Location: “Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp” (Num. 2:17)
Courtyard size (100 x 50 cubits): “And likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings of an hundred cubits long… And the breadth of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits.” (Ex. 27:11, 13)
Day of Dedication
God’s Glory fills the temple: “Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” (Ex. 40:34)
Fire from heaven: “And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat.” (Lev. 9:24)
History
Colours on the Gate
Blue – God’s Law
“Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them” (Num. 15:38,39)
Purple – Royalty
“And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels’ necks.” (Judges 8:26)
“And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, And said, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote him with their hands.” (John 19:2, 3)
Red – Blood of Jesus
“Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” (Heb. 9:21,22)
“Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” (Romans 5:9)
White – Righteousness of Jesus
“And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” (Rev. 19:8)
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isa. 1:18)
“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” (Ps. 51:7)
Pillars
Pillars represent God’s People
“Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God” (Rev. 3:12)
“for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and he hath set the world upon them.” (1 Sam. 2:8)
Silver capitals represent the Redeemed
“The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls. And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls.” (Ex. 30:15, 16)
Shekel was a coin that was made of ½ an ounce of silver
White curtain represents Christ’s righteousness: Same as gate
Ashes
Symbolizes destruction of sins:“And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Mal. 4:3)
Collected and taken to a clean place
“And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes” (Lev. 1:16)
“And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar. And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place.” (Lev. 6:10-11)
Brazen Alter of Sacrifice
Construction: “And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits.” (Ex. 27:1)
Location: “And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.” (Ex. 40:6, 29)
Use
Burn fat on the alter: “And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the Lord; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, And Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is upon the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.” (Ex. 3:3, 5)
Put blood on horns and base of alter: “And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering.” (Lev. 4:25)
Fire never to go out: “The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.” (Lev. 6:12-13)
Laver
Construction:
Brass: “Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal” (Ex. 30:18)
Looking Glasses: “And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the lookingglasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.” (Ex. 38:8)
Location: “And thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.” (Ex. 30:18)
Use
Priests wash hands and feet in: “For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat: When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the Lord: So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.” (Ex. 30:19-21)
The Daily Service (9 AM & 3 PM)
When to bring an offering: “And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering” (Lev. 4:27, 28)
Bring an offering
Lamb/Goat: “And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.”(Lev. 5:6)
Two Turtledoves/Pigeons:“And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the Lord; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering.” (Lev. 5:7)
Flour:“But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering.” (Lev. 5:11) Where would you get flour in the desert? Manna! God provided this “bread from Heaven” each morning and the people would collect it and could grind it up into fine flour.
Without blemish: “If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the Lord for a sin offering.” (Lev. 4:3)
Lay hands on offering and kill it
Lay hands on head: “And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering.” (Lev. 4:29)
On North Side: “And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the Lord” (Lev. 1:11)
Sin Offering – sprinkle blood: “And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar.” (Lev. 4:30)
Life in the Blood: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” (Lev. 17:11)
Burnt Offering – burn fat/dove/flour:
“And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour unto the Lord; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him.” (Lev. 4:31)
Priest Makes Atonement for Sinner
Remnant given to priest: “And the priest shall make an atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him: and the remnant shall be the priest’s, as a meat offering.” (Lev. 5:13)
Priest eats from sin offering: “The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation.” (Lev. 6:26)
Prophetic Symbolism (Christ’s Life)
All the metals in the courtyard are brass – representing the Earth (inferior to gold)
All the metals in the tabernacle (holy & most holy place) are gold – representing Heaven
Christ’s walk in the Sanctuary
Pillars at the Door of the Tabernacle – Christ came down to earth: These pillars are gold from the top down, but their bases are brass. Why? Jesus came from Heaven (gold) to the Earth (brass).
Laver – Christ’s baptism at Jordan river: “But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.” (Matt. 3:14, 15)
Alter – Sins upon Christ at Garden of Gethsemane:
Cup/Blood: “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:42-44)
Cup of Wrath/Fire: “The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb” (Rev. 14:10)
Lamb killed on north of Courtyard = Christ killed outside of Jerusalem on north side
Without blemish: “Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him” (Luke 23:14)
Fulfillment of Courtyard service
Services at 9 AM & 3 PM – Christ on cross at 9 AM and died at 3 PM
“And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.” (Mark 15:25)
“And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” (Luke 23:44-46)
Christ’s ascension into heaven – Heavenly Sanctuary
“So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.” (Mark 16:19)
“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.” (Acts 1:9)
Personal Application
Convicted of our sin: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:7, 8)
Accept Christ as our lamb
Alter – Holy Spirit (fire) burns off the cords of sin, teaches us to hate sin
Pentecost: “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.” (Acts 2:1-3)
Living Sacrifices: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Rom. 12:1, 2)
Laver – Physical and Spiritual baptism: “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5)
