Sabbath School - Meat In Due Season Advanced Commentary - SS25-Q3-L13

Sabbath School - Meat In Due Season Advanced Commentary

SS25-Q3-L13-THE TABERNACLE

September 20-26, 2025

Sabbath Afternoon–September 20, 2025

Scripture Reading for the Week:

Exod. 35:1-36:7; Gen. 1:1; Exod. 36:8-39:31; Heb. 7:25; Exod. 40:1-38; John 1:14

Thought for Meditation

This great purpose had been shadowed forth in types and symbols. The burning bush, in which Christ appeared to Moses, revealed God. The symbol chosen for the representation of the Deity was a lowly shrub, that seemingly had no attractions. This enshrined the Infinite. The all-merciful God shrouded His glory in a most humble type, that Moses could look upon it and live. So in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, God communicated with Israel, revealing to men His will, and imparting to them His grace. God's glory was subdued, and His majesty veiled, that the weak vision of finite men might behold it. So Christ was to come in "the body of our humiliation" (Philippians 3:21, R. V.), "in the likeness of men." In the eyes of the world He possessed no beauty that they should desire Him; yet He was the incarnate God, the light of heaven and earth. His glory was veiled, His greatness and majesty were hidden, that He might draw near to sorrowful, tempted men. {DA 23.2}

God commanded Moses for Israel, "Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them" (Exodus 25:8), and He abode in the sanctuary, in the midst of His people. Through all their weary wandering in the desert, the symbol of His presence was with them. So Christ set up His tabernacle in the midst of our human encampment. He pitched His tent by the side of the tents of men, that He might dwell among us, and make us familiar with His divine character and life. "The Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us (and we beheld His glory, glory as of the Only Begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth." John 1:14, R. V., margin. {DA 23.3}

Memory Verse

Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the LORD [was] upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

Exod. 40:34-38

🔎 Purpose of the Lesson

The purpose of this week’s study on “The Tabernacle” (SS25-Q3-L13) is to lead God’s people into a deeper understanding of His desire to dwell among them, not merely in a physical structure of old, but in the living temple of His church and in the hearts of His people today. The tabernacle in the wilderness was more than a ceremonial system; it was a divine object lesson, a shadow of Christ’s incarnation and a prophecy of His indwelling presence with His last-day church.

From Eden to Sinai, and from Sinai to Calvary, God’s plan has ever been to restore His image in man and to bring His people into intimate fellowship with Him. The sanctuary services, the cloud of glory, and the visible manifestations of His presence were designed to prepare Israel for the coming of Christ in the flesh (John 1:14), and now, in our time, they point forward to His final indwelling glory in a purified church (Exodus 25:8; Exodus 40:34-38).

Ellen G. White reminds us that “The Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us” (DA 23), showing that the earthly sanctuary was but a veil to reveal the humility of Christ and the reality of His character. In the same way, the sanctuary truth today reveals Christ’s mediatorial work in the heavenly courts and His purpose to cleanse His church, making her a fit habitation for His Spirit.

The inspiration further clarifies that the tabernacle is prophetic of God’s church in all ages: first through type and shadow, then in Christ’s incarnation, and now in the purification of the church and the establishment of His kingdom on earth before the gathering of the nations (Isaiah 4:5-6; Zech. 2:10-11; SRod, Vol. 1, pp. 205-208). Thus, the presence of God filling the ancient tabernacle is a type of His latter glory filling His purified church with power, enabling her to finish the gospel work and to stand as a beacon of light to all nations.

Therefore, the purpose of this study is to prepare us to discern the lessons of the sanctuary in their fullest light:

To see Christ as the center of every service and shadow.
To recognize God’s continual desire to dwell with His people.
To understand the prophetic role of the tabernacle as pointing to Christ’s final work of atonement and the cleansing of His church.
To be reminded that only when God’s glory fills His people can they move forward safely in their spiritual journey.

In the last days, as in Israel’s wandering, the church must not move without the cloud of His presence. The true test of Israel—and now of spiritual Israel—is whether we will allow Christ to tabernacle within us, purify us, and lead us until His visible glory shall once again cover His people, never to depart.

Outline of the Study
The Preparation
Sunday-September 21, 2025

The Sabbath of the Lord {Exodus 35:1-3}

Gen. 2:1-3; Exod. 16:22-29; Exod. 20:8-11; Gen. 1:1.

Monday-September 22, 2025

The Freewill Offering {Exodus 35:4-36:7} Offerings and the Spirit
Gal. 5:22-23

The Tabernacle
Tuesday-September 23, 2025

The Construction {Exodus 35:8-39:43} The Tabernacle Built

1 John 1:7; Ps. 32:1-2; Leviticus 16, John 1:29; Heb. 7:25; Dan. 7:13-14, 22, 27; Dan. 8:14; Rev. 21:4.

Wednesday-September 24, 2025

The Dedication {Exodus 40:1-38} God's Presence in the Tabernacle

Exod. 3:5; Exod. 33:18-19; Num. 7:1; Lev. 16:2-17; Gen. 2:1-3; 1 Kings 7:51; Rev. 21:2-3; Rev. 22:1-4.

