The Typology of how a Priest was consecrated in the Old Testament:
A type is a biblical person, thing, action, event, ceremony, structure, furniture, number, etc. that foreshadows an "antitype" of the same in the New Testament. The consecration of the priest in the Old Testament mirrors the walk of the believer in the New Testament.
The Tabernacle that God commanded Moses to build can be seen as a "type" of the church. The tent that covered the Tabernacle was called the "tent of meeting" because it was here God promised to meet with Moses and the people.
The Courtyard surrounding the Tabernacle represents the world in that the courtyard is filled with sinners and also God's people. Because the court is "typical" of the world, the priest must first "leave the world" before he enters Tabernacle.
The Priesthood served as a "type" of the coming of Jesus Christ and of the believer. The priesthood mirrors the Church today. While priests offered animal sacrifices to God, Christians offer spiritual sacrifices to God. Jesus is our high priest (Heb 4:14), and we are his holy priesthood. "You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Pe 2:5)"
A Priest would approach the Altar of Burnt Offerings through fear and trembling, after he made the sacrifice he would stop at the lavar to wash his feet and hands before entering the tabernacle. This is akin to a believer purifying himself before going into worship and a type of baptism. Once a believer is baptized they are separated from the world and added to the body of Christ.
Following the washing of there bodies they put blood on the tips of their right ears, on their right thumbs, on on their right foot. Notice the washing was done before the blood of consecration was put on, similarly before we can come to the atoning power of the blood of Jesus, we must have our bodies washed in the cleansing waters of immersion.
The first thing a priest did once entering the Tabernacle was to dress the lamps of the Menorah and replenish the oil. The lights were to burn continuously. The Menorah can be seen as "typical" of the bible in that is our only light in the assembly today.
Next the priest approached the Table of Shewbread. Pure Frankincense was placed on top of the bread and burned on the Alter of Incense. The incense brought to the Tabernacle as an offering for God is a "type" of the Believer's worship service unto God and the incense was "typical" of a prayer. Psalm 141:2 hints that these physical offerings would be replaced with spiritual worship in the New Testament.
The Alter of Incense was placed by the Inner Veil, with the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat on the other side of the veil. It was above the Mercy Seat that God came down to commune with man. This parallels the promise to believers that He hears and answers the prayers of the Believer.
The week of the Priests consecration, the holy garments of Aaron are put on them for "seven" days. "And ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation in seven days, until the days of your consecration be at an end: for seven days shall he consecrate you. (Lev 8:33)" The only antitype this could represent is for us, the church, to be in heaven for seven years during the tribulation. The only tabernacle a modern-day priest will enter for a shebuah, period of seven, is the New Jerusalem in heaven. Just as the priests was required to put on the priestly garments in the tabernacle for a period of "seven", it is mirrored by us putting white clothing on in heaven during the marriage supper of the Lamb.
"Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed [are] those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God." (Rev 19:7-9)
