The Old Testament altar was the 'shadow' or 'type' for the altar that the Lamb of God would be laid upon as a once for all time sacrifice. It was Moses who received the Divine pattern.
''Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, "See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain". Hebrews 8:5
Moses was given the exact pattern for every sacred item on the mountain top by God Himself. Everything was described in great detail, and had to be built in great detail, and used in great detail, otherwise it would not be acceptable. These details all pointed forward to the amazing sacrifice of Christ, the Lamb without blemish. The acceptable Lamb on the acceptable altar at Calvary.
God's requirements for His altar
"You shall make an altar of acacia wood, 5 cubits long by 5 cubits wide - the altar shall be square- and its height shall be 3 cubits. You shall make its horns on its four corners; its horns shal be of one peice with it. And you shall overlay it with bronze" Exodus 27: 1-2
Altar was to be made of wood. - Exodus 27 verse 1
The cross was made of wood.
Altar was to be four pointed - Exodus 27 verses 1 & 2
The cross had the four points.
Blood was to be placed on all four points of the altar. - Exodus 29 verse 12 a
When Jesus was laid upon the cross on the ground blood from His head, His hands on either side, and His feet, put His blood on the four points of the altar. .
Blood was to be thrown on all sides of the altar. - Leviticus 5:9
When Jesus was laid upon the cross on the ground the blood from His head, His hands on either side, and His feet, would run down all four sides of the altar.
Rest of blood to be poured out at the base of the altar.-Exodus 29 verse 12 b
When the cross was finally 'lifted up' and dropped into its upright position for all to see (Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the son of man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have everlasting life John 3:14) then the rest of the Lamb’s blood would pour on to the base of the altar.
Blood was to be sprinkled against the side of the altar - Leviticus 5:9
As Jesus was held up for all to see, His side was pierced, as was prophesied in Zechariah 12:10 and fulfilled in John 19:34 and so His blood was sprinkled against the side of the altar, as per the divine pattern given to Moses on the mountain top.
The Altar of Incense that was a sweet fragrance before God was also specified as being a four 'horned' altar.
Exodus 30 verses 1 & 7 & 10
According to the divine pattern - given by God to Moses - if an altar does not have four 'blood points' it can be instantly understood to be a counterfeit altar. See below how only the cross fits the divine pattern established so often in the Old Testament
God's Divine pattern is the four horned square altar
The Lamb's blood applied to the four points
The blood applied to the four points of the altar
Finally the Lamb on the altar lifted up for all to see - just as Moses lifted up the brazen serpent for all to see and be healed.
The number four is important in scripture. It speaks of universality. Four winds (Ezekiel 37:9) Four corners of the earth (Isaiah 11:12) Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Revelation 6:6) etc.
Only the pattern of the cross fits God's Divine pattern for His altar.
Even the lamb's blood that was put on the doors of the Israelites homes in Egypt on Passover night prefigures the cross..
'And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it'
'Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt'. Exodus 12: 7&13
The cross in the camp
God's order always makes a statement. Israel had twelve tribes and when they encamped around the tabernacle in the wilderness there was a very definite order layed out for them.
On the NORTH side of the Tabernacle - under the standard of the Eagle - were positioned the three tribes of Dan, Asher and Naphtali (Numbers 2:25-31) These tribes totalled 157,000
On the WEST side of the tabernacle - under the standard of the Ox - were the three tribes of Ephraim, Mannasseh and Benjamin (Numbers 2:18-24 These tribes totalled 108,000
On the SOUTH side of the tabernacle under the standard of the Man were positioned the three tribes of Rueben, Simeon and Gad (Numbers 2:10-16) These tribes totalled 151,450
On the EAST side of the tabernacle - under the standard of the Lion - were positioned the Tribes of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun Numbers 2:3-9 These tribes totalled 186,00
Note: God's tabernacle always faced to the west
This is known as the Revelation of the "Cross" in the arrangement of the camp
When lifted up with the West side facing towards heaven the proportions look something like this
When God set His Presence right at the heart of this Cross in the wilderness it is not too hard to see what He was saying to us.
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