Bill Sealy

    The Holy Sanctuary was the first division of the tent or tabernacle proper. You should carefully notice that to enter the Holy Place one must pass the Altar and Laver. However, the Holy Place was situated before the entrance into the Holy of Holies. Inside of the Holy Place sat three pieces of furniture, the table of shewbread on the right, the golden candlestick on the left and the altar of incense in the center near the veil.
    Each part of the over-all tabernacle and each piece of furniture had a spiritual significance. In the New Testament, authority is given to use the tabernacle as a type or figure. Keep in mind that types and figures in the Old Testament were foreshadows of things, events and persons to appear later. Many types may be found in a study of the tabernacle and its furnishings. The brazen altar is a definite type of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God, the laver may be a type of spiritual cleansing or spiritual baptism, and the Holy Place seems to portray a beautiful type of the church of Jesus Christ. Exodus 25:8 declares, "And let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them." The apostle Paul compares the church with a building or dwelling place when he says, "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone: in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the spirit." Ephesians 2:19-22.

    The above is a part of a lesson in ABA quarterly, August 1962, prepared by Bro. James Holmes.

    The more we study the word the more pressing it becomes that we have in the very least a general knowledge of the Jewish tabernacle and all its priesthood, its furnishings, its services, etc.
    These things are so closely associated with the things of the new covenant that we cannot have the fullest appreciation of our new covenant relationship without them.

The Laver

    The laver was a sort of washbasin. It rested between the brazen altar and the door of the tabernacle. It was kept full of water and the priest were solemnly commanded to wash their hands and feet there on every occasion before entering The tabernacle. They were not to wash their entire body at the laver, only their hands and feet. The priest had their entire bodies ceremonially washed at the time of their consecration, which represented a purifying of flesh. We have already seen that the first washing of the entire body stood in the same position with water baptism. It follows therefore that the priest did not need to repeat the washing of the entire body at the laver. After that first washing they needed only repeatedly wash their hands and feet.
    Those washings did not pertain to the actual cleanliness of their bodies as in taking a bath.
    The matter was a ceremonial cleansing which pertained to the matter of sin, not dirt. Such ceremonial cleansing did not actually remove the sinful nature from The flesh but are typical of the real removal of that sin nature through the death, burial and resurrection of Christ under the New Covenant.
    The washing of the hands and feet of the priest on each occasion before they entered into the Holy Place to minister before the Lord was typical of our daily cleansing from the sins of our daily lives as we go about in the services of the true tabernacle (temple) of God. The priest was never to enter the Holy Place without washing his hands and feet at the laver. We must not think that our services to the Lord in the church are acceptable except we continue in very frequent confession of our sins. "If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.
    In baptism we identify ourselves with the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord. At this time the disciples were counted as having "put on" the Lord, and "put off" the body of the sins of the flesh. Rom. 6:3-6, Gal. 3:27 and Col. 2:11-13.
    From the time of their baptism the disciples were counted as one with Christ and as he was clean, they were counted as clean. Now they need only to keep their feet clean also. "Brethren, if a man be overtaken 1n a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." Gal. 6:1.

The Holy Place and Its Furnishings

We have already seen that the tabernacle was a type of the church, God's dwelling place today. All agree that the Levitical priesthood was a type of the present true priesthood - the high priest being the type of Christ and the ordinary priest a type of the present new covenant priesthood under Christ. All agree that the sacrifices were all typical of Christ, that the altar was a type of the cross, and the laver a type of cleansing. All agree that all the furnishings of both Holy Places were also typical, even the veil was a type of the flesh of Christ. Most everyone will even say that all the materials, even the particular colors that were used in the construction of the tabernacle, were all typical. It therefore becomes absurd for anyone to say that the very existence of the first Holy Place was not also typical. Of course, it was a type - a type of the church the temple of God today. The very fact we have a spiritual priesthood today offering up spiritual sacrifices, and this priesthood has a spiritual temple in which to minister makes it even the more clear that the Holy Place served as a type of the present temple of God.
    The Holy Place was a place of service, communion, worship and instruction for the priest. No one but the priest was ever allowed to enter the tabernacle except such persons as Moses. Today, only those who are lively stones in the true temple of God (that is members of true Baptist churches) can enjoy the blessings of the new covenant priesthood. There are many people outside true churches, but not a single one of them is a spiritual priest. None of them are crucified with Christ, being united with him in death, burial and resurrection to walk in newness of life for they have not received scriptural baptism, which is the circumcision of Christ. They have not put on the crucified but now glorified Christ.
    The universal church man slanders God's ordinance of scriptural baptism, and the true church, body of Christ. He perverts the Lord's Supper. He usurps the authority and work Christ gave his church. That man does not walk in the light - "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7, and therefore does not receive the daily cleansing of sins. He is in the power of Satan. He is in, the flesh. He has no part or lot in this spiritual priesthood, for his heart is not right with God. He is in the gaul of bitterness and is in the bond of iniquity. He has no right to eat of our spiritual altar nor be cleansed at our spiritual laver. He is yet "without" God's spiritual camp of true Israel.
    The candlestick was made of pure gold and was of one piece with seven branches. The end of each branch was beaten into an almond shaped bowl in which oil was put. The candlestick furnished the only light in the Holy Place. There were no windows or open places for light to come in. The candlestick represented illumination. It was by this light that the priest saw how to perform their ministry in the Holy Place. The oil, of course, speaks of the Holy Spirit. The candlestick itself, no doubt spoke of Christ first and further of his word. The Holy Spirit was to bring To remembrance of the apostles all the things which Christ had spoken. He talks of the things of Christ and shows them to us. The Holy Spirit and the word of God always go together. The word is the spirit's sword. (Eph. Chapter 6). The word is spoken as a discerner of our hearts - through the spirit. All the illumination or instructions we need as we minister in the true tabernacle are those given through the written word by the spirit.
    We are not to seek to perform God's service by means of the wisdom of this world no more than the priest dared to seek outside light by making a window in the tabernacle or propping the curtain or the door back. Such a thing would have brought immediate death. Many of God's people today are seeking to perform the work of the commission by a multitude of human devices, such as Bill Gothardism and non-denominational harlots. We need not think we can mock God with such foolishness and escape his judging hand. Men do not realize when outside light is brought in, it serves to blind the eyes from the proper worship, and destroys efficient work of the true priest.
    Time and space will not permit much more on the tabernacle, but we must say a few more things about baptism for many traditional people have tried to make baptism unimportant.
    Baptism is properly the gateway into the covenant relationship. The first stepping stone is death, the second is burial and the third is resurrection in the Glory of the Son. Only those who pass through this gate can enjoy covenant relationship. Baptism is the circumcision of Christ, and the circumcision must be received before one can participate in the covenant.
    Baptism is the uniform of Christ, and this uniform must be put on in order to enter under the protection of the covenant and enjoy its provisions, one of which is the possession of the Spirit.