Other Tabernacles

Thursday-September 25, 2025

Jesus and the New Jerusalem - Jesus Tabernacled with Humanity
John 1:14; Matthew 18:20; Rev. 3:20; Revelation 21:1-3; Rev. 21:22; Rev. 21:16.

Friday-September 26, 2025

Prophetic Insights and Further Study

The Preparation
Sunday-September 21, 2025

The Sabbath of the Lord
{Exodus 35:1-3}

Gen. 2:1-3; Exod. 16:22-29; Exod. 20:8-11; Gen. 1:1.

“For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a day of Sabbath rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it is to be put to death” (Exodus 35:2)

The Sabbath Rooted in Creation

The Sabbath command in Exodus 35:2 reaches back to the beginning: “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished… and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made” (Gen. 2:1-3). Before sin, before the fall, before nations and covenants, God sanctified the seventh day as a perpetual memorial of His creative power. Its divine origin makes it more than a Jewish ordinance; it is the seal of the Creator’s authority over all the universe.

The Sabbath in the Wilderness

Israel was reminded of the Sabbath even before Sinai, in the miracle of the manna (Exod. 16:22-29). God provided double on the sixth day, and none on the seventh, teaching His people dependence and obedience. This reveals a key principle: Sabbath-keeping is a test of faith and trust in God’s provision, not merely abstention from labor.

Ellen G. White explains: “In their bondage the Israelites had to a great extent lost the knowledge of God and of the principles of the Abrahamic covenant… The Sabbath was unknown to them… But when the law was proclaimed at Sinai, the people were again reminded of the sacred obligation of the Sabbath” (PP 258).
In their bondage the Israelites had to some extent lost the knowledge of God's law, and they had departed from its precepts. The Sabbath had been generally disregarded, and the exactions of their taskmasters made its observance apparently impossible. But Moses had shown his people that obedience to God was the first condition of deliverance; and the efforts made to restore the observance of the Sabbath had come to the notice of their oppressors. [SEE APPENDIX, NOTE 1.] {PP 258.1}

The king, thoroughly roused, suspected the Israelites of a design to revolt from his service. Disaffection was the result of idleness; he would see that no time was left them for dangerous scheming. And he at once adopted measures to tighten their bonds and crush out their independent spirit. The same day orders were issued that rendered their labor still more cruel and oppressive. The most common building material of that country was sun-dried brick; the walls of the finest edifices were made of this, and then faced with stone; and the manufacture of brick employed great numbers of the bondmen. Cut straw being intermixed with the clay, to hold it together, large quantities of straw were required for the work; the king now directed that no more straw be furnished; the laborers must find it for themselves, while the same amount of brick should be exacted. {PP 258.2}

This order produced great distress among the Israelites throughout the land. The Egyptian taskmasters had appointed Hebrew officers to oversee the work of the people, and these officers were responsible for the labor performed by those under their charge. When the requirement of the king was put in force, the people scattered themselves throughout the land, to gather stubble instead of straw; but they found it impossible to accomplish the usual amount of labor. For this failure the Hebrew officers were cruelly beaten. {PP 258.3}

Thus, Sabbath reform always precedes deeper covenant relationship with God.

The Seriousness of Sabbath-breaking

The death penalty attached to Sabbath-breaking (Exod. 35:2) demonstrates the seriousness of rejecting God’s appointed sign of loyalty. The Sabbath is not optional—it is the very sign of sanctification (Ezek. 20:12, 20). To despise it is to reject the authority of the Creator Himself.

In the end time, this principle takes prophetic dimension. Just as ancient Israel was tested at the borders of Canaan by Sabbath faithfulness, so spiritual Israel will be tested at the borders of the heavenly Canaan. Ellen White writes: “The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty… While the observance of the false sabbath… will be an avowal of allegiance to a power opposed to God, the keeping of the true Sabbath… is an evidence of loyalty to the Creator” (GC 605).
But not one is made to suffer the wrath of God until the truth has been brought home to his mind and conscience, and has been rejected. There are many who have never had an opportunity to hear the special truths for this time. The obligation of the fourth commandment has never been set before them in its true light. He who reads every heart and tries every motive will leave none who desire a knowledge of the truth, to be deceived as to the issues of the controversy. The decree is not to be urged upon the people blindly. Everyone is to have sufficient light to make his decision intelligently. {GC 605.1}

