The Holy Place
Exodus 26:1-30
"And all the wise men, wrought all the work of the sanctuary" (Exod. 36:4).

THE only entrance into the rectangular (3O feet x l5 feet x l5 feet high) Holy Place was obtained through the curtained doorway which has already been described, These curtains (Exod. 26:36,37) were suspended by rings of gold upon 5 pillars of gold-covered shittim wood, each of which stood upon sockets of brass (Exod. 26:37). This was the last occasion upon which brass was visible on the inside of the structure. Two other metals now predominated: gold and silver. The boards that formed the north and south walls together with the furniture were covered with gold; the sockets that formed the bases of the walls were of silver. The only other material visible to the eyes were the beautiful colorful curtains at the eastern and western ends of the Holy Place, and its overhead covering of curtains.

The priests entered the Holy Place to show their daily dedication to Yahweh before Whom they presented themselves for service, praise and fellowship. Here they were separated (or sanctified) from the rest of the encampment and the outside world, and so were free of distractions that would otherwise cause digressions from the things that belonged to Yahweh.

The Antitype
When the Lord Jesus Christ was upon the earth, he was Yahweh's dwelling place, or Tabernacle. He declared: "For their sakes I sanctify myself" (John 17:19). Now, possessing Divine nature, it is said of him: "In whom dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9). We see this in the following particulars:
  • He declared his Father's righteousness at his baptism (Matt. 3:15) - White curtains of outer wall.
  • He sacrificially dedicated himself to Yahweh in submissive obedience - The Brazen Altar.
  • The water of his Father's Word cleansed him of fleshly inclinations - The Brazen Laver.
  • Thus he displayed his Father's character before all Israel - The curtained entrance to the Holy Place.
  • In such an one Yahweh could, and did, dwell and cause His Word and Works to be manifested in a pleasing and faithful manner - the Holy Place and its furnishings. His relationship with the human race was there for all to see - Brass sockets for the pillars upholding the entrance curtains.
  • Those dispositions and tendencies which are inherent in human nature were covered by his gold-like faith which, responding to His Father's testings, was a gold-like reflection of the character of his Glorious Father (cp. John 1:14 etc.) - The gold covered boards and pillars in the Holy Place.

This part of the Tabernacle is the most important for this present time for the children of God. It certainly is the most significant because of the many lessons it contains for us. An examination of the Holy Place will substantiate this, in the following ways:

Gold
Whereas the outer, or Altar Court was dominated by that symbol of human nature, brass; the Holy Place was an area of gold. This represents an important stage in our development towards the future "Most Holy Place" state. Having entered into Yahweh's purpose in Christ, we progress through the "outer court" state of mental changes; of separation to Yahweh; of reconciliation with Him; of preparation for the experience of and development in, this "Holy Place" state which points to the moral application of the Truth understood and believed (seen in our changed characters); of our entire dedication to the service of the Truth and the Ecclesia; of our reformation from the things of "brass" to those of the "gold" faith.

Saints must now conform their life and actions to the light of the knowledge of the Word of God; only in this state can we acceptably please Him.

Just as the Tabernacle was "measured", so are those whom it represents: the saints in all ages. They have been measured with the rod of affliction (Rev. 11:1) but, in the Age to come (the revealed heavenly or exalted places in the Kingdom - Rev. 4:1), they will be counted (or measured) as the perfected Temple or dwelling place of Yahweh.

Manifestation
As the walls of the Holy Place were covered with pure gold, they reflected the shining of the light from the Lampstand. That, also, is the responsibility of each member of the Ecclesia.

Gold represents faith, which having been tried in the fire of trial and affliction (Rev. 3:18), will find all the dross of fleshly lusts which would tarnish the character removed, and thus is enabled to reflect the character of God and the light of His Truth.

Faith is essential for all those who will find an abiding place in the one body of Christ, the Temple of God (Heb. 11:6). Just how essential is seen in the vision recorded in Rev. 21:3-18 of the Holy City into which those who lacked faith (described in v.8 as "fearful and unbelieving") will not enter.

Holiness
The Holy Place represented our present period of life as saints (sanctified ones) in the "Holy" state: separated to Yahweh with the outer court state of "the flesh" left behind.

In this "Holy Place" state there is no directly-manifested glory of Yahweh. That is veiled off by the veil of the flesh, or our human nature. The only light here is the knowledge of the glory of God, coming from the Lampstand of the Word of God which, being seven branched (or seven-fold), is perfect for the purpose for which it was Divinely designed in preparing us for the future. The knowledge (light) of the outside world is not only not necessary but is excluded from the Divine arrangement.

Pattern
There is a correspondence between the Holy Place and the Ecclesia. In Eph. 1:3: 2:6,22, the Ecclesia is described as "the heavenly places". The Holy Place is the "pattern of things in the heavens" (i.e. in Christ - Heb. 9:23). In Christ is to be found the only Divinely-appointed and acceptable "dwelling place" for us. Only thus can Yahweh, through His Truth and our sanctification, "dwell" in us. Consider Paul's descriptive use of the Holy Place concept: "The house of God which is the ecclesia of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Tim. 3:15).

That is the state at which we arrive in the development described in Romans 5:1-2.

  • Justification and peace with God: the results of the "outer Court" experiences;
  • Access by faith into grace; the experience of the Holy Place;
  • Hope of the Glory of God; the experience that awaits faithful saints in the age to come, when the Most Holy state will be manifested.

The surety of the fulfillment of this hope is found in the one who is now in the actual "heavenly places" at his Father's "right hand" (Eph. 1:20).

Ministrations
The Holy Place is also suggestive, and indeed descriptive, of those occasions when the saints, as a community of faithful priests, assemble on the first day of the week (or at any other time). So meeting together, they are manifested as the "heavenly" (Holy Place) "Tabernacle of the Testimony, showing forth the praises (or virtues) of Him who bath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Pet. 2:9). Thus also, in a combined sense, we are Yahweh's Temple or dwelling place (2 Cor. 6:16; 1 Cor. 3:16,17). On such occasions we display the four-sided characteristics of the first-century apostolic Ecclesia described in Acts 2:42; when its members met and continued in the following ways:
  1. doctrine (The Lampstand with its light of knowledge);
  2. breaking of bread (Literally so, but in symbol, partaking of Christ and his word);
  3. prayers (the incense Altar of prayer and praise caused to ascend to the Throne of Grace);
  4. fellowship (priests sharing together in the fellowship of each other and of Yahweh)

Read also Eureka Vol. 2, p.355 par. 2.

It is our present duty to maintain the holiness or separateness, of the "Temple" Ecclesia (1 Cor. 3:17; Rev. 15:5-8).

Thus the Ecclesia, through its members, is able to reflect the "truth which is in Christ Jesus", through the light of Divine Knowledge shining upon and through the tried faith of every part of the Ecclesia.
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