(8) Build a sanctuary according to the pattern of heaven.

 

(8) Build a sanctuary according to the pattern of heaven.

Exodus 25:8-9 “Let them make a sanctuary for me, that I may dwell among them. The tabernacle shall be made according to the pattern (tavnit) of all that I show you, and all its furnishings according to the pattern (tavnit) of its furniture you shall make.

"Shakan" means to dwell, meaning that God dwells in the world. It symbolizes Jesus Christ. It is like God entering the flesh. This is the sanctuary. The saints also have God enter the temple within their hearts. This is Emmanuel (Greek: Parousia). Emmanuel is becoming one with God. Heaven is realized within the hearts of the saints.

Tabnit (תַּבְנִ֣ית) is translated as shape, meaning a model. Through that model (copy), we are to understand the true kingdom of God. The last part of verse 9 of chapter 25 contains the word samek (ס), which means ladder in Korean. The Son of Man is a ladder. It is an image of angels ascending and descending on a ladder. This depicts the first man Adam coming into the world with his members, and the last man Adam entering the kingdom of God with his members. That ladder is the sanctuary, which is Jesus Christ. The sanctuary is none other than the place of salvation where we meet God.

This is God's command to build a sanctuary where he would meet with the Israelites. The sanctuary is called the Tabernacle of the Testimony because it serves as a witness to the covenant, and the Tabernacle of Meeting because it is where God and the Israelites meet. Furthermore, because it is a place separated from the world and considered holy, it is also called the Tabernacle. Therefore, the terms Tabernacle of the Testimony, Tabernacle of Meeting, and Tabernacle were used interchangeably.

The sanctuary is evidence of becoming God's people, and because only God's people can enter it, they are to always have joyful hearts. In other words, during that time, they were those who had turned away from God, those who feared God, and those who were destined for death. Therefore, when the covenant people come to meet God, they are to come with joyful hearts. However, when they break the covenant, they become a fearful God.

In the Bible, the temple is mentioned in over 50 chapters across Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Hebrews. In particular, sixteen chapters of Exodus, from chapters 25 to 40, deal with the tabernacle. Eighteen chapters of Leviticus deal with the tabernacle. One chapter (chapter 13) of Numbers is devoted to the tabernacle. Two chapters of Deuteronomy and four chapters of Hebrews are devoted to the tabernacle. The tabernacle symbolizes Jesus Christ.

However, this word about the temple is directly related to the words of the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation. John 5:46, “For if you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.” Moses symbolizes the law of the Pentateuch. Shouldn’t we have found Christ in the law? The core of the law is the temple. John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us (eskenosen), and we have seen his glory, glory as of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Eskenosen (ἐσκήνωσεν) means to pitch a tent. It means in the temple of the soul. Jesus Christ is the temple.

The Hebrew words for tabernacle are Mishkin (מִשְׁכָּן) and Ohel (אֹהֶל). Mishkan is a tabernacle, a device that conveys God's will through words. Ohel means the tabernacle where God resides. Furthermore, there is the temple (בית) built by Solomon. It means a temple completed by grace. The temple is largely divided into three categories: the creation of heaven and earth and Eden (Genesis 1-3), the temple (sanctuary) built in the Old Testament, and heaven in the hearts of the saints in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 3:16). All of these foreshadow Jesus Christ and contain the meaning of salvation.

Genesis 1 describes the first through seventh days as light, firmament, land (seed), maor, birds (sea), beasts (humans), and rest. This can be applied by connecting it to the terminology of the sanctuary and the contents of the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation.

On the first day, the light is the altar of burnt offering. And in John 1:5 (The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it), 1:9 (The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world), and verse 29 (The next day John sees Jesus coming toward him and says, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”), a lamb dies on the altar of burnt offering. The Exodus takes place through the blood of the lamb. This festival is related to the Passover. The Exodus begins with the Passover lamb. The content of Revelation 1 corresponds to this.

Revelation 1:1, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He sent and made it known by his angel to his servant John." Through the revelation, God reveals what will soon take place (the destruction of the old temple for the Israelites and the building of a new temple for the saints). Those who realize this become those who leave Egypt.

Revelation must always be considered from three perspectives. First, there is the aspect of Genesis (chapters 1-3). All people in the world are imprisoned. Looking at the seven days of creation, we see light entering those imprisoned in darkness, the Word (the sea) entering, the flower of life blooming, those in darkness becoming light, becoming one with God in Christ, and returning to the kingdom of God to find rest.

Second, we will look at the story of the Exodus and entry into Canaan through Israel historically, and the story of the old temple.

The third is to examine the story of the temple that arises within the hearts of believers. When these three elements are connected and harmonized, we can understand what God intends to do.

On the second day, the firmament became a laver. The laver signifies the sea (the waters below). The original land ('erez) was muddy. However, dry land (the altar of burnt offering) appeared and became the sea (the laver). The laver is a concept similar to the Exodus and the crossing of the Red Sea.