The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty, for it is the point of truth especially controverted. When the final test shall be brought to bear upon men, then the line of distinction will be drawn between those who serve God and those who serve Him not. While the observance of the false sabbath in compliance with the law of the state, contrary to the fourth commandment, will be an avowal of allegiance to a power that is in opposition to God, the keeping of the true Sabbath, in obedience to God's law, is an evidence of loyalty to the Creator. While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to earthly powers, receive the mark of the beast, the other choosing the token of allegiance to divine authority, receive the seal of God. {GC 605.2}

Heretofore those who presented the truths of the third angel's message have often been regarded as mere alarmists. Their predictions that religious intolerance would gain control in the United States, that church and state would unite to persecute those who keep the commandments of God, have been pronounced groundless and absurd. It has been confidently declared that this land could never become other than what it has been--the defender of religious freedom. But as the question of enforcing Sunday observance is widely agitated, the event so long doubted and disbelieved is seen to be approaching, and the third message will produce an effect which it could not have had before. {GC 605.3}

The Sabbath as the Seal of Righteousness by Faith

The Inspiration highlights the Sabbath as the seal of God upon the 144,000—those who will stand during the time of trouble without a mediator. It explains: “The keeping of the Sabbath is a sign of sanctification, a mark of the power of God to recreate man in His own image” (SRod, Vol. 2, p. 161). The Sabbath is therefore not legalism, but a covenantal sign of righteousness by faith in Christ who both created and redeemed us.

Thus, the death penalty for Sabbath violation in Exodus 35:2 foreshadows the final separation: those who persist in rebellion against God’s Sabbath will be cut off, while those who honor it will receive the seal of the living God (Rev. 7:2-3).

End-time Prophetic Application

Creation → Sabbath anchors our worship in the true Creator, countering the end-time deceptions of evolution and false worship (Rev. 14:7).
Sanctification → The Sabbath points to God’s power to make His people holy, preparing them for the finishing of the gospel work.
Sealing → In the final conflict, Sabbath observance will distinguish the loyal remnant from the worshippers of the beast.
Judgment → As in Israel, Sabbath-breaking will lead to death—first in type by stoning, and finally in antitype by eternal separation from God (Rev. 20:14-15).

Consider the Following
❖The Sabbath (Exodus 35:1-3)

―After having a glimpse of God’s glory, Moses conveyed to the people “what the Lord has commanded” (Ex. 35:1, 4). These instructions included their relationship with God in time (the Sabbath) and in space (the Tabernacle).

―God set aside the Sabbath as a special time for us to enjoy His company at Creation itself. (Gen. 2:1-3; Ex. 20:11), and He reminded Israel of this shortly before proclaiming the Ten Commandments (Ex. 16:22-29).

―The Sabbath reminds us that God is our Creator and Redeemer (De. 5:15), and takes us to the future time when we can enjoy His company for eternity (Is. 66:22-23).

✅ Conclusion

The Sabbath is God’s eternal reminder of His authority as Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. In Exodus 35:2, the seriousness of Sabbath loyalty foreshadows the final test that will soon confront all humanity. The Sabbath is not only a day of rest but a prophetic sign of allegiance, marking those who trust God fully to lead them into the Promised Land. To keep it in spirit and truth is to live by faith in Christ’s finished work, to prepare for His kingdom, and to stand under His covering glory in the final sealing.

Monday-September 22, 2025

The Freewill Offering {Exodus 35:4-36:7} Offerings and the Spirit
Gal. 5:22-23

“From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering of gold, silver and bronze [ …] All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the Lord has commanded” (Exodus 35:5,10)

The Call to Willingness

In Exodus 35:5, 10, Moses relays God’s command: “From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering… All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the Lord has commanded.” The sanctuary was not built on coercion or taxation, but on voluntary, Spirit-filled generosity. The sanctuary, God’s dwelling among His people, was constructed only by those whose hearts were stirred and made willing.

This principle reflects God’s own character: He never compels, but invites. True service springs not from force, but from love awakened by gratitude for His redemption.

The Fruit of the Spirit in Giving

The apostle Paul reminds us that the Spirit’s fruit is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23). These qualities were evident among Israel when “everyone whose heart stirred him… brought a freewill offering unto the Lord” (Exod. 35:21-22). The abundance of gifts and willing hands was so great that Moses had to restrain the people from bringing more (Exod. 36:5-7).

Ellen White comments: “The tabernacle was built by freewill offerings. No urging was done. God accepts only freewill offerings. He loves a cheerful giver” (ST, Feb. 14, 1900). In this, we see that Spirit-filled giving is not measured by amount, but by the sincerity and joy of the heart.

Prophetic Dimensions of the Freewill Offering

The freewill offerings for the tabernacle foreshadow the end-time work of building God’s spiritual temple—the church. Just as ancient Israel contributed materials and skill for the sanctuary, so today God calls His people to consecrate their means, time, and talents for the finishing of His work.

