Truth of the Spirit with Patti Brunner describes God’s plan of the Tabernacle, especially the plans for the Holy of Holies and the High Priest, which is revealed in the Old Testament book of Exodus and the New Testament book of Hebrews. TOS171 Holy of Holies & Hebrews – Blueprint of God’s Plan helps find God’s Plan for you when we look for the combination of the teaching from of old fulfilled in Christ then consider the meaning for each of the members of Christ’s Body. For video and audio links or to read the transcript please continue reading below.
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Tabernacle of the Lord episode link: PatriarchMinistries.com/83
God’s plan of the Tabernacle is revealed in the Old Testament book of Exodus and the New Testament book of Hebrews. We can find God’s Plan for you when we look for the combination of the teaching from of old fulfilled in Christ then consider the meaning for each of the members of Christ’s Body.
Welcome to Truth of the Spirit; I am your host, Patti Brunner. Today’s episode is “Holy of Holies and Hebrews- Blueprint of God’s Plan”. The worship of God is very personal. The tabernacle plan culminated in the Holy of Holies with only the High Priest having access to God with the blood of sacrifice. How did this lay the foundation in God’s plan? Keep listening and find out!
In this series we are calling to mind a blueprint like architects use. The architect is the one with the finished vision in mind but who also knows how the many parts must come together for final perfection. Lots of hands are involved in the finished project but each must follow the specifics for their part or the whole will be “off”. Many times in our lives the blueprint seems to be hidden. Yet if we keep following God’s plan, His blueprint, that is revealed to us for our part we can look forward to the finished project—eternal life with God in the fullness of creation in heaven. One place we can find actual blueprints is in God’s instructions to Moses. Certainly God gave the blueprints for government and daily life in the Ten Commandments in Exodus Chapter 20, but I’m thinking something more specific that gives dimensions and building materials: the Tabernacle in the desert! In ten chapters of Exodus, especially 25,26 & 27, God the Planner give Moses the blueprint. God directed a tent to be made with the ability to be dismantled and moved as the Israelites continued what would be a 40 year journey to the Promised Land. In Exodus Chapter 26 God describes the frame and the tent cloth giving dimensions in cubits—which is the length of a man’s forearm. God shared the instructions for using the best materials, especially gold. He has the Israelites form silver pedestals for the acadia wood frame and fine linen with designs of died yarn, for the tent walls sheets held with golden and bronze clasps. The tent was to have sheets of goat’s hair to protect the inner tent and then covered with red leather and then a roof of tahash skins. God also specifies the furnishings within the Tabernacle, or tent, paying special attention to the Ark of the Covenant that will house the tablets of the 10 Commandments, a jar of manna, and the staff of Aaron that signified that he was chosen by God to be the first High Priest.
The Lord’s design plans included an outer walled court, where animals were sacrificed and a bronze laver that held water for ceremonial washing. The tent had an inner room with an always burning lampstand with seven lamps, an altar for incense and an altar for 12 loaves of bread. The final compartment, that would have access limited to the High Priest, was the Holy of Holies that held the golden Ark of the Covenant treasure box. It’s only source of light was to be the glory of God when the tabernacle was completed.
Why would God spend twelve chapters in Exodus plus multiple chapters in Leviticus and Numbers describing the plans for the Tabernacle compared to one and a half chapters for the Ten Commandments in Exodus and Deuteronomy? The Tabernacle of Moses became the model for the Temple in Jerusalem built first by King Solomon in 1st Kings starting in Chapter 5. But it foreshadowed something even greater! Something that God was very particular about. It concerned God’s plan to return man to the presence of God.
By God’s meticulous plan to prepare the people to come into the Presence of God, a whole tribe of Israel was set aside as priests. The tribe of Levi offered sacrifices in the outer court of the Tabernacle retaining the blood, the life force of the animal sacrifice. In the Holy Place, the priests of the tribe of Levi then offered the prayers of the people before the altar of incense. Each seven days the 12 loaves of bread were consumed by the priests and replaced. These loaves represented the twelve tribes of Israel formed from the 12 sons of Jacob who settled in Egypt then were set free from slavery under the leadership of Moses by God’s design. In the desert tabernacle the High Priest came into the Holy of Holies once a year, bathed in the smoke of incense and carrying the blood of the sacrifice of atonement that was splashed on the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant to ask for annual atonement of the sins of the people.
