The Next Tabernacle According to the Lord God s Word And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. Mankind has spent untold sums of money to erect churches, temples, shrines, mosques, and other houses of worship, and yet mankind has only provided three Holy of Holies in recorded history where the Lord God could live among his people. They have all been destroyed. In The Next Tabernacle: According to the Lord God s Word, Charles Keech makes a powerful argument for the building of a new tabernacle. Citing scripture from both the Old and New Testaments, he explains what the tabernacle was, why it was important, and what we must do to restore it. Those who desire that God dwell among us once again will find Mr. Keech s message difficult to ignore. Introduction: The Beginning Christians pray the Lord s Prayer requesting Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. The Jews pray three times a day for the Lord God s return. And the Lord God says: Woe is me for my hurt! My wound is grievous; but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it. My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone
forth of me, and they are not: there is none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains. Jeremiah 10:19-20 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it. Exodus 25:8-9 Let us listen to the Lord God. The making of the universe and of man are told one time in Genesis. The pattern of the tabernacle is described in Exodus chapters 25 to 31. The building of the tabernacle is in Exodus chapters 35 to 39. A summary is in Exodus chapter 39:33-43. The tabernacle s erection is in Exodus chapter 40. The moving of the tabernacle and its workers is in Numbers chapter 4. The tabernacle is referred to in many other verses through the Bible. They tell us that the more times something is written about in the Bible, the more important it is. The tabernacle as the dwelling place of the Lord God is more important to the Lord God than the construction of the universe. The Lord God wants to dwell with his children; that s us. The Lord God has appeared at many times and in many places. He has spoken personally to many people. His most frequent appearances and speakings have been at and through the tabernacle. Doesn t it make sense to rebuild the tabernacle as a conduit to reach out to the Lord God; as a conduit to hear our Lord God? So let us rebuild for the Lord God. In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: Amos 9:11 My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Ezekiel 37:27 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. Revelations 21:3 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelations 21:4.
And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart. Jeremiah 24:7 And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. Jeremiah 30:22. And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one. Zechariah 14:9 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God: Jeremiah 32:38 And then we can proudly say as Solomon did: I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever. 1 Kings 8:13. Or do we just continue as now? Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord s house should be built. Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house is waste? Haggai 1:2-4. O, Lord God, I pray Thy will be done, Thy tabernacle be restored. Chapter 1 The Tabernacle What Was It? After Moses and the Israelis left Egypt and passed through the parting of the Red Sea, they were led by the Lord God to Mount Sinai where they stopped. Moses went up Mount Sinai and spoke with the Lord. The Lord God gave Moses the Ten Commandments and also told Moses that the children of Israel should make the Lord a sanctuary where he could live among them. And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the Mount. Exodus 24:15. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying Exodus 25:1 The sanctuary where the Lord God could live among his people was the tabernacle. It was a dwelling where the Lord God could live with His people. It was a tent of meeting where the Lord God could meet with his people. It was a tent of testimony where the laws of the Lord God would be kept in the Ark of the Covenant.
Since the Israelis were still on their journey to the Promised Land the tabernacle had to be a portable structure. If it was a building in the normal sense it would have had to be left behind. It had to be constructed so that it could be assembled, dismantled, moved and reassembled as the Israelis moved from place to place. The tabernacle was a tent. This tent was also a movable shrine, a stately edifice, the palace of tents, a sacred tent dedicated to the worship of the deity; it was the Israelis house of worship and sacrifice. The tabernacle may have been the only place on the earth were the Lord God the Father made himself manifest. And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend Exodus 33:11 And the Lord appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud: and the pillar of the cloud stood over the door of the tabernacle. Deuteronomy 31:15 Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. 2 Samuel 7:6 Kindly note walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another. 1 Chronicles 17:5 The tabernacle was where the Lord God dwelled, where he was the King in residence, where his priests were in service, where his table was spread, where his lamps were lit, where his incense burned and where he received his offerings and sacrifices. Moses was told to build the sanctuary and all of its furnishings and he was shown what was to be made and how it was to be made. And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it. Exodus 25:8-9 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount. Exodus 25:40 And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount. Exodus 26:30 Hollow with boards shalt thou make it: as it was shewed thee in the mount, so shall they make it. Exodus 27:8
And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the Lord had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick. Numbers 8:4. It has been stated by various writers that Moses was given plans, sketches, drawings or models, or were the instructions given orally, by a dream, or did he have a vision? I believe that since both an ark and a tabernacle of the testimony are in heaven, that Moses was shown these and built the earthly tabernacle accordingly. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. Revelation 11:19 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: Revelation 15:5. A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. Hebrews 8:2 Chapter 2 Purposes of the Tabernacle The tabernacle was to be the dwelling place of the Lord God so that the Lord God could dwell among his people, to live with man on earth. And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. Exodus 25:8 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the Lord their God. Exodus 29:45-46 The tabernacle or sanctuary was furnished with all of the furnishings necessary for the incense, the offerings and sacrifices. Therefore all of the incense, offerings and sacrifices could be brought before the Lord God. And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks: Deuteronomy 12:6 This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee. Exodus 29:42
