Lesson One
Introduction of The Tabernacle 

•	TEXT: EXODUS 25:1-9
•	IN RELATION TO OUR DAY:
•	The Tabernacle of Moses, which was built in the wilderness while the children of Israel journeyed from Egypt to Canaan, was the most wonderful structure ever built by man upon the earth. 
•	The Architect is the God of Heaven. 
•	He designed the Tabernacle to be a shadow and a projection of things to come in the New Testament, especially the central figure of salvation’s plan, the Lord Jesus Christ.
•	Because the Apostle Paul clearly referred to the experiences and journeying of Israel to be examples to us, the church, the Tabernacle is very important in our understanding of the New Testament truths of Salvation. 
•	The Tabernacle, in becoming the first dwelling place of God among men, also becomes a type and shadow of His dwelling place on this earth today, which is the Church.
•	WHY WE STUDY THE TABERNACLE?
•	It is part of “all Scripture” and as such is profitable for doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16).
•	It was written for our learning (Romans 15:4).
•	It is written for our admonition (1 Corinthians 10:6-11).
•	The Law (of which the Tabernacle is a major part) is our Schoolmaster (Galatians 3:24).
•	Jesus came to fulfill the Law, of which included the Tabernacle (Matthew 5:17-18).
•	As part of the Law, the Tabernacle was prophetical (1 Peter 1:11).
•	The Tabernacle was a pattern of the Heavenly Tabernacle (Hebrews 8:5, 9:23).
•	C.   NAMES APPLIED TO THE TABERNACLE:
•	The Tabernacle was first called a “tent” (Exodus 40:35-36) or “dwelling.” 
•	It was God’s choice to come to man and reside in his midst (Exodus 25:8). 
•	It was also called the “tent of the Testimony” (Numbers 9:15), “the sanctuary ” (Exodus 25:8), the “tabernacle of witness” (Numbers 17:7), and “the House of God” (Exodus 34:26).
•	God introduced the Tabernacle blueprint to Moses in approximately 1220 B.C. 
•	It was set up at Sinai on the first day of the first month of the second year (14 days before the celebration of the Passover on the first anniversary of the exodus. 
•	The Tabernacle faced the east.
•	THE GENERAL PLAN OF THE TABERNACLE:
•	The Tabernacle of Moses appeared simply to be a simple tent with various curtains and coverings over a frame of gold-covered boards with rods to hold it rigid. 
•	There were three distinct areas to the Tabernacle plan. 
•	The Bible describes them as; 
•	The Holiest of All or the Most Holy Place; 
•	The Holy Place and 
•	The Outer Court.
•	Each of these three areas contained certain pieces of furniture, as follows:
•	The Most Holy Place contained:
•	The Ark of the Covenant
•	The Holy Place contained:
•	The Table of Shewbread
•	The Golden Candlestick 
•	The Golden Altar of Incense
•	The Outer Court contained:
•	The Brazen Altar
•	The Brazen Laver
•	E.  FULFILLED TYPES IN THE GOSPEL:
•	In the Outer Court is found Repentance (Brazen Altar), Water Baptism in the name of Jesus (Brazen Laver). 
•	In the Holy Place is found our walk with God, having been filled with the Holy Ghost Baptism.
•	In the Most Holy Place is seen eternity in the New Jerusalem (Perfect Cube).
•	F. THE DIVINE PURPOSE OF THE TABERNACLE:
•	Exodus 25:8
•	Exodus 29:45-46
•	God has always yearned and desired to dwell amongst His own people on His own terms and His own grounds. This thought can be found to be progressive throughout the Bible:
•	God walked and talked with Adam (Genesis 3:8,24).
•	God walked and talked with Noah and the Patriarchs (Genesis 6:9; 17:1; 26:24).
•	God dwelt with man in the Tabernacle (Exodus 25:8, 22).
•	God dwelt in the Tabernacle of David (1 Chronicles 17:1-6; Acts 15:15- 18).
•	The Shekinah Glory resided in Solomon’s Temple (2 Chronicles 5).
•	God dwelt among men in the body of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:19).
•	God today dwells in His Body, the Church (1 Timothy 3:15; 1 Peter 2:5; 2 Corinthians 6:15-18; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; Ephesians 2:20-24).
•	God ultimately dwells in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:3).
•	G. DIVINE REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDING THE TABERNACLE:
•	By freewill offerings (Exodus 25:2).
•	By a stirred-up people (Exodus 35:21, 26; 36:2).
•	By a made-willing people (Exodus 35:5, 21-22, 29).
•	By a freehearted people (Exodus 36:3).
•	By the Wisdom of God (Exodus 36:1-8).
•	By the Spirit of God (Exodus 35:30-35; 36:1-3).
•	According to Divine Pattern (Hebrews 8:5; Exodus 25:40; 26:30; 27:8).
•	H. THE BUILDERS OF THE TABERNACLE:
•	BEZALEEL — Exodus 31:1-5; 35:30-35.
•	He was a man filled with wisdom, understanding, knowledge and the Spirit of God. He was a skilled laborer.
•	AHOLIAB — Exodus 31:6; 35:34-35.
•	He also was a skilled man full of wisdom. His name means “tabernacle” or “tent of my father.”
•	THE ENCAMPMENT AROUND THE TABERNACLE:
•	Israel was a very large Camp and God set forth a prescribed order for the camp. The Tabernacle was in the midst of the Camp (Numbers 2:17; 3:5-10). There being twelve tribes of Israel, they were divided into four groups as follows:
•	EAST SIDE — tribes of Judah (closest to the entrance), Issachar and Zebulon (Numbers 2:3-9).
•	WEST SIDE — tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin (Numbers 2:18-24).
•	NORTH SIDE — tribes of Dan, Asher and Naphtali (Numbers 2:25-3 1).
•	SOUTH SIDE — tribes of Rueben, Simeon and Gad (Numbers 2:10-16). 
•	J. TIME OF THE BUILDING OF THE TABERNACLE:
•	Correspond Exodus 19:1 and Numbers 9:1. It took approximately nine months, the same amount of time it took Mary to bring forth “the Word made Flesh.”
•	K. CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS: 
•	The list of materials to be used in the Tabernacle are given for us in two places — Exodus 25:2-7 and Exodus 35:4-9, “Speak unto the children of Israel...”

THE MATERIALS CAME FROM THREE NATURAL KINGDOMS: 
MINERAL KINGDOM	REPRESENTATION
Gold	Deity, Divine nature
Silver	Redemption, atonement
Brass	Strength, judgment against sin
Precious stones	Gifts of the Spirit
PLANT KINGDOM
Fine linen	Righteousness of the Saints
Shittim wood	Humanity of Christ
Oil for light	Holy Spirit's ministry
Spices for the Anointing oil	Fruit of the Spirit
Spices for Sweet Incense	Prayer, types of

ANIMAL KINGDOM
Blue (shell fish)	Heavenly
Purple (shellfish)	Royalty, kingship
Scarlet (worm or insect)	Sacrifice, blood
Goat's hair	Sin
Ram's Skins dyed red	Fruit of the Spirit
Badger's skin	Earthly body of Jesus

Lesson One
Self Help Test

A. In one paragraph, state why the study of the Tabernacle is important to the church today.

B.	What was the major purpose in the building of the Tabernacle?

C.	In which direction did the Tabernacle face whenever it was set up?

D.	List three materials each from the Mineral, Plant, and Animal Kingdoms that were used to construct the Tabernacle.

E.	List the six pieces of furniture in the Tabernacle plan.