Most of us could testify that we
experienced great joy when we were born again or, as we say, "got saved." It was a
profoundly life-changing experience. The Lord was so near and dear to us.
Then we settled into the everyday life of being a Christian according to
the church traditions in which we found ourselves. As time passed and we
felt more and more burdened down with church work, we began to sense,
"There's gotta be more to being a Christian than this."
Some new believers were
baptized in the Holy Spirit at the same time of their conversion, as
should be the norm, but for many of us, the experience came later. Out of
a thirst for more of Him we took that leap of faith and were filled with
the Holy Spirit, even with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Once
again, for so many of us, this "baptism" was a wonderful and
fresh experience of the Lord Jesus. How could we have missed that for so
many years? It almost felt like we had been "saved" again. We
experienced the gifts and ministries of the Spirit that we read about in the
Bible. The scriptures came alive in ways they had never before. We
couldn't stop talking about Him and "the baptism" to others. We
called it the full gospel on the conviction that until "the
baptism" we had only known a partial gospel. Some people jokingly
said we needed to be locked up for a few months until the new wore off.
The sad truth is, in many ways, the new did wear off. We took all that was
new and fresh and dynamic, and molded for ourselves new forms of
"doing" church. We turned gems of revelatory truth into
doctrinal formulas and camped around them -- faith, healing, deliverance,
sonship, prosperity, headship and submission, home church, and many other
teachings. Many of us left churches for other churches or went into home
fellowships so we could be among others who had this experience and
believed like we did.
Now, what at one time
seemed like the full gospel is proving not to be so full after all. We
deceived ourselves into thinking that our hype was His presence. The joy
we felt then is waning and once again we find ourselves thirsting for
more. Increasing numbers of us feel as though we are going through a
transition. We cannot go back to where we have been; yet, we don't know
where to go from here. We feel somewhat lost, bewildered, alone, and stuck
"out there" somewhere. We don't fit in anywhere anymore. All of
those past experiences in the Spirit were wonderful. No one can take those
away from us, but we now find ourselves longing for more, to move on, to
move upward, to go to a place in Christ we have never been before. The
things of this world really are growing dimmer, and the light of His love
and life beckon us onward. How do we understand where we have been and
where we are going from here?
The beginning of the answer
is this: We are in a time of transition. We are passing from one
feast to another -- from Pentecost to Tabernacles. We are leaving
Pentecost in pursuit of Tabernacles.
The feast of Pentecost
speaks of that time from the first century until now, when all true
believers should have experienced the new birth and the baptism in the
Holy Spirit.
Tabernacles speaks of a
time yet to be fulfilled -- a time forward.
In order to have some
understanding of that time forward, let us reach into a time
past when God, whose name is Yahveh (Yahweh), gave instructions to
Moses in the wilderness for Israel's worship, service, and behavior. The
answer is there, embedded within the mystery of the three main courts of
Moses' tabernacle in the wilderness as they correspond to three main
feasts of Israel's worship.
An uninformed, cursory
reading of these courts and feasts would cause one to ask, "What are
they for?" They seem so arbitrary, but they are not! The eternal
purposes of God, the Father, are mysteriously hidden within them.
Father-God, through the inspiration of His Holy Spirit, is opening up this
mystery to us, and more so in these latter days.
The Tabernacle and feasts
are types and shadows in the natural realm -- symbols that were given then
to picture something spiritual now. The scriptures themselves confirm this
principle. "Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that
which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual." 1 Cor.
15:46. (Also read Rom. 5:14; 1 Cor. 10:11; Col. 2:16-17; Heb. 8:5, 10:1; and
11:19.)
An understanding of the
tabernacle of Moses and these feasts will help us to understand the times
that we are in and where we are going from here.
Moses' Tabernacle In The Wilderness
Yahveh commanded Moses to
make a tabernacle for Him while he and the children of Israel were in the
wilderness. Ex. 25-26. Moses' tabernacle was called, among other names,
"the tabernacle of the congregation." The congregation was in
reference to Israel. This was to be their tabernacle. They were to make
it. They were to serve in it through the priesthood. They were to meet God
there. Yahveh's overall purpose for the tabernacle was to meet and commune
with His people. "Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell
among them." Ex. 24:8.
