So I can appreciate that. Though a proper understanding of the Chalah Bread and weekly partaking in the Shabbat blessing of breaking the breed and giving thanks would do wonders for their walk with Yeshua. They did focus on the power that sharing the Bread has in bounding you into one body, as the covenantal body of believers.

”May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice,” ~Psalm 141:2

The seventh station is the Altar of Incense. Which is one of the most powerful revelations to me. In Revelation we see where the Martyred saints are crying out to G-d and it says their prayers rise like incense before our G-d. Isaiah 42:12-17 says that our worship stirs up the heart of God to fight for us in His zeal. I see our prayers as incense that rises up to the nostrils of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah causing him to release a holy roar on our behalf. For the cubs of a Lion the roar of their father is reassuring however for a prowler sneaking up to prey upon them its a fearful thing because it strikes fear in the heart of his enemies.

Jeremiah 25:30 says, “The Lord will roar from on high, And utter His voice from His holy habitation; He will roar mightily…”

The incense was to be burned on the altar day and night. The focus here was upon smelling the incense (which wasn’t kosher sacrificial incense) and watching it billow up. It was interesting to think of our prayers raising up to reach G-d’s nostrils to stir Him up to roar on our behalf.

On Yom Kippur, the day of Atonement, the High Priest would take two handfuls of incense into the Holy Place, which would create a cloud of smoke that would conceal the Mercy seat in the Holy of Holies. One of the duties of a priest it to be a go between a mediator between men and G-d. It was believed that if the priest looked upon the glory of G-d that resided over the Mercy seat they would die, (Leviticus 16:12-13). So they believed the cloud of smoke from the incense would protect them. The aroma from the sacrifices and incense were pleasing to G-d, (Leviticus 1:9). Our prayers are like that sweet smelling aroma rising up and pleasing G-d. The Priest would on the Day of Atonement put on the Ephod, the Breastplate of Righteousness, and it had stones on the Shoulder and they would go into the Holy of Holies. The heart had to be right and protected as he went into the Holy of Holies carrying the weight (of the sins of Israel) of the stones on his shoulders. That is where the statement the weight of the world on his shoulders or having a boulder on your shoulder came from. Yeshua felt the weight of the world come upon Him in the garden of Gethsemane and He carried the weight of the worlds sins all the way to the crucifixion. It is His shed blood that rent the veil so we can boldly go before the throne and plead for G-ds mercy and grace.

The next station was the Curtain that took you into the Holy of Holies which in the actual Tabernacle had no door. The High Priest had to pray for the L-rd to miraculously open the door so that he could take the sins of Israel into the Holy of Holies and there present them before the Mercy seat to plead for G-ds grace and mercy and that the sins of the people Israel be rolled back and atoned for one more year. This is the miracle of Yeshua’s death on the cross this veil was rent from top to bottom, removing the dividing wall once for all in His blood and giving us free access to the glory of G-d. Being grafted into the Family of God and being Joint heirs of the promises to the Children of Abraham who are partakers of this Renewed Covenant this is a powerful promise and blessing. G-d desires that we know Him and seek to know Him more and more, to go from glory to glory, and from height to height, experiencing every abounding grace.

Once inside, you are in the Holy of Holies, the place that the Glory of G-d actually dwelled. You are in the place that the Shekinak Kavodth (the weight of G-ds presence) resided with man. Yahweh no longer dwells in any temples of man, since Yeshua rent the veil the Holy of Holies is now within each of us. Our body’s are the new temples and our hearts are the inner most Holy of Holies. I’m a get into that a little more in a minute.