SOP Insight: “The Lord calls for volunteers who will, with energy and with fidelity, devote their God-given talents to the work. The treasury will never be empty when hearts are full of love for God” (RH, Dec. 6, 1887).
The inspiration points out that the call for offerings represents a greater spiritual reality: the building of the antitypical temple—the purified church. “The freewill offerings symbolize the consecration of heart, mind, and resources to the finishing of the gospel work and the establishment of the Kingdom” (SRod, Vol. 1, pp. 211-213).

Thus, the gold, silver, and bronze represent faith, love, and endurance—the sanctified graces of the Spirit. The skilled laborers symbolize Spirit-endowed servants who labor not in their own strength but under divine wisdom, preparing a fit habitation for God’s glory.

End-time Application

The building of the sanctuary through freewill offerings has a direct prophetic counterpart in the final proclamation of the gospel and the purification of the church:

God calls for cheerful givers in the last days, not merely of money but of life itself, to support the loud cry message and the ingathering of the great multitude (Rev. 7:9).
The willing-hearted are distinguished from the indifferent. Just as Israel’s tabernacle could not be built without consecrated giving, so the final work cannot be finished without a people wholly surrendered to God’s Spirit.
The overflow of gifts in Moses’ day prefigures the outpouring of the Spirit in the latter rain, when God’s people will give themselves so fully that the work will be finished in “righteousness and truth” (Isa. 60:5-7).

Consider the Following

❖The Freewill Offering (Exodus 35:4-36:7)

―There were two ways to contribute to the work of the Tabernacle: donating materials and performing labor.

―The work of spinners, seamstresses and tailors, carpenters, carvers, jewelers, etc. was needed.

―Everyone was so willing to help that Bezalel, Aholiab, and the other workers asked Moses to stop the people from bringing offerings (Ex. 36:3-7).

―To accomplish this work, the Holy Spirit endowed all the workers involved with gifts (Ex. 35:30–36:2). Likewise, He continues to give the necessary gifts to all who collaborate in God's work.

✅ Conclusion

The lesson of the freewill offering is that God’s dwelling place is built only by willing hearts moved by His Spirit. In Moses’ day, the sanctuary stood as the symbol of God’s presence. In our time, God is preparing a living temple—a purified, Spirit-filled church—to reveal His glory to the nations. The freewill offering thus points forward to the final consecration of God’s end-time people, who, filled with the fruit of the Spirit, will pour out their lives, their talents, and their substance to build up the kingdom and hasten the coming of Christ.

The Tabernacle
Tuesday-September 23, 2025

The Construction {Exodus 35:8-39:43} The Tabernacle Built

1 John 1:7; Ps. 32:1-2; Leviticus 16, John 1:29; Heb. 7:25; Dan. 7:13-14, 22, 27; Dan. 8:14; Rev. 21:4.
“Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the LORD had commanded. So Moses blessed them” (Exodus 39:43)

The Tabernacle: A Dwelling for God’s Glory

The tabernacle was no ordinary structure; it was God’s dwelling among His people: “Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them” (Exod. 25:8). Every detail of its construction—materials, colors, dimensions, and services—was designed to reflect the divine pattern shown to Moses on the mount (Heb. 8:5). When Moses inspected the completed work and saw that it was done “just as the LORD commanded,” he blessed the people (Exod. 39:43). The blessing flowed from obedience, for the sanctuary stood as the visible evidence of a people who followed God’s instructions with exactness.

The Tabernacle and the Plan of Redemption

The sanctuary service was a prophetic drama of salvation. Every sacrifice pointed to “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). The daily ministration taught forgiveness and cleansing (Ps. 32:1-2; 1 John 1:7), while the yearly Day of Atonement (Lev. 16) foreshadowed the final blotting out of sin in the heavenly sanctuary.

Ellen White explains: “The sanctuary in heaven is the very center of Christ’s work in behalf of men. It concerns every soul living upon the earth. It opens to view the plan of redemption, bringing us down to the very close of time” (GC 488).
Those who would share the benefits of the Saviour's mediation should permit nothing to interfere with their duty to perfect holiness in the fear of God. The precious hours, instead of being given to pleasure, to display, or to gain seeking, should be devoted to an earnest, prayerful study of the word of truth. The subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment should be clearly understood by the people of God. All need a knowledge for themselves of the position and work of their great High Priest. Otherwise it will be impossible for them to exercise the faith which is essential at this time or to occupy the position which God designs them to fill. Every individual has a soul to save or to lose. Each has a case pending at the bar of God. Each must meet the great Judge face to face. How important, then, that every mind contemplate often the solemn scene when the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened, when, with Daniel, every individual must stand in his lot, at the end of the days. {GC 488.2}
Thus, the earthly tabernacle was a shadow of Christ’s intercessory ministry in heaven, which climaxes in the judgment (Dan. 7:13-14, 22; 8:14).

