Category Archives: Scripture

Scripture Studies

The Tabernacle Courtyard and Outer Gate—YESHUA, YESHUA, YESHUA!

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Exodus 27:9–19, Court of the tabernacle. The tabernacle’s outer court was approximately 150 feet long by 75 feet wide (or 11,250 square feet, which is about one-fourth of an acre) in size.

The curtains of the outer court (Exod 27:9–19) were made of fine white linen and was seven-and-a-half feet tall. The linen curtains speak of robes of righteousness the bride of Yeshua will wear on her wedding day (Rev 19:8).

Sixty pillars supported the outer curtain. They were set in heavy bronze (or brass) bases topped by silver capitals. These pillars represent redeemed humanity wearing robes of righteousness. Wood symbolizes humanity, while bronze symbolizes judgment against man because of sin, and silver represents redemption or Elohim’s ransom price for man’s sin.

The Outer Curtain in More Details. 

The outer curtain was approximately 150 feet long by 75 feet wide and seven and-a-half feet tall. The curtain was just tall enough so that a tall man could not look over the top and see inside. The curtain was made of fine-twined white linen which stood in stark contrast to the surrounding gray-brown drab desert surroundings. White linen represents robes of righteousness. The priests wore white linen robes (Exod 28:39–43) and the bride of Yeshua is expected to wear such garments (Rev 19:8). YHVH’s people are called a nation or kingdom of priests (Exod 19:6; 1 Pet 2:9; Rev 1:6; 5:10; 20:6). Men’s righteousness is as filthy rags (Isa 64:6) and our sins have separated us from Elohim (Isa 59:2), but YHVH has made provision for man’s sins to be washed away and for man to become white as wool or snow (Isa 1:18).

This curtain formed a barrier between man and Elohim, between the profane or polluted and the sacred and pure. The height of the curtain was just a little taller than a tall man to teach unsaved man that the way of salvation is not impossible for him to achieve, yet it is just beyond his reach, as well, without coming through the prescribed way—through the Continue reading →

 

The Bronze Altar and the Cross

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As we continue our tour of the Tabernacle of Moses, the Torah takes us next to the bronze altar of sacrifice just inside the tabernacle’s door. Everything occurring in the tabernacle revolved around this altar—EVERYTHING!

This fact is highly significant, since this altar points to the “altar” of the cross on which Yeshua the Messiah died for our sins. This is one truth that the mainstream church has gotten wonderfully right: the cross and what happened there is the central point of the gospel message.

One cannot read the writings of the apostles and fail to see this unless one is sadly spiritually naive and spiritually blind!

Exodus 27:1–8, An altar. As we continue our tour of the Tabernacle of Moses, the Torah takes us next to the bronze altar of sacrifice just inside the tabernacle’s door. Everything occurring in the tabernacle revolved around this altar—EVERYTHING! This fact is highly significant, since this altar points to the “altar” of the cross on which Yeshua the Messiah died for our sins. This is one truth that the mainstream church has gotten wonderfully right: the cross and what happened there is the central point of the gospel message. One cannot read the writings of the apostles and fail to see this unless one is sadly spiritually naive and spiritually blind! 

Just inside the door of the tabernacle was the altar of sacrifice. It was made of acacia wood overlaid with bronze, which is a prophetic picture of Yeshua the Messiah bearing the judgment for men’s sins on the cross. The blood of the sacrifice was poured out on the ground at the base of the altar symbolically picturing Yeshua shedding his blood at the cross. Two lambs were offered at the altar morning and evening (Exod 29:38–42). This pictures our need to come humbly before our Father in heaven morning and evening in prayerful devotion as living sacrifices to confess our sins, to praise and thank him for saving us from the penalty of our sins, which is death (Ps 51:16–17; Heb 13:15; 1 John 1:7–9; Rom 6:23).

The Altar of Sacrifice in More Details. Upon understanding that the Person and work of Yeshua is the way into spiritual life, light and truth, one must also recognize that one’s sin liability keeps one from a having personal relationship with one’s Creator. The broken fellowship with our Father in heaven due to our uncleanness because of our sin is the reason for this. For one to have a relationship with a sinless, perfect, totally set-apart or holy Elohim,the sin problem has to be dealt with. Sin must be atoned for along with the resulting guilt, shame and penalty (i.e. death) that sin brings. In the Tabernacle of Moses, the liability and effect of sin is dealt with at the altar of the red heifer outside the gate of the tabernacle, which represents the work of Yeshua at the cross (Heb 13:10–13). There one Continue reading →

 

Shabbat Shalom from the Snowy Pacific Northwest

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Please enjoy these snow photos from my backyard. Quite a contrast from the warm, sun-drenched Mexico we just returned from a couple of weeks ago.

When you view these photos, think of the robes of the righteousness in which YHVH has clothed his repentant and righteous saints thanks to the blood of Yeshua!

