From the wilderness of Sinai to the vision of John on the Isle of Patmos, Scripture tells one continuous story: God’s desire to dwell among His people.
In Exodus, He said, “Have them make a sanctuary for Me, and I will dwell among them.” (Exodus 25:8). Centuries later, Revelation reveals that same promise fulfilled in fullness — “the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd… and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:17).
This study walks through the seven sacred elements of the Tabernacle — from the Brazen Altar to the Holy of Holies — showing how each stage foreshadows our spiritual journey toward the New Jerusalem. Every piece of furniture, every ritual, and every ordinance was not just an ancient symbol, but a living prophecy pointing to Yeshua the Messiah — the true High Priest who leads us into God’s eternal presence.
Here we’ll see how the tabernacle pattern mirrors heaven itself, revealing how we are called as priests to serve before His throne — not only in the life to come, but even now, day and night, in spirit and in truth.
Scripture Study:
5 Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” Rev 7:15-17
...have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. 9 Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you. Exodus 25:1-9
#1 - The Brazen Altar - Burnt Offerings (LIFE - PURITY)
The altar of sacrifice (bronze altar) was within the court, facing the entrance. Altar the souls of those who had been slain - Exodus 27; Exodus 30; Exodus 31:8-10; Rev 6:9-11;
#2 - Laver (ETERNAL LIFE - PREPARATION)
17 Then the Lord said to Moses, 18 “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. 19 Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it. 20 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 a food offering to the Lord, 21 they shall wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.” Exodus 30:17-21
#3 - The Table (MACRO PURPOSE)
And make its plates and dishes of pure gold, as well as its pitchers and bowls for the pouring out of offerings (Ex 25:29 - 30) Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it (Re 2:17)
#4 - The ShewBread (MICRO PURPOSE)
Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me at all times. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life (25:30, Re 6:9-11, Re 21:27).
#5 - The Lampstand/Menorah (REV 2 AND 3 - CONSECRATION)
In the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come (Ex 27:21) The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches (Re 1:20)
#6 - Golden Altar Incense (DISCIPLESHIP - WORSHIP)
34 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices —gum resin, onycha and galbanum—and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts, 35 and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred. 36 Grind some of it to powder and place it in front of the ark of the covenant law in the tent of meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you. 37 Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves; consider it holy to the Lord. 38 Whoever makes incense like it to enjoy its fragrance must be cut off from their people.” (Ex 30:34-38)
Four horns of the golden altar/incense (prayer/worship)
The golden altar of incense, which is not to be confused with the brazen altar, sat in front of the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. This altar was smaller than the brazen altar. It was a square with each side measuring 1.5 feet and was 3 feet high. It was made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold. Four horns protruded from the four corners of the altar. God commanded the priests to burn incense on the golden altar every morning and evening, the same time that the daily burnt offerings were made. The incense was to be left burning continually throughout the day and night as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. It was made of an equal part of four precious spices (stacte, onycha, galbanum and frankincense) and was considered holy. God commanded the Israelites not to use the same formula outside the tabernacle to make perfume for their own consumption; otherwise, they were to be cut off from their people (Exodus 30:34-38).
Worshipers - Exodus 33:7-11; Rev 11:1;
7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. 8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. 11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4:21-23
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” 11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been. Rev 6:9-11
5 Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” Rev 7:15-17
3 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. Rev 8:3
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” 11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been. Rev 6:9-11
5 Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” Rev 7:15-17
3 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. Rev 8:3
I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers" Rev 11: 1
#7 - The Holy of Holies (HAVILAH - THE HOLY CITY THE NEW JERUSALEM)
The Tabernacle itself was located at the western part of the court. The Tabernacle was divided by a veil or hanging curtain into two chambers. The first chamber was called the Holy Place, it contained the Table, Lampstand, and Altar of Incense. Only priests were allowed into this section. The High Priest the Holy of Holies only once a year on the Day of Atonement. The second chamber was called the Holy of Holies, it contained the Ark of the Covenant Matt 27:51-53, Exodus 2:9-10, Exodus 25.
http://www.bible-history.com/tabernacle/TAB4The_Outer_Court.htm
City of my God, the New Jerusalem
I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. Revelation 21:22-27
References
- Temple and the Altar
Exodus 39-40; John 4; Heb 10; Rev 3:12; Rev 6:9-11; Rev 7:14-15; Rev 8:3-5; Rev 9:13-16; Rev 11; Rev 14:14-20; - Rev 15:5-8; Rev 16; Rev 21:22-27;
- Pillar in the temple/Tabernacle or Tent of Meetings
Exodus 26; Exodus 35-36; Hebrews 9; Revelation 15:5-8; Revelation 3:12; Rev 21:22-27