Patterned According To
Yahveh's Instructions
Yahveh gave specific
instructions for building this tabernacle. Every detail had significance
and represented something pertaining to both Jesus and to all true
believers who are His temple.
He gave the pattern for the
tabernacle to Moses, who in turn appointed, according to Yahveh's
instruction, Bezaleel, Aholiab, and others to make it. Ex. 31:1-11. They
were anointed of the Holy Spirit in wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and
in all manner of workmanship to make it. No one else but these persons had the
inspiration to make it. And so they did! They made it exactly according to
the pattern. Everything had a reason for being there. Some of this is
illustrated below.
The Three Courts Of Moses'
Tabernacle
The Tabernacle of Moses
consisted of three courts: the Outer Court with the brazen altar
for burnt sacrifices and a laver for washing; the Holy Place with
the table of showbread, the candlestick, and the altar of incense; and the
Holy of Holies with the ark of the covenant, mercy seat, and
cherubim.
I place these courts in
three columns to later show how they correspond to other aspects of our
walk with the Lord and to illustrate this transition I believe we are in.
Three Annual Feasts
While in the wilderness,
Yahveh also gave instructions for the three main annual feasts of Israel's
worship:
"Three times you shall keep a feast unto Me in
the year. You shall keep the feast of unleavened bread...And the feast
of harvest, the firstfruits of your labors, which you have sown in the
field; and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the
year, when you have gathered in your labors out of the field." Exod.
23:14-16. [Also, Deut., 16:16].
Passover is the
first major feast of Israel's worship. This spring feast was first
instituted and observed in Egypt as told in Exodus 12. Specific
instructions are given in various places in the Old Testament for
observing this feast. Lev. 23:5ff. The
feast of harvest (or first fruits) also known as Pentecost (or
Feast of Weeks) is the second main feast of Israel's worship. Passover was
the first fruits of the barley harvest and Pentecost was the first fruits
of the wheat harvest. It is celebrated fifty days after Firstfruits in the
Jewish month of Sivan (May/June). Ex. 34:33; Lev. 23:15-16; Deut.
16:10,16; and 2 Chron. 8:13. The Passover meal is observed on the evening of the 14th day of Nisan
(March/April). The seven days that follow are called the feast of
Unleavened Bread, ending with Firstfruits. Lev. 23:5-6.
The feast of harvest known
as Pentecost (or Feast of Weeks) is the second main feast of
Israel's worship. It is celebrated fifty days after Firstfruits in the
Jewish month of Sivan (May/June). Ex. 34:33; Lev. 23:15-16; Deut.
16:10,16; and 2 Chron. 8:13.
The feast of Ingathering
known as Tabernacles is the third main feast of Israel's worship.
This fall feast is celebrated during the Jewish month of Tishri 15-22
(September/October). This feast is also celebrated in three parts:
Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles.
These feasts correspond in
purpose and function with the courts of Moses' tabernacle as illustrated
below. It is difficult to make a case showing how every detail of the
feasts and the courts correspond because they serve different purposes.
There may even be an apparent contradiction here and there; nevertheless,
that these feasts and courts broadly correspond with each other is quite
apparent. The purpose of this study is not to delve into these correlations,
but is to show us where we are now and where we are going from here --
from Pentecost to Tabernacles.
|
Outer Court |
Holy Place |
Holy of Holies |
|
Passover |
Pentecost |
Tabernacles |
The Outer Court is
where animals were sacrificed on the altar of burnt offerings for the
forgiveness of sins. This corresponds with the sacrifice of lambs at
Passover. Thus, I refer to the Outer Court as the Outer Court of
Passover.