My lone palm tree bedecked in white.

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says YHVH, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” (Isa 1:18)

I will greatly rejoice in YHVH, My soul shall be joyful in my Elohim; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isa 61:10)

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. (Rev 3:5)

 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.  And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. (Rev 19:7–8)

 

Through the Veil—The Way to the Holy of Holies

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Exodus 26:31–37, A veil. The veil or parochet divided between the holy or set-apart place and the holy of holies or most set-apart place. It was woven of fine linen of the same four colors as were the previous two curtains—blue, crimson, purple and white, except this veil had cherubim embroidered into it. The most set-apart place is a picture of returning to the Garden of Eden, which had cherubim guarding its entrance (Gen 3:24), except this time it is the New Jerusalem in the New Heaven and New Earth. 

It was this same veil that was rent from top to bottom in the second temple in Jerusalem at the time of Yeshua’s crucifixion (Matt 27:51). The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews teaches a correlation between the tearing of Yeshua’s flesh on the cross and the tearing of the veil, and that this event opened the way for believers to be able to enter into the most set-apart place and to come boldly before the throne of Elohim through the shed blood of Yeshua (Heb 10:19–22 cp. 4:14–16).

The Veil in More Detail

This veil to the most set apart place (also known as the oracle or deveer) contained the four colors of the other two veils: crimson, blue, purple and white. Unlike the others, this veil had embroidered cherubim on it. It hung on four pillars of overlaid gold acacia wood. The pillars were set in bases of silver with the curtain hanging by rings of gold.

This veil is what separated men from the very Presence of Elohim. At Yeshua’s death the veil in the temple was split from top to bottom (Matt 27:51) opening the way to all into the holy of holies by and through the redemptive work of Yeshua on the cross (Heb 10:19–22).

 

The Gospel Message in the Door of the Tabernacle

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Exodus 26:36–37, Door of the tent. As with every other part of the tabernacle, the door is rich is rich in symbolic and prophetic significance pointing to Yeshua the Messiah and relating to the glorious message of the gospel in its full ramifying panoply.

This door had the same colors as the door to the outer courtyard (blue, crimson, white and purple) and was also woven of fine linen. The door was the same size in area, though it was a different dimension than the first door, for it was taller and narrower. This teaches us that the view of Yeshua becomes higher, and the way to the holiest place becomes narrower and the requirements become more stringent as one draws closer in proximity to YHVH’s glorious presence.

Five wooden pillars covered in gold supported by bronze bases held the curtains up. Again, the wood-covered gold speaks of the righteousness of the saints. Bronze speaks of Elohim’s judgment and five can speak of both the five books of YHVH’s Torah as well as the five-fold ministry the purpose of which is to ground YHVH’s people in his Torah-instructions in righteousness. In so doing, the Saints will become like Yeshua, who was the physical embodiment of the Torah—or YHVH’s Torah-Word made flesh (the Living Torah, John 1:1, 14).

The Door of the Tent in More Detail

This door had the same coloring as the outer door: purple, white, crimson and blue. This door had different ­dimensions as the outer door, but occupied the same area. This door was about half the width, but twice as high as the outer door. This speaks of the fact that as one grows and matures spiritually, the way of life, the path of righteousness and the way to intimacy with the Father gets narrower and the standards are elevated.

It was held up by five pillars picturing the fivefold ministry (Eph 4:11), which is likened to a hand: The apostle is like the thumb. The other fingers cannot work properly without it. It has more flexibility than the rest and can do things the others can’t. The prophet is like the index finger and points out people’s faults and points the direction people are to walk in, yet he must be very gracious, humble and self-effacing in his activity since he has three fingers pointing back at himself. The evangelist represents the middle finger which extends or reaches outward the farthest to bring people to YHVH. The shepherd (pastor) is the ring finger representing gentleness and love. The teacher, like the little finger that is used to dig stuff out of one’s nose and ears, digs out nuggets of truth in hard to reach places (e.g. ear and nose).

The five pillars were made of acacia wood overlaid in gold, which speaks of Yeshua’s humanity and his divinity. The pillars were set in bases of bronze speaking of YHVH’s righteous judgments and that all judgment will be left up to Yeshua who is over all and has judged and will judge all (Heb 2:8; Eph 1:22). Furthermore, Yeshua as head of the body of believers, the gates of hell will not prevail against his elect (Matt 16:18; Heb 3:6).

 

Biblically, being straight (as a board) is a compliment

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Exodus 26:15–30, Boards.The boards of the tabernacle or easily overlooked for the more important furnishings of the tabernacle such as the alter, menorah and ark of the covenant. Yet upon closer analysis, the very boards that form the tabernacle’s walls are full of rich symbolic significance that speak of the redemption, salvation, righteousness that defines who the saint through Yeshua truly is. Let’s explore the neglected subject.

