Mixtures of Colors

In previous sections we have studied the correlation between various colors and various bible subjects. Sometimes we see colors mixed together in the scriptures to give us a portrait of various things. The most common mixtures are of gold, blue, purple, scarlet and white. Some things that contain these mixtures are the garments of the high priest, the covering of the tabernacle, the veil of the tabernacle and temple, the door of the tabernacle, and the gate of the court yard to the tabernacle. We will examine these things in the next few essays to see how the colors portray the character of these things.

Ex. 26:1 "Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them. 2 The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure. 3 The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another. 4 And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second. 5 Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of another. 6 And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle."

There are various things in the scriptures that point us to the Lord's people. For instance, the church is called the "body of Christ." It is also called the "holy temple" of the Lord: Eph. 2:19-22 "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."

Likewise, the curtains of the tabernacle present us a portrait of the Lord's covenant people. Using the correlations we have proved between bible numbers and colors and various bible subjects we will view this portrait. The curtains were of fine twined linen showing us that the Lord's people are a righteous people who have been made righteous by the redeeming blood of Christ. Next, the curtains were of blue, showing us that we have been judged according to the perfect law of God and no charge is found against us: Rom. 8:33, 34 "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."

Moreover, the curtains were of purple, showing us that we are a royal people. We are the children of a Great King, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are children by spiritual birth and we are children by adoption.

Furthermore, the curtains were of scarlet. This shows that we are the blood bought children of Jesus Christ: 1 Cor. 6:19-20 "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

In addition, the curtains had cherubims of cunning work. Cherubims are used in the scriptures in association with the subject of witness. As a part of the church of Jesus Christ we are a witness of his love, mercy, and forgiveness.
There were two sets of five curtains that were coupled together. This speaks to us of the fact that the Lord had two flocks of people as set forth in the scriptures: the Jews and the Gentiles:

1. John 10:15-16 "As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."

2. Eph. 2:13-18 "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father."

Fifty loops of blue and fifty taches of gold coupled the curtains together. Fifty is associated in the scriptures with the subject of new beginnings. We have a new beginning in judgment as Christ died for us to redeem us from the judgment of the law. Thus we went from being condemned before God to being justified before God. Further, we have a new beginning in that our King (gold) has given us spiritual life. As children of God we are all joined together in these new beginnings of judgment and spiritual life.

Finally, the curtains were of breath four cubits. Four is the bible number associated with the work of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who has made us children of God by spiritual birth.