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which Abraham is forever associated (see 4 in previous studies). Moreover, shewbread means “bread of faces” ; it was Abraham who had such face-to-face fellowship that he was called “the friend of God.” , (5) The candle stick was for giving light (see 5 in previous studies). Also, its branches were so shaped as to symbolize fruit fulness. Isaac became fruitful in the two “branches,” united in birth—Esau and Jacob. (6) The altar of in cense, ascending heavenward, facing toward the presence- room of God, has its adumbration in Jacob’s experience of the ladder reaching from earth to heaven, occasioning the name Bethel, “house of God,” followed by his Jabbok experience, because of which “Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God fape to' face” (Gen. 32:30). (7) In Joseph is a remarkable portrayal of the throne which has become a .mercy seat. Raised to the place of power, he extends mercy and favor to his breth ren; he is also the source of blessing and prospering to Jew and Gentile alike. D ispensational D evelopment Following this anticipation in Genesis, the tabernacle is given a fourfold development ranging throughout the remainder of revelation. • In tracing this development, we use the letters A, B, C, and D of our floor plan, and for this thought-provoking reason: the progress in the floor plan and the progress in revelation correspond. A. In Type or Picture Form. This is the purpose it served; the ministry it performed in the Old Testament dispensation is so described in the Epistle to the Hebrews: “Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount” (Heb. 8:5). In the stnallest detail, with beauty unsurpassed, it pictures what God is going to do to bring man back to Himself. Nor is it a mere pic ture: It is a moving picture, instinct with the living per sonality of priest and worshiper. B. Realized in the Incarnation, Now we reach the Gospel narratives. Christ’s coming is described in tabernacle terms: “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Again, Jesus referred to His body as “this temple.” An entire book would be required to worthily expound His fulfillment of the tabernacle. Suf fice it to say: (1) The four Gospels reflect respectively the point of view of the four divisions of the tabernacle. It is the truest key to why we have four narratives. (2) The fourth Gospel follows the structural plan and presents the simple redemptive truths of the tabernacle. (Space forbids any elucidation of these statements.). (3) All four Gospels bulk large in their emphasis upon Jesus’ twofold work in the court (B, 2, 3 ); namely, His death and resurrection. C. Realized in the Believer. This b rings us to the dispensation of the Spirit—the Acts and the Epistles. Since the giving, of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, the apostle can base his appeal to believers upon this new and precious development in tabernacle truth: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you” (1 Cor. 3:16)? D. Realized in the World. The unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ as the world’s rightful ruler and the re vealing of the, sons of God with Him in glory-—this is (Continued on page 166)
The Christ of Calvary Christ does not save men by His life, Though that was holy, sinless, pure; Nor even by His tender love, Though that forever shall endure; He does not save them by His words, Though they shall never pass away; Nor by His vast creative power That holds the elements in sway. He does not save them by His works, Though He was ever doing good; The awful need was greater still, I t tookrHis death, His cross, His blood. Men preach today a crossless Christ, A strengthless Saviour, vague and dim; They will not see their sinful state, They will not own their need of Him. They will not know the Lamb of God, Despised, rejected, crucified — That were to humble into dust Their boasted intellect, their pride. Yet no man cometh unto God r Save by the Son alone, He saith. The deathless life for which we long Can only—ever—come through death. ■Not ; Bethlehem^ or Nazareth Stern justice’’,lifted hand could stay; To Calvary the soul must go And follow Jesus all the way. ■ 'os*;T'- i —Annie Johnson Flint.
. A nticipated in G enesis
It is customary to regard the tabernacle as finding its first mention in the Exodus account. But we venture to revert to Genesis in the confidence that this initial book of the Bible, discloses a structural plan patterned along tabernacle lines. Should this prove to be the case, the tabernacle will at once4rise to a new eminence in its pur posed place in revelation; at the same time, we will have new and striking evidence of design from Genesis to Rev elation. Let us give to our floor plan, above, the arrangement followed in previous studies, thus: 1. Sin (separation) 2. Altar of blood 5. Candlestick (oil) 3. Laver of water 6. Altar of incense 4. Table of bread 7. Mercy seat (throne) Let us place alongside of these our last study’s sum mary of Genesis in its seven typical lives: Adam, Abel, Noah, Abraham; '#saac, Jacob, Joseph* For the most part, the correspondence is instantly apparent. (1) In Adam sin entered the human race, separating from God. (2) In Abel we first have approach to God by blood. (3) In Noah we' see the cleansing of water (the flood) and the new generation coming forth from the water; (4) We note that the table is separated, set within the house. So God called Abraham to be separated to Him self, in him to begin to build the “house” of His chosen people. Then the bread is the fruit of the “land” with
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