EARTHLY PATTERNS AND HEAVENLY PATTERNS
Because temples, altars and religious pilgrimages have been important features of the culture of nearly all religions, including Judaism and Christianity, and because their physical features are so well established in our consciousness, it is very difficult to get beyond the literal interpretation of these terms to discover their symbolic meaning. Nevertheless, we will do that using the many clues for symbolic understanding that God has provided. And we will be successful if readers are willing to allow that there are indeed valid spiritual (i.e. symbolic) interpretations for these iconic structures and rituals that are associated with them.

We begin by looking at the definitions of temple, tabernacle and altar in both Hebrew and Greek:

When we consider these definitions, most of us will default to literal interpretations of temple, tabernacle and altar because these are terms we know and understand. When we remember the “first the natural and then the spiritual” principle, however, we will look to the spiritual meaning of these words. We are aided in this process by looking at the following scriptures:

Exodus 25:40: And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain.

COMMENTARY: It is no understatement to say that Jews and Christians take their clues about building religious structures from God’s commands regarding the tabernacle of Moses, David’s desire to build a house for God, and the building of Solomon’s temple. Taking these scriptures in their plain, literal meaning, it could not be more clear that God intended for his people to worship him in a physical structure of some kind. The forms of these structures has evolved over time, but Jews and Christians through the ages have always been faithful to implement their natural understanding of these commands. That is why these religions always have buildings and altars.

The problem is, however, that God used the symbolism of physical buildings and altars to represent spiritual buildings and altars. He never wanted people to worship him in physical buildings. His purpose was always that people should worship him in spirit and truth (i.e. in their hearts). And that is why Jesus talked about destroying the temple, and that is why both Solomon’s temple and the second temple which was rebuilt on the site of Solomon’s temple were eventually destroyed.

Bible stories about temples and tabernacles are examples of the first the natural and then the spiritual” principle. God borrowed from human understandings of these well-known structures to communicate what he wanted for spiritual buildings and  altars. What he wanted was a spiritual temple built without hands — not physical temples or buildings such as churches or synagogues. This is because the heart is the place where true worship (i.e. in spirit and truth) happens. Jesus knew this. That is why he symbolically destroyed the temple and the religious system it supported when he overturned the tables of the money-changers.  

If we really believe that all scripture (including obscure Old Testament scripture) is useful for training in righteousness, we should at least ask God to explain what spiritual meaning we should take from those old scriptures that appear to command use of natural objects (e.g. buildings, altars, clothing, food, etc.) in worship instead of simply accepting the literal meaning and applying it in religion.

Even people who not understand “first the natural, then the spiritual principle” should have known, or at least suspected, that God did not really want physical buildings and altars because of what he also said about not following the customs of other nations (i.e. religions). This is a scripture that can be taken literally. It means that God’s people are not to imitate the religious practices of any other religion.

The underlying problem in arriving at the spiritual meaning of difficult scripture is the mistaken notion that God’s Written Word and God’s Spoken Voice are identical. That leads us to interpret the Bible literally and not symbolically. And that means that we do not understand the important Symbols, Signs, Types, Copies, Shadows and Patterns found throughout the Bible. If we did understand these symbols, we would know that references to meeting with God on a mountain should be interpreted as an encounter with God when we can hear his voice.

In Exodus 25:40 we have an example of Moses listening to God’s voice. It follows scriptures in Exodus 24 and Exodus 25 where God calls Moses to the top of the mountain to give him instructions about building  the tabernacle. To Old/First Covenant religionists, it appears that God is telling his people to build a physical structure for worship. New Covenant disciples who can hear God’s voice, however, interpret these scriptures symbolically — not literally. What New Covenant disciples hear when they read Exodus 25:40 is God’s command for them to make their body a spiritual tabernacle for God.

What we have here is an example of the “first the natural, then the spiritual” principle. God first presents the natural idea in Exodus 25, and then presents the spiritual idea in New Testament scriptures. When we know what we are looking for, we will see this pattern repeated throughout the Bible. When we understand this principle we know that the literal building/tabernacle is not what God is talking about in Exodus 25. We have a hidden clue to this truth in Exodus 24:40 where God gives the caution to make it according to the pattern shown to Moses on the mountain where he listened to God’s voice. This clue warns us that we should not take our directions from the literal, written word of God but from the spoken word of God.

It is not enough to just intellectually apply the “first the natural, then the spiritual” principle. We must also apply spiritual logic (i.e. wisdom) to understand the spiritual meaning of scripture. In this case, the logic/wisdom teaches that it is not the literal body of a person that is a tabernacle because God, being spirit, does not live in physical objects like buildings and not even in human flesh. Where he does live, however, is in the spirit/heart of New Covenant disciples in whose hearts he has written his laws. This kind of wisdom, of course, only comes to New Covenant disciples who are able to  hear God’s voice.

STUDY TIP: See The Heart is the Place for understanding of the place where God lives.

When we apply this kind of symbolism and wisdom to Exodus 25:40, we interpret it as follows:

Build and rebuild your life according to what you hear God tell you — not according to what you see with your natural eyes in the written Bible.

Exodus 26:30: And you shall erect the tabernacle according to the plan for it which has been shown you on the mountain.

COMMENTARY: The mountain is the mountain of God. See commentary above.

Hebrews 8:1-10: Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 a minister in the sanctuary and the true tent which is set up not by man but by the Lord.

COMMENTARY: Since the context of this scripture is the high priest, we must first understand who the high priest is. A literal reading of scripture indicates that the high priest is a unique individual who has special qualities that qualify him to enter into the most holy place only once a year.

The true tent (i.e. tabernacle, building) is not built by man. It is a spiritual tabernacle built by God.

3 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; hence it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. 4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. 5 They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary; for when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.”

COMMENTARY: Human priests offer gifts and sacrifices in physical buildings according to the laws of Old/First Covenant religious traditions. Their gifts and offerings, and the buildings in which they practice their religions are only copies and shadows of the ultimate, spiritual sanctuary revealed by God to Moses on the mountain.

Since God’s people are a kingdom of priests, they all — not only religious leaders — offer gifts and make sacrifices to God. They take their cues for this practice from the literal words of the Bible. This is the substance of Old/First Covenant religion where religionists typically go to a religious building to give their Sacrifices, Tithes and Offerings to God.

New Covenant disciples, however, know that the Tithes and offerings that God wants are spiritual — not physical or material. They know that the kinds of sacrifices God wants are purely spiritual and feel no compulsion to offer physical/material offerings to him. They have made their offerings according to the spiritual pattern that they have heard God speak to them — not according to the physical pattern that religion tells them.

6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry which is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second. 8 For he finds fault with them when he says: “The days will come, says the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; 9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they did not continue in my covenant, and so I paid no heed to them, says the Lord. 10 This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

COMMENTARY:

Hebrews 9:1-24: Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tent was prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence; it is called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain stood a tent called the Holy of Holies, 4 having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, which contained a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5 above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. 6 These preparations having thus been made, the priests go continually into the outer tent, performing their ritual duties; 7 but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people. 8 By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the sanctuary is not yet opened as long as the outer tent is still standing 9 (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with food and drink and various ablutions, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. 11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. 15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred which redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant. 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18 Hence even the first covenant was not ratified without blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. 23 Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into a sanctuary made with hands, a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.