After spending some time in the word today, my mind was racing with thoughts. A very deep thought came to me that correlated the human body and the ancient Temple at Jerusalem. As I began to ponder this though, revelation quickly followed. I started thinking about the correlation that Messiah had made with his body being the Temple. (John 2:19) Of course Messiah was not only the Temple, but the temple sacrifice, and the temple High Priest as well! One idea that came to me was how the Bible calls the church (body of called out disciples) members of his body, a Temple. (1 Corinthians 6:19)
These disciples are all individual Temple's that combine into one giant one, where the fullness of God's Spirit (Jesus) dwells. Remember what's inside of a person is who they really are. People with carnal eyes see the superficial, exterior of a person, but people with spiritual eyes see the character or spirit. Now the Jewish Temple was always set aside for God in a similar way, where His very Spirit would dwell. As the body or church is called out and set aside for God, so was the ancient Temple. Under the Old Covenant, selected men where called out and set apart to work in this Temple. (Exodus 19:6) They were called out to be holy instruments of God. In similar way, each member of Jesus body are called and set apart in holiness, to reconcile the lost to God. (1 Peter 2:9) Under both Covenants, this concept never changes. In fact, Priests in the Old Covenant were to facilitate the Temple sacrifices, e sure that the Temple was accessible and in tip top shape and accessible to people. Under the New Covenant Priests give God sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving! (Hebrews 13:15) These priests are to keep themselves holy, obeying God's standards so that others can come to God and be part of His Temple. God wants His Temple to be full. (Luke 14:23) Now keep in mind that once a year, only the High Priests was to enter the Holy of Holies. This Holy room contained the Ark of the Covenant, where God's presence dwelt. Leviticus 16:1–34
This room was visibly separated off by a thick and mysterious veil. In fact, first century Jewish Historian Josephus, wrote about this veil, stating that it was about 4 inches thick! This veil is what separated God's presence from his people. Now fact, no one was ever to go this far into the Temple or they would die. Keep in mind that this rule, pertained to everyone including all the priests. Although the High Priest could only go into this Holy room at God ordained times, he still had to make the appropriate preparations like washing in a mikveh pool (Same idea as New Testament Baptism) and change his garments. (Putting on Christ) According to the Bible, this one day were the Priest would enter once a year can be found in Leviticus 23:27 This special day is known as Yom HaKippurim. (Yom Kippur) In English this day is known as "The Day of Atonement," in which all the sins of the nation of Israel were atoned for. This was a day of repentance, fasting and serious reflection. It was also a day of hope, as many Jews would look forward to the next year knowing they would have a clean slate.Yom Kippur occurs every year on the 10th of Tishrei, which usually takes place in our calendar in mid September. This is the day where the blood of bulls and goats COVERED (Not take away) the sins of the people, which is why it had to be done every year.Keep in mind this was just a covering, which is why it had to be done every year. (Hebrews 10:1) Those who are in the New Covenant, know that this Holy day was a shadow of something far greater.
Now on Yom Kippur, the High Priest was to enter through the veil into the Holy of Holies to sprinkle blood before the Ark of the Covenant. Keep in mind that in order for the Priest to get beyond the veil, he had to wash and change garments. This is something to ponder because in order to come before God under the New Covenant, washing and a spiritual garment change takes place.
Now that the proper context has been applied and foundation laid, lets get back to uncovering the mystery of the veil. The Bible gives us some more detail on this Temple veil. We know that veil originated during the time of the Exodus, when Israel exited out of Egypt on route to their promised land. This veil was set up in the Tabernacle, which served a makeshift temple that could be taken down and put up at a moments notice. The Holy of Holies was a compartment within this sort of moving Temple which the veil covered. This room was housed for God and His Ark of the Covenant which was where God would personally dwell. Whenever the Tabernacle was taken down, the veil also served as a covering for the this Ark. golden ark where God's presence would dwell The veil was also to serve as a covering for the Ark of the Covenant, which was a golden ark where God himself would sit. This ark also contained the Torah. mercy seat that contained the Torah and were God'God even gave Moses instructions, detailing how this veil was to look. It was to be a thick covering fine linen tapestry Exodus 26:31. This veil was to be a thick covering detailed linen tapestry INTRICIT EDITING Whenever the Children of Israel were to move about, they had to take down the Tabernacle and place the Veil over the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the Torah law. Numbers 4:5. Now when when King Solomon built the Temple, this same veil had to be put up. What do you know? Solomon had to create the veil under the same specifications! 2 Chronicles 3:14
Now as we look at this veil, we see a pattern. We envision the same colors, linen and Cherubim. Where have we heard of this before? The garden of Eden! Genesis 3:24. So here it is, Cherubim again are protecting God's Holy place.
