Original Entry Date 6/16/2017: While reading the Book of Numbers a single verse jumped out at me, that verse being the following:
Numbers 9:15 NKJV:
15 Now on the day that the tabernacle was raised up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the Testimony; from evening until morning it was above the tabernacle like the appearance of fire.
As many of you already know from reading previous entries in my blog or in your own Study of the Word, the outer covering of the Tabernacle was made of 4 different layers of animal skins each having a different symbolic meaning that point towards the work of Christ.
Here is a WONDERFUL article I found while researching these animal skin coverings that describes each layer in great detail:
https://bibleanswergirl.wordpress.com/2014/02/16/what-did-the-tabernacles-four-coverings-symbolize/
These skins made up a covering or a tent like housing for the items that dwelled inside. The tent can represent the literal body of Jesus Christ while He walked on the earth in the “tent” of His body. It also symbolizes the “tent” or earthly bodies of those who come to believe in Christ Jesus.
In Numbers 9:15 we read that the Tabernacle was “raised up” just like Jesus was raised up and ascended to Heaven:
6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Jesus Ascends to Heaven
9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
In Numbers the phrase “raised up” comes from the following Hebrew word “quwm” which is defined as follows:
In Acts 1 verse 9 the phrase He was “taken up” is the Greek word “epairo” meaning:
The Tabernacle, as well as Jesus, are both described as being raised or lifted up AND both are covered by a cloud!
Now in Numbers the Cloud is seen as being full of fire all through the night which connects to the Fire of the Holy Spirit that Jesus had promised the disciples right before he was lifted up.
When you think of the Tabernacle as our bodies here on earth this connects with the day we will be raised up with Jesus into the clouds.
1 Thessalonians 4:17
Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
