A) AN ILLUSTRATION.

B) NEAREST THE ENTRANCE.

C) TWO PERFECT SQUARES.

 

 

A) AN ILLUSTRATION

 

 

An illustration of Christ in the Sanctuary is found in Numbers, Chapter 2.  If we could get into our imaginary helicopter and fly over the encampment of Israel, we would find the Sanctuary in the center.  Understand that when I say “Sanctuary,” I am speaking of the entire layout, the “court,” with the Brazen Alter and the Laver in it, and the “Tabernacle,” which holds the Holy Place and Most Holy Place.  While if I state, “Sanctuary Proper,” later I’ll call it, the “Tabernacle,” I am only speaking of the “Holy Place” and the “Most Holy Place” combined.  The entire layout would be in a rectangle shape, with the tribe of Levi in the center, around the Sanctuary.

 

Being in order from the furthest to the closest from the Sanctuary, extending East would be the three tribes of Judah (Num. 2:3), Issachar (Num. 2:5), and Zebulun (Num. 2:7).  To the South would be the three tribes of Gad (Num. 2:14), Simeon (Num. 2:12), and Reuben (Num. 2:10).  To the West are the three tribes of Ephraim (Num. 2:18), Manasseh (Num. 2:20), and Benjamin (Num. 2:22).  Lastly, to the North would be the three tribes of Naphtali (Num. 2:29), Asher (Num. 2:27), and Dan (Num. 2:25).  Keep in mind that the tribes furthest from the Sanctuary, Judah, Gad, Ephraim, and Naphtali, these are the fist in the line of defense, should anyone attempt to attack them.

 

The Sanctuary itself, or the entire “court,” is one hundred cubits long by fifty cubits wide (about 150 feet by 75 feet; see Exodus 27:18, based on an 18-inch cubit), and is entirely enclosed with hangings of fine-twined linen, 5 cubits (7 1/2 feet) high (Exo. 27:18; 38:16).  The entrance (discussed later), or “gate,” is at the East End.

 

 

B) NEAREST THE ENTRANCE

 

 

A thing of note is that the tribe of Judah is on the East end, actually furthest to the entrance of the three tribes, thus responsible, and the first line defense for guarding the only entrance to the Sanctuary.  I realize that the Levitical tribe is closest to the Sanctuary door itself, but they were not a military tribe.   In symbolic form, one must be a member of the tribe of Judah, or receive passage permission from the tribe of Judah, in order to enter into the Sanctuary at all.  John 10:9 states:  “I Am the door:  by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

 

The tribe of Levi consisted of four parts surrounding the Sanctuary.  On the east end was Moses, Aaron and his sons (Num. 3:38).  On the North was the Merarites (Num. 3:35).  On the South was the Kohathites (Num. 3:29).  And on the West end was the Gershonites (Num. 3:23).

 

 

C) TWO PERFECT SQUARES

 

 

If we divided the Sanctuary in half, as we most assuredly can, forming two perfect squares, fifty cubits by fifty cubits (75 feet by 75 feet), then we can see very clearly the work of Christ for our salvation.  Entering in from the entrance on the East, going East to West, in our first square, situated on the Eastern side, we would find as our first object, the Brazen Altar.  Continuing West, we would run into the next item, the Laver.  That would comprise the main objects in our first square.  This first square well represents the ministry of Christ while here upon the earth.  His Sacrifice at the Brazen Altar; His resurrection at the Laver, meaning His acceptance of His Sacrifice by the Father, thus the Cleansing prior to entering into the Heavenly Sanctuary Proper itself.

 

Our second square illustrates Christ’s ministration of intercession on our behalf in the Heavenly Sanctuary, because He “ever liveth to make intercession for us,” Hebrews 7:25.  Continuing Westward, on our journey through the second square, we run right into the Sanctuary Proper and enter through the “First Vail” into the Holy Place, with its Table of Shewbread on our right, or north, the Golden Candlestick on our left, or south, and ahead (continuing west) is the Altar of Incense (Exo. 26:35).  Then we travel through the “Second Vail” to find the Ark of the Covenant, in the Most Holy Place.  Divided into two sections, the first compartment, or Holy Place, was 15 feet wide by 30 feet long.  While the second section, or the Most Holy Place, was 15 feet square.

 

Our two sections, discussing the first section first, are what the Word of God labels as the “outer court,” Ezekiel 10:5(the only place the “outer court” is mentioned in the Bible), consisting of the Brazen Altar and the Laver.  While the “inner court,” Ezekiel 8:16, consists of the section that holds the Sanctuary Proper, the Holy Place & Most Holy Place.  According to Isaiah 66:1, we can clearly see that the first section, or “outer court,” well represents our Lord’s ministry while upon this earth, while the second section, or “inner court,” well represents our Lord’s ministry now going on in Heaven.

 

Now we can see the significance of Ezekiel 8:16, and why our Lord was so upset with them:  These, “about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east,” were not only worshipping the rising of the sun, but turning their backs upon God’s Holy Law, which was in the Most Holy Place to the West, even while they were honored as being priests of the Sanctuary.

 

“The ministration of the Sanctuary consisted of two divisions, a daily and a yearly service.  The daily service was performed at the Altar of Burnt Offering in the court of the tabernacle and in the Holy Place; while the yearly service was in the Most Holy.”  PP:351.

 

“The daily service consisted of the morning and evening burnt offering, the offering of sweet incense on the Golden Altar, and the special offerings for individual sins.  And there were also offerings for Sabbaths, new moons, and special feasts.  Every morning and evening a lamb of a year old was burned upon the Altar, with its appropriate meat offering, thus symbolizing the daily consecration of the nation to Jehovah, and their constant dependence upon the atoning blood of Christ.”  PP:352.

 

From EW:32 we read:  “Soon I was lost to earthly things and was wrapped in a vision of God’s glory.  I saw an angel flying swiftly to me.  He quickly carried me from the earth to the Holy City.  In the city I saw a Temple, which I entered.  I passed through a door before I came to the first veil.  This veil was raised, and I passed into the Holy Place.  Here I saw the Altar of Incense, the Candlestick with seven lamps, and the Table on which was the Shewbread.  After viewing the glory of the Holy, Jesus raised the second veil and I passed into the Holy of Holies.

 

“In the Holiest I saw an Ark; on the top and sides of It was purest gold.  On each end of the Ark was a lovely cherub, with its wings spread out over it.  Their faces were turned toward each other, and they looked downward.  Between the angels was a Golden Censer.  Above the Ark, where the angels stood, was an exceeding bright glory, that appeared like a throne where God dwelt.  Jesus stood by the Ark, and as the saints’ prayers came up to Him, the incense in the Censer would smoke, and He would offer up their prayers with the smoke of the incense to His Father.  In the Ark was the Golden Pot of Manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the Tables of Stone which folded together like a Book.  Jesus opened them, and I saw the Ten Commandments written on them with the finger of God.  On one Table were four, and on the Other six.  The four on the first Table shone brighter than the other six.”

 

Keep in mind that the “Inner Court” would comprise of the Sanctuary Proper, which houses the Holy Place with Its articles, and the Most Holy Place with Its articles.  While the “Outer Court” would comprise the Brazen Alter and the Laver.