The Holy Place is
where the priests ministered to the Lord with the consecrated bread, the
oil-burning candlestick, and the altar of incense. Ex. 30:27. These are
types of things that represent the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Though this
bread of His presence (showbread) in the Holy place was consecrated, no
mention was made that it had to be unleavened; therefore, the assumption
is that it was leavened. This would correspond to the leavened bread of
the feast of weeks (Pentecost). Lev. 23:16-17. The oil in the lampstand is
a type of the Holy Spirit. The incense is a type of praise and
intercession that is also associated with the work of the Holy Spirit as
we have come to know it. The coal of fire for the altar of incense
corresponds with the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire. This court and
feast correspond to one another. Thus, I refer to the feast of Pentecost
as the Holy Place of Pentecost.
The Holy of Holies
is where the High Priest alone went once a year on the Day of Atonement to
atone for the sins of Israel. The Day of Atonement is observed as part of
the fall feast of Tabernacles (also known as the Feast of Ingathering). Therefore,
it is easy to see the correlation between the feast of Tabernacles and the
Holy of Holies, further strengthening the notion that these courts and
feasts correspond. Thus, I refer to the Holy of Holies as the Holy of
Holies of Tabernacles.
Three Stages In History
These three courts and
corresponding feasts mark three significant periods in history: Jesus'
crucifixion (the cross), the day of Pentecost following His crucifixion,
and ultimately the day of the fullness of glory or ingathering into Jesus.
|
Outer Court |
Holy Place |
Holy of Holies |
|
Passover |
Pentecost |
Tabernacles |
|
Cross |
Day of Pentecost |
Fullness of Glory |
Passover was
fulfilled in history when Jesus died on the cross as the Lamb of God for
the sins of the world. It encompasses His death, burial, resurrection, and
ascension. "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that you may be a new
lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed
for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with
the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of
sincerity and truth." 1 Cor. 5:7-8.
Pentecost was
fulfilled in history on the day of Pentecost as described in Acts, chapter
2. The Holy Spirit was given to seal us "unto the day of
redemption." Eph. 4:30.
Tabernacles is yet
to be fulfilled in history. It defines the ultimate intentions of God as
expressed in Ephesians 1:10, 13-14:
"That in the dispensation of the fullness of
times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are
in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him...In whom you also trusted,
after that you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in
whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit
of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption
of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory."
Even though these are
stages in history, it must be understood that Jesus was the incarnation
(fulfillment) of all that the Outer Court, Holy Place, and Holy of Holies
stood for. He was the incarnation of all that Passover, Pentecost, and
Tabernacles stood for. He was the incarnation of all the laws, the
prophets, and the psalms. Luke 24:44.
Three
Aspects Of God
These three courts and
corresponding feasts reveal the three administrative aspects of the one
and true God -- Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Father.
|
Outer Court |
Holy Place |
Holy of Holies |
|
Passover |
Pentecost |
Tabernacles |
|
Cross |
Day of Pentecost |
Fullness of Glory |
|
Jesus |
Holy Spirit |
Father |
Passover represents
the ministration of Jesus who shed His blood as the atonement for our
sins. "Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things,
like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from
your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without
blemish and without spot." 1 Pet. 1:18-19. 1 Corinthians 5:7 confirms
that "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us."
Pentecost represents
the ministration of the Holy Spirit who was poured out on the disciples on
the day of 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. And they were all filled with
the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave
them utterance." Acts 1:1-4
Tabernacles
represents the ministration of the Father who will manifest (reveal) His
sons in keeping with His promise to bring many sons to glory. "For it
became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in
bringing many sons unto glory...." Heb. 2:10.
Tabernacles is not the end
of all things, but is the beginning of the third feast that continues on
until the fullness of times when Father gathers "together in one all
things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even
in Him." Eph. 1:10. For, "When all things shall be subdued unto
Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all
things under Him, that God may be all in all." 1 Cor. 15:28.
