There are 40 chapters in the Book of Exodus and 16 of them are spent describing the Tabernacle and Priesthood. Why would 40% of the Exodus narrative describe the Tabernacle and Priesthood?
To answer this question we will need to fast forward to John the Beloved's encounter with Yeshua in the Book of Revelation.
John saw something that day that tends to be the substance of fantasy. In fact, when we read over chapters 4 and 5 of Revelation, we tend to categorize it as some sort of mysterious and (perhaps) mythical scene:
1 After these things, I looked; and there before me was a door standing open in heaven; and the voice like a trumpet which I had heard speaking with me before said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after these things.” 2 Instantly I was in the Spirit, and there before me in heaven stood a throne, and on the throne Someone was sitting. 3 The One sitting there gleamed like diamonds and rubies, and a rainbow shining like emerald encircled the throne.
4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on the thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white clothing and wearing gold crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came forth lightnings, voices and thunderings; and before the throne were seven flaming torches, which are the sevenfold Spirit of God. 6 In front of the throne was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living beings covered with eyes in front and behind. 7 The first living being was like a lion, the second living being was like an ox, the third living being had a face that looked human, and the fourth living being was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living beings had six wings and was covered with eyes inside and out; and day and night they never stop saying,
“Holy, holy, holy is YHVH, God of heaven’s armies
the One who was, who is and who is coming!”
9 And whenever the living beings give glory, honor and thanks to the One sitting on the throne, to the One who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before the One sitting on the throne, who lives forever and ever, and worship him. They throw their crowns in front of the throne and say,
11 “You are worthy, YHVH Eloheinu,
to have glory, honor and power,
because you created all things —
yes, because of your will they were created
and came into being!”
1 Next I saw in the right hand of the One sitting on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals; 2 and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 But no one in heaven, on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look inside it. 4 I cried and cried, because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look inside it. 5 One of the elders said to me, “Don’t cry. Look, the Lion of the tribe of Y’hudah, the Root of David, has won the right to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw standing there with the throne and the four living beings, in the circle of the elders, a Lamb that appeared to have been slaughtered. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the sevenfold Spirit of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of the One sitting on the throne. 8 When he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down in front of the Lamb. Each one held a harp and gold bowls filled with pieces of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people; 9 and they sang a new song,
“You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals;
because you were slaughtered;
at the cost of blood you ransomed for God
persons from every tribe, language, people and nation.
10 You made them into a kingdom for God to rule,
cohanim to serve him;
and they will rule over the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard the sound of a vast number of angels — thousands and thousands, millions and millions! They were all around the throne, the living beings and the elders; 12 and they shouted out,
“Worthy is the slaughtered Lamb to receive
power, riches, wisdom, strength,
honor, glory and praise!”
13 And I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth and on the sea — yes, everything in them — saying,
“To the One sitting on the throne
and to the Lamb
belong praise, honor, glory and power
forever and ever!”
14 The four living beings said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshipped.
Wow! Mysterious, indeed.
But what if this isn’t as mysterious as we thought? Let’s dig into the ‘why’ of the Tabernacle to try and get ourselves set.
First things first: What was the purpose of the Tabernacle? Clearly, it was so Abba Himself could come and meet with His people:
Exodus 25:8 “They are to make me a sanctuary, so that I may live among them. 9 You are to make it according to everything I show you — the design of the tabernacle and the design of its furnishings. This is how you are to make it.”
But why all of the details? Was this created through some abstract (and maybe random) design process or was it something more? Obviously, it was something more.
Abba gave very specific instructions on the construction and assembly of the Tabernacle, and as it turns out, this is a picture of His dwelling place in Heaven:
Hebrews 9:18 This is why the first covenant too was inaugurated with blood. 19 After Moshe had proclaimed every command of the Torah to all the people, he took the blood of the calves with some water and used scarlet wool and hyssop to sprinkle both the scroll itself and all the people; 20 and he said, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has ordained for you.” 21 Likewise, he sprinkled with the blood both the Tent and all the things used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, according to the Torah, almost everything is purified with blood; indeed, without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
23 Now this is how the copies of the heavenly things had to be purified, but the heavenly things themselves require better sacrifices than these. 24 For the Messiah has entered a Holiest Place which is not man-made and merely a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, in order to appear now on our behalf in the very presence of God.
25 Further, he did not enter heaven to offer himself over and over again, like the cohen hagadol who enters the Holiest Place year after year with blood that is not his own; 26 for then he would have had to suffer death many times — from the founding of the universe on. But as it is, he has appeared once at the end of the ages in order to do away with sin through the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as human beings have to die once, but after this comes judgment, 28 so also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to deliver those who are eagerly waiting for him.
The earthly Tabernacle was a glimpse into His actual dwelling place.
Based on what we’ve seen here in Revelation 4 and 5, the Tabernacle on earth appears to be a single snapshot of what is happening in Heaven right now.
The trouble with all of this? You are now that Tabernacle.
We are the Tabernacle now:
1 Corinthians 3:16 Don’t you know that you people are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? 17 So if anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you yourselves are that temple.
If we were to get a glimpse inside of you, is this what we would all see?
When we are being built, the same process happens with us
Inside
Structure
Transitions
Courtyard
Is He dwelling above your heart?
Is His Spirit giving off light from within you?
The Tabernacle was never the destination. It was the pattern.
Moses saw it on the mountain.
Israel built it in the wilderness.
Heaven reveals it in glory.
Messiah fulfilled it in flesh.
And now, the Spirit forms it within you.
It always been the intention that the Holy One would not merely dwell among His people, but within them.
Not in stone.
Not in curtains.
Not in golden vessels.
But hearts. Living temples. Breathing sanctuaries.
John saw the throne room of Heaven blazing with holiness, alive with worship, saturated with the presence of the Living God. It was not some kind of fantasy. It was reality. It was the original.
The Tabernacle was the copy. And YOU are now the dwelling place.
So the question is no longer: “Where is God’s sanctuary?”
The question is: “What kind of sanctuary are you becoming?”
Is His Torah held within the ark of your heart?
Is mercy enthroned above it?
Is the light of His Spirit burning steadily within you?
Is the bread of His presence renewing you daily?
Is sacrifice still alive at your altar?
Is there a veil within you distinguishing the holy from the common?
Have you set boundaries between the sacred and the profane?
Do your gates guard what enters your life?
We live in an age that has blurred the lines between holy and ordinary, sacred and profane, Heaven and culture. But the Tabernacle teaches us that God is not casual about His dwelling place.
Holiness is not severity. It is alignment. It is harmony with Heaven. It is life as it was designed to be lived. The dwelling of God is not established through religious performance, but through surrender, purification, and presence.
The altar comes first.
The washing follows.
The light is kindled.
The bread is shared.
The veil is torn.
And communion is restored.
Yeshua did not merely open the way into Heaven. He opened the way for Heaven to live within you.
This is why the Spirit presses, refines, convicts, and purifies. Not to condemn you but to prepare a dwelling place worthy of glory.
The oil is pressed so the lamp can burn.
The sacrifice is offered so life can emerge.
The veil is lifted so intimacy can be restored.
You are being built.
So the question is not, “Who am I?”
The answer to that is simple. You are a dwelling place. A sanctuary. A meeting place between heaven and earth.
The real question is: “Who dwells within you?”
And does your life reflect His presence?
May His commands rest within your heart.
May His mercy overshadow you.
May His light burn within you.
May His presence be unmistakable.
And may the world, upon encountering you, recognize that heaven is not distant…
It has drawn near.