When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the Lord: Exodus 30:20 And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. Exodus 40:6 And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering; as the Lord commanded Moses. Exodus 40:29 There were many kinds of offerings and sacrifices that were made. For man, the sin offering is probably the most important. The old: And it shall be, when he shall be guilty of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing: And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin. And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the Lord; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering. And he shall bring them unto the priest, who shall offer that which is for the sin offering first, and wring off his head from his neck, but shall not divide it asunder: And he shall sprinkle of the blood of the sin offering upon the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood shall be wrung out at the bottom of the altar: it is a sin offering. And he shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the manner: and the priest shall make an atonement for him for his sin which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him. But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering. Then shall he bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it, even a memorial thereof, and burn it on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the Lord: it is a sin offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him: and the remnant shall be the priest s, as a meat offering. Leviticus 5:5-13 And the new, through Jesus: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. Romans 11:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. Hebrews 7:27
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; Hebrews 10:12 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. Ephesians 5:2 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. Hebrews 13:15 There were other offerings and sacrifices. (Not all pertinent verses are included in this chapter. Further references or study can be done with a good concordance or an online search): Burnt Offerings: An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen; in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee. Exodus 20:24 Peace Offerings: And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the Lord. Exodus 24:5 Heave Offering: And it shall be Aaron s and his sons by a statute for ever from the children of Israel; for it is an heave offering: and it shall be an heave offering from the children of Israel of the sacrifice of their peace offerings, even their heave offering unto the Lord. Exodus 29:28 Morning Offering: And the other lamb thou shalt offer at even, and shalt do thereof according to the meat offering of the morning, and according to the drink offering thereof, for a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the Lord. Exodus 29:41 Sacrifice of Thanksgiving: If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried. Leviticus 7:12 Offering be a Vow: But if the sacrifice of his offering be a vow, or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice: and on the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten: Leviticus 7:16 Trespass Offering: This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings; Leviticus 7:37 Freewill Offering: And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein. Leviticus 22:21
Drink Offering: These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day: Leviticus 23:37 Continual Burnt Offering: And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering. Numbers 28:3 Of every Sabbath: This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering. Numbers 28:10 Offering of every Month: And their drink offerings shall be half an hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third part of an hin unto a ram, and a fourth part of an hin unto a lamb: this is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year. Numbers 28:14 Sweet Savour: After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering. Numbers 28:24 Daily Burnt Offering: Beside the burnt offering of the month, and his meat offering, and the daily burnt offering, and his meat offering, and their drink offerings, according unto their manner, for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD. Numbers 29:6 Sacrifice of Righteousness: They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand. Deuteronomy 33:19 Yearly Sacrifice: And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow. 1 Samuel 1:21 Evening Sacrifice: And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. 1 Kings 18:29 King s Burnt Sacrifice: And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to inquire by. 2 Kings 16:15
New Moons: And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD: 1 Chronicles 23:31 Thank Offerings: Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings. 2 Chronicles 29:31 Sacrifices of Joy: And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Psalm 27:6 Covenant by Sacrifice: Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. Psalm 50:5 Sacrifices of Praise: And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the LORD. Jeremiah 17:26 Sacrifice Continually: Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually. Jeremiah 33:18 Spiritual Sacrifices: Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5 Sacrifice of Deliverance: And so they kept the dedication of the altar eight days and offered burnt offerings with gladness, and sacrificed the sacrifice of deliverance and praise. 1 Maccabees 4:56 Sacrifice for Health: So the high priest, suspecting lest the king should misconceive that some treachery had been done to Heliodorus by the Jews, offered a sacrifice for the health of the man. 2 Maccabees 3:32 Sacrifice of Sanctification: Fear the Lord, and honor the priest; and give him his portion, as it is commanded thee; the firstfruits, and the trespass offering, and the gift of the shoulders, and the sacrifice of sanctification, and the firstfruits of the holy things. Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach 7:31 Some of these offerings and sacrifices may be the same under different wording. It is not the scope of this writing to fully explain the different offerings and sacrifices, just to
point out that the offering for sin was not the only offering made at the altar of the tabernacle. Offerings and sacrifices are mentioned hundreds of times in hundreds of verses. These have to be very important to the Lord God. Even a separate altar for incense. The feasts of the Lord God were observed at the tabernacle. That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. Exodus 12:27 And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field. Exodus 23:16 And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end. Exodus 34:22 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. Leviticus 23:34 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty: Deuteronomy 16:16 The solemn feasts of the Lord our God are observed in Solomon s temple, no longer in the tabernacle. Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel. 2 Chronicles 2:4 Then Solomon offered burnt offerings unto the LORD on the altar of the LORD, which he had built before the porch, Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles. 2 Chronicles 8:12-13 And at the second temple, Herod s temple:
Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. Luke 22:1 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. John 10:22 The tabernacle was a place to meet with the Lord God: And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. Exodus 25:22 This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee. Exodus 29:42 And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory. Exodus 29:43 And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy. Exodus 30:36 And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you. Numbers 17:4 A place to talk to man: And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses. Exodus 33:9 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle. Exodus 33:11 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease. Numbers 11:25 And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. Numbers 12:5 And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, Leviticus 1:1 The tabernacle was a house of prayer. The housing place for the ark and the mercy seat.
