There were exactly seven pieces of furniture in the tabernacle--two in the court of the Gentiles; three in the holy place, and two in the holy of holies.  Looking from the door towards the west, they were the altar, the laver, the table of shewbread, the golden candlestick, the altar of incense, the ark of the covenant, and over it the blood-stained mercy seat.  Seven is the number of perfection, and it speaks to us of God's perfect provision for the believers who are IN CHRIST.  There are seven steps from the outside, where the sinner first sees Jesus merely as a man, to the inner sanctum of full and complete rest, and victory in Jesus Christ.

(1)  We begin with the altar immediately after going through the door.  The altar is a picture of the Cross.

(2)  Then we come to the laver.  This represents separation from the world and from the flesh, and from the things which defile us, through the laver of cleansing, by the washing of the water by the Word.

(3)  Next we approach the table of shewbread, the place of fellowship.  After we have believed, and been separated, we enter the place of fellowship with other believers in the assembly to be fed on Christ, the Bread, at the table of fellowship.

(4)  The fourth step is testimony, represented by the candlestick or lampstand, fed by the oil of the Holy Spirit.  After we've been saved by the blood at the altar, cleansed by the Word at the laver, drawn into fellowship at the table fed by the Word of God, we are now ready to let our light shine in testimony.

(5)  Next we come to the golden incense altar--the symbol of prayer and intercession.

(6)  Then we enter through the veil into the most holy place, and at the ark of the covenant, surrender all.

(7)  Sheltered under the mercy seat we find perfect peace and complete victory and rest.

Seven steps:  Conversion, Separation, Bible study, Testimony, Prayer, Full surrender, and Victory.