Exodus 25:9 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.
The first tabernacle:
The first mention of tabernacle is in our text verse. The religious life of Israel was centered on the tabernacle God told them to make while in their wilderness wanderings. The details and construction and service occupy thirteen chapters in Exodus – more than for any other single item in the Bible. The description and details provide us with a wealth of typology concerning Christ, His sacrifice, service and our relation to God.
His tabernacle’s design and construction was based upon the pattern of that which God constructed (Heb 8:2). The earthly tabernacle that Moses built in the wilderness and which was carried through the time of Israel in the Promised Land is the place of meeting. God met with Israel there in this tabernacle. God said He would be among His people (Deut 23:14). God’s presence was above the Ark of the Covenant and between the cherubim (Ex 25:20-22). All the pieces of this tabernacle were representations of Christ and His work and presence among His people. Christ is all through the Old Testament, even in the water out of the rock (1 Cor 10:4).
The second tabernacle:
The tabernacle in the wilderness was made from the pattern of the true which is in heaven where Christ now resides sitting at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us (Heb 9:23; 8:5). Jesus said that He would sit at the right hand of God after His death and resurrection (Matt 26:64). Steven said he saw Jesus there (Acts 7:55-56).
A third tabernacle:
Christ permanently indwells a third tabernacle (Jn 1:14) – a body of flesh. The word dwelt is actually tabernacle – thus His human body became God’s tabernacle and He will dwell there forever (1 Tim 2:5). When God took on humanity He, in the Person of Christ, chose to permanently lay aside His glory and take on the aspect of being High Priest for all of mankind and to retain that tabernacle in a glorified tabernacle after the resurrection.
Our tabernacle:
We live in a tabernacle of clay (2 Cor 4:7). This vessel will decay and waste away because of the fall on man. But we will enjoy a new vessel one day that will not be affected by the fall or elements of this world.
Eternal tabernacle:
We have a wonderful assurance in the Bible’s last chapter, that in this tabernacle He will dwell among us eternally (Rev 21:3).