Three Passages In Our Lives
These three courts and
corresponding feasts mark three passages in our spiritual experiences in
Jesus -- when we are born again, baptized in His Holy Spirit, and finally
conformed into His image.
|
Outer Court |
Holy Place |
Holy of Holies |
|
Passover |
Pentecost |
Tabernacles |
|
Cross |
Day of Pentecost |
Fullness of Glory |
|
Jesus |
Holy Spirit |
Father |
|
Born Again |
Baptized in Spirit |
Conformed |
Our old Adamic nature of
sin perished with Him in His death on the cross. We were buried with Him
in His burial and were raised with Him in His resurrection. Rom. 6:2-6; 2
Cor. 5:17. John 3. When we accept by faith
that Jesus died for our sins, we essentially die to sin on the cross with
Him. Our old Adamic nature of sin perished with Him on the cross and was
buried with Him in His burial, just as we will be raised with Him in His
resurrection. Rom. 6:2-6; 2 Cor. 5:17.
Paul
also explained it this way:
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I
live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in
the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave
Himself for me." Gal. 2:20.
Pentecost is
fulfilled in us when we are baptized in the Holy Spirit as were the
disciples on the day of Pentecost. Not everyone who believes in Jesus
accepts this experience as scriptural, but the baptism of the Holy Spirit
is the power of Christ's lordship in our lives. Without this empowerment,
we are left to work out our salvation in our own strength.
Tabernacles will be
fulfilled in us when Jesus comes again in His people in the fullness of
His glory. There are many speculations about when that will be and what
that will look like, but we really cannot know. Nevertheless, there are scriptures
that give us some clues. Rom. 8:18-19; 1 John 3:2; and Gal. 4:19.
Those who are foreknown and
predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29) know
within themselves that they are born again and baptized in the Holy
Spirit. Likewise, many of them are being made to "know"
intuitively by the Holy Spirit that this glory is already at work within
them.
Others may think this
speaks of elitism, but those who know this reality or who are beginning to
know it are broken and crushed by it. For you see, they cannot be of this
people in pride or arrogance, but in total and complete surrender of
Self that He might be all in all. Knowing this about themselves, they no
longer permit themselves to be ruled by the systems of this world, or by
the prescribed ways of men. Rather, they are given to radical obedience to
the Holy Spirit, and that is an offense to the flesh.
With Passover we receive
His kind of life. With Pentecost we receive His power. With
Tabernacles we come into the fullness of His nature. We must have
His life before we can receive His power and we must have His power at
work within us before we can have the fullness of His nature. His power is
what perfects us. David wrote, "God is my strength and power: and He
makes my way perfect." Sam. 22:33. The Lord spoke to Paul saying,
"My grace is sufficient for you: for My strength [power] is made
perfect in weakness." 2 Cor. 12:9. It is His power and our weakness.
We must go through one
court in order to reach the next one. We must go through the Outer Court
of Passover in order to get to the Holy Place of Pentecost, and we must go
through the Outer Court of Passover and through the Holy Place of
Pentecost in order to get to the Holy of Holies of Tabernacles. Each feast
prepares us to go on to the next. We cannot bypass the first two feasts as
we come to Tabernacles. Just as Passover was the beginning of months for
the Israelites, so it is for us at our conversion. We have to begin in the
Outer Court of Passover. We cannot begin anywhere else.
From Egypt To The Promised Land
This passage in our lives
-- born again, baptized in the Spirit, and ultimately conformed into His
image -- is expressed in "our" flight from Egypt, through the
wilderness, to the Promised Land. This is another way to see where we are
and where we are going.
| Outer Court |
Holy Place |
Holy of Holies |
| Passover |
Pentecost |
Tabernacles |
| Cross |
Day of Pentecost |
Fullness of Glory |
| Jesus |
Holy Spirit |
Father |
| Born Again |
Baptized in Spirit |
Conformed |
|
From Egypt |
Through the Wilderness |
To the Promised Land |
Egypt represents the
bondage of our old man of sin and death from which God miraculously
delivered us, redeemed us. It represents the Outer Court of Passover
that was first celebrated by that first Passover meal. The death angel
passed over us and we immediately fled our bondage of sin. we miraculously
crossed over the Red Sea and that represents our baptism into Jesus.
