Hebrews 8:1-2 KJVS
[1] Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; [2] A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

This article has been a long time coming. Largely due to the difficulty of trying to come to grips with the deep things of God using the mind of Christ, 1 Co 2:14-16. Coupled with the fact we are instructed to study to show ourselves approved, 2 Ti 2:15, and that takes considerable time. For a long time I have attempted in my mind, to draw parallelisms between the Old Testament tabernacle and the New Testament tabernacle that is being pitched by the Lord, in the attempt to ascertain what or who this New Testament tabernacle is. The problem at first was that I kept trying to draw direct types and shadows from the Old Testament tabernacle and apply them to the new tabernacle that the Lord is pitching, because I failed to read and understand a scripture in Hebrews.

Hebrews 10:1 KJVS
[1] For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

The parallelisms or types and shadows between the law of Moses, centered around the tabernacle in the wilderness and later the temple in Jerusalem, are not precise representations of the good things to come. Which was Jesus Christ. So one often has to rely on New Testament scriptures when drawing types and shadows from the Old Testament law and tabernacle. The epistle of Hebrews has considerable information which is vital in understanding the New Testament message of salvation in contrast with the Law Moses. Much of which can be extrapolated out of the types and shadows of the day of atonement sacrifice and other sacrifices under the law that are contained in the scripture verses in the book of Hebrews. Another verse similar to He 8:2 that piqued my interest is also in Hebrews.

Hebrews 9:11 KJVS
[11] But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

I have come to believe that Jesus is the more perfect tabernacle.

John 17:23 KJVS
[23] I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

The above scripture verse brings to mind the tabernacle in the Old Testament. There are three areas. Man, Jesus and God the Father. The Old Testament tabernacle in the wilderness and the Temple of Herod that followed were places that the Jews could have limited contact with God the Father. That contact was based on rigid requirements of sacrifices, washings and carnal ordinances.

Hebrews 9:10 KJVS
[10] Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

But the new tabernacle has Jesus Christ fulfilling most if not all the aspects that were present in the day of atonement sacrifices under the law. Only through him do we have access to the Father.

John 14:6 ESV
[6] Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus is the sacrifice for sin and his flesh opened the veil that separated man from God.

Hebrews 10:19-22 KJVS
[19] Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, [20] By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; [21] And having an high priest over the house of God; [22] Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Matthew 27:50-51 KJVS
[50] Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. [51] And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

The veil which is our Lord’s flesh, is our flesh. Since we are in him.

John 6:56 KJVS
[56] He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
Ephesians 5:29-30 KJVS
[29] For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: [30] For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

He was and is our High Priest who is over his own house, whose house we are.

Hebrews 3:6 KJVS
[6] But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

He is a high priest who became us and offered up the sacrifice of himself for our sin.

Hebrews 7:26-27 KJVS
[26] For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; [27] Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

His flesh is our flesh and our flesh is crucified with him.

Romans 6:6 KJVS
[6] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

The flesh, by type, is burned up on the sin sacrifice altar, outside the camp.

Hebrews 13:9-13 KJVS
[9] Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. [10] We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. [11] For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. [12] Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
[13] Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

Definition for the Greek word translated into the English word “reproach”in verse 13.

Thayer’s Definition
1. a reproach
a. such as Christ suffered, for the cause of God, from his
enemies

Such as Christ suffered, for the cause of God, from his enemies has and is still taking place by the members of his body, which is bearing his reproach, Matthew 25:40. The fire of that altar outside the camp is suffering. Keep in mind He 10:1, which states the law was shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things.

1 Peter 4:12-13 KJVS
[12] Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: [13] But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Luke 3:16-17 KJVS
[16] John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: [17] Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.

The chaff is symbolic of the flesh. Which is rendered idle/destroyed, Ro 6:6, through our being in the body of Christ and picking up our cross and following him.

Matthew 16:24 KJVS
[24] Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

All of this is part and parcel of our Lord being the New Testament tabernacle and our participation within the tabernacle that he is.

Romans 12:1-2 KJVS
[1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The Greek word translated into the English word “service” in verse 11 has this definition.
Strong’s Number
G2999
Strong’s Definition
From G3000; ministration of God that is worship: – (divine) service.

This Greek word only appears a handful of times in the New Testament. You can often get additional insight by reading a word in context as it appears in other scriptures. Most notably as it appears in the book of Hebrews, He 9:1 and He 9:6. This word is used to describe the Levite priest’s duties and worship in the Old Testament tabernacle. Since the body of Christ is going to be priests and kings with Jesus Christ in the millennial kingdom of God, Rev 20:6, they need to be sanctified. That entails dying to the flesh. Read the 10th chapter of Hebrews. The offering of the body of the sin sacrifice offering, on the altar outside the camp, by type and shadow points to this, He 9:13. Sacrifices in the new testament tabernacle are spiritual sacrifices.

1 Peter 2:5 KJVS
[5] Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

There are a few verses that point to the fact that
man, individually and collectively, are also a tabernacle or temple of God due to being in the body of Christ and having the indwelling of the Holy Spirit/Ghost.

1 Corinthians 3:16 KJVS
[16] Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
Ephesians 2:20-22 KJVS
[20] And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone ; [21] In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: [22] In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Ultimately God intends to be all in all but from my knowledge of scripture it is uncertain if that would entail that all men would be God’s tabernacle but there are verses that point to this being the case.

1 Corinthians 15:25-28 KJVS
[25] For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. [26] The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. [27] For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted which did put all things under him. [28] And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

The following verses may in fact be a physical representation of verse 1 Co 15:28.

Revelation 21:2-3 KJVS
[2] And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. [3] And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.