The Spirit and the Bride Say, "Come" (Rev. 22:17)

Moses received the plans for the Jewish tabernacle from God on Mt. Sinai. Then the Lord told Moses to make sure that he constructed the temple "after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount (Exodus 25:40)." But we, ourselves, are the "true tabernacle (Hebrews 8:2)" and "temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:17)." Therefore we must be careful to make sure that our lives conform to God's plan for us.

The plan begins at salvation when we are introduced to this "city of the living God (Hebrews 12:22)" and "church of the firstborn (Hebrews 12:23)." Jesus is the "minister of the sanctuary (Hebrews 8:2)." He "pitches" our tabernacle (Hebrews 8:2) from His "throne...in the heavens (Hebrews 8:1)." He establishes us after the pattern of the tabernacle which is an "example and shadow of heavenly things (Hebrews 8:5)." Heavenly things can only be created by God Himself, because He is the "builder and maker (Hebrews 11:10)" and "except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it (Psalm 127:1)." This is why Jesus will "baptize [us] with the Holy Ghost (Matthew 3:11)."

We are to "go on unto perfection (Hebrews 6:1)" and be "perfect, even as [our] Father which is in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48)." How do we do this? "This is the work of God, that [we] believe on him whom he hath sent (John 6:29)" and "by him...offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually (Hebrews 13:15)." We are then "weaned from the milk (Isaiah 28:9)" as the righteousness of God is revealed unto us from "faith to faith (Romans 1:17)." Then we are "changed into the same image from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18)" if we behold Him with "open face (v.18)."

Solomon's temple illustrates this changing process toward perfection. In the temple "there was an enlarging, and a winding about still upward (Ezekiel 41:7)." Jesus has promised that when you and I are baptized in the Holy Spirit "[we] shall receive power...and [we] shall be witnesses (Acts 1:8)." This empowering also increases our ability to "worship the Father in spirit and truth (John 4:23)."

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is symbolically the second chamber of Solomon's temple because we go from the "lowest chamber to the highest by the midst (Ezekiel 41:7)." Also, it represents the inner court of the tabernacle of Moses or the holy place. One of the items in the Holy Place is the lampstand which symbolizes the seven spirits of the Lord. It was this same Holy Spirit Who was poured forth on the day of Pentecost when the disciples were celebrating this "feast of weeks (Deuteronomy 16:10)." Therefore, since it was on Pentecost that the Holy Spirit was given (Acts 2:4), we study this event in relation to the Old Testament feasts of the Lord to better understand the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The priest had to go from the Outer Court through the Inner Court to enter the Holy of Holies. That's why the baptism of the Holy Spirit is an important step in our Christian walk. We are to "come boldly before the throne (Hebrews 4:16)." This is the place in the tabernacle where the ark of God's presence is. We are citizens of God's holy city (Hebrews 12:22,23) because He writes the name of that city upon us, "which is New Jerusalem (Revelation 3:12)." However, we must continually seek the city, (Hebrews 13:14) because we have to make ourselves "ready (Revelation 19:7)" as a "bride adorned for her husband (Revelation 21:2)." As the Lord prepares us, the city comes "down from God out of heaven (Revelation 21:2)." The shadow of the heavenly tabernacle is transformed into the Bride of Christ.