Once inside you see the Ark of the Covenant with the two Cherubim on top of it. This is the second to last station. In the ark of the covenant is the tablet with Ten Commandments on them (written by G-ds hand), Aaron rod with the Almond Blossom and a container of Manna. There is great significance in these articles. I’ve written a few blogs that cover the significance of these items and how they speak to the three temptations that Yeshua faced after his fast, the fall of Adam and the three sins we all are tempted with. Namely the pride of life, the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh. Understanding these articles and the story how they got in the ark, is key to understanding the victory Yeshua had when tempted and how we can overcome temptation. We overcome by the blood of the lamb, the word of our testimony and by giving our lives up for Yeshua. The Ark of the Covenant, the Ark of the Testimony is a powerful but simple piece in the temple. As there is no idolatry is allowed in the commandments it makes sense that a box containing some basic instruction and showing the provision and miracles of G-d be central. Its not big painting, no statue, no idol to worship, just a box that contains G-d’s instructions to us, shows His blessing upon the priest He ordained and His miraculous provision for us all.

The last station was the Atonement Cover. And I found this to be the most significant part to me. They focused on the Atoning cover and the Mercy seat. I really started to understand. Psalms where it says “my word I have hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.” As they focused on the Atonement Cover, literally covering the law I realized it is G-d’s forgiveness and grace shown in the Tabernacle pattern that reveals the greatest truth about Grace. As Paul said “The law is a tutor to bring you to Christ,” and once there if you fear G-d and “hide His law in your heart,” His grace covers you, teaches you to do right and enables you to do what’s right. Every year the high priest pleaded at the mercy seat,  above G-d’s law and the people of Israel received mercy and grace. God upholds His word before His name. That is awesome. Yeshua remove the need to annually ask for that mercy and grace. Its now freely available to all repent (T’shuva – turn from) their wicked ways and confess Yeshua as L-rd and Savior. At this point they went into some “replacement” theology stuff about how being gentile is better than a Jew where I started to tune it out and focus on worship. “To the Jew first and then to the gentile” however we are grafted into the Household of Israel through Yeshua the seed of David “there is therefore no longer, Jew nor Greek, male or female” in the body Yeshua the price for us all was the same and it was paid so that we can come into G-d’s presences and meet with Him face to face.

At this point they started playing the worship song Shema

Shema Yisrael, Adonay Eloheinu, Adonay echad. Baruch shem ke-vod mal-choo-too lay-olam vaed.

Which translates, “Hear O Israel, the L-rd our G-d, the L-rd is One. Blessed be His name, whose glorious kingdom is forever and ever. Personally I would have put a song like “Let The Weight Of Your Glory Fall”  or “Kadosh” because I wanted to “encounter” Gods glory however the Shema wasn’t a bad choice as it is a traditional prayer, that is prayed every day and weekly in the synagogue.

My “Tabernacle Experience” was deeply personal, though guarded which goes to show is not the place but the attitude and heart that count when seeking G-ds face. I’m thankful that the church hosted the Tabernacle experience. I believe that a lot more Christians need to be exposed to these kind of biblical explorations into the biblical foundations. The congregation that is hosting this is also doing a Christian Passover Seder. So it was a good experience. There were a couple things I wish had known first so that I wouldn’t have had any false expectations but other than that I do appreciate the experience.

Sincerely,

Jeramiah Giehl

aka Just para-DOX

Here is a good site that explains the Tabernacle from a New Covenant perspective and a Historical Jewish perspective: http://www.hebroots.org/tabernacleoverview.htm.

Here is what you would find in the biblical tabernacle:

The Tabernacle

Outer Courts

Outer Gate

Outer Courts – Gentiles Court

The Golden Altar

The Bronze Laver (Wash Basin)

 

The Holy Place

Made of Boards and Bars

Door of The Sanctuary

 

The Table of Showbread

 

The Golden Lamp Stand

The golden incense altar

Holy of Holies

The Ark of the Covenant

 

It Was Covered With Two Cherubim, It Was Made of Acacia Wood (The Cross Yeshua died on was made of Acacia), and Beaten Gold

Inside The Ark It Held:

1. The Ten Commandments
2. Aarons Rod with the Almond Blossom
3. A Container of manna

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