We are talking about, the Temple veil. Since the garden of Eden we see a story of a barrier of Cherubim, separating God and man. That's when it hit me, the idea of every human Temple having a spiritual veil. In fact, in the New Covenant, this is the barrier! Now is this concept Biblical? Can we back it up with scripture. The answer is yes, 2 Corinthians is the key to unlocking the mystery of this ancient pattern and story of separation.
Corinthians 4:4 tells us that "the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 3:14 confirms this, and tells us that this blindness is created in part to a veil, a spiritual veil that dulls the mind and the only way to remove it is IN CHRIST. Now lets recap, as we read these two verses we see that this spiritual veil is due to the "god" of this world. The "god" of this world blinds people from seeing the gospel message and is behind the separation between God and man. Lets look at the pattern. In this ancient mystery we always see a Cherub, could the "god" of this world be a Cherub? Yes, and our proof is found in Scripture. This Cherub is identified in Ezekiel 28:15 Once an anointed and righteous guardian, to the fallen father of lies. In fact through his lie in the garden, the element of sin came into the world. This element attacks all those who have been born into the world, imprisoning them and blinding them, veiling them in a spiritual separation from their real father.
Even the apostle Paul was blinded at one time by this veil. In fact, Paul at one time thought he was doing the work of God by persecuting Christians! Then God struck him with blindness, and it wasn't until he died to himself in repentance and was filled with the Spirit of God when this blindness departed! Acts 9:17-18) Again, only in Christ is this veil destroyed.
Before we go into how the veil is destroyed and completely unlock the mystery, lets look into the two Covenants. We know that both Old and New Covenants required blood. Jews were in the Old Testament Covenant via circumcision. Keep in mind that this Covenant was established with the death of the Passover lamb and put into effect when the Torah was given at Mr. Sinai, on the Hebrew Holy day of Shavout. (Feat of weeks Exodus 34:22 ) This Covenant, is what really made a Jew and why to be Jewish you can be one spiritually and through blood lineage. Of course, spiritual holds just as much weight, if not more than the blood lineage. Regardless on how observant you are, if you are blood Jew and not circumcised, you must be thrown out of the community as you are not a legitimate Jew. (Genesis 17:14) Yes, in some strict Jewish communities, this is still holds true to this day!
Now in the New Covenant blood is still required, although now this blood is Spiritual. We are talking blood Covenant.(Old Blood Covenant/Exodus 24:8 New Blood Covenant/Matthew 26:28) Now remember in the Old Covenant the life was in the blood and in the New Covenant we have the life in the name. Both correspond to life. A name is spiritual and a personification of one's life (blood). Of course in the Old Covenant, blood is only physical and this blood was poured out by goats and animals, only having the ability to cover sin, not eradicate it. So here it is, both covenants share in purpose. Of course the Old Covenant is pertains to the physical and the New Covenant to the Spiritual. In fact please read Colossians 2:11-12 to see a clearer correlation between circumcision andbaptism.
Now expanding on the New Covenant, it was established in death and put into effect on the day of Pentecost. (Greek for Shavout, the same day the Old Covenant was put into effect.) Both parties involved must die. God died as a man and man must die to sin in repentance. The means of this covenant is in the name of Jesus in full water immersion. This is known as "Baptism" and is how the sacrifice of Jesus is applied. Now Baptism is how one gets INTO Christ. I've debated with people in this fact, time and time again. Here it is, Galations 3:27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. This verse proves without a shadow of a doubt, that baptism in Jesus name is how one gets INTO Christ. (Applies His name/blood)
So now, how does blood Covenant relate to the Temple veil? When Christ died, the Temple veil was torn in two, from top to bottom. (Matthew 27:51) With that said, Romans 6:3 tells us that when we are baptized, we share in Jesus death. (Again, application of the sacrifice) Remember when Jesus died, instantly the Temple veil was torn. So after we repent, we are baptized for the forgiveness of sins and application of Jesus blood over our lives. In baptism the veil of darkness that is over our Temple, is torn in two. Remember 2 Corinthians 3:14 tells us that only IN CHRIST is this spiritual veil taken away. How do we get IN CHRIST? Again, Galations 3:27 explains how we can get INTO CHRIST.
From top to bottom this spiritual veil of darkness is torn apart. It's now null and void and now we can begin to see and understand who we are, IN CHRIST. Now that the Temple veil is torn apart, we have direct access to God. No more is Jesus veiled from us and us from Him. In fact, the physical Temple Veil is longer is in existence. There is no need for is since their is no physical Temple. The veil has no power! The veil is only a shadow of the mystery and the mystery through Jesus and through revelation that comes from Jesus is now unlocked! Now we can see God's purpose for us instead of his world's and each day we must strive to be what God ordained us to be. Now we are Spiritually born and can begin to grow and walk as this new Spiritual man. Hand in hand with our God and Savior, Jesus.
