God instructed Moses to build the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle or “tent of meeting” in the wilderness using a heavenly pattern God revealed to him.
See that you make them after the pattern for them, which was shown to you on the mountain. Exodus 25:40 (NASB95)
The author of Hebrews reveals that during Moses’ mountain top experience he was shown things that exist in heaven of which God told him to make a copy on the earth.
...who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “SEE,” He says, “THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN.” Hebrews 8:5 (NASB95)
Is there an actual ark and tabernacle or temple in heaven? The Book of Revelation speaks of a temple and ark in heaven, but we know from other scriptures that the New Covenant temple is composed of people, whom Peter calls “living stones (1 Peter 2:5),” in whom dwells God’s Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:19-22). Therefore, it is my opinion that what John saw in his heavenly vision was a visionary representation of this New Covenant reality. Interpreting such books as Revelation is a challenge because it is composed of visions which often represent other things. Visions communicate a great deal very quickly but sometimes are difficult to understand in detail. However we come to interpret this passage, I am not sure it is what Moses saw originally when he spent those forty days with God. Of course, I was not there, but I think perhaps that God showed him something far more significant.
If we accept, as did the authors of Scripture and our Lord Jesus himself, that the Genesis account of creation is literally true, it seems reasonable that God showed Moses his original tent of meeting or tabernacle, the earth itself, from a heavenly perspective. The image above is an artist’s representation of what the early Hebrews believed to be the shape and nature of the heavens and earth. This tiered conception of the heavens, earth, and underworld surrounded by water is repeated throughout the Bible.
I recommend Brandon Ezzo's YouTube series on the Firmament, if you wish to verify my last statement.
When God created the heavens and the earth, he constructed or “pitched” his tent or tabernacle, a place where he intended to meet and fellowship with the humans he created.
In Genesis Chapter One, the Bible says that God founded the earth upon the seas and erected a domed vault called the firmament over it. He “spread” or “stretched out” the firmament like a tent over the earth.
It is He who sits above the circle (inscribed as with a compass, not a "ball" or sphere) of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. Isaiah 40:22 (NASB95)
Tents are erected over level and stable surfaces, which serves as their foundation.
The burden of the word of the LORD concerning Israel. Thus declares the LORD who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him, Zechariah 12:1 (NASB95)
The ninth video in Brandon Ezzo's YouTube series specifically focuses on how the firmament and the tabernacle in the wilderness relate.
The firmament God erected over the earth is a crystalline-like vault or dome that covers the entire earth.
Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day. Genesis 1:7–8 (NKJV)
Below the firmament, two heavens exist. The first one consists of the air we breathe below the crystalline dome. It is where birds fly and clouds exist.
Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” Genesis 1:20 (NKJV)
The second heaven appears to be actual vault of the firmament, where God put the sun, moon, and stars. Obviously there remains a great deal of intended mystery as to how all this works. God said that we will never be able to measure the heights of the heavens or the depths of the earth. (Jeremiah 31:37)
Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. 16 Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. 17 God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 So the evening and the morning were the fourth day. Genesis 1:14–19 (NKJV)
God keeps some things from our being able to thoroughly understand them as a test regarding whether we will believe his words just because he said them. Adam and Eve failed this test, preferring to rely on their own wits. Most modern Christians have similarly failed to take God at his Word, believing that the above passage cannot be regarded as factual. We must ask ourselves: do we put our faith in God’s Word or man’s? We dare not fail God in this area, as did Adam and Eve.
The human mind is not the measure of truth. God designed us to believe him and his words. If we believe, understanding may follow.
Above the vault of the firmament is what Paul called the “third heaven” (2 Corinthians 12:2-4) where God’s throne sits. The Lord graciously gave Moses and his elders, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Paul, and John the Revelator glimpses of this glorious place.
Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, 10 and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. 11 Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and they saw God, and they ate and drank. Exodus 24:9–11 (NASB95)
It stands to reason that, in this instance, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders saw something that Moses saw at other times – the glory of God in heaven itself. Based on what God showed Ezekiel, this scene must have been atop the firmament in the third heaven.
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” Isaiah 6:1–3 (NKJV)
We are not told exactly where this scene took place. It seems that Isaiah saw God in heaven and the vision included the temple. I suppose the temple could have represented the entire earth, since “the whole earth is full of his glory.” That would certainly fit with the theme of this article. Another possibility is that the heavenly reality reached down to the earthly temple that still existed in Isaiah’s day.
Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. 23 He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless. Isaiah 40:21–23 (NASB95)
Here Isaiah sees the Creator and Judge sitting atop the firmament on his throne observing his creation, which he has enclosed under this heavenly tent.
Ezekiel was uniquely offered one view from beneath the firmament and another from above it.
The likeness of the firmament above the heads of the living creatures was like the color of an awesome crystal, stretched out over their heads. 23 And under the firmament their wings spread out straight, one toward another. Each one had two which covered one side, and each one had two which covered the other side of the body. 24 When they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a tumult like the noise of an army; and when they stood still, they let down their wings. 25 A voice came from above the firmament that was over their heads; whenever they stood, they let down their wings. 26 And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. 27 Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking. Ezekiel 1:22–28 (NKJV)
The Holy Spirit also privileged Daniel to glimpse the heavenly scene when Jesus as the glorious Son of Man is being given everlasting dominion.
I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed. Daniel 7:13–14 (NKJV)
Paul likewise was granted access to the third heaven; although, he was not permitted to say much about it.
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 2 Corinthians 12:2–4 (NKJV)
John the Revelator was granted several visions of the third heaven, which corresponded to what Moses and Ezekiel saw.
Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. Revelation 4:2–6 (NKJV) And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. Revelation 15:2 (NKJV)
Paul wrote that, if something is mentioned two or three times in the Bible, it confirms it as true. This agrees with Jesus’ words (Matthew 18:16) and Moses’ (Deuteronomy 19:15).
...EVERY FACT IS TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES. 2 Corinthians 13:1 (NASB95)
The verses quoted above are witnesses to the reality of the firmament and God’s throne above it. Whether you accept God’s testimony as true is up to you. I conclude that God spread the firmament out over the earth like a tent to create a tabernacle in which to fellowship with his people.