Requires a Faith Walk

    "And we desire every one of you to show the diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end; that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." Heb. 6:11-12.
    Our attitude toward New Testament or New Covenant baptism is determined by our attitude toward the church as is already evident in Heb. 10:25-31. The severe judgment spoken of in this passage is to be singlely associated with the failure in church attendance mentioned in verse 25.
    The church is not a legislative body but it is an executive body under the New Covenant and the Scriptural actions of the church are fully endorsed, in fact, ordered by the Head of the Church in heaven. "Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Matt. 16:19.
    Peter is speaking to the New Covenant Priesthood in 1 Peter 2:5-9. "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious; and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them, which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness unto His marvelous light."
    Those who are members of true churches are a spiritual priesthood with a spiritual altar. Heb. 13:13; "We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle."
    The book of Hebrews established that the high priest of the Old Covenant served as a type of Christ the high priest of the New Covenant.
    The New Covenant Priesthood is limited to true churches. In order to be a New Covenant Priest one must be a lively stone in a spiritual house, as noted in I Pet. 2:5-9. The New Covenant Priest are occupied with offering up spiritual sacrifices but how can one offer spiritual sacrifices unless he is spiritual and how can he be spiritual unless he is a lively stone in the temple of God? God's spiritual house is his temple, and his temple is the church. Eph. 2:23-22, I Cor. 3:9-17. This temple of God is the habitation of God through the spirit. There are multitudes of people without true churches yet they cannot in any wise serve as an habitation of God through the spirit for they are without the Temple of God since they are without the covenant. Those without true churches are in the flesh. They are in the power of Satan (I Cor. 5:5) as far as the present life is concerned. They are disobedient to the government and ordnances of God as he is appointed in true churches. It is impossible for them to "walk in the light" without true churches, therefore they cannot possibly receive forgiveness of their daily sins, I John 1:7. "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin." It should by no means be difficult To see that new covenant priesthood is restricted to the new covenant.
    No man can have communion with God outside a true church, for he is in rebellion against God. He has refused the commandments of the Lord, and is not in the place of the Spirit's dwelling. He is not in God's spiritual house, and is not of New Covenant Priesthood. Not being a new covenant priest he cannot partake of this bread of communion.
    The high priest of the new covenant intercedes only for those who receives circumcision. Col. 2:11-13.

The High Priest of the New Covenant

    The high priest intercedes only for those who dress themselves up in him (in his body) Gal. 3:27. "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."
    Those who walk in darkness (spiritual error) are also in the lust of the flesh, care nothing for and does not receive intercession of the High Priest of the New Covenant Jesus Christ. He has no forgiveness for daily sins for he does not walk in the light. I John 1:7. "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin."
    A man being delivered to Satan (1 Cor. 5) signifies the lack of intercession of the high priest. God judges those who are without, where Satan rules, but Christ intercedes for those within. They are his glorified members.

The Spirit

    The spirit is withdrawn. What else can be said about the one who crucifies to himself the high priest, tramples under foot the blood of the covenant, counts His blood a common thing and persist in turning his nose up at the spirit of the covenant? Indeed, the spirit is withdrawn and the individual is again counted dead in his sins. He forfeits the inheritance.
    The inheritance will be received only by those who persevere in the faith and patience to the end - Heb. 6:11-15, Heb. 10:32-39. It will be received only by those who are sons of the covenant (Heb. 9:14-17). It will be received by those whose works are not burned. I Cor. 3:13-23.