These disciples are all individual Temple's that combine into one giant one, where the fullness of God's Spirit (Jesus) dwells. Remember what's inside of a person is who they really are. People with carnal eyes see the superficial, exterior of a person, but people with spiritual eyes see the character or spirit. Now the Jewish Temple was always set aside for God in a similar way, where His very Spirit would dwell. As the body or church is called out and set aside for God, so was the ancient Temple. Under the Old Covenant, selected men where called out and set apart to work in this Temple. (Exodus 19:6) They were called out to be holy instruments of God. In similar way, each member of Jesus body are called and set apart in holiness, to reconcile the lost to God. (1 Peter 2:9) Under both Covenants, this concept never changes. In fact, Priests in the Old Covenant were to facilitate the Temple sacrifices, e sure that the Temple was accessible and in tip top shape and accessible to people. Under the New Covenant Priests give God sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving! (Hebrews 13:15) These priests are to keep themselves holy, obeying God's standards so that others can come to God and be part of His Temple. God wants His Temple to be full. (Luke 14:23) Now keep in mind that once a year, only the High Priests was to enter the Holy of Holies. This Holy room contained the Ark of the Covenant, where God's presence dwelt. Leviticus 16:1–34
This room was visibly separated off by a thick and mysterious veil. In fact, first century Jewish Historian Josephus, wrote about this veil, stating that it was about 4 inches thick! This veil is what separated God's presence from his people. Now fact, no one was ever to go this far into the Temple or they would die. Keep in mind that this rule, pertained to everyone including all the priests. Although the High Priest could only go into this Holy room at God ordained times, he still had to make the appropriate preparations like washing in a mikveh pool (Same idea as New Testament Baptism) and change his garments. (Putting on Christ) According to the Bible, this one day were the Priest would enter once a year can be found in Leviticus 23:27 This special day is known as Yom HaKippurim. (Yom Kippur) In English this day is known as "The Day of Atonement," in which all the sins of the nation of Israel were atoned for. This was a day of repentance, fasting and serious reflection. It was also a day of hope, as many Jews would look forward to the next year knowing they would have a clean slate.Yom Kippur occurs every year on the 10th of Tishrei, which usually takes place in our calendar in mid September. This is the day where the blood of bulls and goats COVERED (Not take away) the sins of the people, which is why it had to be done every year.Keep in mind this was just a covering, which is why it had to be done every year. (Hebrews 10:1) Those who are in the New Covenant, know that this Holy day was a shadow of something far greater.
Now on Yom Kippur, the High Priest was to enter through the veil into the Holy of Holies to sprinkle blood before the Ark of the Covenant. Keep in mind that in order for the Priest to get beyond the veil, he had to wash and change garments. This is something to ponder because in order to come before God under the New Covenant, washing and a spiritual garment change takes place.
Now that the proper context has been applied and foundation laid, lets get back to uncovering the mystery of the veil. The Bible gives us some more detail on this Temple veil. We know that veil originated during the time of the Exodus, when Israel exited out of Egypt on route to their promised land. This veil was set up in the Tabernacle, which served a makeshift temple that could be taken down and put up at a moments notice. The Holy of Holies was a compartment within this sort of moving Temple which the veil covered. This room was housed for God and His Ark of the Covenant which was where God would personally dwell. Whenever the Tabernacle was taken down, the veil also served as a covering for the this Ark. golden ark where God's presence would dwell The veil was also to serve as a covering for the Ark of the Covenant, which was a golden ark where God himself would sit. This ark also contained the Torah. mercy seat that contained the Torah and were God'God even gave Moses instructions, detailing how this veil was to look. It was to be a thick covering fine linen tapestry Exodus 26:31. This veil was to be a thick covering detailed linen tapestry INTRICIT EDITING Whenever the Children of Israel were to move about, they had to take down the Tabernacle and place the Veil over the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the Torah law. Numbers 4:5. Now when when King Solomon built the Temple, this same veil had to be put up. What do you know? Solomon had to create the veil under the same specifications! 2 Chronicles 3:14
Now as we look at this veil, we see a pattern. We envision the same colors, linen and Cherubim. Where have we heard of this before? The garden of Eden! Genesis 3:24. So here it is, Cherubim again are protecting God's Holy place.
