TabernacleTHE

Experience

Welcome to


THE

Tabernacle

Experience

Youareabouttoembarkonajourneyofalifetime.AjourneythroughalifesizeTabernacleofTheWilderness.Yourguide:TheLordGodHimself.

Weinviteyoutorelax,settleinandtakeyourtimeasyoureadthroughthisbookletofabriefbiblicalhistoryleadinguptotheTabernacleoftheWilderness.

ScriptureconfirmsthatitisGod’sdesiretodwellwithmanandproviderestoration.TheTabernacleisevidenceofHisgreatdesire.

YouwilldiscoverthatallscripturepointstoandfindsitsfulfillmentinChrist,evenwithintheCourtyardwallsofTheTabernacle.

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Justafewnotesbeforeyoubeginyourjourney:

● Theticketyoureceivedwillensureyourplaceinline.● Youwillbecalledtobeginyouraudiojourneyaccordingto

thenumberonyourticket.

● Theaudiojourneyis47minutes.● Youwillbepairedwithafriendorfamilymember.● Eachpairwillbegintheirjourney90secondsaftertheother.● Tocalculateyourwaittimesubtractyournumberfromthe

lastnumbercalled.Eachnumberrepresentsapproximatelyoneminute.

● Kindlyturnoffyourcellphones● Photosarenotpermittedasitwouldbeadistractionto

others.Youarewelcometotakephotospriortoopeninghours.

● Ifyouhavesmallchildrenpleaseberespectfulofotherswhoareontheirjourney.

● Strollersarepermittedwithinthecourtyardwallsbuttheyarenotpermittedinthetent.

● IfyouwillbereadingthisBooklettochildrenwesuggestyoureadPages6,7,11,12and14.

AndnowweaskthatyouapproachTheTabernacleExperiencewithasenseofaweandreverence.

Thankyou,

TheTabernacleExperienceGroup

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What was God's original design for humans?

WhenGodcreatedhumans,HemadetheminHisownimage,formingthemfromthedustofthegroundandbreathingintothemHisownbreathoflife.Humansareacomposite:partearth(nature)andpartspirit.WeweremadetosurviveonplanetEarth,butwewerealsoequippedwithacapacityforrelationshipwithGod

(Gen.1:26-30;2:7,15).

Godplacedthefirsthumansinagardenparadiseandgavethemtheresponsibilityoftendingit.Healsometwiththeminthegardenandspoketothemdirectly.TheidealrelationshipwithGodentailsthekindofintimacytheyexperiencedwithHiminthegarden.IntimacywasthekeythemeoflifeintheGardenofEden.ThefirstcoupleenjoyedintimacywithGod-theirCreator-intimacywiththecreatedworldaroundthem,andintimacywitheachother."Themanandhiswifewerebothnaked,andtheyfeltnoshame"(Gen.2:25).IntimaterelationshipandcommunicationwasGod'soriginaldesignforhumans. 


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What happened to God's original design?

CouldhumanslivewithGodifdoingsorequiredthemtosurrenderthemselvestoHiswill?Ifso,theywouldenjoyintimacywithHimforever.

Themanandwomanweregivensimpleinstructions:Enjoythefruitofeveryplantandtreeexceptone.TakecareoftheGarden,Godtoldthem,it'syours,butyou"mustnoteatfromthetreeoftheknowledgeofgoodandevil,forwhenyoueatofityouwillsurelydie"(Gen.2:17).

ThereisnorecordofhowlongAdamandEvelivedinthisidealsituation,butonedayEvewasseducedbytheenticingpromiseoftheserpent.HetoldheragodlikeknowledgewashersifshewentagainstGod'scommandandatetheforbiddenfruit.Unfortunately,AdamandEve,therepresentativehumanbeings,failedthetest.TheirfailureiscalledTheFall.ThewholehumanracesufferedtheconsequenceoftheiractionsandfellfromtheirprivilegedstatuswithGod.