Prophetic Role of the Construction

The construction of the tabernacle also prefigures the building up of God’s living temple—the church. Paul calls the saints “a holy temple in the Lord” (Eph. 2:21). Just as Israel built the sanctuary with consecrated gifts and willing hearts, so today the Spirit is constructing a purified church, fitted for God’s indwelling glory (1 Pet. 2:5).

The Inspiration draws attention to the prophetic dimension: “The tabernacle represents the church purified and established in the time of the Loud Cry, when the glory of the Lord fills His house” (SRod, Vol. 1, p. 211). Moses’ inspection of the finished tabernacle is symbolic of Christ’s investigative judgment in the heavenly sanctuary (Dan. 7:9-10, 22), where every work is examined to see if it is in harmony with God’s command. Only then will Christ pronounce the blessing of vindication upon His faithful people.

The Tabernacle and End-Time Judgment

Daniel 8:14 connects the cleansing of the sanctuary with the final judgment. This work prepares the way for the everlasting kingdom (Dan. 7:27). Just as the tabernacle’s completion marked the beginning of God’s abiding presence in Israel’s camp, so the completion of the heavenly judgment and the cleansing of God’s people will usher in His eternal dwelling: “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them” (Rev. 21:4).

Thus, the tabernacle’s construction points beyond itself to the climactic moment when sin is forever removed, God’s people are purified, and His kingdom is established in glory.

Lessons for Today

Exact obedience: The sanctuary was accepted only when built “as the LORD commanded.” Likewise, God’s last-day people must follow His Word and Spirit precisely, without compromise.
Living temple: The church must be constructed in righteousness, through willing hearts consecrated by the Spirit.
Judgment preparation: Just as Moses inspected the tabernacle, so Christ is inspecting His people in the investigative judgment to see if they are in harmony with His law and gospel.
Final hope: The sanctuary points to the day when the tabernacle of God will dwell with men forever, and every tear will be wiped away (Rev. 21:4).

Consider the Following
The Tabernacle:

❖The Construction (Exodus 36:8-39:43)

―What elements were necessary for the Tabernacle of Meeting to fulfill its functions?

The Tabernacle (Holy and Most Holy Place); the golden ark; the table of bread; the lampstand; the incense altar; the altar of burnt offering; the laver of bronze; the outer court; the ephod; the breast-pocket; the rest of the garments.

―Once built, the Sanctuary (the Tabernacle and the courtyard) was home to two distinct services: the daily and the annual. Their various ceremonies, taken together, teach us that:

God hates sin

God saves the sinner

God will destroy the wicked

God assures us of a glorious future

―Through the daily service, God showed the way in which He forgives, by grace, the sinner: with the death of an innocent animal, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29).

―With the annual service (the Day of Atonement), God showed how He will eradicate sin from the universe, showing the final solution to the problem of evil (Ps. 73:17).

―The Sanctuary was also the place to worship God, praise him and express gratitude to him.

✅ Conclusion

The construction of the tabernacle is not merely history—it is prophecy. It points to Christ’s heavenly ministry, the cleansing of the church, and the establishment of His kingdom. Just as Moses blessed the people for faithful obedience, so Christ will soon bless His faithful remnant who, through His atoning blood and intercession, are found ready for the eternal inheritance.

Wednesday-September 24, 2025

The Dedication {Exodus 40:1-38} God's Presence in the Tabernacle

Exod. 3:5; Exod. 33:18-19; Num. 7:1; Lev. 16:2-17; Gen. 2:1-3; 1 Kings 7:51; Rev. 21:2-3; Rev. 22:1-4.

“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34)

The Glory of God Fills the Sanctuary

At the dedication of the tabernacle, “the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle” (Exod. 40:34). This visible manifestation of the Shekinah testified that God accepted the work, sanctified the sanctuary, and chose to dwell among His people. What began in the burning bush (Exod. 3:5) as a localized revelation of divine holiness now became the abiding presence of God in Israel’s midst.

Ellen White comments: “So God signified His acceptance of the tabernacle as His dwelling place. There He manifested His glory, and there He made known His will” .
Above the mercy seat was the Shekinah, the manifestation of the divine Presence; and from between the cherubim, God made known His will. Divine messages were sometimes communicated to the high priest by a voice from the cloud. Sometimes a light fell upon the angel at the right, to signify approval or acceptance, or a shadow or cloud rested upon the one at the left to reveal disapproval or rejection. {PP 349.1}

The law of God, enshrined within the ark, was the great rule of righteousness and judgment. That law pronounced death upon the transgressor; but above the law was the mercy seat, upon which the presence of God was revealed, and from which, by virtue of the atonement, pardon was granted to the repentant sinner. Thus in the work of Christ for our redemption, symbolized by the sanctuary service, "mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Psalm 85:10. {PP 349.2}
This reveals a vital principle: God’s glory dwells only in a sanctuary built according to His pattern and dedicated by obedience.

