LESSON THREE
THE GATE

•	TEXT: EXODUS 27:16; 38:18-19
•	There was only one Gate or entrance to the Tabernacle, just as there was only one door or entrance to Noah's Ark. 
•	There is only one way to enter the Kingdom of God—through Jesus as Saviour and Mighty God!
•	The Gate represents Christ as the only door to Salvation. 
•	If any man tries to enter the Kingdom of God in any other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 
•	Jesus declared, "I am the WAY, the Truth and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me" (John 14:6).
•	THE GATE IN GENERAL:
•	THE GATE IS CALLED TWO DIFFERENT TITLES IN SCRIPTURE:
•	The Gate (Exodus 27:16).
•	The Curtain For The Door of the Court (Numbers 3:26).
•	THE GATE WAS THE ONLY ENTRANCE TO THE COURT:
•	Anyone approaching the Tabernacle elsewhere than the Gate would face only a high wall of fine linen. 
•	These linen curtains told man: "KEEP OUT!" 
•	But if a man would follow the curtains, eventually he would come to the Gate. 
•	The Gate was to say, "COME IN, BUT ONLY GOD'S WAY." 
•	Everyone had to come into the Tabernacle the same way. 
•	In the New Testament all believers came into the Kingdom via the Acts 2:38 message. 
•	Today is no different!
•	THE GATE WAS SUFFICIENTLY WIDE:
•	The Door was altogether sufficient. 
•	Had this gate been too narrow, there may have been the thought of the exclusion of some. 
•	The abundant width represented an "abundant entrance." 
•	It seemed to say; "whosoever will" may come (Revelation 22:17). 
•	Jesus is able to save to the uttermost.
•	The gate was altogether lovely, as was the Saviour. 
•	The beauty of the entrance beckoned the weary pilgrim with the beautiful promises fulfilled in Jesus, "I am the door, by me if any enter in, he shall be saved" (John 10:9), and "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
•	THE GATE WAS DISTINCTIVE:
•	The Gate could not be mistaken from the rest of the hangings around the Court. 
•	Its colors made it stand out, distinguishing it from the white hangings.
•	Jesus Christ is unique. 
•	What He did and what He said was best proof of who He is! 
•	He is the Almighty God. 
•	There is no man like Him and there is no God beside Him! 
•	None did the works that He did, and "no man spake as He spoke."
•	THE GATE WAS THE LAST WORK OF THE TABERNACLE:
•	The gate was the finishing touches of the Tabernacle. 
•	This way of access to God proclaimed a finished work. 
•	When Jesus cried, "It is finished" while on the Cross, He became the Author and Finisher of our Faith (Hebrews 12:2). 
•	The Salvation that Christ provided needs no further additions. 
•	It is a completed redemption, a finished work!
•	THE HANGING CURTAINS OF THE GATE: (Hebrews 38:18) The same materials were used in the two doors and the Veil:
•	Fine twined Linen -- Christ, the Righteous One — Gospel of Luke.
•	Inwrought Blue -- Christ, the Son of God — Gospel of John
•	Inwrought Purple -- Christ, the Messianic King — Gospel of Matthew
•	Inwrought Scarlet -- Christ, the Sacrificial One — Gospel of Mark
•	THE LENGTH AND HEIGHT OF THE GATE: (Exodus 38:18)
•	The Door of the Court was wide and low. 
•	The door to the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place were narrower and higher. 
•	Salvation is too high for a sinner to attain to himself, but low enough for everyone, even though a fool, to accept and receive.
•	LENGTH: 20 Cubits, wide enough to receive all who would believe.
•	HEIGHT: 5 Cubits, allowed one to catch a complete glimpse of the Tabernacle. 
•	A glimpse of the glory of God can only be seen through Jesus Christ.
•	The PROVISION is the entrance to the PROHIBITION in the curtain wall. The height of the linen curtain of the court was five cubits, this shut out the gaze. 
•	The height of the gate was also five cubits, high enough to allow one a full vision of the Tabernacle. 
•	Right along side the demands of justice against sin, God provided loving provision of mercy and forgiveness of sins for the guilty and the lost!
•	THE PILLARS OF THE GATE: (Exodus 38:19)
•	Four pillars set in sockets of brass stabilized the Gate. 
•	The pillars represent the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These are the first four books in the New Testament and they give us a summary of the life of Christ. 
•	God allows no access into His Church unless we come through the four pillars, the life, death, burial and resurrection of Christ.
•	Perhaps the statement of Jesus in John 14:6 could be represented in the three entrances of the Tabernacle in this manner.
•	I AM:
•	THE WAY: The Gate of the Court seen as the way of approach — there is no other.
•	THE TRUTH: The Door of the Tabernacle seen in our experience in the Holy Ghost. "When He, the Spirit of Truth is come, He will guide you into all truth..." (John 16:13)
•	THE LIFE - The Veil that was significantly rent at Christ's death opens the door of eternal life to us.
•	POSSIBLE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
•	The entire area of the hangings around the court was 1,500 square cubits. 
•	A cubit for a year would bring us from Sinai to the crucifixion of Jesus, or the period of the Law. 
•	1500 years takes in the time of the white Court. 
•	Following this, we come face to face with the Brazen Altar, or the Sacrifice of Christ.
•	The area of the Holy Place was ten cubits by 20 cubits, or 2,000 cubic cubits, or the equivalence of 2,000 years, the Church Age.
•	The Holy of Holies was 10 cubits square in area or 1000 cubic cubits, of the equivalence of 1,000 years. 
•	This is the exact period of time of the millennial reign of Christ on earth.

LESSON THREE
SELF HELP TEST

A. What does the "one door" to the Tabernacle Courtyard represent?

B. List the colors used to construct the gate:

1. 

2.  

3.

4.

C. Identify the height and the width of the Gate: HEIGHT:
WIDTH:

D. How many pillars of the Gate were there, and what do they represent?