The tabernacle was a place for the lamps to be continually burned. The place where sacrifices were accepted upon the Lord s altar. And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people. Leviticus 26:11-12 Chapter 3 The Importance of the Tabernacle It is generally agreed by Bible authors and scholars that Moses, with or without help, wrote the first five books of the Bible; Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. It is also generally agreed by Bible authors and scholars that Moses wrote by divine revelation, that the Lord God told Moses what to write. Therefore, with the Lord God as author, we can determine the importance of one thing to another by how it is written, by what is glanced over, and by what is dwelled upon. In Genesis the creation of heaven and earth; the sun, moon and stars; day and nights; the seas and dry land; all seeds and manner of plants; all creatures and animals of the sea and land; and man and woman are given to us in the first two chapters, less than 56 verses. More detail is given of man and the Garden of Eden than anything else in the first two chapters. Other details are simply not there. The other planets were not numbered or named. The seas and land masses or continents were not counted or named. The Lord God did not even tell us the earth was round remember Christopher Columbus? The Lord God through Moses did however tell us very much about the details of the tabernacle. The pattern or design of the tabernacle is shown in Exodus chapters 25 to 31. The actual building of the tabernacle is shown in Exodus chapters 35 to 39. A summary of the tabernacle is shown in Exodus chapter 39:32-43. The first erection of the tabernacle is shown in Exodus chapter 40:1-33. And in the book of Numbers the moving of the tabernacle is detailed. The Levites take charge of the tabernacle, its vessels and all things to it, they move it and its vessels, they minister to it and they camp around it.
But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle. Numbers 1:50 It is specifically stated as to who and even the ages of those who shall do the work of the tabernacle. And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers, From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation. Numbers 4:1-3 This is the start of a detailed account of how and who does the packing and moving of the tabernacle. This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, about the most holy things: Numbers 4:4. Moses and Aaron and the chief of the congregation start to number or count each family that did service, helped or were available to help with the moving of the tabernacle. From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entered into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation. Numbers 4:35 Moses and Aaron are counting their labor force. Note that it even seems important to the Lord God to know how many people helped or were available to help in the moving of the tabernacle. These were they that were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, which Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses. Numbers 4:37 The dust in the floor: And the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is in the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put it into the water: Numbers 5:17 This is part of a priestly procedure when a jealous man brings his wife before the priest to determine if she was unfaithful or not. What becomes clear is that even the dust in the floor of the tabernacle is significant. Why so much detail on the tabernacle if it wasn t really, really important?
