THE WHEEL OF AGESDISCOVERING GOD'S PLAN THROUGH TIME
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THE PATTERN FULFILLED IN CHRIST

The Tabernacle Pattern

Jesus descends from the glory of the Father through the sanctuary pattern to death, passes outside the gate into the realm of the dead, and rises through the same pattern to glory.

GLORY TO HELL

Jesus’ Descent from Glory to Hell

From the Presence, through the sanctuary, to the altar and outside the gate

NORTHSOUTHWESTEASTTHE OUTER COURT
THE MOST HOLY PLACE
↓ 01 · DAY 7 · Age of Glory

MOST HOLY PLACE

Ark of the Covenant

Glory → Birth at Bethlehem

The preexistent Son leaves the Father’s glory; the Word tabernacles among us and the Bread from Heaven is born in Bethlehem.

John 17:5 · John 1:14Explore Day 7 →
↓ 02 · DAY 6 · Age of Covering

MOST HOLY PLACE

Mercy Seat

Circumcision — 8th day

The covenant sign becomes Jesus’ first shedding of blood, anticipating the blood presented at the Mercy Seat.

Luke 2:21 · Hebrews 9:5Explore Day 6 →
TRANSITION POINT · 4 POSTS & A CURTAIN · Exodus 26:31–32Baptism — the hidden Christ revealed

The heavens open and the Son is manifested to Israel as He crosses the boundary into public ministry.

Matthew 3:13–17
THE HOLY PLACE
↓ 03 · DAY 5 · Age of Intercession

HOLY PLACE

Altar of Incense

40 days fasting / temptation

Prayer, fasting, consecration, and perfect devotion ascend to God in the wilderness.

Matthew 4:1–11Explore Day 5 →
↓ 04 · DAY 4 · Age of Truth

HOLY PLACE

Golden Lampstand

Calling of the disciples

Christ the Light calls others to become lights: “Ye are the light of the world.”

Matthew 4:18–22 · 5:14Explore Day 4 →
↓ 05 · DAY 3 · Age of Deliverance

HOLY PLACE

Table of Showbread

Teaching / feeding ministry

The Bread of Life feeds the multitudes through His disciples; the Word and Bread are given to Israel.

John 6:35 · Matthew 14:19Explore Day 3 →
TRANSITION POINT · 5 PILLARS & A CURTAIN · Exodus 26:36–37Triumphal Entry

Christ crosses the threshold from public ministry into His Passion and deliberately approaches the sacrifice.

John 12:12–16
↓ 06 · DAY 2 · Age of Cleansing

OUTER COURT

Brazen Laver

Trial / examination

The spotless Lamb is examined, no fault is found in Him, and Pilate washes his hands before the people.

Matthew 27:22–24 · John 19:4Explore Day 2 →
↓ 07 · DAY 1 · Age of Sacrifice

OUTER COURT

Brazen Altar

Crucifixion / death

Passover is fulfilled at the Cross. “It is finished”; Jesus completes the sacrificial descent through His death.

John 19:16–30Explore Day 1 →
TRANSITION POINT · 4 POSTS & A CURTAIN · Exodus 27:16Upon His death, He descends into Hell

After dying on the Cross, Jesus descends into Hell—the lower parts of the earth and the realm of the dead.

Matthew 12:40 · Ephesians 4:9 · 1 Peter 3:18–19
GLORY → INCARNATION → SACRIFICE → DEATH
OUTSIDE THE CAMPBEYOND BOTH OUTER GATESHELLHADES · REALM OF THE DEAD

Lowest point of the descent
“His soul was not left in Hades”

ACTS 2:31 · THE TURNING POINT
HELL TO GLORY

Jesus’ Ascent from Hell to Glory

From the realm of the dead, through the court and sanctuary, returning to the Presence

NORTHSOUTHWESTEASTTHE OUTER COURT
TRANSITION POINT · 4 POSTS & A CURTAIN · Exodus 27:16Resurrection — Hades cannot hold Him

Christ is not abandoned to the dead. He rises as the Firstfruits and begins His return to glory.

Acts 2:31 · 1 Corinthians 15:20
↑ 02 · DAY 2 · Age of Cleansing

OUTER COURT

Brazen Laver

Incorruptible life / 40 days

His flesh sees no corruption; the risen Christ demonstrates life and prepares His disciples.

Acts 1:3 · 2:31Explore Day 2 →
TRANSITION POINT · 5 PILLARS & A CURTAIN · Exodus 26:36–37Ascension transition

Christ leaves the earthly sphere and enters heavenly ministry, presenting Himself as Firstfruits before the Father.

Acts 1:9 · Leviticus 23:11
THE HOLY PLACE
↑ 03 · DAY 3 · Age of Deliverance

HOLY PLACE

Table of Showbread

Ascension / Firstfruits

Christ crosses from the earthly sphere into heavenly ministry and is presented before the Father as Firstfruits.

Acts 1:9 · Leviticus 23:11Explore Day 3 →
↑ 04 · DAY 4 · Age of Truth

HOLY PLACE

Golden Lampstand

Pentecost

Spirit and fire rest upon the disciples; the Church becomes Christ’s light-bearing Lampstand.

Acts 2:1–4Explore Day 4 →
TRANSITION POINT · 4 POSTS & A CURTAIN · Exodus 26:31–32The High Priest enters the Holiest

Through His flesh, Christ opens the new and living way and enters God’s presence with His own blood.

Hebrews 9:11–12 · 10:19–20
THE MOST HOLY PLACE
↑ 06 · DAY 6 · Age of Covering

MOST HOLY PLACE

Mercy Seat

Atonement / blood presented

The High Priest enters the Holiest with His own blood and obtains eternal redemption.

