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The Portable Presence

The Portable Presence: How the Tabernacle Prophesied God Dwelling with Man

Introduction: Bridging the Gulf of Holiness

The spectacular terror at Mount Sinai proved that sinful man could not approach God’s unmediated presence without being destroyed. Immediately following the giving of the Law, God provided the solution: the Tabernacle (or Sanctuary). This portable tent was not just a place of ritual; it was a physical, tangible compromise—a divine design that allowed the Consuming Fire of God’s holiness to dwell safely among an unholy people.

The design, purpose, and eventual fate of the Tabernacle serve as a profound Prophetic Hotspot, pointing to the ultimate goal of the entire redemptive plan: the final, secure dwelling of God with His redeemed people at The Lord’s Return.

The Foundational Law: Dwelling by Divine Design

God gave Moses exhaustive, precise instructions for the Tabernacle’s construction, emphasizing that every detail—from the materials to the layout—was critical. The overarching command was simple:

“And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.” (Exodus 25:8, KJV)

The Principle of Separation

The Tabernacle codified the Law of Separation through three distinct areas:

  1. The Outer Court: Accessible to all Israelites, where the Brazen Altar (for sacrifice) and the Laver (for cleansing) confirmed that atonement and purification were prerequisites for approach.
  2. The Holy Place: Accessible only to the priests, where the Golden Candlestick, Table of Shewbread, and Altar of Incense represented continuous worship and intercession.
  3. The Most Holy Place: Accessible only by the High Priest, only once a year, containing the Ark of the Covenant. This area represented the immediate presence of God (the Shekinah glory).
  • The Prophetic Veil: The heavy veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place was the ultimate symbol of the barrier between God and man. It proved that full, unhindered access was impossible until the Messiah arrived.

Prophetic Hotspot: The Ultimate Tabernacle

The entire purpose of the Tabernacle was not permanent; it was a prophetic blueprint for the Messiah and the eternal kingdom.

  • Christ’s Fulfillment: When Christ died, the veil of the Temple was torn “in twain from the top to the bottom” (Matthew 27:51, KJV). This symbolic act declared that the barrier established in the Tabernacle was instantly and permanently removed, granting direct access to God through Christ.
  • The Final Dwelling: The ultimate fulfillment of the command, “that I may dwell among them,” occurs at The Lord’s Return. The Book of Revelation declares that the Tabernacle will finally and fully descend from Heaven, realizing God’s original desire to live with man without any intervening barrier:“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” (Revelation 21:3, KJV)

The Return Question: Where Is Your Veil?

The Tabernacle was a masterpiece of divine restraint, allowing a holy God to dwell among an unholy people under strict conditions. Christ’s sacrifice removed the physical veil.

If the entire history of redemption moves from the restricted access of the Tabernacle to the unhindered access of Christ’s eternal kingdom, are we, the redeemed, living with the corresponding transparency and openness before God that is required of those whose veil has been torn, or are we rebuilding walls of secrecy and unforgiveness that defy the access won for us at The Lord’s Return?