The walls of the tabernacle were constructed of vertical boards (20 on a side and 6 on the back) and were made of acacia wood covered in gold held sitting in silver bases. The boards were held upright by five horizontal acacia wood bars also overlaid in gold that ran the length of the walls.

The boards standing tall speak of YHVH’s upright saints (Jeshurun—another name for Israel, see Deut 32:15; 33:5; 33:26; Isa 44:2) who are called to be the temple of YHVH (1 Cor 3:16; 6:19; 2 Cor 6:16) and who will also be pillars in YHVH’s eternal New Jerusalem temple (Rev 3:12). Wood overlaid with gold in silver bases speaks of redeemed humanity with the divine nature of Yeshua. It also speaks of the two-fold nature of Yeshua who was both human and divine. The five wooden bars speak of the five-fold ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers for the edifying or building up and perfecting of the saints—the body of Yeshua (Eph 4:11–13). Five can also speak of the five books of YHVH’s Torah—his instructions in righteousness, which shows believers how to walk uprightly before YHVH.

The Tabernacle Boards in More Detail.

Boards of acacia wood overlaid in gold formed the walls of the sanctuary. The boards stood vertically and were held upright by five long rods running the length of the sanctuary through rings on the outside of the boards. Each board was set in a silver base weighing approximately 125 pounds. Silver speaks of redemption. Wood represents humanity while gold coupled with silver speaks of redeemed humanity covered in righteousness reflecting the divine nature of YHVH.

Man stands firmly on the foundation of Yeshua’s redemptive work at the cross. Such men are not their own, but were bought with the price of the precious blood of Yeshua (1 Pet 1:18–19). The upright boards represent the saints who are the temple of the Spirit of Elohim (1 Cor 6:19). The saints are also likened to pillars in YHVH’s temple (Rev 3:12).

The five bars that hold the boards from falling over can refer to the five books of the Torah which are YHVH’s instructions that keeps one on the path of righteousness. Five can also refer to the fivefold ministry which builds up and governs the body of Yeshua (Eph 4:11–13).

 

The Blue of the Tabernacle—Connecting the Finite to the Infinite

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Exodus 26:1, Blue [tekelet] yarn. The blue used in the construction of the tabernacle was a special type of blue called tekelet or tekhelet blue color, which was the same color as the tzitzits or fringes that YHVH commanded the Israelites to wear on the fringes of their garments to remind them of their covenantal agreement with Elohim to obey his commands (Num 15:37–41).

We see here another purpose of the tekelet blue tzitzits. It was to remind the Israelites of the tabernacle, which contained the seven steps of the YHVH plan of salvation for man and in all ways pointed to Yeshua, who was man’s Redeemer and Savior.

Additionally, the veil separating the holy place and holy of holies and the main door of the tabernacle itself contained tekelet blue (vv. 31, 36). Wearing the tekelet blue fringes also reminded them of their special relationship with Elohim, since they were wearing his colors, and through their spiritual relationship with him, through the Messiah, they would not only be permitted to wear the colors of YHVH’s earthly abode, but could actually become his earthly abode as human temples of his Set-Apart Spirit (1 Cor 3:16; 2 Cor 6:16).

The word tekelet is used nearly 50 times in the Tanakh and almost always refers to the colors used in the tabernacle and later the temple, as well as to the special blue used in the priestly garments. It was also the royal blue of kings (1 Chron 2:7; Est 1:6; 8:15). 

This blue, according to Jewish tradition came from a sea animal in the Mediterranean called the chillazon. The problem is that no one now knows the identity of this animal. To this day, some rabbinic experts think this blue derives from a marine mollusk, while others thing it was from a squid. Whatever the case, this special blue was highly prized by ancient royalty. It is therefore fitting that this should be the color of heaven and of the King of kings, and that his children should wear it as a badge of honor identifying themselves as the children of the Almighty King, YHVH Elohim. 

Although, tekelet is the only word for blue found in the Tanakh, in the modern Hebrew dictionary, which is based largely on ancient Hebrew, tekelet is a specific shade of blue—azure, turquoise or even a purplish or violet blue. This is in contradistinction to kachol, which is the more generic word for dark blue or b’hiyl, which is the word for light blue.

Every place in the Scriptures were blue is used, it is this special shade of sky, turquoise or azure or tekelet blue. For example,

  • YHVH asked the Israelites to donate tekelet blue cloth for the tabernacle’s construction (Exod 25:4).
  • The curtains of the tabernacle contained tekelet blue (Exod 26:1, 4).
  • The veil separating the holy place and the holy of holies contained tekelet blue (Exod 26:31).
  • The veil separating the holy place and the holy of holies contained tekelet blue (Exod 26:31).
  • The outer door of the tabernacle contained tekelet blue (Exod 26:36).
  • The priestly garments (Exod 28:5, etc.).
  • The coverings for the tabernacle implements when being transported (Num 4:6, etc.).