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‘Mansion’ arrives at fairgrounds

By WAYNE QUESENBERRY/Staff

A part of Old Testament history is on display at the Rural Retreat Fairgrounds. The full-scale life-size model of the tabernacle or Moses’ Tent Sanctuary is open to the public through Sunday, Sept. 14, at no charge.
The exhibit is sponsored by 13 Seventh-day Adventist churches in Southwest Virginia. Recreated by the Oklahoma Christian academy in Harrah, Okla., the display has traveled the United States for six years.
“This is the 41st time it’s been set up,” noted Rural Retreat businessman Scott Cleveland, who attends the Wytheville Seventh-day Adventist Church. “I saw it last summer in Kernersville, N.C., and the place was packed. I thought if there was any way we could get it up here, it would be wonderful.”
He pitched the prospect to others in his congregation and contacts were made. Eventually, Cleveland’s request was honored with the academy adding Wythe County to its schedule.
Cleveland and many other local volunteers lent assistance to the crew from Oklahoma in erecting the giant structure. They worked for three days to raise the tabernacle and arrange its furnishings.
“I wonder why it took us three days to put it up and it took Moses only one day,” quipped Fred St. Clair of the Pulaski Seventh-day Adventist Church. “I’m really excited about seeing it. We’re finding a tremendous amount of interest from all the churches in the area. Many of the churches have been studying about Moses’ Sanctuary and this will give them the opportunity to see it.”
High school students from the Oklahoma academy are conducting the tours. They and their chaperons are staying with host families in the area during the exhibition’s tenure.
“There’s a lot of excitement about it,” commented Jim Cox, pastor of the Wytheville Seventh-day Adventist Church. “All types of denominations are making reservations to tour Messiah’s Mansion. A lot of them have been studying it at church.”
According to the Bible Encyclopedia, the tabernacle was a sacred tent or portable sanctuary fashioned and erected under the leadership of Moses through God’s instructions. It was the center of Israelite religion from its construction in the wilderness of Sinai until the division of the land at Shiloh.
Tours are held daily Wednesday, Sept. 3, through Sunday, Sept. 14, from 1 to 7 p.m. They begin every 15 minutes and take an hour and 15 minutes to complete.
“They can take 20 to 25 people at a time,” St. Clair said. “We recommend that groups make reservations. Some churches are bringing their prayer meetings and other groups to see it.”
Reservations can be made by calling St. Clair at 699-6018 or Cox at 686-6365.
Wayne Quesenberry can be reached at 228-6611 or .