[To Know Mankind] The metaphor of the Tabernacle(holy temple)

First, spirit, soul and body

1, Outer Court: Body

(1) True living water baptism: baptism is conducted on the external part of the body.

(2) Foot washing: It is conducted on the external part of the body.

Curtains is part of the outer court: it is a metaphor of skin

Pillar: it is a metaphor of tendons

The covering of the tent over the tabernacle: It is a metaphor of face(The material is badgers' skin which means Jesus has no beauty which could attract us)

and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:21-22 )

2, The Holy place: Soul

(1) Showbread: Holy Communion. Holy Communion is the unleavened bread on the table of showbread. Holy Communion is also called "break bread".

(2) Golden lampstand: Receive the Holy Spirit. Receiving the Holy Spirit is the golden lampstand in the Holy Place.

(3) Golden Censer: Prayer in understanding.( In old covenant, it is in the Holy Place)

Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand. (Revelations 8:3-4 NIV)

3, The Most Holy Place: Spirit.

Golden Cencer: Prayer by speaking in new tongues ( In new covenant, golden cencer is moved to Most Holy Place) For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. In-deed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. ...For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. (1 Corinthians 14:2,14 NIV)

The Holy Place and Most Holy Place were two different rooms. When Jesus died on cross, curtain was torn. The Holy Place and the Most Holy Place become one room. Therefore, speaking in new tongues edifies himself/herself in the Most Holy Place but cannot edifies the church. Speaking in new tongues cannot edify priests in the Holy Place. But after being interpreted, it can edity others.

Second, The Ark of the Covenant: It is a metaphor of the human heart

1, Gold-covered ark of the covenant: Faith is like gold.

These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:7 NIV)

2, Ten Commandments inside the ark of the covenant: The Law is put in human heart.

This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. (Hebrews 8:10 NIV)

3, Aaron's staff that had budded: It is the metaphor of tree of life.

And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live for-ever.” (Genesis 3:22 NIV)

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.(Revelations 22:14 NIV)

4,Manna:words of God should be kept in the heart. (Jeremiah 15:16 ,Hebrews 9:4-5)

5,Above on the ark of covenant there is Cheribum: Angels are in protection.

Third: Mercy Seat(Atonement Cover)

1, Above upon the ark of covenant: By receiving the Holy Spirit God set the mercy seat in our heart to be the king of us.

2, Inside the ark of the covenant there is the law: Grace surpass the law.

3, The ark of covenant is under the grace: Grace uphold the law. (Galatians 5:18 ,Romans 6:14, Hebrews 4:16 )