King James Bible Believers

The Fence and the Outer Court

Exodus 27:9-18; 38:9-19

I). The Position of the Tabernacle:

A). It was the centre of the camp.

1). The tabernacle was the center of the camp for 2 ½ million people covering approximately 12 miles (Numbers chap.1-3)

*Biblical significance in the NT:

"The lesson we learn from the position of the Tabernacle in relation to the camp is that our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the Tabernacle speaks, should be ever and always central in the life of the Christian and the Church." (Stephen Olford, The Tabernacle, 51)

"And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." Col. 1:18

B). The Tabernacle always faced East toward the sunrise.

1). The believer should always be faced East toward the Son, spiritually speaking. The return of Christ is said to be from the East.

"For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matt 24:27

II). The Materials of the Fence.

… the fence was of fine twined linen suspended on 60 pillars (shittim wood and brass), resting on sockets of brass, capped with chapiters (crowns) of silver, held in place with linen fillets (cords) on silver hooks and brass pins. This fence was 50 cubits (75 feet) by 100 cubits (150 feet).

A). The main material was fine twined linen (Ex 38:16)

1). Fine linen represents the righteousness of God.

"And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;" Heb. 5:9

2). The fine linen also represents the righteousness of the saints. (Is 61:10)

"And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." Rev 19:8

B). The Pillars.

1). 60 in number. 20 on the North and South sides and 10 on the East and West sides.

2). Made of Shittim wood covered with Brass (Ex.27:10).

3). Shittim (acacia) wood is nearly imperishable speaking of the perfect humanity of Jesus

"He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption." Acts 2:31

4). The pillars rested on Brass Sockets. Brass representing the endurance of God. And judgement of sin.

"And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace;…" Rev ` 1:15

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Heb. 12:2

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." 2 Cor. 5:21

5). The Silver Chapiters represent the Redemption of the sinner by Jesus.

*all the silver used in the Tabernacle was gathered as "redemption money" a half-shekel from every person over age 20. (Ex. 30:12-16)

6). The Silver Fillets (cords) speak of the drawing love of God.

"I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love:…" Hosea 11:4

III). The Gate.

…there was only one opening in the fence which was the gate. There are three total openings in the various sections of the Tabernacle (the gate, the door and the veil). Each of these three are equal in size (100 cubits square) however, the gate is 5x20 cubits whereas the door and the veil are 10x10. The difference is that the entrance to salvation is extra wide for "whosoever will come…" (Rev. 22:17).

A). Description of the Gate. Ex. 38:18

1). 20 cubits wide, 5 cubits tall, supported on 4 pillars. Made of fine twined linen embroidered with blue, purple and scarlet.

2). Symbolism of the embroidery:

Blue: heavenly origin, nature John: Son of God

Purple: royalty Matthew: King of Jews

Scarlet: sacrifice, death Mark: Suffering Servant

Linen: righteousness Luke: perfect Son of Man

3). There were 4 pillars like the number of the world (North, East, West, South), but there were only three entrances between the pillars: (The Way, The Truth and the Life- Jn 14:6).

John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.