These rituals were set in motion and the blueprint was repeated for 1400 years or so before Christ introduced the ‘more’ of God’s plan that would fulfill it.
The worship of God is very personal. The tabernacle plan culminated in the Holy of Holies with only the High Priest having access with the blood of sacrifice. Jesus is the High Priest; Jesus is the Sacrifice. Jesus is the Blood poured out on the Mercy Seat and Jesus is the Head of the Body that brings you personally into the Holy of Holies.
A good friend of mine, Dr. Dennis Holt, was taught by the Lord that these different sections of the Tabernacle also were a blueprint of our Christian journey. Each conversion of heart draws us nearer and deeper to the presence of Christ and awareness of his Presence. Dennis contemplated that most of the Church remained in the outer court. He discerned that Baptism of the Holy Spirit brought us into the Holy Place. As far as the Holy of Holies—that was the promise to be attained of the completion of all of God’s promises. Total oneness with God’s Love! Spoken of by some of the saints of the Church, union with God! We are given tastes of this and foreshadowings. Could this be heaven?
We now turn to the beautiful book of Hebrews for the combination of this teaching from of old fulfilled in Christ then consider the meaning for each of the members of the Body of Christ. God spoke through the prophet Isaiah. In Chapter 45:3 God says, “I will give you treasures of darkness, riches hidden away, that you may know I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by name.” The Book of Hebrews[i] in the New Testament will help us to comprehend, to discern just what that plan of God involves.
In Chapter 1 we are reminded, “In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; 2in these last days, he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe, a” We get a formal introduction to this true man, true Son of God, true God, who is the splendor “3 of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word. When he had accomplished purification from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, b” a son higher than the angels.
In Chapter 2 the letter to the Hebrews quickly gets to crux of the matter of why the Son of God became a true man; “17 he had to become like his brothers in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people. k 18 Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.”
Us!
Chapter 3 uses the term “house” 7 times! This is God’s house. The Tabernacle was the blueprint of God’s house! The readers and listeners of the letter to the Hebrews knew the importance of Moses, who led the Israelites from slavery to the Promised Land, who established the first five books of Sacred Scripture, and whom God spoke to face to face about the plans for the Tabernacle. Chapter 3 compares Jesus to Moses and finds him “Superior to Moses”* “1 Reflect on Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was “faithful in his house.” a 3 But Jesus is worthy of more “glory” than Moses, as the founder of a house has more “honor” than the house itself. b 4 Every house is founded by someone, but the founder of all is God. 5 Moses was “faithful in all his house” as a “servant” to testify to what would be spoken, 6* c but Christ was faithful as a son placed over his house.” Then we get the revelation: “We are his house”! Let that soak in a moment. We are the tabernacle of the Lord. God the Holy Spirit dwells within us! And we dwell within Him.