And in John 2, the story of the wedding feast in Cana, where water was turned into wine, appears. In John 3, the story of rising from the water and the Spirit is described. In John 3:26, "They came to John and said, 'Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you testified, behold, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.'"

There are two types of baptism: water baptism and fire baptism. Water baptism is like crossing the Red Sea. It signifies death to sin. Washing in the basin signifies death to sin. Fire baptism is like changing clothes. Those who are baptized in fire are also born from heaven by the Holy Spirit.

This is related to the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The Feast of Unleavened Bread warns against the spread of sin. It is a warning against falsehood. Revelation 2-3 corresponds to this. These are words addressed to the church. It is a lawsuit regarding the covenant. It is a message about what the churches are doing wrong.

On the third day, the bread was served on land. It is connected to the Matna of the Exodus. In John 4, there is a scene where Jesus speaks with a Samaritan woman. The disciples went to buy bread to eat. Jesus also meets the Samaritan woman and speaks of true food.

In John 4:34, Jesus said, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work." Chapter 5 is about eternal life, and chapter 6 is about bread (the five loaves and two fish). In Exodus, through Matna, we eat the bread of heaven. Regarding the feast, it is related to the Feast of Firstfruits. The Book of Revelation, through the words of chapters 4 and 5, is about entering the kingdom of God. It is about meeting the throne of heaven and Jesus Christ, the firstfruit.

On the fourth day, Maor is like a lampstand. The Book of Revelation speaks of seven stars (the messengers of the seven churches). The seven stars represent those who spread the gospel (the saints). The saints become like stars.

In John 7, Jesus speaks of the Jews who cannot recognize the light. So, in chapter 8, Jesus declares that he is the light. And in chapter 9, he heals a blind man. This is related to the feast of Pentecost.

The Book of Revelation relates to chapters 6 and 7. It is about the seven seals and seals. With the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, believers receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and go out into the world to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom. This is the beginning of the kingdom of God within the soul.

On the fifth day, the bird (the sea) represents the altar of incense. The altar of incense represents prayer (war and suffering) and grace. When the temple is established in the hearts of the saints, the seven tribes appear before them. A spiritual war has begun. Therefore, the saints are to enter the Holy of Holies within their hearts (the rapture) and spiritually enter into God's presence (Parousian) to gain strength.

In John 10-17, the Jews plot to kill Jesus. As Jesus continues to preach, a war begins between them. This context is connected to chapters 8-14 of Revelation. Regarding the Feast of Trumpets, it is related to the Feast of Trumpets.

The Book of Revelation is related to chapters 8-14. The Feast of Trumpets is about preaching the word, and as a result, a spiritual war breaks out. The spiritual war (chapters 12-14) is the story of the spread of the gospel and the preaching of truth. This is why martyrs are born. The blood of the martyrs brings about the judgment of the bowls.

On the sixth day, the beast (human) symbolizes the veil. John 18-19 depicts Jesus being arrested and crucified. The veil symbolizes Jesus Christ. Therefore, the veil is torn by his death.

In Exodus, the final crossing of the Jordan River is the entry into Canaan. Crossing the Jordan River is entering into Christ. Regarding the festival, it is related to the Day of Atonement.

The Book of Revelation relates to chapters 15-19. It presents an opportunity for repentance. Jesus died on the cross around A.D. 30, and the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans around A.D. 70. The forty years between then could be considered a period of repentance. However, the Jews did not repent. Thus, the story of judgment emerges.

This explains the judgment of the great whore, Babylon. When the old temple is destroyed, a new temple will be built. Christ, as a priest, will be present (parousian) in the hearts of the saints.

The seventh day, the Sabbath, represents the Ark of the Covenant. It represents the period from John 19:38 to the last chapter (21). The tomb symbolizes the Holy of Holies. In John 20:11-12, "Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she stooped down to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus' body had lain, one at the head and the other at the feet." The two angels represent the cherubim (angels) in the Ark of the Covenant. When the high priest enters the Holy of Holies and rises, his sacrifice is accepted by God.

Jesus Christ is risen. God has accepted the sacrifice. John 20 is the restoration of Eden. In chapter 20, verse 15, Jesus said, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Mary, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will get him back."

The Garden of Eden symbolizes Eden. Jesus is the last Adam. Therefore, he restores the seven demon-possessed (Mary Magdalene). Mary Magdalene is the first to hear of Jesus' resurrection. This festival is related to the Feast of Tabernacles.

The Book of Revelation relates to chapters 20-22. A heavenly wedding feast takes place. Christ parousia (presence) takes place in the temple within the hearts of the saints, and the saints, as royal priests, meet in the sanctuary within their hearts. Thus, the saints become the 144,000, the millennial kingdom, and the third heaven (the new heaven and new earth). The Bible says this happens while the saints are alive. This is true rest. The temple (the new temple) of which Christ is the head is the heaven within the souls of the saints.