Exodus 25:8 - Homiletics

Earthly sanctuaries typical of the heavenly dwelling-place.

Such habitations as God condescends to acknowledge for his in this earthly sphere, are, all of them, more or less types of the New Jerusalem, the eternal heavenly home. "The temple of God was opened in heaven," says St. John the Divine, "and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament" ( Revelation 11:19 ); and again, "After that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened" ( Revelation 15:5 ). Note the following common features:—

I. THE CENTRAL CARDINAL FACT IN EACH AND ALL IS , THE MANIFEST PRESENCE OF GOD . Of the Tabernacle we are told—"Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle" ( Exodus 40:34 , Exodus 40:35 ). Christian churches have the promise," Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world"—and again, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of you." In the New Jerusalem "the city has no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God doth lighten it, and the Lamb is the Light thereof" ( Revelation 21:23 ). And the saints "see his face" ( Revelation 22:4 ).

II. THE SECOND LEADING FACT IS THE EXISTENCE IN EACH OF " MANY MANSIONS ." An outer court, a porch, a holy place, and a holy of holies, are features manifestly common to the Hebrew tabernacle and temple with Christian churches. These give different degrees of access to God, and imply different degrees of fitness to contemplate him. In heaven there is a throne—the throne of God and of the Lamb—and round about the throne four and twenty seats for four and twenty elders to sit on ( Revelation 4:4 ); and beyond these angels ( Revelation 5:11 ), and martyrs ( Revelation 7:14 ); and, last of all, "the nations of them that are saved" ( Revelation 21:24 ). And each individual of the "nations" finds his fitting place.

III. IN ALL , THE OCCUPATION OF THOSE WHO HAVE FOUND ENTRANCE IS THE PRAISE AND WORSHIP OF GOD . "Enter into his courts with praise," says holy David, of the tabernacle ( Psalms 100:4 )—"be thankful unto him, and bless his name." "When ye come together, every one of you has a psalm," says St. Paul of a Christian Church. In heaven there is "a great voice of much people, saying, Alleluia: Salvation and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God, for true and righteous are his judgments … and again they say, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth; let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him" ( Revelation 19:1-7 ).

IV. IN ALL , THE WORSHIPPERS ENJOY A SACRED FEAST . Of the worship of the tabernacle sacrifice was an essential part; and a sacrificial feast, of which the offerer partook, always followed the sacrifice. In Christian worship upon earth, the crowning act is a heavenly banquet, to which the minister in Jesus' name invites all the faithful.

"Hail sacred feast, which Jesus makes

Rich banquet of his flesh and blood!

Thrice happy he, who here partakes

That sacred stream, that heavenly food."

In the New Jerusalem there is a "tree of life," which bears "twelve manner of fruits;" and they who enter in "have right to the tree of life" ( Revelation 22:2 , Revelation 22:14 ), and are "given to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God" ( Revelation 2:7 ). How far this is literal, how far allegorical, we shall scarcely know till we are translated to that celestial sphere, and become dwellers in that glorious city.