Perhaps the description of the tabernacle is recorded because the Lord God knew it would have to be rebuilt for his renewed dwelling among his people. Chapter 4 The Necessity of the Tabernacle Can it be stated any clearer? Thus saith the Lord, the heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool, where is the house that ye build unto me? And where is the place of my rest? Isaiah 66:1 Mankind has spent millions, billions and trillions of dollars and other currencies to erect churches, temples, shrines, mosques and other structures for meeting houses, houses of prayer, houses of worship, whatever you want to call them, and yet in all of recorded history mankind has only provided three Holy of Holies where the Lord God could dwell and rest and they have all been destroyed. Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste? Haggai 1:4 We sometimes ask, where is God? When something bad happens we ask, where was God? Maybe the Lord God is also asking us, where are my people, where is my house? Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house, and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord. Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. Haggai 1:7-9 Haggai 1:7-9 is as pertinent today as the day it was spoken and written down. Hear the call to return, to rebuild: The Lord hath been sore displeased with your fathers. Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. Zethariah 1:2-3 Paul speaks in the Acts of the apostles probably meaning that the tabernacle will be built and set up through and by men and women for God, just as Moses and his helpers were men and women who built and set up the first tabernacle for God. After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Acts 15:16-17
Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen. Acts 7:44 The tabernacle is necessary as a place for the Lord God s lamps to burn always, a stature for ever, to burn continually. And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the Lord: it shall be a stature for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel. Exodus 27:20-21 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually. Leviticus 24:1-2 The lamps in the tabernacle are not being burned continually as the Lord God commanded because there is no tabernacle in which to put the lamps. The house or dwelling place for the Lord God is necessary for the performance of the offerings and sacrifices so that the glory of the Lord God can return to his dwelling place. To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the Lord, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the Lord. Leviticus 17:5 Then there shall be a place which the Lord your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the Lord: Deuteronomy 12:11 The tabernacle is necessary for us to truly see the Glory of the Lord God. Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Exodus 40:34 And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims, and he spake unto him. Numbers 7:89 This is after the dedication of the altar, and the anointing of the altar. To me this would be a great moment in time, the first time the Lord God of Israel speaks from the mercy seat upon the ark, between the two cherubims of the mercy seat, in the Holy of Holies.
If we can now only repeat this moment in time, to have history repeat itself. In Numbers 12:5 note that the Lord God stood in the door or doorway. This one verse can lead to implications unthought of, undreamed of, unimagined of, by thousands of people, by millions of people who think they know the Lord God and those who thought they knew a God and those who thought there was no God. And the Lord came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. Numbers 12:5 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them. Numbers 20:6 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. 2 Chronicles 7:1 The tabernacle is necessary for all the people. That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there; that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place. 1 Kings 8:29 Moreover concerning a stranger, that is not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name s sake; (For they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched out arm;) when he shall come and pray toward this house; Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name. 1 Kings 8:41-43 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. Zechariah 14:16 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the Lord will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. Zechariah 14:17-19
Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. Isaiah 56:7 Them would be all the people, gentiles, everyone. The first tabernacle and the two destroyed temples were only used by the Israel people. This tabernacle is for the use of all the people, everyone. We have abandoned the Lord God. We have failed to provide a Holy of Holies. We leave the Lord God to dwell in the mountains, not among us. Mountain climbers are the only ones to visit the Lord God, but they are not there to visit the Lord God, they are there to conquer the mountain; they ignore the Lord God; they intrude into His space. Chapter 5 Jesus and the Temple Jesus was circumcised at eight days of age. He was brought to the temple in Jerusalem and was presented to the Lord. A sacrifice was made at the temple for Jesus. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. Luke 2:21-24 Simeon came into the temple and saw the child Jesus in the temple. And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. Luke 2:25-32
Anna, who did not leave the temple also saw Jesus in the temple. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. Luke 2:36-38 Jesus parents, Joseph and Mary, went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of Passover. When Jesus was twelve years old the family made the yearly trip for Passover. Jesus became missing and was found in the temple in Jerusalem. Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. Luke 2:41-46 During Jesus forty days in the desert he is tested, tempted by the Devil. The Devil places Jesus on the top of the Lord s temple in Jerusalem. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, Matthew 4:5 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: Luke 4:9 Jesus has started his ministry when the tax man comes to Peter about collecting the temple tribute of Jesus. The tribute is paid. Jesus would not be paying the tribute if he did not support the temple of the Lord God. And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. Matthew 17:24-27
Jesus goes into the temple of the Lord God and throws out those that bought and sold in the temple. And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, Matthew 21:12 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; Mark 11:15 And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; Luke 19:45 Jesus says It is written, My house is the house of prayer, the My meaning the Lord God. And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. Matthew 21:13 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. Mark 11:17 Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. Luke 19:46 Jesus healed in the temple: And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. Matthew 21:14 Jesus taught in the temple: And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. Mark 11:17 And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, Luke 19:47 Jesus truly knew of the importance of the temple. He knew the temple was the house of the Lord God. Just as Jesus and his parents made yearly visits to the temple in Jerusalem at Passover, Jesus returns to the temple at Passover. This is during his ministry. Jesus is still observing the feast of Passover at the temple. Jesus is still a Jew following the laws given to Moses by the Lord God.