This revelation of God’s plan is quickly followed by a warning. “We are his house, if [only] we hold fast to our confidence and pride in our hope.” Whoops! Our infidelity can hinder God’s plan in Christ. The Old Testament is filled with examples of how the infidelity of the Israelites delayed and hindered God’s plans. Hebrews 3 “7* Therefore, as the holy Spirit says: “Oh, that today you would hear his voice, d 8 ‘Harden not your hearts as at the rebellion in the day of testing in the desert, 9 where your ancestors tested and tried me and saw my works e 10 for forty years.” That’s Moses; that’s the people of Israel. Don’t let it be us. “12 Take care, brothers, that none of you may have an evil and unfaithful heart, so as to forsake the living God. 13 Encourage yourselves daily while it is still “today,” so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin. 14 We have become partners of Christ if only we hold the beginning of the reality firm until the end. f”
In Genesis Chapter 14 we are told of another person from the Old Testament that Hebrews later compares with Christ. The priest Melchizedek offered bread and wine to God with Abraham and then blessed Abraham. Abraham, known as the “Father of Faith”, was so excited to meet someone that also knew God that he responded with generosity and commitment. Chapter 7 of Hebrews spells out for us God’s plan for this and gives comparison to the everlasting priesthood of Christ. “1* This “Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High,”* “met Abraham as he returned from his defeat of the kings” and “blessed him.” a 2* And Abraham apportioned to him “a tenth of everything.” His name first means righteous king, and he was also “king of Salem,” that is, king of peace.” Jerusalem translates as “New Salem.” Melchizedek “3 without father, mother, or ancestry, without beginning of days or end of life,* thus made to resemble the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. b 4* See how great he is to whom the patriarch “Abraham [indeed] gave a tenth” of his spoils. c 5 The descendants of Levi who receive the office of priesthood have a commandment according to the law to exact tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, although they also have come from the loins of Abraham. d 6 But he who was not of their ancestry received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had received the promises. 7 Unquestionably, a lesser person is blessed by a greater.* 8 In the one case, mortal men receive tithes; in the other, a man of whom it is testified that he lives on. 9 One might even say that Levi* himself, who receives tithes, was tithed through Abraham, 10 for he was still in his father’s loins when Melchizedek met him. 11* If, then, perfection came through the Levitical priesthood, on the basis of which the people received the law, what need would there still have been for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not reckoned according to the order of Aaron? e 12 When there is a change of priesthood, there is necessarily a change of law as well. 13 Now he of whom these things are said* belonged to a different tribe, of which no member ever officiated at the altar. 14 It is clear that our Lord arose from Judah,* and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. f 15* It is even more obvious if another priest is raised up after the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become so, not by a law expressed in a commandment concerning physical descent but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed.* 17 For it is testified: “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” g 18 On the one hand, a former commandment is annulled because of its weakness and uselessness, h 19 for the law brought nothing to perfection; on the other hand, a better hope* is introduced, through which we draw near to God. 20* And to the degree that this happened not without the taking of an oath*—for others became priests without an oath, 21 but he with an oath, through the one who said to him: “The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent: i ‘You are a priest forever’”— 22j to that same degree has Jesus [also] become the guarantee of an [even] better covenant.* 23 Those priests were many because they were prevented by death from remaining in office, 24 but he, because he remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away. k 25 * Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them. l 26 m It was fitting that we should have such a high priest:* holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, higher than the heavens.* 27 He has no need, as did the high priests, to offer sacrifice day after day,*n first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did that once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests, but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law, appoints a son, who has been made perfect forever. o”
Since the letter to the Hebrews has now established the validity of the priesthood of Jesus Christ, Chapter 8 now shares how his ministry goes beyond an earthly tabernacle to the heavenly sanctuary and he intercedes for us in his humanity before the Father thus fulfilling the role of the Old Testament promise of priesthood—God’s plan! “*1The main point of what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a 2 a minister of the sanctuary* and of the true tabernacle that the Lord, not man, set up. b 3 Now every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus the necessity for this one also to have something to offer. c 4 If then he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are those who offer gifts according to the law. d 5 They worship in a copy and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, as Moses was warned when he was about to erect the tabernacle. For he says,” God says! ““See that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” e 6 Now he has obtained so much more excellent a ministry as he is mediator of a better covenant, enacted on better promises. f”
