Hebrews 9:1ff The Tabernacle and Christ – Type and Antitype
Why did God give such specific instructions concerning the Tabernacle and all its furniture? According to Hebrews 9, it served as an antitype of heaven itself and of Jesus. J. Sidlow Baxter, in Explore the Book (p.104), in his comments on Exodus, gives these parallels:
The Furniture:
- Brazen Altar
- Brazen Laver
- Table of Shewbread
- Candlestand
- Altar of Incense
- The Ark
- Mercy Seat and Shekinah
Symbolic Meaning
- Atonement through sacrifice
- Spiritual renewal
- Spiritual sustenance
- Spiritual illumination
- Acceptable supplication
- Access through Covenant relationship
- The very presence and life of God
Typical Meaning
- The Atonement of Christ
- Regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit
- Christ the Bread of Life, Holy Spirit the Water of life
- Christ the Light of the world, and His people
- Prayer in the name of Jesus
- Christ as the covenant-ground of access to God
- Christ as the mercy Seat (Rom.3:25) and Shekinah) Holy Spirit as the imparted life of God
While some of the above is conjecture, some is substantiated by scripture (i.e., Jesus is called our Mercy Seat in Rom.3:25).
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