We are talking about, the Temple veil. Since the garden of Eden we see a story of a barrier of Cherubim, separating God and man. That's when it hit me, the idea of every human Temple having a spiritual veil. In fact, in the New Covenant, this is the barrier! Now is this concept Biblical? Can we back it up with scripture. The answer is yes, 2 Corinthians is the key to unlocking the mystery of this ancient pattern and story of separation.
Corinthians 4:4 tells us that "the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 3:14 confirms this, and tells us that this blindness is created in part to a veil, a spiritual veil that dulls the mind and the only way to remove it is IN CHRIST. Now lets recap, as we read these two verses we see that this spiritual veil is due to the "god" of this world. The "god" of this world blinds people from seeing the gospel message and is behind the separation between God and man. Lets look at the pattern. In this ancient mystery we always see a Cherub, could the "god" of this world be a Cherub? Yes, and our proof is found in Scripture. This Cherub is identified in Ezekiel 28:15 Once an anointed and righteous guardian, to the fallen father of lies. In fact through his lie in the garden, the element of sin came into the world. This element attacks all those who have been born into the world, imprisoning them and blinding them, veiling them in a spiritual separation from their real father.
Even the apostle Paul was blinded at one time by this veil. In fact, Paul at one time thought he was doing the work of God by persecuting Christians! Then God struck him with blindness, and it wasn't until he died to himself in repentance and was filled with the Spirit of God when this blindness departed! Acts 9:17-18) Again, only in Christ is this veil destroyed.
Before we go into how the veil is destroyed and completely unlock the mystery, lets look into the two Covenants. We know that both Old and New Covenants required blood. Jews were in the Old Testament Covenant via circumcision. Keep in mind that this Covenant was established with the death of the Passover lamb and put into effect when the Torah was given at Mr. Sinai, on the Hebrew Holy day of Shavout. (Feat of weeks Exodus 34:22 ) This Covenant, is what really made a Jew and why to be Jewish you can be one spiritually and through blood lineage. Of course, spiritual holds just as much weight, if not more than the blood lineage. Regardless on how observant you are, if you are blood Jew and not circumcised, you must be thrown out of the community as you are not a legitimate Jew. (Genesis 17:14) Yes, in some strict Jewish communities, this is still holds true to this day!
Now in the New Covenant blood is still required, although now this blood is Spiritual. We are talking blood Covenant.(Old Blood Covenant/Exodus 24:8 New Blood Covenant/Matthew 26:28) Now remember in the Old Covenant the life was in the blood and in the New Covenant we have the life in the name. Both correspond to life. A name is spiritual and a personification of one's life (blood). Of course in the Old Covenant, blood is only physical and this blood was poured out by goats and animals, only having the ability to cover sin, not eradicate it. So here it is, both covenants share in purpose. Of course the Old Covenant is pertains to the physical and the New Covenant to the Spiritual. In fact please read Colossians 2:11-12 to see a clearer correlation between circumcision andbaptism.
Now expanding on the New Covenant, it was established in death and put into effect on the day of Pentecost. (Greek for Shavout, the same day the Old Covenant was put into effect.) Both parties involved must die. God died as a man and man must die to sin in repentance. The means of this covenant is in the name of Jesus in full water immersion. This is known as "Baptism" and is how the sacrifice of Jesus is applied. Now Baptism is how one gets INTO Christ. I've debated with people in this fact, time and time again. Here it is, Galations 3:27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. This verse proves without a shadow of a doubt, that baptism in Jesus name is how one gets INTO Christ. (Applies His name/blood)
So now, how does blood Covenant relate to the Temple veil? When Christ died, the Temple veil was torn in two, from top to bottom. (Matthew 27:51) With that said, Romans 6:3 tells us that when we are baptized, we share in Jesus death. (Again, application of the sacrifice) Remember when Jesus died, instantly the Temple veil was torn. So after we repent, we are baptized for the forgiveness of sins and application of Jesus blood over our lives. In baptism the veil of darkness that is over our Temple, is torn in two. Remember 2 Corinthians 3:14 tells us that only IN CHRIST is this spiritual veil taken away. How do we get IN CHRIST? Again, Galations 3:27 explains how we can get INTO CHRIST.
From top to bottom this spiritual veil of darkness is torn apart. It's now null and void and now we can begin to see and understand who we are, IN CHRIST. Now that the Temple veil is torn apart, we have direct access to God. No more is Jesus veiled from us and us from Him. In fact, the physical Temple Veil is longer is in existence. There is no need for is since their is no physical Temple. The veil has no power! The veil is only a shadow of the mystery and the mystery through Jesus and through revelation that comes from Jesus is now unlocked! Now we can see God's purpose for us instead of his world's and each day we must strive to be what God ordained us to be. Now we are Spiritually born and can begin to grow and walk as this new Spiritual man. Hand in hand with our God and Savior, Jesus.