Chapter 9 of Hebrews points out important details of the tabernacle that Moses and the Israelites built by God’s blueprint and discerns the meaning. “1 The first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was constructed, the outer one,* in which were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of offering; this is called the Holy Place. a 3* Behind the second veil was the tabernacle called the Holy of Holies, b 4 in which were the gold altar of incense* and the ark of the covenant entirely covered with gold. In it were: the gold jar containing the manna, the staff of Aaron that had sprouted, and the tablets of the covenant. c 5* Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the place of expiation.” “6 With these arrangements for worship, the priests, in performing their service,* go into the outer tabernacle repeatedly, e 7 but the high priest alone goes into the inner one once a year, not without blood* that he offers for himself and for the sins of the people. f 8 In this way the holy Spirit shows that the way into the sanctuary had not yet been revealed while the outer tabernacle still had its place. 9 This is a symbol of the present time,* in which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the worshiper in conscience 10 but only in matters of food and drink and various ritual washings: regulations concerning the flesh, imposed until the time of the new order. g”
Hebrews then “provides the meaning God ultimately intended in the sacrifices of the Old Testament. These pointed to the unique sacrifice of Christ, which alone obtains forgiveness of sins”. “ 11* when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be,* passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation, h 12 he entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. i 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer’s ashes* can sanctify those who are defiled so that their flesh is cleansed, j 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit* offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God. k 15* For this reason he is mediator of a new covenant: since a death has taken place for deliverance from transgressions under the first covenant, those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance. l 16* Now where there is a will, the death of the testator must be established. 17 For a will takes effect only at death; it has no force while the testator is alive. 18 Thus not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19* When every commandment had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves [and goats], together with water and crimson wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, m 20 saying, “This is ‘the blood of the covenant which God has enjoined upon you.’” n 21 In the same way, he sprinkled also the tabernacle* and all the vessels of worship with blood. o 22 * According to the law almost everything is purified by blood, p and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. 23* Therefore, it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified by these rites, but the heavenly things themselves by better sacrifices than these. q 24 For Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself, that he might now appear before God on our behalf. r 25 Not that he might offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary with blood that is not his own; 26 if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly from the foundation of the world. But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages* to take away sin by his sacrifice. s 27 Just as it is appointed that human beings die once, and after this the judgment, t 28 so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many,* will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him. u
Chapter 10 of Hebrews reports Christ saying, “9 “Behold, I come to do your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second. f 10 By this “will,” we have been consecrated through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. g 11* Every priest” –every temple priest—“stands daily at his ministry, offering frequently those same sacrifices that can never take away sins. h 12 But this one offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God; i 13* now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated. j 15* The holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying: 16 “This is the covenant I will establish with them after those days, says the Lord: ‘I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them upon their minds,’” k 17 he also says:* “Their sins and their evildoing I will remember no more.” l 18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer offering for sin.”
In conclusion of this episode about God’s Plan, consider this as you recognize the stages of preparation to enter. God’s blueprint to Moses showed the steps of the priest first entering the outer court that was separated from the rest of the world. Faith does that for us. The priest then attended to the work of the sacrifice. Christ provides himself as the perfect sacrifice. The water in the Outer Court reminds us of both our baptism and the mercy of forgiveness that washes away our impurities. Our personal priesthood is combined with that of Christ as we offer our obedience and our sufferings. The priest then enters the Holy Place for preparation. It is here that through the work of the Church the 7 flames or lights of the Sacraments are available to us as well as the multiple gifts of the Spirit. Here our prayers rise before the Lord and we become a part of the Body of Christ especially as we eat the Bread of Life.
Hebrews Chapter 20 continues to expand God’s plan for us. “19 Since through the blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary m 20* by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil n that is, his flesh, 21* o and since we have “a great priest over the house of God,” 22 let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience* and our bodies washed in pure water .p 23 Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy. q” Only then shall we be invited into the innermost Holy of Holies, to stand within the Body of Christ at the Father’s right hand, in the fullness of the Presence of God. Which is the plan and blueprint of our loving Father!
You’ve been listening to Truth of the Spirit and “Holy of Holies & Hebrews- the Blueprint of God’s Plan”. The script of this episode is available at PatriarchMinistries.com/171. You might also be interested in episode 83 “Tabernacle of the Lord” which also gives information about the foreshadowing of God’s plan. We will put these links in the description below. We invite you to share a comment on our YouTube channel, click like, and subscribe for free. And then come back for more. With the Holy Spirit there’s always more! Amen.
[i] Scripture excerpts used in this episode are taken from the New American Bible, with USCCB.Org web references included.