The Sanctuary: From Type to Antitype

The tabernacle dedication pointed forward to greater realities:

At the Temple of Solomon: “When Solomon had finished the temple… the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD” (1 Kings 7:51; 8:10-11). Both sanctuaries received the same divine approval, showing continuity in God’s covenant presence.
In Christ’s Incarnation: “The Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us” (John 1:14, margin). The true dwelling of God was revealed in Christ, whose life embodied God’s glory veiled in humanity.
In the Heavenly Sanctuary: The earthly tabernacle was a copy of the heavenly (Heb. 8:5). Christ now ministers there as High Priest (Lev. 16; Heb. 7:25), preparing a people to stand in His presence when the sanctuary is cleansed (Dan. 8:14).
In the New Earth: The final fulfillment comes when “the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them” (Rev. 21:3; 22:1-4).

Prophetic Significance of God’s Glory Filling the Tabernacle

The filling of the sanctuary with divine glory is symbolic of the latter rain and the loud cry. Just as Israel could not move without the cloud (Exod. 40:36-38), so the last-day church cannot finish its mission without the outpouring of the Spirit. Ellen White affirms: “The outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the ‘former rain,’ and glorious was the result. But the ‘latter rain’ will be more abundant” .
The Lord employs these operations of nature to represent the work of the Holy Spirit. As the dew and the rain are given first to cause the seed to germinate, and then to ripen the harvest, so the Holy Spirit is given to carry forward, from one stage to another, the process of spiritual growth. The ripening of the grain represents the completion of the work of God's grace in the soul. By the power of the Holy Spirit the moral image of God is to be perfected in the character. We are to be wholly transformed into the likeness of Christ. {TM 506.1}

The latter rain, ripening earth's harvest, represents the spiritual grace that prepares the church for the coming of the Son of man. But unless the former rain has fallen, there will be no life; the green blade will not spring up. Unless the early showers have done their work, the latter rain can bring no seed to perfection. {TM 506.2}

There is to be "first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." There must be a constant development of Christian virtue, a constant advancement in Christian experience. This we should seek with intensity of desire, that we may adorn the doctrine of Christ our Saviour. {TM 506.3}

The inspiration applies this to the end-time purified church: “When the house of God is purified, then will His glory fill it, and the light of the angel of Revelation 18 will shine forth to lighten the earth” (SRod, Vol. 1, p. 211; 2TG, Vol. 1, No. 44). Thus, the dedication of the tabernacle prefigures the dedication of the final, living temple—the 144,000—through whom God’s glory will be revealed to all nations (Isa. 60:1-3).

4. The Sabbath and God’s Dwelling

It is no accident that the sanctuary’s completion is linked with the Sabbath (Gen. 2:1-3; Exod. 35:2). Both are signs of God’s creative and redemptive power (Ezek. 20:12, 20). The Sabbath sanctifies time, and the sanctuary sanctifies space; together, they point to God’s eternal purpose to dwell with His people in holiness.

Lessons for the Final Generation

God’s presence requires holiness: As Nadab and Abihu would later learn (Lev. 10:1-2), God’s glory cannot coexist with presumption or disobedience.
The inspection before blessing: Moses inspected the work (Exod. 39:43), and only then did God’s glory fill the tabernacle. This mirrors the investigative judgment (Dan. 7:9-10, 22), where Christ inspects the work of His people before the final outpouring of the Spirit.
The movement guided by the cloud: Israel journeyed only when the cloud lifted. Likewise, the remnant must move only at the direction of the Spirit, not human impulse.
The final dwelling: God’s ultimate goal is not merely to dwell in a tent or temple, but to live among His people eternally (Rev. 21:3).

Consider the Following

❖The Dedication (Exodus 40:1-38)

―The book of Exodus ends with the dedication of the Sanctuary and its priests. The protagonist of this chapter is undoubtedly God, who fills everything with his glorious presence (Ex. 40:34). This Presence continued to accompany the Tabernacle in the cloud and in the Shekinah (the manifestation of divine glory between the cherubim of the ark).

―After months of work, the sanctuary was erected on the first day of the first month of the second year after their departure from Egypt (Ex. 40:2, 17). Everything was arranged in order (ark, veil, table, chandelier, golden altar, bronze altar, laver), and consecrated (Exod. 40:9).

―Finally, Aaron and his sons were dressed in their priestly garments, and anointed for their mission. (Ex. 40:12-15).

✅ Conclusion

The dedication of the tabernacle is both history and prophecy. It reveals God’s acceptance of obedience, His desire to dwell with His people, and His plan to fill His living church with glory in the last days. As the sanctuary was completed according to God’s pattern and dedicated with willing hearts, so must the final temple—the purified church—be prepared for His indwelling glory. Soon, the great declaration will be fulfilled: “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them” (Rev. 21:3).

