SEEKING JESUS

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Jesus And The Tabernacle Courtyard (A review)

In our most recent postings, we have introduced the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. We identified the name of the passageway into the Holy Place as the “Truth,” and then correlated it to the “I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life” statement made by Jesus.

We also acknowledged that there are prerequisites for entering the Holy Place. One prerequisite is first passing through the Tabernacle Courtyard seeking God’s forgiveness and a restored relationship with Him. Entering the Courtyard with such a heart also required the support of a priest who burns a blood sacrifice on the Brazen Altar for the forgiveness of the sins. A second prerequisite is that only a purified priest is allowed to enter the Holy Place. This purification occurred as the priests washed at the Brazen Laver. As they did so the priests were able to see their own reflection in the mirror-like surface of the Laver. It is reported that the priests could see themselves as God saw them as they washed. This reflection enabled the priest to contemplate their worthiness to enter into the very holy and special ministry in the Holy Place. This contemplation often brought about the change necessary to enable service as a priest and to move into a much closer relationship with God than was possible in the Courtyard.

Jesus and Moses at the Transfiguration Discuss the Fulfillment of the Tabernacle’s Prophesy

The major revelation of this work is that we successfully demonstrated that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Tabernacle Courtyard. It is through Him that we can develop a closer relationship with the Father. He is the high priest that we come to for the forgiveness of our sins. He is the blood sacrifice that is the payment for our sins and His cross is the Brazen Altar upon which His perfect sacrifice was offered. More than this, He is the Brazen Laver that we look into to see ourselves as God does. It is by looking into His words and His actions (as found in scripture) that we can see the truth about how God sees us. Through this reflection, our hearts are changed and our character becomes more like that of Jesus. These actions are necessary for us to move into a closer relationship with God that is found in the Holy Place (that is also found in Jesus.) This association comes with a relationship, enlightenment, and empowerment for spiritual warfare.

The Tabernacle Courtyard

Therefore, if our focus is to become more like Jesus then the preparation in the Courtyard is necessary to obtain entry into the Holy Place. A crucial component of our preparation is the acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. A second component is our genuine desire to become more like our savior Jesus.

The Table of Show Bread (A review)

We have also introduced the Holy Place of the Tabernacle and more specifically, have presented the Table of Show Bread, which is one of the objects found in the Holy Place. We have identified the entryway into the Holy Place as “the Truth” and correlated this name to the “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life” statement made by Jesus. In addition, we have correlated the Table of Show Bread to the “I Am the Bread of Life” proclamation made by Jesus. We validated this statement by presenting the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fish to the multitude. We also communicated the words of Jesus, who said that those who eat the Bread of Life will never hunger or thirst. Our conclusion of all of this is that Jesus is the Bread of Life and that the Table of Showbread is prophetic of Jesus. Therefore, Jesus is our Table of Showbread, which is symbolic of achieving a familial relationship with the Father.

The Table of Showbread

The Golden Lamp Stand

In this section, we will show that the Golden Lamp Stand is also prophetic of the coming of Jesus. We will accomplish this by presenting scriptures that support this proposition.  We conclude that Jesus is the living Lamp Stand that came down from heaven to illuminate the world with God’s Truth. So now, let’s start by learning a bit more about the Golden Lamp Stand.

The Golden Lampstand which was present in the old temple but damaged was restored to its original form, and kept outside the temple area.

The Golden Lamp Stand is found on the south wall of the Holy place, opposite the Table of Showbread. A diagram that maps the position of the Golden Lamp Stand is presented below:

The purpose of the Lamp Stand is to illuminate the Holy place, and more specifically, the Table of Showbread and the twelve loaves which were placed on it. Its purpose therefore, is to enable us to clearly see the Bread of Life.

The Golden Lamp Stand is made of pure gold that has been hammered into shape. The shape of the Lamp Stand is based on a single main shaft, upon which six arms protrude, three on each side. The base also forms an arm in the center of the Lampstand, therefore, there are seven (seven represents perfection or completeness) arms in all. Each arm carried a lamp (or bowl) at its top. Each lamp was filled with oil (symbolic of the anointing of the Lord) that was burned to provide illumination. The body and arms of the lamp are covered with engraved flowers that resemble lilies, large knobs that represent pomegranates, and smaller knobs that represent almonds. These things are thought to represent the bounty of the Lord. The seven lamps at the top were also in the shape of almonds flowers. A photo of what the Lampstand likely looked like is presented above:

The light of the Lamp Stand burned perpetually in the Holy place. This was achieved by the service of the priests who refilled the lamps each evening and morning. This morning and evening process is often thought to be symbolic of our prayer life. Morning and evening prayer can keep our lamps full so that the pathway to Jesus may be illuminated.

Some believe that the Lamp Stand is modeled after the things in heaven and that the seven lamps represent the all-seeing eyes of the Lord. The following passage from Zechariah communicates these beliefs:

And he said to me, “What do you see?” So I said, “I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.” So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?” Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts. ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of Grace, grace to it!  Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying: The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the LORD, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth. (Zec 4:2-10)

The Golden Lamp Stand, therefore, is symbolic of the eyes of the Lord who knows all things. By coming through “the Truth” and into the Holy place we commune with God. This communion enlightens us with the Truth from God. The burning Lamp Stand is symbolic of prayer that provides the illumination of God.

In our next post, we will look at the life and attributes of Jesus to determine if He is the living Lamp Stand that came down from heaven to enlighten us with the truth from heaven.