Aaron, I know you really want to go through the door into the Tabernacle,” said the Lord the next time He visited our young friend, “but there is still something that I need to show you on the outside of the tent.”
This time, Aaron was not disappointed. He had learned that the Lord had a reason for everything and that, in the time of waiting, he would find something new and exciting outside. That much he knew for sure. He began to understand his Master a little bit. He remembered how much he had wanted to go to the Holy Place that he almost missed the fun of counting the boards of the Tabernacle and measuring them. But he was glad he was able to do that. He also remembered how the last time the Lord showed him five bars that held the boards straight in their places. He smiled when he thought about how he found out that those bars actually represented men who were given to the church as gifts for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ. It means that if he, Aaron, holds on to the teaching of the apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd and teacher, he will come (together with the other saints) into that perfect man the Word of God talks about. That’s what the boards do by holding on to the rods by the golden rings, don’t they?
So this time, when the Lord said that it was still time to explore something outside, he was gladly willing to do so, even though he really really wanted to go in…
“Aaron,” the young boy heard the familiar Voice again, “let Me show you what the Tabernacle is covered with so that it is protected from the outside influences.”
Aaron had noticed even when he was counting the boards that he had to climb under at least four covers to be able to see the boards. The Lord, being able to read his thoughts said, “You are right, My friend, there are four covers over the boards and covering the top. Let Me show you what they are made out of and what they represent.”
With these words, the Lord unfolded the individual layers of the Tabernacle for Aaron to be able to see them. The first layer (closest to the boards) was embroidery and consisted of ten curtains of blue, purple, scarlet and white, fine twined linen. How beautiful!
“Aaron, let Me give you the key so that you might understand what this all means,” the Lord said. “This embroidery was made by women. Woman in My Word always represents the church. These women were working very diligently on the embroidery. It shows the work and labor of love of the church.”
Aaron noticed that in between all the hand-woven colors was a woven picture of cherubim. He learned that cherubim represent Spirit fellowship. It means that when we move in the Spirit of God, the heavenly host joins us and this becomes a covering. It is not people covering people, but the Spirit in the Body covering us just like the flesh covers the bones. Without this covering we are nothing but a valley of dry bones. Aaron was told to remember that wherever cherubim occur in scripture, they always show a covering of some sort.
As Aaron already shared with you, young reader, he saw these curtains made out of four colors. He learned that this work of the church directed by the Holy Spirit had four dimensions, which were represented by the four types and colors of thread used in its construction. Let us look at them together with Aaron:
1. Blue – means sanctification. This is the process by which the nature of the Spirit of God is burned into our flesh. It is the same as when the cattleman uses his branding iron to mark his cattle so that everybody would know they belong to him. When God has finished His work with us, we will not only bear the mark of Christ, but we will be all His. This covering is also called the Holy Spirit covering.
2. Purple – represents the King. When we are clothed with purple, it means that we are not naked, but covered by the presence and power of our King. This is also called Christ covering.
3. Scarlet – is the Blood covering. It means sacrifice instead of self-preservation.
4. White – means purity, holiness. It is the angelic covering.
And so, these colored threads represent the work of the church, which forms a covering over the believer.
“Aaron, look at the second layer of the Tabernacle covering,” the Lord said. “What does it remind you of?”
“Hmm,” Aaron thought out loud. “It looks like the hair of our neighbor’s goat. But could that be in the Tabernacle?”
“Yes, Aaron,” the Lord responded to him, “it is goats’ hair. The goat was the animal used in sacrifices. Here it means that other saints had to sacrifice their lives so that the Tabernacle, the Body of Christ, might be covered.”
Aaron thought it sad that somebody had to suffer in order for him to have this covering. But on the other hand, he was grateful for this provision.
“There is another cover here, Aaron,” the Lord continued, “the third layer. Can you see it?” Aaron saw that it was a skin cover, but was not able to determine what skin it was made out of. The Lord came to his rescue, “These are rams’ skins, Aaron. Can you see how red they are? They were dyed. The color red, more than any other color, shows a death to self message. Self has absolutely no place in My Tabernacle. Those who are in Christ are all dead to self and the world and alive unto Me. The greater the deadness, the more glorious the anointing or covering.
“And now, there is the last, the fourth layer. It is made out of badgers’ skins. Remember, Aaron, the whole message of the covering of the Tabernacle is a message of sacrifice. This covering or anointing (the badgers’ skins) covers all the covers. Badgers have tougher skin than the other animals used for building the Tabernacle so the Israelites were able to make from them the final cover on the top of the Tabernacle. This covering faces the sun, the wind, the rain, the heat and the cold, and remains intact. Do you know what this layer means?”
Aaron really thought hard, but he could not figure it out. “No, I don’t, Lord,” he finally said. “Would You please tell me?”
The Lord did tell him. “I am raising an army of people,” He said, “who will not be beaten, but who are the overcomers. They will overcome all things and manifest Christ to the Earth. They represent the badgers’ skins – the last covering of My Tabernacle.”
Aaron was very blessed to learn all these new things, but even more to know their meaning for the people of this day. He had received so much today that he thought his lesson was over, yet the Lord had something more to show him.
“Aaron,” the young boy heard the Lord say gently, “stand before the door of the Tabernacle.”
Aaron’s heart leaped with joy. Is it possible? Could this be the time to go through the door? He could hardly breathe as he followed the order.
“I want you to remember, Aaron, that this is the door of the Tabernacle through which only dead men enter: men and women who have died to self in the Outer Court and now are being resurrected in Christ. Do you think you are ready to enter in?”
Great sadness suddenly covered Aaron’s face. He knew he was not perfect and did not know if the Lord would allow him to enter in. But he so much wanted to!
“You know me, Lord,” he finally said, “You know if I am ready and if You can take me in.”
“Yes, I do know you, My young friend,” the Lord smiled at Aaron. “You died to sin and the world at the Brazen Altar; you died to self at the Brazen Laver; you were baptized in the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit began to baptize you into Christ. The work of both, the Brazen Altar and the Brazen Laver, will continue to work its death in you. If you continue to walk with Me, I will deal with your soul so that one day you will be, together with other saints, absolutely perfect in Me. Now it is time for you to enter through the door. The next time I come to you, I will lead you in…”
Aaron was so excited! Finally, he will be granted what he has dreamt of all these weeks – to see how the Tabernacle looks inside!
Answer the following questions to see how well you understood this chapter:
- How many layers of covering does the Tabernacle have?
- What are the layers made out of?
- What do the individual covers represent?
- What do the colors in the first layer mean?
- Who can enter through the door of the Tabernacle?
P.S. If you want to read about the covering of the Tabernacle in the Bible, turn to Exodus 26:1-14.