ThenewthemeofGenesisbecamealienation.AdamandEvewerealienatedfromGod,whobanishedthemfromEdenandHispresence;alienatedfromtheworldofnature,whichnolongerfedthemasgenerouslyasbefore(Gen.3:17-19);andtheywerealienatedfromeachother(Gen.3:7,16).Alienationreplacedintimacy,andthetranquillifeoftheGardenwaslostforever.

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How did the people of Israel become the slaves of Egypt?

Timepassed,andGodhadHishandintheflowofhistoryasitdid.Heproducedcertaineventswiththepurposeofleadingpeopletosalvation.Thissalvationincludestheforgivenessofsin,repairingthedamagesofTheFallandrestoringustointimacywithHim.Thisplanreacheditsclimaxinthelife,deathandresurrectionofJesusChrist.

Indevelopingahistoryofsalvation,Godchoseonefamilyanditspatriarch,Abraham.FromthedescendantsofAbrahamasmallnationwasformed.AbrahamandhisclanlivedintentsasBedouinsinthearidlandofCanaan(presentdayIsrael).Hisgreat-grandson,Joseph,wasbetrayedbyhistenolderbrothersandsoldtotradersontheirwaytoEgypt.GodworkedthroughaseriesofeventsthatresultedinJosephbecomingtheGrandVizierofEgypt(Gen.41-49).

WhenfaminespreadfromEgypttoMesopotamia,thebrothersofJosephhadtotraveltoEgypttopurchasegrain.TheywereeventuallyreunitedwithJosephandthewholeclanmigratedtoEgyptinordertosurvive.SincetheywerewellcaredforinEgypttherewasnoreasonforthemtoreturntoCanaan.

However,withinafewgenerationstheEgyptianshadforgottenJosephandthefactthathehadsavedtheirnation.ThedescendantsoftheIsraeliteswhohadimmigratedtoEgyptwereforcedintoslavery.AstheIsraelitesincreasedinnumber,theEgyptiansbecameuneasyabouttheirgrowingstrengthandsobeganacampaignofoppressionagainstthem(Ex.1).

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How did God enable the Israelites to escape from Egypt?

GodintervenedonIsrael'sbehalfinwhatisperhapsthemostfamousanddramaticescapestorytheworldhaseverknown.GodbroughtaseriesofplaguesagainstEgypt,breakingdowntheirresistancetoHisdemand:"LetMypeoplego."Throughthisradicaldeliveranceoftheslavepeople,GodsentamessagetotheworldregardingHimself:HispowerisunrivaledandHeisuniqueamongallgods.

ThefinalplagueonEgyptwasthesuddendeathoftheoldestsonineveryfamily.InordertoprotecttheIsraelitesfromthisplague,Godcommandedeachfamilytoperformasacredritualthatcalledforthesacrificeofalamb.Thebloodofthelambwassplashedonthedoorframesoftheirhomeswithaleafybranchofhyssop.Becausedeathpassedoverthehomeswherethedoorsweremarkedwithblood,sparingthefamilywithin,thecommemorationofthiseventiscalledPassover(Ex.12:1-13,21-23).

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What is the Tabernacle?

OncetheIsraeliteswerefreeofEgypt,Godinstructedthemtoconstructanationalshrinethatcouldtravelwiththemontheirjourneys.ThewordTabernaclesimplymeansadwelling.TheideabehinditwasthatGodwouldhaveHisowntentamongtheirtents.GodwouldcausethegloryofHispresencetoresidewithintheTabernacle.TheTabernaclewasGod's"dwelling"amongHispeople(Ex.25:8-9).

ButtheTabernacleisalsoknownbyothernames.ItisGod'ssanctuary(sacredplace);thetentofmeeting(becauseGodmetwithHispeoplethere);andthetentoftestimony(becausethearkofthecovenant,whichcontainedthetestimonyofGod'srelationshipwithIsraelwasstoredintheTabernacle-engravedonstonetablets).

