Much of the ceremonial law in the Law of Moses is deeply steeped in symbolic typology related to the First Coming of Jesus. For example, all the various types of sin offerings (Leviticus 1-6) pointed the worshipper to the Messiah who would serve as the perfect and all-sufficient offering for all our sins.
One of the most detailed ceremonial types of the Messiah to be found in the Old Testament scriptures is the Tabernacle of Moses. Every aspect of the Tabernacle was prophetic of the Messiah. The Tabernacle of Moses as a prophetic type can be seen in the following comparison, published in The Christ in Prophecy Study Guide by Dr. David R. Reagan, page 9.
- The Gate — Jesus as the door (John 10:9).
- The Altar — Jesus as the Sacrificial Lamb (John 1:29).
- The Laver — Jesus as the Spirit Baptizer (John 1:33).
- The Shewbread — Jesus as the Bread of Life (John 6:35).
- The Candlestick — Jesus as the Light of the World (John 8:12).
- The Incense — Jesus as the Intercessor who offers the prayers of the Saints to God (Hebrews 4:14-16).
- The Veil — Jesus as the one who would rend the veil, making it possible for the Saints to have direct access to God through Him (Matthew 27:51).
- The High Priest — Jesus as our High Priest who enters the Holy of Holies in Heaven as our Mediator before the Father (Hebrews 8:1-2; 9:24).