The wilderness
represents a time of testing, proving, and reproving -- our refiner's
fire. The wilderness is intended to prepare us to go on to our appointed
destination in Jesus. It represents the Holy Place of Pentecost. Good
things happened in the wilderness. The cloud led us by day and the pillar
of fire led us by night (types of the leading of the Holy Spirit). God
miraculously provided water for us to drink (a type of the word of God,
quenching our thirst) and provided manna for us to eat (a type of Jesus as
the Bread of Life). He gave the law (setting forth His righteous
requirement for His people that was fulfilled in Jesus). He gave us the
design for the construction of the Tabernacle (a representation of God's
eternal plan in Jesus). All the while, for forty years, our shoes and
clothing did not wear out (evidence of God's faithful provision in our
lives). This wilderness journey is intended to be our preparation for and
passage to a better place, the land of promise -- our tabernacles.
The Promised Land
represents the end of our salvation, our completion. It represents the
Holy of Holies of Tabernacles -- Zion. We were to cross the Jordan and
take possession of the land by utterly driving out the enemy of the land.
God promised to fight our battles for us and He would have, had we entered
into His rest in faith. But we did not. Nevertheless, He has sworn that
there will be people to enter into His rest, who will take the land, who
will come to the fullness of the measure of the stature of Christ -- a
people who will be as He is.
We find ourselves somewhere
on the wilderness side of the Jordan river, waiting for that trumpet sound
at which time we will follow the ark of the Covenant, the captain of our
salvation into Tabernacles (Zion) where we will be gathered as one into
Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Tabernacle Of David
Acts 15:16-17 speaks of the
time when the tabernacle of David will be restored. David's tabernacle, as
with most natural things spoken of in the Old Covenant, pointed to
something spiritual under the New Covenant. David's tabernacle was a mere
tent, providing cover for the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark belonged in the
Holy of Holies. Neither the Outer Court nor the Holy Place was present in
David's tabernacle.
This signifies that when
Tabernacles comes, the Outer Court of Passover and Holy Place of Pentecost
will have passed away. More likely, Tabernacles will have absorbed them.
The Holy of Holies of Tabernacles will be the only thing that remains.
This is Zion, and Zion is that place in the Spirit where Jesus is the only
thing there is. The sanctification will be completed. We will see Him as
He is, and, when that happens, we will become as He is. 1 John 3:2. That
which is in part will have passed away. The perfect will have come. 1 Cor.
13:10.
Between
Two Feasts
Passover and Pentecost are
old-order feasts that are passing away. This is where we are. We are
moving beyond Pentecost; yet, we have not arrived at Tabernacles. Thus, we
are in transition between these two feasts -- going from doing to being.
This is our present day
dilemma. We are still in that feast where we look through a glass darkly
and know only in part. 1 Cor. 13:12a. We still need the fivefold gift,
ascension ministries of apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and
teachers. We still need the gifts of the Spirit. We still need to spur one
another on in the faith. We still need to bring forth the fruit of the
Spirit. Prophecy, tongues, healings, and deliverance belong here. These
things prepare the way of the Lord's appearing and the fulfillment of
Tabernacles. These things are given to help prepare the bride of Christ
for His coming.
On the other hand,
Tabernacles is where we see "face to face," where we shall know
even as also we are known. 1 Cor. 13:12b. It has been clearly expressed in
Romans 8:18-25 NKJ:
"For I consider that the sufferings of this
present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be
revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits
for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to
futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because
the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption
into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the
whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not
only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we
ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the
redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is
seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we
hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with
perseverance."
We cannot make Tabernacles
happen. We cannot usher it in before it is time. Only the Father knows the
time. It is completely in His hands. Yet, I find I am no longer content to
simply do or know, but deeply yearn to be (become)
what I know and more so.
We say with Paul, the
apostle,
"Not as though I had already attained, either
were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for
which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself
to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things
which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I
press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ
Jesus." Php. 3:12-14
A people have been called
who will be found faithful, who will attain that mark.