Once again having entered the first apartment of the Tabernacle proper, the “Holy” we noticed three distinctive pieces of furniture in this room, the most notable being the Golden Lampstand, the only source of light for this room. This lampstand we determined represents the Church, both its Head and body as bearers of light (truth). The light which emanated from this Lampstand representing the light (or enlightenment) of the Holy Spirit, accessible only to the Priests, the spirit begotten class, that is those who have experienced a change of nature having entered into covenant relationship with the Father, a “covenant by sacrifice” (Pas 50:5; Rom 12:1).

We should now like to examine the next piece of furniture in the Holy, (Item #3) the Table of ‘Showbread’, or in Hebrew lechem panim meaning “bread of presence.”

“The Golden Table like that of the Golden Lampstand … represented the Church as a whole, including our Lord and the apostles—all the sanctified in Christ who serve in `holding forth the word of life.’ (Phil 2:16) The great work of the true Church during this age has been to feed, strengthen and enlighten all who enter the covenanted spiritual condition. The Bride of Christ is to make herself ready (Rev 19:7), to build one another up in our most holy faith. The witnessing to the world during the present age is quite secondary and incidental. The full blessing of the world will follow in God’s `due time,’ after the Gospel age (after the antitypical Day of Atonement with its sin-offerings) has ended.” (T115)

Upon the Table of Showbread (made of wood and overlaid with gold) were placed twelve cakes of unleavened bread in two piles, with frankincense on top of each pile. (Lev 24:6, 7) This bread was proper for the priests only to eat (typifying those wholly consecrated to the Lord): it was holy, and was renewed every seventh or Sabbath day.” (T16)

Antitypically, the showbread represented the “word of life” the Truth, (specifically “meat in due season”, or present truth, in our case the *Harvest Message) upon which the “royal priesthood” serving in the “Holy” of the Tabernacle must of, needs eat—or feed upon. This food lawful only for the priests to consume represents the “deep things” of the Word of God solid food (the meat of the Word) belonging only to those who are of full age (mature Christians) that is, those who by reason of use (practice and study) have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (able to rightly divide the Word of God, to distinguish between truth and error, to recognize the “times and the seasons”).” Heb 5: 14

* The harvest is the richest season of the year, when the buds of prophecy and promise have developed and are now bringing forth their golden fruit, and the table of the Lord fairly groans under its bounty (not only this, but it is the Lord of the harvest himself who comes forth to serve his people). R1899:2, 1890:1

The truth is, all of the Lord’s words are considered spiritual (that is heavenly mana or food), they all emanate from heaven, from the Father of lights (James 1:17), this regardless of whether it be found in the courtyard as pictured in the Copper Laver or in the Holy as pictured in the Table of Showbread, the difference however is in substance of the food, one is suitable for the natural man, the believer in the “courtyard condition” (as represented by copper), and the other designed specifically for those in the “spirit begotten condition”, new creatures in Christ Jesus, (as represented by gold).

It should likewise be noted that without the aid of the light shining forth from the Golden Lampstand (representing the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit) we would not be able to fully discern (comprehend) the food placed upon the Golden Table.

These two sources, the Laver and the Table of Showbread however are not the only two sources of information from which believers feed; outside the courtyard in the camp are the tables of devils tables filled with every detestable thing. (Rev 18:2) That is to say that while the Lord spreads his table, the devil spreads his as well. R1898:3

Continued with next post.