Other Tabernacles

Thursday-September 25, 2025

Jesus and the New Jerusalem - Jesus Tabernacled with Humanity
John 1:14; Matthew 18:20; Rev. 3:20; Revelation 21:1-3; Rev. 21:22; Rev. 21:16.

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14a)

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God” (Revelation 21:3)

The Eternal Desire of God – To Dwell with His People

From Eden to Sinai, from the tabernacle to the New Jerusalem, the central theme of Scripture is God’s longing to dwell with humanity. Sin interrupted this fellowship, but redemption restores it. The climax of the great controversy is not merely the vindication of God’s character but the restoration of His presence among His people: “They shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God” (Rev. 21:3).

Ellen White affirms:
“The whole work of redemption is summed up in the restoration of man to the image of God. It is to bring him back to the perfection in which he was created… so that God may be glorified in him”
"When the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come." Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own. {COL 69.1}

Thus, the New Jerusalem is not simply a city; it is the eternal reality of Emmanuel—God with us.

Jesus Tabernacled in Humanity (John 1:14)

The Greek word eskēnōsen (“dwelt” or “tabernacled”) in John 1:14 directly links Christ’s incarnation to the Old Testament sanctuary. Just as the Shekinah dwelt in the tabernacle, so the fullness of God’s glory dwelt in Christ in human flesh.

Type: The tabernacle in the wilderness.
Antitype: Christ, in whom “all the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily” (Col. 2:9).

The Shepherd’s Rod emphasizes that Christ’s incarnation was not temporary but the eternal pledge of God’s oneness with His redeemed:
“The Word tabernacling in the flesh shows that God has made Himself forever one with humanity. He did not lay aside His humanity after the resurrection, but ascended as the Son of Man, the Mediator, the High Priest, the King of Glory” (SRod, Vol. 2, p. 154).

Jesus’ Presence With His People Now

Matthew 18:20 – Christ promises His presence in every gathering of the faithful, however small. The church does not depend on earthly grandeur but on His indwelling Spirit.
Revelation 3:20 – Jesus knocks at the heart’s door, desiring to “sup” (commune) with His people. Before He dwells corporately with the redeemed in the New Jerusalem, He must dwell personally within each believer.

Ellen White connects this to the end-time remnant: “Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church” (COL 69). When Christ fully tabernacles in His people, then the world will be lightened with His glory (Rev. 18:1).

The New Jerusalem – The Fulfillment of God’s Tabernacle Promise

Revelation 21 presents the New Jerusalem as the consummation of God’s covenant:

Its Perfection – The city is “foursquare” (Rev. 21:16), symbolizing completeness, stability, and perfection. This represents the eternal order where sin can never rise again.
Its Glory – “I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it” (Rev. 21:22). The type (earthly temple) gives way to the antitype (God Himself dwelling fully with His people).
Its Reality – The Lamb is the center of the city, showing that redemption through Christ is the eternal theme of the universe.

The inspiration connects the vision of the New Jerusalem with the purified church:
“Before the church militant can become the church triumphant, she must be cleansed. Then will the glory of the Lord fill her, and she shall be the city of God, the New Jerusalem in type before the eternal reality comes” (2TG, Vol. 1, No. 45, p. 23).

Prophetic Lessons for the Last Generation

Incarnation leads to glorification – Christ’s tabernacling in the flesh guarantees God’s eternal dwelling in humanity.
Personal preparation precedes corporate glory – Christ must dwell in our hearts now (Rev. 3:20) if we are to dwell with Him in the New Jerusalem.
The New Jerusalem begins now – The purified remnant (144,000) becomes the “antitypical Jerusalem” on earth (Micah 4:1-2; Isa. 2:2-3) before the eternal city descends.
Eternal security in God’s presence – The square dimensions (Rev. 21:16) symbolize a kingdom where righteousness and peace are forever established, never again threatened by sin.

Consider the Following

Other Tabernacles:

❖ Jesus and the New Jerusalem.

― John 1:14 literally says that Jesus became flesh and “tabernacled” (was a tabernacle) among us.

With his incarnation, Jesus, the eternal God, fulfilled his desire to dwell physically among us. He became Emmanuel, God with us (Matt. 1:23).

― Through the Holy Spirit, God continues to dwell with us today (Mt. 18:20; 1Co. 3:16).

― But the day will soon come when we will be able to stand face to face with our God, and dwell with Him, in the royal Tabernacle that He Himself has prepared for us: the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:3).

✅ Conclusion

The theme of the sanctuary finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ tabernacling with His people eternally. From His birth in Bethlehem to the descent of the New Jerusalem, the central truth is that God desires to dwell with us. The question for us today is whether we allow Him to dwell within us now. If we hear His voice and open the door, His indwelling presence will prepare us for His eternal dwelling in the city where “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple” (Rev. 21:22).