Hebrews 9:11–12Explore Day 6 →
↑ 07 · DAY 7 · Age of Glory

MOST HOLY PLACE

Ark / Presence

Return to Glory / Tabernacles

Christ returns to the Father’s glory; ultimately, the tabernacle of God is with humanity.

John 17:5 · Revelation 21:3Explore Day 7 →
RESURRECTION → ASCENSION → ATONEMENT → GLORY

THE LOWEST POINT BECOMES THE TURNING POINT

“For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”
ACTS 2:27

Descent: The eternal Son humbles Himself from heavenly glory to incarnation, sacrificial death, burial, and the realm of the dead.

Victory: Hades does not hold Him. The place outside the gate stands at the center as the hinge between humiliation and exaltation.

Ascent: The risen Christ returns through the pattern as Firstfruits, Light, Intercessor, High Priest, and King in the Presence.

THE PATTERN FOR THE BELIEVER

Following Jesus: The Path to becoming God's Dwelling Place

Follow the Tabernacle pattern from the body in the Outer Court, through the soul—mind, emotions, and will—in the Holy Place, and into the human spirit in the Most Holy Place, where God gives life and makes His dwelling within.

BEGIN HERE · OUTSIDE THE CAMP
EASTWESTNORTHSOUTH
TRANSITION · 4 POSTS & A CURTAIN · Exodus 27:16

Christ is the only entrance. Through faith in His finished work, the believer passes from outside the camp into the covenant path.

THE OUTER COURT · THE BODY
Crucified, Buried & Raised to Newness of LifeBODY

The believer presents the body as a living sacrifice, identifying with Christ’s crucifixion. Sinful practices are put away, and baptism identifies the old life with His burial so that the believer may walk in newness of life.

ROMANS 12:1 · ROMANS 6:4–6 · COLOSSIANS 3:5–10
DAY 1 · Age of Sacrifice
STAGE 01

Brazen Altar

The body — a living sacrifice

We present our bodies to God as living sacrifices and identify with Jesus’ crucifixion: the old self is crucified with Him so that we no longer live under sin’s rule.

Romans 12:1 · Romans 6:6 · Galatians 2:20
DAY 2 · Age of Cleansing
STAGE 02

Brazen Laver

Burial in baptism — newness of life

We put sinful behavior away and are buried with Christ in baptism. The old life is counted dead so that we may walk in the new life of Jesus.

Romans 6:4–6 · Colossians 3:5–10
TRANSITION · 5 PILLARS & A CURTAIN · Exodus 26:36–37

The believer moves from outward cleansing into a life of fellowship and service in the Holy Place.

THE HOLY PLACE · THE SOUL
The Inner Life Submitted to GodSOUL (MIND, EMOTIONS, WILL)

The Table of Showbread depicts the mind renewed by the Word; the Golden Lampstand depicts the emotions illuminated and influenced by the Holy Spirit; and the Altar of Incense depicts the will humbled through fasting, prayer, and surrender before God.

ROMANS 12:2 · EPHESIANS 5:18–20 · LUKE 22:42
DAY 3 · Age of Deliverance
STAGE 03

Table of Showbread

The mind — renewed by the Word

The mind is transformed as it feeds upon Christ and is continually renewed by God’s Word, learning to discern His good and perfect will.

Romans 12:2 · John 6:35 · Colossians 3:10
DAY 4 · Age of Truth
STAGE 04

Golden Lampstand

The emotions — filled with the Spirit

Our inner affections are illuminated and brought under the Holy Spirit’s influence. Rather than being controlled by wine, we are filled with the Spirit and overflow in worship.

Ephesians 5:18–20 · Galatians 5:22–23
DAY 5 · Age of Intercession
STAGE 05

Altar of Incense

The will — surrendered in prayer

Through prayer and fasting, the will is humbled and yielded before God. Self-rule gives way to the prayer of Jesus: not my will, but Yours.

Luke 22:42 · Matthew 6:16–18 · 1 Peter 5:6
TRANSITION · 4 POSTS & A CURTAIN · Exodus 26:31–32 · Hebrews 10:19–22

Through the new and living way opened by Jesus, the believer draws near with a true heart into the Presence.

THE MOST HOLY PLACE · THE SPIRIT · THE INNER ROOM
Quickened, Covered & Indwelt by GodSPIRIT

God quickens the human spirit and comes to dwell within. Christ’s atoning blood grants access to His Presence. Aaron’s budding rod signifies everlasting resurrection life, while the manna signifies His Word placed within the heart.

EPHESIANS 2:5 · HEBREWS 9:4, 14 · JEREMIAH 31:33
DAY 6 · Age of Covering
STAGE 06

Mercy Seat

Atoning blood — access to Presence

God covers us through Christ’s atoning blood, cleanses the conscience, and grants confident access to His holy Presence.

Hebrews 9:14 · Hebrews 10:19–22
DAY 7 · Age of Glory
STAGE 07

Ark of the Covenant

The spirit — quickened and indwelt

God makes the human spirit alive and dwells within. Aaron’s budding rod signifies resurrection life; the manna signifies His enduring Word placed within the heart.

Ephesians 2:5 · Romans 8:10–11 · Hebrews 9:4 · Jeremiah 31:33
THE DESTINATIONGLORY · GOD DWELLS WITHIN

“Ye are the temple of God, and…the Spirit of God dwelleth in you.”

1 CORINTHIANS 3:16

Hover over a room or threshold to illuminate it. Select any stage to open its corresponding day in the sevenfold Creation pattern.

SEE THE SAME SEVENFOLD ORDER

Follow the pattern through Creation and time.

Explore Ages Past, Present & Future →