The tabernacle is a picture, a type, and a shadow of Jesus, where God meets man, and where deity and humanity meet in one person (Hebrews 8:1-2).

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt (tabernacled) among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.  1 John 1:14

Every detail of the tabernacle points to some aspect of the person and work of Jesus.  It's also a picture of the believer.  Jesus was the tabernacle in whom all the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily.  The believer "IN CHRIST" is also the dwelling place of God.  We are both "IN CHRIST" and Christ is "IN US", the hope of glory.  We are also temples of the Holy Spirit.  Just as the tabernacle was a dwelling place for God consisting of three compartments or rooms, so too the believer as the dwelling place of the Spirit is a trinity in unity.  The redeemed person consists of body, soul ad spirit.  The body corresponds to the court of the tabernacle.  It is the outer, visible part our personality.  It's the place of sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2).  The soul corresponds to the holy place and is the place of worship and fellowship with other believers, feasting around the table, walking in the light, interceding for others.  The spirit of the believer then is the inner holy of holies, the deepest, hidden life of perfect, individual, personal communion with God beneath the blood.  It is the place of spiritual victory.

But the tabernacle tells us even more than that.  It's not only a picture of Jesus, and the believer, but it's also a complete picture of the plan of salvation.  It consists of seven steps:

1)  As sinners on the outside we must enter through the door and stop first at the altar.  The altar is the Cross, the starting point of our salvation.

2)  Next comes separation and daily cleansing at the Laver.

3)  We enter into the fellowship of the Word at the table.

4)  We learn to walk in the light of the golden candlestick (1 John 1:7).

5)  Then comes power in prayer at the incense altar.

6)  We are then ready to enter the holy of holies to the highest service of the tabernacle, personal power and communion in our innermost life.

7)  Then we reach perfect rest and peace at the blood-sprinkled mercy seat under the shadow of the cherubim.