The Outer Court
"And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation " - 2 Cor. 5:18.

THE Sanctuary was divided into three sections: The Outer Court, the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place.

Outside the sanctuary were the tens of thousands of Israel, representing the countless thousands to whom Divine fellowship and worship (symbolized by the Tabernacle) has been offered.

Inside in the Outer Court, the Priests and Levites performed their service on behalf of, and representing, those who approached with their offerings.

Into the Holy Place entered still fewer - only the priests who there carried out their representative service (cp. Heb. 9:6).

In the Most Holy Place only two entered - (1)One day each year, the High Priest bearing the blood of the Atonement for his sins and those of his people whom he therein represented (cp. Heb. 9:7). (2)Moses, Yahweh's representative in the midst of His people (see later reference).

This was a "figure for the time then present" (Heb. 9:9) and the significance of it is profound indeed.

For, the further we proceed into the Tabernacle, the fewer people we find. This is analogous to the call of the Gospel. The way of salvation is open to all, as the call to worship was made to all Israel in their tents of blackness. However, comparatively few embrace the truth, and this was illustrated by the limitation of the outer court to the priests and levites who laboured there. The numbers lessened in the Holy Place, teaching the lesson that of those who accept the Truth as a doctrine, only a proportion carry out its moral requirements. The Most Holy, of course, anticipated that state of glorious immortality. The High Priest entered therein on his own, once a year, pointing forward to the complete work of redemption in Christ, Only the Lord, and those truly "in him", the veil of whose flesh will be changed to the glory of Divine nature, will attain unto the glorious consummation. On the Day of Atonement, when the High Priest entered the Most Holy he represented the people as well as himself.

The Outer Court represented a mental approach to God Manifestation. The design of the Truth is first to change our minds, so that our thinking conforms to the "mind of Christ". This is in preparation for further advance in the things of the Truth. We come to understand, believe, and accept the Divine arrangement of things. This is the first step towards reconciliation between the creature and the Creator.

In the Outer Court was taken the first step in separation to Divine education, service and life.

The Lord illustrated this stage in his own experiences. Consider his mental attitude towards temptation as displayed in the wilderness (Matt. 4; Luke 4). Having identified himself with his Father's will (Matt. 3:15), he resorted to his Father's Word in resisting the temptations presented to him. In quoting from Deut. 6:13-16 and 8;3, he identified himself with Israel in the Wilderness, showing himself as the "Israel" (Isa. 44:1); the true Son of Yahweh in the Wilderness.

The Holy Place represented a moral application in the lives and characters of those who have developed beyond the "outer court" stage. Here is to be seen the present life and service of the saints in the Ecclesia. Here characters are changed. Here is to be seen reformation and dedication to the Truth's responsibilities and functions. Again, the Lord after the trial of his temptation, continued to display a character that was Divine. The Word and Will of Yahweh was manifested by him, marking him as Yahweh's dwelling place in Israel.

The Most Holy Place pointed to ultimate glorification: physical perfection in changed bodies; to the immortal state of the Kingdom of God.

This also was the experience of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was raised from the grave and given his Father's nature; elevated to his Father's right hand in glory and power; and became the surety for others who follow him.

These basic guide-lines should be kept in mind as a more detailed examination of the features of this Divine Pattern is made and their many lessons learned.