TheTabernaclewasIsrael'snationalshrineandtheplacewhereGodrevealedHispresenceinavisibleform(Hisradiantglory).

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Where did Moses receive the plans for the Tabernacle?

WhenIsraelwasinthedesert,theycametoMountSinai(alsocalledHoreb).GodcalledMosesupthemountainintoadarkcloud,whichcoveredthesummitandwasconstantlyflashingwithlightning.ItwasthereonthemountainthatGodrevealedtoMosesthelayoutoftheTabernacle.EverydetailwasveryimportantsoGodemphasizedthatMosesmakesureitwasbuilt“exactlylikethepattern”whichHewasshown(Ex.25:9).

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How was this slave nation able to construct such an expensive structure?

BeforetheIsraelitesleftEgypt,theyaskedtheirEgyptianneighborsfor"articlesofgoldandsilver"andsotheyeffectively"plunderedtheEgyptians"whentheymadetheirescape(Ex.12:35-36).WhenGodgaveMosestheplansfortheTabernacle,HetoldhimtohavethepeopleofIsraelbringanofferingofallthevaluablesthattheyhadbroughtwiththemfromEgypttoconstructthetentanditsfurniture(Ex.25:1-7).TheIsraelitesgavesogenerouslythattheyhadtobetoldtostopgivingbecausetheworkcrewhadenoughtofinishtheproject(Ex.36:3-7).

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What role did artistic design have in the Tabernacle?

SomeChristiansholdtheviewthatGodisopposedtopaintingsandsculpturebecauseoftheprohibitionagainstmakingan"idolintheformofanythinginheavenaboveorontheearthbeneath"(Ex.20:4).Butanidolisdifferentfromapieceofart.AnidolisanobjectthatpeopleworshipwhilearthasitsplaceinworshipasitisanexpressionofGodgivenskills.(Ex.20:15)

Infact,Godcommissionedcertainpeopletousetheirartisticskills-skillsHegavethemthroughHisSpirit-tomakebeautifuldesignsandevenpiecesofartfortheTabernacle(Ex.31:1-5).Includedinthosepiecesofartwerethesculpturesoftwocherubim(aclassofangelswhoserveasguardiansofGod'sholiness)andtapestry-likecurtainswithcherubimwovenintotheirdesign(Ex.36:8).

ThusGodtheCreator,whoinHiswisdomandartisticskill,designedtheuniverseinallitsbeautyandgavecertainartiststheabilitytomaketheTabernaclebeautiful.ThegloryofGodrevealedinnaturewasechoedinthehandiworkofthosewhoconstructedtheTabernacle.TheirartbroughtpraisetoGod,theGrandArtist.

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How was the Tabernacle transported from one campsite to another?

Ofthe12tribesofIsraelonlyonetribe,thetribeofLevi,wasdevotedtothetaskoftearingdown,transportingandsettinguptheTabernacle.TherewerethreemainclansinthetribeofLevi,andeachclanwasgiventheirrespectivejobs(Nu.3-4).

ThetribeofLeviwaschosenbecausetheyhaddistinguishedthemselvesthroughtheirloyaltytoGodatMountSinai(Ex.32:25-26,29;Numbers3:5-9).

SomepartsoftheTabernaclecouldbetransportedincartssuchasthecurtains,thepost,andtheropes(Nu.3:23-26,36-37).TheinteriorarticleslikethearkandthealtarshadtobecarriedontheshouldersoftheLevites(Nu.7:9).WhenevertheLevitesarementionedintheOldTestamentitisinreferencetotheircallingtoserveGodandthepeopleofGod.TheirserviceincludedteachingthepeopleGod'slawandhelpingwiththeworshipintheTabernacle.(De.17:9-11;33:8-11).TheLevitesservedinmusicandsingingduringtheTempleperiod.

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What took place inside the Tabernacle?

TheTabernaclewasthecenterofIsrael'sspirituallife.Infact,itwaspitchedinthemiddleoftheirencampmentwiththreetribescampedtothenorth,threetothesouth,threetotheeastandthreetothewestallencirclingtheTabernacle(Nu.2:1-33).Godwasattheheartofthenation,andIsraellivedinorientationtoHimandHisworship.

ThefirstpriestdesignatedtotendtotheTabernaclewasAaron,thebrotherofMoses.Onlyhisdescendantsweresetapartastheordainedstaff'intheTabernacle.TheywereIsrael'sprofessionalclergyinregardtosacrificeandtheministryofGod.TheywereresponsibleforhandlingalloftheritualinteractionsbetweenGodandHispeople.Theyofferedthevarioussacrifices,setoutthebreadeveryweek,burnedtheincense,kepttheoillampslit,keptthewickstrimmed,keptthefiresburningonthealtars,kepttheTabernaclecleanandcarriediteverywhereIsraelwent.TheyweremediatorsbetweenGodandthepeople.

TheLevitesactuallycampedonall4sidesoftheTabernacle,creatinganotherbarrierbetweenGodandman.

TheprimaryworshipoftheTabernaclewassacrificial.Sacrificeswereofferedeverydayinthemorningandevening,everySabbath,everynewmoonandduringthegreatfeasts.Sacrificewasalsomadeforritualpurity,foratonementofsinandforthanksgivingandpraise.

TherewasonlyoneHighPriest.Hewassetapartfromtheotherpriestsinseveralwaysincludinghisuniqueclothing.OneimportantdistinctionisthathewastheonlyhumanallowedintheMostHolyPlaceoftheTabernacle,andhecouldgointhereonlyonceayear.ThisdayisreferredtoastheDayof

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Atonement.TheHighPriesttookthebloodofthesacrificeintotheMostHolyPlaceinfrontoftheArk.

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How did God reveal His presence in the Tabernacle?

GodrevealedHispresenceintheTabernacleinseveralways.First,therewasacloudthatGodusedtoleadIsraelfromEgyptthroughthedesert.ThatcloudrepresentedGod'spresencewiththepeopleandprovidedthemshadefromtheblisteringdesertsun.WhentheTabernaclewascompleted(Ex.40:34-35),theclouddescendedontheTabernacle.FromthenonthecloudremainedovertheTabernacle.Atnightthecloudappearedasfire(Ex.40:36-38)andprovidedwarmthfromthechillydesertnights(Psalm105:39).Secondly,God'sglory(aradianceorshininglight)appearedintheTabernacleonseveraloccasions(i.e.,Le.9:23).Third,GodspoketoMosesfromovertheArkoftheCovenant(Ex.25:22;Le.16:2),whichservedasathroneforHisdivinepresence.

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What happened to the Tabernacle?

AfterwanderingintheSinaiDesertfor40years,IsraelenteredthePromisedLandandgavetheTabernacleamorepermanenthomeinShiloh.EventuallytheTabernaclewasmovedsouthtoJudahwhereitstooduntilthetimeofKingDavid.DuringDavid'sreign,theTabernacleismentionednumeroustimesinthebooksofSamuel,KingsandChronicles.KingDaviddesiredtogivetheLORDapermanenthome,andtheLORDhonoredhisrequestandgavehimthedetailedplanstobuildtheTemple.DavidcollectedallthematerialstobuildtheTempleandhadeverythingassembledandpreparedforhisson,Solomon.In2Chronicleschapter1,SolomongoestoGibeon.SolomonledtheentireassemblytothehillatGibeonwhereGod'sTabernaclewaslocated.ThiswastheTabernaclethatMoses,theLORD'Sservant,hadconstructedinthewilderness.DavidhadalreadymovedtheArkofGodfromKiriathJearimtothespecialtenthehadpreparedforitinJerusalem.ThereinfrontoftheTabernacle,SolomonwentuptothebronzealtarintheLORD'Spresenceandsacrificedonethousandburntofferingsonit.AfterDaviddied,Solomonbuiltthetemple.ThelastmentionoftheTabernacleisin1Kings8whereSolomonsummonedtheleadersofallthetribesandfamiliesofIsraeltoassembleinJerusalem.TheyweretobringtheArkoftheLORD'ScovenantfromitslocationintheCityofDavid(alsoknownasZion)toitsnewplaceintheTemple.ThenthepriestsandLevitescarriedtheArkoftheLORDwiththeTabernacleandallitssacredutensilsuptotheTemple.

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A note from the founder of The Tabernacle:

Myfellowtravelers,

WhenthechildrenofIsraelescapedbondagefromEgypt,

MoseswasinstructedbyTheLORDtobuildTheTabernacle.The

TabernaclewasthedwellingplaceforGodandaplacefor

worshipandsacrifice.AtthedirectionoftheLORD,this

vagabondnationtransportedtheTabernacleastheywandered

intheSinaiDesertfor40years.WhentheIsraelitesenteredthe

PromisedLandtheywereinstructedbyGodtogivethe

TabernacleoftheWildernessamorepermanenthomeinShiloh.

Intheyear1996,myfirsttriptoIsrael,Iwashumbledtostand

inthefieldofShilohtoworshipandgivethankstomyLord.As

onewouldexpect,thisjourneytoTheHolyLandwas

impressionable.Amongthemanyhistoricalandspiritually

significantsites,ourLORDchosetorevealhimselftomeina

forsaken,rock-ladenfieldwherethetownofShilohonce

thrived.

DuringmytourourgroupsettledinatShiloh.Onthat

particularlywarmautumnday,thisbarrenfieldbecameour

placeofworship.WegatheredaboutourPastorChuckSmith

Jr.ashebegansharingthefamiliarstoryoftheyoungboy

Samuel,whohadbeenpromisedtotheserviceoftheLORDby

hismother,Hannah.TheyoungboylivedinShilohandserved

attheTabernacleunderthedirectionofthePriest,Eli.Our

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pastorbeganreadingthescripture:"Nowinthosedays

messagesfromtheLORDwereveryrare...whileSamuelwas

sleepingtheLORDcalledtoSamuel,'Samuel!Samuel!'he

thoughtitwasEliwhocalledhisnameandreplied,'HereIam'.

TheLORDcalledSamuelagainandSamuel,stillthinkingitwas

Elireplied,'HereIam.'WhentheLORDcalledtoSamuelthe

thirdtime,attheinstructionofEli,Samuelreplied,'HereIam

LORDyourservantislistening."AtthatmomentourPastor's

voicefadedandthecryofmyownheartresoundedinmyheart

andears.Withheadinhands,IcriedaloudtotheLORD.'Give

meearslikeSamuel.IdesiretohearfromYOU!'Immediately

deepwithinmybeingIheard,'Jeanne'.LiftingmyheadI

responded,'Yes?'Onceagain,'Jeanne'.wasthistheLORD?

ReluctantlyIwhispered,'HereIamLORD,yourservantis

listening.'Silence...Iwaited…Silence.Ileanedforwardand

tiltedmyheadasiftoensurebetterreception.Silence..Was

thisit?Themessagewassimplymyname?YetlikeSamuel,my

sleephadbeendisturbed.TheLORDhadawakenedmysoul&

spiritjustatthecallofmyname.Irestrainedfromskippingback

toourtourbus,yetfounditquiteimpossibletohidethe

schoolgirlgrin.Hecalledmyname!Nowwhat?Iknewfor

certainacommafollowed'Jeanne,'whenwouldIhearthe

completedsentence?Whatwouldthemessagebe?

