There are several different “shadows” mentioned in Scripture:
These three things are all mentioned of as being “a shadow of things to come.”
To put it in its simplest form: The Tanakh (Old Testament) was the “shadow” – the New Testament writings was the “things to come.” They are called a “shadow” because the Tanakh (Old Testament) is pointing us to Yahusha.
Yahuah has divinely woven these concepts into Scripture, but it takes study and discernment to have them revealed to you. In other words, let’s break them down like this...
The "Tabernacle"
“...who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as 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
The physical tabernacle built under the guidance of Moses was a shadow that pointed us to a heavenly reality, but even more so, it points us to our Messiah, “the minister of the true sanctuary and of the true tabernacle, which Yahuah pitched and not man” (Hebrews 8:2). The physical tabernacle was a spiritual blueprint of not only the pattern of what already exists in heaven (the tabernacle that our Messiah currently sits in at the right hand of the throne of the Father) but also prophetically points to the new priesthood that Yahusha came to bring.
Our Messiah is our new High Priest. Under this new priesthood, we are now called to be priests of His tabernacle. He’s coming back for those who will be reigning with Him as priests. There is a reason Yahuah devotes dozens of chapters to its details and design. The parables and teachings of our Messiah are crucial to revitalizing our understanding of how the physical tabernacle and its furnishings parallel harmoniously with what it means for US to be the living stones of His spiritual house now, since we are His Temple--His Tabernacle.
“You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to Elohim through Yahusha Messiah.”
1 Peter 2:5
The "Torah"
“For the torah [law], having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.”
Hebrews 10:1
The law of Yahuah couldn’t make one perfect in the fact that one could keep the torah perfectly, yet still be sinful in the heart.
Why was the torah a shadow of good things to come?
Because of the renewed covenant that Yahusha came to bring, He fulfilled what was prophesied, in that in this same chapter in Hebrews, it tells us that “He will put His torah into our hearts and write them on our minds.” The word torah, in its Hebrew root and definition, is likened to an arrow or to point something in a straight direction to teach someone how to walk. By making the word “torah” a noun, it is implying that the torah becomes “the one who does the teaching or pointing out, showing one how to walk.”
Who is our Teacher now?
YAHUSHA!
The torah is the shadow of good things to come because now, BECAUSE of Him and His sacrifice, it becomes written on our hearts, so that out of love, we desire to walk in it as we follow Him/imitate Him. His sacrifice removed the penalty from breaking the commandments, in which the penalty of sin is death. He took that away from us, so that by grace we are empowered to walk in His commandments, and as we learn, even if we fall short unintentionally, we aren’t eternally condemned for it, because our High Priest is currently living to intercede for us.
This is why the author of Hebrews says “He is the mediator of a better covenant” (Hebrews 8:6).
The "Appointed Times"
“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a feast day or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Messiah.”
Colossians 2:16-17
Each of these days in Scripture (feast days, new moon days and sabbath days) all called for holy convocations (gatherings). Why is Paul saying that these are a “shadow of things to come?” Because these appointed times that were given to us by the Father will all be reinstituted in the Kingdom to come.
To name a few witnesses, see: Ezekiel 45:17-25, Ezekiel 46:1-9, Isaiah 66:23, & Zechariah 14:16-18.
Because we have been conditioned and taught that specific appointed times like the annual holy days are “for the Jews,” the body is missing out on seeing and understanding the prophetic significance in which each of the annual feasts given to us in Scripture actually point to the Messiah’s First Coming or Second Coming. The Father’s plan of redemption of mankind has been and will be fulfilled by our Messiah. He already fulfilled the spring feasts (Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits), the summer feast (Shavuot/Pentecost), and the remaining fall feasts will be fulfilled at His Second Coming (Trumpets, Day of Atonement & Sukkot/Tabernacles). The appointed holy days are the “shadow,” the Messiah’s First and Second Coming are the “things to come.” Sabbaths and New Moon Days will also be reinstituted in the coming Kingdom.
We must understand the purpose and function of the Father’s tabernacle, torah, and all of His appointed times in order to understand how they ultimately point to our Messiah as well as how to apply their understanding to our lives today. I am constantly in awe at the beauty of Yahuah’s truth.
With love,
Stephanie