Access To The TabernacleExemplo

THE ENTRANCE (DOOR) OF THE TABERNACLE

This entrance was on the eastern side of the tabernacle. There was only one entrance or door which led to the Holy Place, and it was through the screen which hung in front of the tabernacle. This was the door or first screen that led to the first Holy Place. We read of the door of the tabernacle in Exodus 26:36, 37; Hebrews 9:2, 3.

It was just the priests who could enter this first Holy Place. Service and fellowship is the main thought here. The measurement of the entrance of the tent was twice the height of the gate, and half the width of the gate. This difference is important. The gate was wide, but the door of the Holy Place was narrow. The gate was for everyone, while the door was only for the priests.

The curtain or hanging for the door of the tent (tabernacle) hung on five pillars of acacia wood completely overlaid with gold. The hooks on which the curtains hung were also of gold. The bases (sockets) of the five pillars were cast out of brass.

The dual nature of Christ becomes emblematic in these five pillars; in the wood (humanity) and gold (divinity). The doorway had four pillars, but the door to the Holy Place had five pillars. Five is the number of grace. Only those who were partakers of the grace of God may enter the Holy Place. On the other side of the door was a table with the twelve holy breads (communion with Christ); the golden candlestick (light and testimony); and the golden altar (praise, worship, prayer).

The bases of these pillars were of brass and not silver, because the pillars were part of the court, and not a part of the tabernacle. They were positioned just outside the tent of the testimony. We are therefore reminded by these brass sockets of the sacrifice that Jesus Christ has made to remove the judgement of sin upon us. Here we see the scars of judgement that Jesus bore for us so that we may enter the Holy Place.

The first screen (curtain) hung on these five pillars. This screen was woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver. (Exod. 26:36). The colours of the screen speak to us of Christ.