Isaiah 59:19 says, “So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”

Now, if you looked down from heaven upon this tabernacle, it would have taken the form of a cross. The reason is because all of these things foreshadowed a Savior that was to come, the only begotten Son of God to die and shed His blood, becoming the ultimate sacrifice of our sins. Hebrews 9:11-14 says, “11But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Jesus Christ became the High Priest, shedding His blood so that we could be saved. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin, for there is a voice in blood that speaks to God in which He created as a form of sacrifice, and there is no greater sacrifice of shedding of blood that what Jesus did on the day of His crucifixion! Moses patterned these things after what God shown him in heaven. This was the way to bring heaven to earth! Hebrews 9:23-24 says, “23It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” Jesus has ascended to the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us everyday! His blood had to be shed to purge the sin out of heaven because it was in heaven where Lucifer sinned in his pride and rebellion against God. It is the reason why when the Old Testament saints died, they did not go straight to heaven, but they went to paradise in hell. That is why Abel’s blood cried from the ground after Cain murdered him. It is the reason why when the rich man went to hell and Lazarus was carried by the angels into paradise, which was known as Abraham’s bosom, the rich man could see where Lazarus was, and that there was big gulf between them, one in which he could not cross over. When Jesus bowed His head and said, “It is finished,” He went to preach a message in hell that broke hell’s chains. According to 1 Peter 3:19, He preached to the spirits who were in prison. I believe He told Abraham, “I was that ram in the bush,” Moses, “I was that Passover Lamb,” Noah, “I was that rainbow in the sky,” David, “I was the One who you said would have garments parted among them lots casted upon my vesture,” and the prophet Isaiah, “I was the One who was wounded for you transgressions, bruised for your iniquities, the chastisement of your peace was upon me, and by my stripes, you are healed.” That is why at His resurrection, according to Matthew 27:52-53, many of the dead was seen walking up and down the streets of Jerusalem. Paradise in the heart of the earth had now transitioned to being in the third heaven, where we can be in the perpetual glory of God, for heaven is an unending cycle of praise and worship. If you get mad at the way people praise and worship God down here, do not bother to go to heaven because that is all it is! We are just prepping for our heavenly celebration, so Michal you can try to dampen my party, but I am still going to dance, shout, clap and sing the praises of God! So, when Jesus told the thief, “Today, you will be with me in paradise,” He was speaking volumes of what eternity had just right up ahead. What better way to take the keys of death and hell than to bring a thief with Him? (Revelation 1:18)

 

The image of the cross seen through the symbolic representation of the tabernacle shown that heaven could be brought to earth, and that the only way to heaven is through the cross of Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12 teaches that there is no other name under heaven whereby men must be saved than that name which is Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth and the life, and no can go to the Father but by Him (John 14:6). The pieces of the furniture formed that cross. The brazen altar would be at the foot of the cross, where Jesus’ feet were nailed to the cross, as it signified the early steps of salvation begin by kneeling spiritually at the foot of the cross. The brazen laver would be around the waist of Jesus Christ because he was baptized in the Jordan River, which is when the Holy Ghost descended upon Him like a dove and a voice came from heaven which said, “This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased,” and when the spear went into His side, out came forth blood and water! On His left hand would be the Table of Shewbread, which shows His hand dedicated to service and ministry. It was an act of service to be nailed to an old rugged cross! On His right hand would be the golden lamp stand, meaning that He died for the one He loves, always holding the church in the palm of His right hand. The golden altar of incense would be at His heart because His prayers and worship came from the heart. Finally, the Ark of the Covenant was centered upon His mind, always meditating on the scriptures and determined to not let anything get in the way or stop Him from fulfilling His purpose on earth. It was also where the crown of thorns would rest, as He would die for the hope in which He believed. We, being Christians, must be equipped with the mind of Christ, denying ourselves, taking up our cross and following Him. That is how we house the extravagant glory of God!