from: http://www.azamra.org/TempleSecrets/Introduction.htm
The different areas of the Temple correspond to the different orders of existing beings
I will now begin to explain the design of the Temple in detail, area by area, corner by corner. [First, a number of general principles governing the overall design.] The entire design of the Temple is based on a great secret that stands at the very summit of the universe. I have already told you how this House emerged from the intensity of blissful tranquility that came about when the two great lights [Tiferet and Malchut] were joined as one. It was then that there appeared in the lower light [Malchut] the Sanctuary [Heichal] and its chambers and the other glorious buildings from which all the King's servants and officers receive their portions, each in his proper place with no disorder and no exceptions.
The Temple consists of three main areas after the emergence of the channels and highways extending from the great stone that I mentioned at the beginning.
These three areas are the places of the three orders of created beings that exist in the world.
The first order includes all the "external" creations, the creatures of this world, from the largest to the smallest without exception.
The second consists of all the angels at their appointed posts ready to carry out the service of the King.
The third consists of the souls of the Children of Israel, the holy seed, a unique people on earth. - messianic neshamaot
The corresponding places in the Temple are:
(1) the main Sanctuary building (Heichal) together with the Holy of Holies (Dvir) and Vestibule (Ulam): this is the innermost part of the Temple [the place of the souls]; messianic neshamaot
(2) The Temple Courtyards, i.e. the Upper [or Inner] Courtyard and the Lower [or Outer] Courtyard [the place of the angels];
(3) the rest of the Temple Mount [the place of the creatures of this world].
You must understand that the angels require two kinds of sustenance, one for their own subsistence and a second to hand on to the creatures over which they are
appointed. For if they did not receive, what would they have to give? If you are familiar with the ways of wisdom you will see that even though I have divided these areas into three, they are actually four:
(1) The main Temple building (Heichal);
(2) the Upper [Inner] Courtyard;
(3) the Lower [Outer] Courtyard;
(4) the Temple Mount.
These are the places of the inhabitants of the four worlds, Atzilut [Emanation], Beriyah [Creation], Yetzirah [Formation] and Asiyah [Action]. [The Temple building, place of the souls, corresponds to Atzilut; the Inner Courtyard, place of the captains of the angels, corresponds to Beriyah; the Outer Courtyard, place of the angelic hosts, corresponds to Yetzirah, while the rest of Temple Mount corresponds to Asiyah.] In addition, the Temple building (Heichal) is divided into two. For within the Heichal proper is the Holy of Holies (Dvir) corresponding to the cusp of the Yud, which is always connected to the Yud and never moves from it.
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