InregardstoShiloh,myquiettimeswiththeLORDremained

justthat;quiet.WhileattendingourWomen'sBibleStudymy

co-leaderinquiredaboutourupcomingwomen'sretreat.

JokinglyshesuggestedsinceIsraelmadequiteanimpressionon

methatIshouldtakeallofthemtoIsrael.Whileponderingthis

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impossibletaskI'heard'awhisperfromwithin,'BringIsraelto

them,buildmyTabernacle".Thistimemyreplydidnotecho

thatofSamuel'snordiditechomyreplytotheLORD2years

earlierinthefieldatShiloh.WithallduerespectIwhispered,

'Excuseme?'OnceagainIdistinctlyheard,'Buildmy

Tabernacle.'Ijumpedtomyfeet.Thiswasit!Thiswasthe

completedsentencethatbeganinShilohyearsbeforeandit

wastobethethemeofourwomen’sretreat!Withaheartfilled

withjoyandexpectationIresponded,'HereIamLORD,your

servantislistening!'

HisTabernacle?Ireallywasn'tquitesurewhatIhadjustsaidyes

to.Ilookedaroundourimmensesanctuarywonderingifthe

Tabernaclewasbiggerthanthis?Orsmallerthanabreadbox?I

beganthegameofmultiplequestions,yetHehadjustone

answer,'BuildmyTabernacle.'Irushedstraightwaytomy

husband'soffice.Iflungopenhisdoorandannounced'We're

goingtobuildtheTabernacleforthewomen'sretreat.''What?',

Hereplied.'It'sonlyfourweeksaway.''Iknow,areyouready

fortheadventure?'Hissmileandtheslowshakeofhishead

fromsidetosidegavemetheanswerIwaslookingfor,'You

cancountonme'.Ispentprecioussleeplessnightstraveling

throughtheScriptureswithourHighPriest,Jesus.Heledme

withinthewallsoftheCourtyard,usheredmeintotheHoly

PlaceandsolemnlybeckonedmebeyondtheCurtainto

worshipHimintheHolyofHolies.AteveryturnHerevealed

HimselfinthemysteryofHisTabernacle.

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Faithfulfriendsembracedtheproject.Ireceivedtheblessing

andendorsementofmypastorandtogetherwewrotethe

detailsofeachaspectoftheTabernacle.Ihandedovermy

scribbleddrawingsandmeasurementsoftheTabernacle

furnishingstomyhusband,Craig,andtoourdearfriend,Dan.

TheTabernacleoftheWildernessstoodinallitsglorywithinthe

confinesofadesertedrundowntenniscourtwithinweeks.

Somethingspirituallysignificanthappenedwhenwesetaside

meagerelementsanddesignatedthem'HolyuntotheLORD'.

Sheetsofplywood,piecesofcardboard,blanketsmarkedfor

clearance,cansandcansofgoldspraypaint,asimplerented

tent,alltheseitemstranscendedtheirearthlyfunctionsand

becameHolyforHisintention.

Asyouembarkonthisunforgettablejourney,reachouttoHim.

PlaceyourhandinthehandoftheMasterArchitectandallow

HimtogiveyouthegrandtourofHishome.Youwillfindthat

HeisquitethehostandHeisextremelyfondofyourcompany.

Thejourneyispowerful,soholdontight!

JeanneWhittaker, 
FounderofTheTabernacleExperience

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*AllmeasurementsofthisTabernaclearebasedonthedescriptionswefindintheBibleinthebookofExodus.

*AccordingtoScriptureTheTabernaclePropermeasured15'inheight.TheTabernacleExperiencePropermeasures11'.5inheight.Otherwiseallotherdimensionsareaccurate.

*TheBibledoesnotmentionthedimensionsoftheLampstandorTheLaver.

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CapistranoBeach,California92624

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Visitusonourwebsite 
www.tabernacleexperience.com


formoreinformationandafreedownloadofthisbooklet.

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