Whether the tabernacle or the temple, the house of God has always been built according to the pattern given by God. Is it the same today?
Moses and the tabernacle
When Moses built the tabernacle, he was given a pattern by God, by which to build it. Three times he is told to follow this pattern:
"According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it," Exodus 25:9
"And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain," Exodus 25:40
"And you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain," Exodus 26:30
Moses was faithful in this:
"According to the pattern which the Lord had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand," Numbers 8:4
"And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward," Hebrews 3:5
Solomon and the temple
David desired to build a house for God, but God chose Solomon to build it, according to the pattern which He revealed to David:
"Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat; and the plans for all that he had by the Spirit… 'All this,' said David, 'the Lord made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans,'" 1 Chronicles 28:11-12, 19
We are the temple
The church as a whole is the temple of God today:
"...having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit," Ephesians 2:20-3:1
As are the members individually:
"Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are," 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's," 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
"And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
"I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people,"
2 Corinthians 6:16
As the temple of God, we have in common with the tabernacle built by Moses and the temple built by Solomon that we are built according to a pattern:
"For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak," John 12:49-50
Jesus built the church according to the pattern given Him by the Father.
And what is the command given to us?
"Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us," 2 Timothy 1:13-14
"Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern," Philippians 3:17-18
We are the temple of God, but we must be built according to the pattern shown to us. In the New Testament we are twice told that Moses was instructed and built the tabernacle according to the pattern he was shown. If we aren’t built according to the pattern shown to us, we cannot be the temple of God.