We do not know it this is the same visit to the temple mentioned above in Matthew, Mark and Luke. Several authors say this is a different occasion, up to three years afterward. In John 2:16 Jesus is referring to the temple as his Father s house. And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. John 2:13-16 Jesus goes to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews: After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. John 5:1 Jesus was in the temple in Jerusalem at the feast of the dedication. Jesus is still observing the temple festivals: And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. John 10:22-23 Jesus is in the temple again: And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. Matthew 24:1 In Matthew 23:21 Jesus elevates the temple status. He is saying that whosoever swears by the temple is swearing by the Lord God of Israel. I cannot see any statement that would more elevate the importance, the status of the temple than this one does. Jesus himself is saying how important the temple of the Lord God is. We should also realize the importance of the temple of the Lord God. And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. Matthew 23:21 We shall now go to the book of Malachi beginning with chapter 3, verse 1: Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to this temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. Malachi 3:1 The Lord God speaks, Behold, I will send my messenger. I means the Lord God of Israel; my messenger refers to Jesus Christ.
The Lord God continues, and he shall prepare the way before me ; he refers to Jesus Christ; prepare the way would mean to make people ready to accept his presence and to provide a dwelling place for the Lord God; me would refer to the Lord God. whom ye seek refers to the Lord God. shall suddenly come to his temple. Since the words temple, tabernacle and tent are somewhat interchangeable many times in the Bible, if we provide a tabernacle as Moses built we could be headed in the right direction. even the messenger of the covenant ; messenger again refers to Jesus Christ; covenant refers to the new covenant of Jesus Christ. whom ye delight in: People delight in the thought of, the presence of, the realty of Jesus Christ. Some people think that the messenger refers to John the Baptist. Most people do not delight in John the Baptist; they pretty much ignore him. Most people do truly delight in the thought of, the presence of, the realty of Jesus Christ. behold, he shall come : The second coming of Jesus Christ. That which Christians the world over pray for every day, maybe not as diligently as they should or as meaningfully as they should. saith the Lord of hosts : The Lord God of Israel, the Lord of Lords, the God of Gods, the Father of Fathers. In other words Malachie 3:1 says, The Lord God will send Jesus Christ to make people ready to accept the Lord God s presence and to provide a dwelling place for the Lord God and the Lord God whom you search for, seek after, desire, praise, pray to and want to become a realty, shall suddenly come to his tabernacle, even Jesus Christ of the new covenant shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to this temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. Malachi 3:1 A call for a return of the offerings: Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years. Malichi 3:4 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? Malichi 3:7
Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Malachi 4:4 Chapter 6 The Apostles The apostles of Jesus are recorded as being in the temple at various times. Solomon s porch was a part of the temple. And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. Luke 24:53 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Acts 2:46 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. Acts 3:1 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. Acts 3:11 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. Acts 5:12 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought. Acts 5:21 And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut. Acts 21:30 In Acts 20:16 Paul is hurrying to get to Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost. Most likely he is hurrying to get to the temple in Jerusalem to observe the day of Pentecost. For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost. Acts 20:16 Throughout the writings of the apostles and Luke there is nothing said against the temple. If Jesus Christ was to replace the temple it should have been clearly written as such. Why would the apostles continue to visit the temple if it wasn t important? If the temple was not important, the temple building and what it stood for would have been condemned.
And finally there is Paul when he returns to Jerusalem. Paul is told that thousands of Jews believe in Jesus Christ and that they are all zealous of the law, Acts 21:20. The law refers to the law which the Lord God commanded to Moses. In Acts 21:21 Paul is told that the thousands of Jews have been told that Paul teaches the Jews to forsake Moses and the Jewish customs. In Acts 21:23 Paul is told that they have four men who have taken an oath. In Acts 21:24 Paul is told to take the four men who have taken the oath and to purify himself with them. They would purify themselves at the temple under Jewish custom. When this is done that which the Jews had been told in Acts 21:21 would be proven wrong. It would prove Paul himself keeps the law which the Lord God commanded to Moses. In Acts 21:25 Paul is told that the gentiles that believe in Jesus Christ do not keep the law which the Lord God commanded to Moses. In Acts 21:26 Paul takes the four men, the five of them are purified and enter the temple to observe the days of purification according to Jewish law and custom. An offering is offered for every one of them. Paul, a father of the Christian religion, is here shown going into the temple in Jerusalem, observing the Jewish laws, and having offerings done by Jewish priests for himself and his four witnesses. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: Acts 21:20 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. Acts 21:21 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. Acts 21:22 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; Acts 21:23 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. Acts 21:24