Hardcover book – 164 pages
This concise examination of Israel’s tabernacle sacrifices explains how they symbolically point to the work of Jesus and his followers. Explore the details that God devised to show us the sacrifical and priestly work of Christ.
Weight: 7 oz
Dimensions: 7.25 × 4.75 × 0.5 in
Originally published in 1881, Tabernacle Shadows is an in-depth study exploring the Old Testament Tabernacle and priesthood as types and shadows foreshadowing Christ’s atonement, the role of the Church, and God’s plan for mankind. It interprets the Tabernacle rituals in Leviticus as prophetic symbols of the "better sacrifices" of Christ and His Body, the Church.
Written for the “royal priesthood”—believers consecrated to God’s service.
Seeks to open the hidden meanings of Old Testament ceremonies, showing how they reveal Christian sacrifice, sanctification, and glorification.
Aims to encourage believers in faithful consecration and service, seeing their calling in light of God’s larger plan.
Describes the Tabernacle’s structure: Camp, Court, Holy Place, and Most Holy.
Furniture (altar, laver, table, candlestick, incense altar, ark, mercy seat) all had antitypical meanings.
Symbolism:
Camp = world of mankind in sin.
Court = justified believers (faith in Christ’s sacrifice).
Holy = consecrated, spirit-begotten believers in service.
Most Holy = glorified overcomers, attaining divine nature.
Israel = world of mankind.
Levites = “household of faith,” justified believers.
Priests = consecrated saints (the “little flock”) united with Christ, the High Priest.
The High Priest’s garments of glory and beauty typified Christ’s qualities and mediatorial role.
The Abrahamic Covenant, Law Covenant, and New Covenant all foreshadowed in these arrangements.
The consecration of Aaron and his sons pictured the consecration of Christ and His Church.
Sacrifices of bullocks and rams represented self-denial, death to self-will, and full surrender to God.
The anointing oil symbolized the Holy Spirit, given first to Christ and then to His Body.
Consecration meant continual offering of life, service, and love until fully consumed in sacrifice.
Detailed study of the sacrifices on Israel’s Atonement Day.
Bullock = Christ’s sacrifice.
Lord’s goat = Church (faithful overcomers) sharing in Christ’s sufferings.
Scapegoat = class of believers who shrink from sacrifice, representing tribulation and purification.
Entering the Holiest with blood represents access to God through Christ’s atonement.
Moses and Aaron jointly pictured Christ (Head and Body) in completing atonement.
Their emerging from the Tabernacle to bless the people foreshadows Christ’s future appearance to bless all humanity.
Fire from heaven consuming the sacrifice = God’s acceptance of Christ’s atonement.
Burnt offerings, peace offerings, and others symbolize vows, repentance, and worship during the Millennium.
These show how the world will progressively approach God through Christ’s priestly reign.
Male and female distinctions cease, symbolizing the removal of human limitations in redemption.
The red heifer sacrifice was not part of Atonement Day.
Typified a class of believers who suffer outside the camp, bearing reproach.
Its ashes sprinkled on the unclean symbolize Millennial cleansing through Christ and His saints.
Court posts, curtains, silver hooks, golden furniture, cherubim, and ark contents all carried symbolic meaning.
Example:
Curtains of white linen = purity of Christ and His Church.
Ark with law, manna, rod = divine justice, provision, and authority.
Mercy seat with cherubim = God’s throne of grace.
These reinforced the mystery of God’s plan to reveal His sons in due time.
Typology – The Tabernacle system foreshadowed Christ’s atoning work.
Priesthood of Believers – True Christians are called to sacrifice with Christ, not just to believe.
Three Stages of Salvation – Justification, sanctification, glorification.
Future Blessing of All Mankind – The Millennial Age will extend salvation blessings to the whole world.
Mystery of the Ages – God’s hidden plan is progressively revealed through types and shadows.
Tabernacle Shadows presents the Tabernacle ceremonies as prophetic blueprints of the Christian age and beyond. It emphasizes that Christ, the High Priest, and His consecrated Church, the under-priests, share in sacrificial suffering now, in order to reign in glory later and bring blessings to all humanity.
