The Tabernacle
It
is remarkable that the plan of God and His Heavenly Throne room is
mirrored in His design of the tabernacle in the wilderness. It is
not unusual for His invisible realm to be manifest as a type or
shadow within the physical creation. Many people do not associate
the tabernacle structure with the five eons which depict the Plan of
God for humankind.
Catching a glimpse of this we can
begin to see how incredibly wise and omnipotent is God. The
Tabernacle is most certainly a beautiful structure but most people
do not see His plan in the design of the Tabernacle.
The five divisions encompassing the
tabernacle system are, (1) outside the camp, (2) within the camp,
(3) the court, (4) the holy place, and (5) the holy of holies (the
most holy place). These really divide into three and two, for only
the last two are in the tabernacle itself, and are called 'the
holies of the holies', just as the last two ages, or eons are
distinguished by God's direct involvement with the affairs of
mankind.
The "holy place"
and the "holy of holies," represent eon four and five, the eons that
are still future. Around this holy area is the "court," inside the
fence bordering the tabernacle, and this court represents the third
eon , which is the present eon. Outside the fence is the camp, where the Israelites lived. This area represents the second eon. Then there is the area outside the
camp, where the nations lived. This represents the first eon.
OUTSIDE THE
CAMP
- Eon 1.
We know very little about the first eon,
just that it began with the initial physical creation and ended just
as God was about to renew the surface of the earth which had become
waste and void.
Gen 1:2 (Rotherham
EB) Now, the earth, had become waste and wild, and darkness, was on
the face of the roaring deep,—but, the Spirit of God, was brooding
on the face of the waters,
This was before the creation of Adam.
So we know very little, but we may put it on a level with the world
outside the camp. During this first eon, God did, as far as we know,
not reveal Himself to His then present creation, other than through
nature.
Rom
1:20 (Concordant Literal Version) For
His invisible attributes are descried from the
creation of the world, being apprehended by His achievements,
besides His imperceptible power and divinity, for them to be
defenseless.
THE
CAMP
- Eon 2.
In the depiction of the tabernacle we
are now in "the camp." This eon runs from the creation of Adam until
the Flood in the days of Noah. In this eon God showed Himself
occasionally. He walked in the Garden of Eden with Adam, was a
friend of Enoch, and spoke with Noah. Thus He began revealing
Himself to mankind in a very limited way.This was an age of sin.
Sin was so rampant that God
drowned them all in the flood except for Noah and his family
OUTER
COURT - Eon 3.
We are now in "the court" of the
Tabernacle complex. This eon runs from the Flood in the days of
Noah, until the return of Christ.
In "the court" God appeared often in
dealing with patriarchs and prophets as He continued to expand on
His work of salvation, step by step. He deals with Abraham, the
father of the faithful, and his sons Isaac and Jacob. Then to the
people of
Israel,
who learn to know Him through the rescue from
Egypt.
He gives them the law, the Law of Moses which the nation of Israeli
was to obey. We know that they were unable to obey His laws most of
the time.
Later in this eon God the Father sent
Jesus Christ to this earth to live a perfect, righteous life and die
for the sins of mankind. This third eon (age) is one involving
sacrifices. Animal sacrifices by the Levitical priesthood at the
brazen alter in the tabernacle. In the court this sacrificial altar
is certainly suggestive of the sacrifice of our Lord and Saviour.
And
today we ourselves being a living sacrifice to God (Rom.
12:1). Finally, with all this
He deepened our knowledge of Himself through His revelations to Paul
and by the calling out the Elect, the members of the Body of Christ.
HOLY PLACE -
Eon 4.
We have
entered the Tabernacle and find ourselves in "the holy place." This
eon runs from the return of Christ for 1000 years. This eon is
called "The Millennium". There shall be a temple in
Jerusalem
from which Christ will rule the nations of the earth. Priests will
offer sacrifices in the temple. It is a time when swords will be
beaten into ploughshares, nation shall not lift up sword against
nation. It will be a time of peace and prosperity. In the 4th eon
God will be further revealed through the Kingship and Priesthood of
His Son in the Millennial reign, and the knowledge about Him will
not be limited to
Israel
and the Body of Christ, but all the then living, all over the world,
will know about Him. After the 1000 years are over, Satan is loosed
for a while, deceiving the nations. Thereafter the fifth and final
eon begins.
HOLY OF
HOLIES - Eon 5.
We
walked on and have arrived in "the holy of holies." This eon runs
from the time when the earth is renewed with fervent heat, heavenly
Jerusalem
descends to earth and the rest of the dead are resurrected. The
mercy seat in "the holy of holies" is a type of white throne of
judgement for all resurrected mankind. God dwells with mankind
(still flesh) and judges from His white throne in righteous
judgement. Those who died in the past have now been resurrected and
learn to know Him. All will know Him and every knee shall bow in
humble worship of God. At the end is the consummation when God is
ALL
in
ALL
(I Cor
15:28).
Back to Plan of God
Back to Home