FOR THE
CHILDREN:
C. Some Types in the Old Testament
It may help us if we examine some types in the Old Testament that are parallel to the work of the churches of our Lord. In these we will get a view of the way God manifested His will to men as to the method of His work for them and how He wanted it done.
There are at least three things in the Old Testament that have a parallel meaning to this coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost: the tabernacle in the wilderness when it was covered by the cloud of glory after its construction; Solomon’s Temple when filled by the same cloud after its construction; and Ezekiel’s vision of a future Temple covered with the cloud of glory and water flowing from it.
The Scriptures that tell of the covering of the tabernacle in the wilderness are: Exodus 25:21-22; 40:34 and Leviticus 16:2.
Moses was commanded to build the tabernacle like a pattern he had been showed by the Lord while he was upon Mount Sinai. After it was completed, Aaron and his sons were consecrated to the office of priests for their work concerning the tabernacle. After this, they made the sacrifices prescribed for the people. It was then the cloud which had guided them to this place moved so as to completely cover the tabernacle.
This was a sign to the Israelites that God was pleased with the tabernacle Moses had made. It was evident to them that this would be the place God dwelled among them. This would be the place He would talk to them. There is no other instance where the cloud covered the tabernacle in the same manner. It did rest over it and guided them through the wilderness. From that time forward there was a light that shined between the cherubims over the mercy seat. This was called the glory of the Lord (Shekinah glory) and it symbolized the presence of God in the Holy of Holies. It was from this place the Lord spoke to His people.
Moses, who built the tabernacle, was a type of Christ Jesus (Deuteronomy 18:15). His building of this house is compared to Jesus building His church (Hebrews 3:1-6). As Moses established a new way for Israel to worship and serve God, so did Jesus establish a new way for His people to serve Him.
We are speaking of service and not salvation. Men have always been saved the same way: By faith in Him; either by looking forward to what He would do in their behalf, or backward to what He has done.
Notice the likeness of the order of these two: (The church and the tabernacle).
The tabernacle was built, the offerings for the people were made and the glory came.
The church was built (by Christ), the offering was made (He was made sin for us) and the Holy Spirit came to accredit the church (The Glory).
As the cloud manifested to the Israelites the value of the tabernacle in their service to God, so the Holy Spirit manifested the importance of the church (a local visible body) in God’s plan for doing His work in this age. As God dwelled in the tabernacle between the Cherubims (the symbol of His presence being the Shekinah Glory) over the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies, He dwells in the churches of the Lord Jesus in the Person of the Holy Spirit. He is there to speak to His churches and bind them together. (Ephesians 2:19-22).
After many years and after Israel had been established as a kingdom, there came a need for a more permanent place of worship. As a result of this need, the Lord had a Temple built. Some of the same things happened to this Temple that had happened to the tabernacle. The cloud filled the Temple and the light (Shekinah Glory) appeared over the Mercy Seat in the Temple.
The third instance that parallels the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost was Ezekiel’s vision of a temple. This vision was of a far distant future and may be a vision of the New Temple in the Millennial reign of Christ.
Both the tabernacle and the temple were built according to God’s plan and for a dwelling place among His people. There he would guide them in doing His work if they would listen to Him. This is also true of His New Testament church.
All of these point to another temple when Jesus shall reign upon the earth and a greater temple than Solomon’s will find a greater usefulness. We do not believe the church nor any of these temples to be the anti-type, but rather a type of Jesus who is the Temple in the New Jerusalem.