The Tabernacle – Part 4

Into the Holy of Holies: The Throne, the Ark & the Glory

In this fourth episode of The Tabernacle, Pastor John leads us into the most sacred space in all of Scripture — the Holy of Holies, the place that represents the third heaven, the throne room of God, and the realm where all of God’s promises are “yes and amen.”

This blog is based on Episode 3 of the YouTube teaching The Tabernacle by Church on the Move. If you want the full depth of the teaching, you can watch the episode on their YouTube channel — and I encourage you to do so. What follows is a written journey through the heart of that message.

Watch the full YouTube teaching

We have journeyed through:

• The Outer Court

  • The brazen altar — sacrifice and the cross

  • The laver — cleansing and forgiveness

• The Holy Place

• The table of showbread — covenant and communion

• The lampstand — the Word illuminated by the Spirit

• The altar of incense — worship, prayer, praise, and intercession

Now we step beyond the veil — into the place where God Himself dwells.

John reminds us:

“The Holy of Holies was the innermost part of the tabernacle… the throne room of God.”

This is not just ancient architecture. It is a revelation of Jesus Christ, and a prophetic picture of the believer’s access to God today.

The Ark of the Covenant — The Throne of Grace

At the centre of the Holy of Holies stood one item: The Ark of the Covenant, overlaid with gold, crowned with cherubim, and filled with meaning.

John explains: “Inside this item… would have been the laws of God… the manna… and the rod that budded.”

Each item reveals a dimension of Christ:

1. The Stone Tablets — The Law We Could Not Keep

“We can’t keep the law… we needed somebody to do it for us.”

Jesus fulfilled the law perfectly on our behalf.

2. The Manna — The Bread From Heaven

“We needed somebody from heaven to come and fulfill the law for us… Jesus came, the bread of heaven.”

He is our provision, our sustenance, our life.

3. Aaron’s Rod That Budded — Resurrection Life

“Something that was dead came alive.”

A dead stick blossomed — a prophetic picture of Christ rising from the grave.

Together, these three items declare:

• Jesus fulfilled the law

• Jesus came from heaven

• Jesus conquered death

The Ark is not just a box — it is the gospel in a single piece of furniture.

The Mercy Seat — Reserved for the Blood of Jesus

Many imagine the high priest sprinkling blood directly on the mercy seat. But John highlights a detail often overlooked:

“They didn’t put it on the mercy seat… they put it on the east side, the approach side.”

Why? Because the mercy seat was reserved for one sacrifice only — the blood of Jesus.

“The mercy seat was kept for the blood of Jesus, not for the blood of goats and animals.”

This is breathtaking. Even in the tabernacle, God was preserving a place for the Lamb who was slain.

The Cherubim — A Revelation Hidden in Plain Sight

Most of us grew up seeing soft, gentle angels with flowing robes and feathered wings. But as Steve (the artist who created are Tabernacle Experience furniture) and John point out, Scripture paints a very different picture.

Steve explains: “When you read Ezekiel… the description doesn’t tally with the nice images we’ve grown up with.”

The cherubim had:

• Four faces — man, lion, ox, eagle

• Four wings

• Movement like lightning

• The ability to move sideways and backwards without turning

Steve crafted the wings based on dragonflies, because: “A creature with four wings that can move sideways and backwards without turning… that’s exactly what dragonflies do.”

This isn’t artistic license — it’s biblical accuracy.

The Four Faces — A Prophetic Portrait of Christ

John unpacks the meaning:

• Face of a Man — Jesus, the Son of Man

• Face of a Lion — Jesus, the Lion of Judah

• Face of an Ox — The Holy Spirit, strength and service

• Face of an Eagle — The Father

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And then comes the revelation:

“The eagle was looking away… telling us that when the sacrifice had to be made, the Father would have to turn away.”

This is the cry of Jesus on the cross:

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

The Ark was preaching the gospel long before Calvary.

Heaven’s Pattern Reveals Heaven’s Ways

The Lord’s Prayer says: “On earth as it is in heaven.”

But we must ask ourselves: “If we do not know anything about how the heavens function, how do we know how the earth should function?”

The tabernacle is not random. It is a blueprint of heaven, given to teach us how God works.

John says: “By following the pattern… you are paying attention to how the heavens work.”

This is why many believers struggle to see breakthrough.

“What if our lack of understanding of the pattern has meant we are disconnected from God’s ways?”

The tabernacle reconnects us.

The Coverings — A Picture of the Believer

The tabernacle had four coverings, each with prophetic meaning:

1. Badger/Seal Skin — ordinary on the outside

2. Red Covering — the blood of Jesus

3. White Linen — righteousness

4. Cherubim Embroidered Cloth — the glory and presence of God

   
   

John explains: “On the outside, we don’t look any different… but what’s inside is the very glory of God.”

This is Paul’s declaration: “We have this treasure in jars of clay.”

The tabernacle is a picture of you.

Moses’ Tabernacle & David’s Tabernacle — Two Revelations, One Story

Many Christians know more about the Tabernacle of David than the Tabernacle of Moses. But John clarifies their relationship.

Moses’ Tabernacle

• Reveals the pattern

• Shows the process

• Teaches the way into God’s presence

David’s Tabernacle

• Reveals access

• Shows worship without a veil

• Prophesies the life of Jesus and the birth of the church

  
  

John explains: “David’s tabernacle was just the Holy of Holies… a prophetic statement of the life of Jesus.”

For 33 years — the exact length of Jesus’ earthly life — worship was offered around the Ark on Mount Zion. This was no coincidence.

“There is nothing now that separates us from the presence of God.”

David’s tabernacle shows us the privilege. Moses’ tabernacle shows us the pattern.

We need both.

You Are the Tabernacle — And You Are Seated With Christ

John ends with a powerful reminder: “Never forget — you are the tabernacle. And you are seated with Christ in heavenly realms.”

This is the heart of the entire series:

• You begin at the cross

• You are cleansed at the laver

• You are strengthened at the table

• You are illuminated by the Word

• You are lifted through worship

• You are welcomed before the throne

  
  

And in that place:

“All of God’s promises are yes and amen.”

Conclusion — The Pattern Leads to the Presence

The tabernacle is not an ancient curiosity. It is a living revelation of:

• God’s heart

• God’s ways

• God’s presence

• God’s Son

  
  

John’s teaching brings this truth to life: “Who knew so much treasure could be found in a tent?”

And now, having walked through every part of the tabernacle, we are ready for the final step — to consolidate the journey and see how it all fits together.