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.

In the scriptures, the court is the gathering place of the people. (See Lev. 6:16, 26; Jer. 19:14; 26:2; 36:10; 2 Chr. 6:13; 20:5) Also in the court the king spoke to the people (See 2 Chr. 6:13; 20:5). In addition, the court was the place that the priests were to eat the meat offering (Lev. 6:14-18) and the sin offering (Lev. 6:25, 26). Sometimes, the prophets spake to the people in the court (Jer. 19:14; 26:2; 36:10). God’s glory filled the court (Ezek. 10:3-5). The people worshipped in the court (Jer. 26:2; Ezek. 8:16). Offerings were made in the court (2 Chr. 7:7). The gate of the court had hangings of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, and pillars and sockets of silver and brass (Ex. 27:16). The dimensions of the court of the tabernacle were 100 cubits by 50 cubits, the same as the dimensions of the king’s house (Ex. 27:9-19; 1 Ki. 17:2). The dimensions of the court in Ezekiel’s vision were 100 cubits by 100 cubits, the same dimensions of the house of the Lord (Ezek. 40:19, 23, 27, 47; 41:13-15).
There are a great number of similarities between the court and the New Testament church. For instance, the church is the gathering of the Lord’s people (not the building, but the people themselves). (See Matt. 13:2, 47, 48; 18:20; 22:10; 23:37; Lk. 24:33; Acts 12:12; 14:27; 15:30; 20:8; 1 Cor. 5:4). Thru the preaching of the gospel, King Jesus speaks to the people: 1 Thes. 2: 13 “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” The Lord has made his people kings and priests unto God: Rev. 1:6 "And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” As priests unto God according to 1 Pet. 2:5 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” Thus as in the court, we are to offer up spiritual sacrifices in the church. As we have already seen the Lord speaks to his people in the church and he does this thru the gospel ministry. As the people worshipped in the court, today we worship God in the church (Eph. 2:20-22). The gate of the court was the place of entrance to the court. The colors of the hangings all have significance. For instance the color blue is associated with the law. The color scarlet is associated with the blood of Christ. The color purple is associated with royalty. The color white is associated with righteousness. Brass is associated with suffering and affliction. Silver is associated with redemption.

By taking these things all together, we can see that, Christ, the righteous one (white) kept the law (blue) to a jot and tittle and became the perfect sacrifice for his people (scarlet), thus thru his sufferings on the cross (brass) and his shed blood (scarlet), he redeemed (silver) his people from their sins, thus making them righteous (white). He also made them kings and priests unto God (purple). This is in perfect harmony with Rev. 1:5 “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” It can also be noted that the church is the King’s house which is the house of God: 1 Tim. 3:15 "But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."