Friday-September 26, 2025

Prophetic Insights and Further Study

This week’s lesson on The Tabernacle reveals God’s eternal purpose: to dwell with His people, to cleanse them from sin, and to establish an everlasting kingdom of righteousness. From the shadowy types in the wilderness sanctuary to the eternal reality of the New Jerusalem, the sanctuary theme unfolds as the golden thread binding together the plan of salvation.

Bible Insights

Genesis 2:1-3 – The Sabbath at creation was God’s first sanctuary in time, a dwelling of His presence with Adam and Eve.
Exodus 25:8 – “Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.” God’s desire for nearness with His people was expressed in the tabernacle.
John 1:14 – Christ is the living sanctuary, the Word made flesh who tabernacled among us.
Hebrews 8:1-2; 9:23-24 – Christ’s present ministry in the heavenly sanctuary assures us of continual intercession.
Revelation 21:3 – The promise finds ultimate fulfillment when God’s dwelling is forever with His redeemed.

Spirit of Prophecy Insights

Ellen G. White connects the sanctuary with the restoration of Eden:

“The tabernacle… was a compacted prophecy of the gospel” (DA 165).
“The whole work of redemption is to restore in man the image of God, to bring him back to the perfection in which he was created”
It is the privilege of every Christian not only to look for but to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, (2 Peter 3:12, margin). Were all who profess His name bearing fruit to His glory, how quickly the whole world would be sown with the seed of the gospel. Quickly the last great harvest would be ripened, and Christ would come to gather the precious grain. {COL 69.2}
“The presence of God was the glory of the sanctuary… Without the presence of God it was only a building” (DA 161).
"The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: and He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver." Malachi 3:1-3. {DA 161.1}
"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17. No man can of himself cast out the evil throng that have taken possession of the heart. Only Christ can cleanse the soul temple. But He will not force an entrance. He comes not into the heart as to the temple of old; but He says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him." Revelation 3:20. He will come, not for one day merely; for He says, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; . . . and they shall be My people." "He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." 2 Corinthians 6:16; Micah 7:19. His presence will cleanse and sanctify the soul, so that it may be a holy temple unto the Lord, and "an habitation of God through the Spirit." Ephesians 2:21, 22. {DA 161.2}

Thus, the sanctuary teaches not only forgiveness but transformation—the indwelling of God in the soul temple, preparing us for the eternal indwelling in the New Jerusalem.

Inspiration emphasized the sanctuary as both a historical type and a prophetic forecast:

The earthly sanctuary prefigured Christ’s mediatorial work, and its services portray the antitypical atonement now in progress (SRod, Vol. 2, pp. 183-189).
The tabernacle also represents God’s church—first in its imperfect militant state, then in its purified triumphant state when His glory fills it (2TG, Vol. 1, No. 45).
Before the eternal New Jerusalem descends, there must be a purified “antitypical Jerusalem” on earth where the law, the Sabbath, and the presence of God are restored among His remnant (Micah 4:1-2; Isa. 2:2-3).

End-Time Applications

Sabbath and Sanctuary United – Both are memorials of creation and redemption, testifying that God alone is our Creator and Redeemer. To deny the Sabbath is to obscure the sanctuary message.
Personal Preparation – The sanctuary shows that only cleansed vessels can bear God’s glory. Our lives must be sanctuaries for His Spirit now.
Church Cleansing – Just as the ancient sanctuary was cleansed, so the church must be purified before the loud cry. This precedes the ingathering of the great multitude.
The New Jerusalem Hope – The eternal goal is not merely survival through judgment but eternal fellowship in God’s dwelling, where “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple” (Rev. 21:22).

Closing Thought

The tabernacle teaches us that God’s presence is life, holiness, and glory. Without Him, forms of worship are empty. With Him, even the humblest gathering becomes holy ground. The final call of prophecy is for God’s people to open their hearts so fully to Christ’s indwelling that they may be fitted to dwell with Him forever in the city whose builder and maker is God.

“And the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle” (Ex. 40:34). May the glory of His presence fill the temple of our hearts and His purified church until He comes to tabernacle with us eternally.

From the Pen of Inspiration

“God commanded Moses for Israel, "Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them" (Exodus 25:8), and He abode in the sanctuary, in the midst of His people. Through all their weary wandering in the desert, the symbol of His presence was with them. So Christ set up His tabernacle in the midst of our human encampment. He pitched His tent by the side of the tents of men, that He might dwell among us, and make us familiar with His divine character and life.”

EGW (The Desire of Ages, p. 23)

https://bit.ly/SS25-Q3-L13

https://bit.ly/SS25-Q3-L13-Tag

https://online.fliphtml5.com/nhmzi/ubld/

https://3angelscry.org/pdf-ss25-q3-l13-the-tabernacle/

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse