Description
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness by Charles E. Fuller
Dedicated to the radio friends
Whose prayers and offerings
Through the years
Have made it possible for us
To minister
To so many in far-away, lonely places
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness by Charles E. Fuller
Contents
FOREWORD.. 4
CHAPTER ONE THE TABERNACLE IN THE WILDERNESS. 7
CHAPTER TWO The Curtains of the Tabernacle. 17
CHAPTER THREE The Brazen Altar 23
CHAPTER FOUR The Laver 29
CHAPTER FIVE The Table of Shewbread. 36
CHAPTER SIX The Golden Candlestick of the Tabernacle. 43
CHAPTER SEVEN The Golden Altar of Incense. 50
CHAPTER EIGHT The Veil of the Tabernacle. 58
CHAPTER NINE The Ark of the Covenant 64
CHAPTER TEN The Blood-Sprinkled Mercy Seat 70
CHAPTER ELEVEN The Pillar of Cloud and Fire. 75
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness by Charles E. Fuller
FOREWORD
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness by Charles E. Fuller
IN THE EARLIEST DAYS OF MR. FULLER’S PREPARATION for the ministry, it was his burning desire and constant prayer that he might be able to reach with the Gospel the people in the neglected places, the lonely ones who had no chance to go to church – no opportunities to attend Bible conferences and no one to point them to the Lamb of GOD Who taketh away the sins of the world.
How marvelously GOD answered that prayer, above all that my husband could ask or think, for there were no radio programs in 1920! Very soon after they came on the scene, he became deeply impressed with the possibilities of using this new medium for sending far and wide the good news of salvation.
Then one night, in a berth on a train speeding from Philadelphia to Chicago, a burden of prayer came down on my husband, and GOD clearly revealed to him that he should undertake a Gospel program by radio. Feeling entirely inadequate, he shrank away from the task, but GOD continued to lay the burden on his heart.
Very soon after returning to California, he took steps to buy time on one small station in Santa Ana. That was in 1925, and it marked the beginning which led eventually to the world coverage of the greatly loved Old-Fashioned Revival Hour. How gracious GOD has been to grant Dr. Fuller thirty continuous years of preaching the Gospel by radio!
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness by Charles E. Fuller
As we look back over those blessed years of growth, we see a rugged, uphill path, with many obstacles in the way which, in our own strength, would have been insurmountable. But the light of GOD’s goodness, mercy, and faithfulness has shown over every step of the way! Satan’s opposition has been very real over the years, for isn’t he the prince of the power of the air? And hasn’t the Gospel been going out through His realm? Ah yes, Satan is powerful, and he did his best to hinder and block at every turn. But GOD is all-powerful, and He certainly helped us times without number, encouraging and comforting His own.
Even during the depression years there was steady growth in the number of stations, because of the faithfulness of Christians who were willing to sacrifice where there was often so little to give, in order to extend the radio coverage and reach more listening ears. GOD bless those faithful radio friends and supporters!
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness by Charles E. Fuller
Eternity alone will reveal the great number of souls who will be in glory forever because, as they sat by their radios, the HOLY SPIRIT showed them their need of salvation. People in the loneliest places have heard of GOD’s great love for them; homesteaders out on the desert or up in the lonely canyons; trappers, and people snowbound in far-away cabins. The bed-ridden have had months and years of suffering lightened by the sermons from the Word of GOD. We have had letters from people in lighthouses where for weeks they could not get ashore, but through the winds and lashing rain have heard the lovely voices singing, “What a Friend We Have in JESUS,” “No, Never Alone,” and many other grand old Gospel hymns.
Our service men have listened through two wars, having a touch of home though far away, and many have written that the Hour has also kept them in touch with GOD and helped them resist temptations. One service man wrote that he and two others were trekking through a jungle, they stopped to rest and there, turning on a small radio, caught a long-familiar voice and heard Dr. Fuller praying for “GOD’s blessing on our boys in the service, wherever they are.” He wrote, “The tears sure flowed that day.” Men in prison cells listen regularly; the lepers listen and ask us to keep our music cheery; we have heard from a brothel, from a young girl who grew up in a Christian home; and in many cocktail lounges the program is tuned in every Sunday!
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness by Charles E. Fuller
Though the Old-Fashioned Revival Hour reaches Britain from eleven to twelve midnight over Radio Luxembourg, yet there is a tremendous and most appreciative listening audience there, and we receive letters telling of blessing and conversions among all classes of persons. One letter from a man in Wales particularly impressed us: “In our valley, where the miners work so hard, we see on Thursday nights lights in the windows of many houses, where they wait up late in the windows of many houses, where they wait up late to hear of Him Who is the Light of the World.” A trapper wrote, “Anyone passing would wonder to hear such organ music and such singing coming out of my shack!” An old lady living alone wrote: “You come with your lovely singers and the organ and piano music right into my poor little room every week, and it is like the music of the angels.” I could tell you of many, many more who listen on other continents and under greatly differing circumstances.
We have had many requests for copies of these sermons on “The Tabernacle in the Wilderness.” Now, here they are in this book which we have tried to keep as nearly similar as possible to Mr. Fuller’s style of speaking. They are sent out with a prayer that they may be of even greater blessing than when given over the radio.
Grace Payton Fuller
San Marino, California
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness by Charles E. Fuller
CHAPTER ONE THE TABERNACLE IN THE WILDERNESS The Tabernacle in the Wilderness by Charles E. Fuller
FRIENDS, AS WE BEGIN THIS SOUL SATISFYING, HEART thrilling study of ” The Tabernacle in the Wilderness,” may the Psalmist’s prayer constantly be ours, “Lord, open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” I trust that when we have finished this series you will have fallen in love, as I did many years ago, with this rich teaching – which, in the Old Testament foreshadows the CHRIST of the New Testament, and shows the way by which a sinful man may approach and have fellowship with a holy GOD.
IMPORTANCE OF THIS STUDY
This study of the Book of Exodus, and particularly the Tabernacle, is a spiritual “eye opener” and I can testify, after years of meditating on this portion of GOD’s Word, that the one who lets the HOLY SPIRIT enlighten him, understanding this teaching in its fullness, will never be led astray into false cults, but will be sure that no man cometh unto the Father except through CHRIST.
The Bible tells us that all have sinned; the natural man is dead in trespasses and sins.
The supreme question of all ages, far above any political question, national or international, is this: how can a sinful man, by nature fallen – how can such a one approach a holy GOD?
Man needs GOD.
– How can he find Him?
– How can he be acceptable before Him?
– How can he know forgiveness of sin, be at peace with GOD, and have fellowship with Him?
The teaching of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness shows us the answer.
For, if a soul now laden with sin, in whose heart there is no peace, will approach GOD in His way, in the way as shown in the Tabernacle, he will be forgiven, reconciled, and will become a new creature fitted to fellowship with the Holy GOD. The Tabernacle shows forth in types the glorious Gospel of CHRIST which is the power of GOD unto salvation to everyone who believeth.
Any who will diligently study this marvelous pre-picture of our Lord JESUS CHRIST will have the eyes of his understanding opened to spiritual truths, and his hunger and thirst after righteousness will be satisfied. As he studies he will grow in knowledge of our Lord, becoming steadfast in his faith, unmovable amidst the storms, stress, and turmoil of life.
He will find increasingly sweet fellowship with GOD, and though his paths be rough, he will be sustained, kept steady, and at peace on the wilderness journey in this world and to Heaven itself.
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness by Charles E. Fuller
CHRIST IS THE KEY TO THE BIBLE
First of all, let us consider some basic truths relative to the Word of GOD.
The main subject in the Bible from the beginning of Genesis through Revelation is none other than the Lord JESUS CHRIST.
The eternal GOD exhausts the resources of human language to tell forth the wonders, the grace, the mercy, and compassionate love GOD has for all men everywhere. He uses as illustrations the material things round about us, things with which we are familiar, to better enable us to understand that His Son is the Mediator, the One and Only Way that sinful man can approach a sinless GOD.
The furnishings of the Tabernacle which we shall study in detail later are used to show us GOD’s way of approach to Himself.
– JESUS is the Brazen Altar,
– JESUS is the Laver,
– JESUS is the Shewbread,
– JESUS is the Light of the World,
– JESUS is the Altar of Incense.
– JESUS is the blood-sprinkled Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holiness.
No man cometh, I say again, No man cometh unto the Father but by JESUS CHRIST!
Now notice Exodus 25:8. The children of Israel had been in bondage and slavery in Egypt. GOD called Moses to lead His people out of captivity to the Promised Land.
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness by Charles E. Fuller
The first twelve chapters of Exodus record the terrible sufferings of that bondage and GOD’s deliverance.
We are told of the beginning of that long journey, when GOD led His people, some one million five-hundred-thousand of them, with their cattle and personal goods, out of Egypt by the way of the Red Sea, by the waters of Marah, by the wells of Elim.
GOD led the Israelites, His children, across the desert waste to a camping place at the foot of Mount Sinai.
Then, according to the 25th chapter, verse 8, when Moses was upon the mountain, GOD spoke to him and said, “. . . let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.”
Then GOD gave Moses detailed instructions concerning the construction of that sanctuary which was called the Tabernacle in the Wilderness.
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness by Charles E. Fuller
When that Tabernacle was finished – parts of it made of wood overlaid with gold – GOD came down and dwelt there in the midst of His people. Wood speaks forth the Lord’s humanity, and gold speaks of His Deity.
Centuries later, long after dwelling in their midst during the Wilderness journey, the Lord GOD came down from the Glory above to be born of a virgin. He came down and dwelt among men in a body of flesh and bones; He was GOD manifest in the flesh. We turn to John 1:14 and we read ” . . . the Word [that is CHRIST] was made flesh, and dwelt [i.e., tabernacled] among us.”
“We (i.e., those that have been enlightened as to His glory) beheld His glory as the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth.”
He tabernacled or dwelt among His people in the days of long ago during the Wilderness journey. He is here now in the person of the HOLY SPIRIT to tabernacle among us today, and our bodies are now the temples of the HOLY SPIRIT!
A DESCRIPTION OF THE TABERNACLE
As we study, I ask you to refer frequently to a picture of the Tabernacle in the front of this book, for this will help greatly in your understanding of the teaching.
The Tabernacle was some forty-five feet in length, and about fifteen feet in width; the rear end and two sides were made of boards, each board about fifteen feet in height by two inches in thickness. The Tabernacle stood in a courtyard surrounded by curtains of fine, white, pure linen, some eight and one-half feet high, enclosing an area of 175 feet in length and eighty-seven and one-half feet in width.
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness by Charles E. Fuller
The entrance, which was on the east side of this courtyard, was closed by a curtain of fine-twined linen in blue, purple and scarlet.
Let us pause a moment to consider how purple is made. Blue and red are mixed to make purple. Blue, the blue of Heaven, speaks of CHRIST’s deity.
The scarlet speaks of earth, and the two together picture for us the deity and humanity of CHRIST our Mediator.
Note the order and arrangement of the articles of furniture in the courtyard and in the Tabernacle itself.
– First, at the one entrance was the Brazen Altar upon which the sacrifice of a spotless lamb was burning continually.
– Next was the Laver at which the priest washed his hands and feet; then, entering into the Holy Place at the right was
– the Table of Shewbread, and on the left was
– the Golden Candlestick.
– Just before the entrance to the Holy of Holies was the Altar of Incense.
– In the Holy of Holies stood the Ark of the Covenant,
– the blood-sprinkled Mercy Seat and
– the Overshadowing Cherubim.
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness by Charles E. Fuller
Now note, the articles of furniture are placed in the shape of a cross – the main shaft was made by the Brazen Altar, the Laver, the Altar of Incense, and the Ark of the Covenant; the Table of Shewbread and the Candlestick made the two arms.
Thus, in the beginning we see the Cross, and we are taught that the basis of all our hope for time and eternity is the Cross of Calvary! No wonder Paul, writing to the Corinthians, said, “I am determined to know nothing among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified.” No wonder we sing “In the Cross of CHRIST I Glory“-“We Must Need Go Home by the Way of the Cross“-“Near the Cross” and “The Old Rugged Cross.”
NEW TESTAMENT COUNTERPARTS
Now, let us leave the Old Testament briefly, and with your Bibles open let us look into the Gospel of John.
Perhaps it never occurred to you that the order of approach to GOD on the part of sinful man, as outlined in the Tabernacle, is beautifully shown in the Gospel of John.
Will you note in chapter one, verse twenty-nine that John the Baptist said one-day “… Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
This most certainly points back to the sacrifice on the Brazen Altar.
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness by Charles E. Fuller
And let me say this to you (and remember it if you never hear my voice again) that you will never become cleansed of sin and have fellowship with a Holy GOD unless you have come to the Cross, the Brazen Altar where the Lamb was slain! There and there only is the sin question settled!
I know that there are thousands of people in the various cults today who are trying to have fellowship with GOD – trying to find Him.
Listen! They never can come to GOD and have forgiveness, peace and fellowship, until they have come to the Cross – repenting, and confessing their need of a Saviour!
Get it, please, and remember that John 1:29 points back to the Brazen Altar in the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. Mark that verse in your Bible, and write beside it “The Brazen Altar.”
Then, as to the Laver for washing.
There are three references to it in the first five chapters of John.
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness by Charles E. Fuller
First to the waterpots at the wedding in Cana of Galilee. In chapter 4:14, “but whosoever drinketh the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” In chapter five we have the scene at the pool of Bethesda. All these references speak of various aspects of the washing or cleansing – with water and hark back to the Laver which was beyond the Brazen Altar.
Then in John 6 we come to the feeding of the five-thousand which is the great discourse on the Bread of Life.
In John 8:12 JESUS said, “… I am the light of the world …” which speaks of the Golden Candlestick.
Then in the 17th chapter of John we have our Great High Priest’s prayer, JESUS at the Altar of Incense, and, brother, listen to me, your prayers cannot be heard and be acceptable unto GOD until you pass the Brazen Altar – the Lamb slain – until you are cleansed through His Word, and until you have fed upon the Bread of Life and walked in the light of His Word. After this your prayers will be answered!
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness by Charles E. Fuller
But remember, GOD says that if we regard iniquity in our hearts, He will not hear us.
He also says, “Who shall ascend up to the Holy Mount? Those who have clean hands and a pure heart.” He has provided for us His method of cleansing. We must come in His way.
Now notice, in the Book of Romans.
Oh, I want you to fall in love with the teaching of the Tabernacle in both the Old and the New Testaments. It is so rich!
Paul writing in Romans, chapters 1 to 3:20, tells of three types of sinners.
1. There is the scarlet, deeply-ingrained sinner, the evil man.
2. Then Paul speaks of the man who feels that because he is a moral man his own works of righteousness will make him acceptable before GOD.
3. Paul speaks last of the religious man, the one who is faithful to his duties to the church, but who never has experienced the new birth.
He sums it up by saying, “… all have sinned and come short …!”
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness by Charles E. Fuller
Then in Romans 321-25, Paul shows there is a way for sinful man to come to GOD by the grace which is ours in CHRIST JESUS; that CHRIST paid the penalty for our sins, that He was the burnt offering sacrifice which provides man’s approach to a Holy GOD.
Read this portion of Scripture over and over again and rejoice, friend of mine, that CHRIST paid our debt for sin – yours and mine, and through Him we can come boldly to GOD as our Father.
Then in Romans, chapters 6, 7 and 8, we are told we must wash at the Laver in order to enter the Holy Place, and feed upon the Bread, and walk in the Light. Yes, indeed, Paul is pointing back to the Tabernacle.
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness by Charles E. Fuller
Then, in chapters 12-16 he shows us that as a result of this cleansing we bring forth the fruit of righteousness.
THE ONE WAY OF APPROACH
NOW, friends, here is an interesting point.
When GOD gave the instructions to Moses for building the Tabernacle, he first spoke of the Ark of the Covenant where GOD dwelt, and then of the Brazen Altar, which depicts GOD coming to man. But when man comes to GOD he comes by the one gate of entrance, then on to the Brazen Altar and then finally into the Holy of Holies!
Yes, GOD so loved the world that He provided this way of approach to Himself through the one door, CHRIST JESUS.
Have you come by the Table of Shewbread which depicts CHRIST the Bread of Life, and by the Candlestick which shows CHRIST interceding for us in prayer? This path leads to the Holy of Holies, to the blood-sprinkled Mercy Seat where a sinner, cleansed, can meet GOD in fellowship.
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness by Charles E. Fuller
How clear! How blessed! Do you see it, friend of mine?
Oh, may the HOLY SPIRIT, the Great Teacher, open your eyes to behold the wonders of the Book.
May you not be indifferent!
May you study and become grounded in the Word, not tossed to and fro like children – listening and following any attractive voice.
Remember, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof is the way of death.” Come by His way!
Yes, if you come by faith, GOD will accept you.
He will cast your sins behind His back, never to remember them against you, forever.
Take GOD at His word. That sin question must be settled, either the sinner must die for his sin or an innocent substitute die in his place. JESUS came and died for you, He gave His Life a ransom for you (John 1:12).
Oh! friends of the radio audience, which is scattered across the nations of earth, how many today will kneel wherever you are, and look up into the Father’s face and say, “Oh, GOD save me, I believe.”
GOD will hear you.
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness by Charles E. Fuller
As we bring this blessed hour to a close, how many here in this visible audience will raise their hands and say, “Brother Fuller, I need CHRIST as Saviour. I want to be remembered in prayer. I want to receive Him and make Him Lord of my life.”
Will you raise your hand thus indicating your need of GOD?
Yes, I see hands going up all over. GOD bless you -Yes, I see you, service man, another service man – anywhere – up in the balcony. I can’t acknowledge all of them. Putting your hand up you say, “Brother Fuller, pray for me, I need CHRIST.”
We must close in a few seconds, and we shall be praying for you as we have our altar service here. Please continue in prayer as we leave the air. This is Charles E. Fuller saying, “Goodbye, and GOD’s richest blessing upon you.”
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness by Charles E. Fuller
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