In the Book of Hebrews, we learn a lot about the heavenly
sanctuary, which the earthly sanctuary was modeled after. Now, I do want to be clear that I am not
saying that, if you journeyed into Heaven, that you would see something that
looks like the sanctuary Moses built in the wilderness. Then again, I’m not saying you wouldn’t see
something like it either. I have no idea
how much the earthly sanctuary was made to look like the sanctuary in heaven
visually. What I am saying is that the
earthly sanctuary was modeled after the heavenly sanctuary in that the things
in it symbolized things in the heavenly sanctuary. So, when I talk about the Most Holy Place of
the heavenly sanctuary, I’m referring to the place in heaven that the Most Holy
Place in the earthly sanctuary symbolized.
Critical to our interpretation of prophecy is whether or not Jesus
began his work in the Most Holy place of the heavenly sanctuary when he
ascended into heaven. Or did he begin
that at a later date?
Let’s take a look at the passages in question. The underlying Greek is critical for
understanding what is actually said.
Here are the passages in parallel English and Greek for your reference.
Hebrews 6:19-20
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19
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Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and
stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
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ην ως αγκυραν εχομεν της ψυχης ασφαλη τε και βεβαιαν και
εισερχομενην εις το εσωτερον του καταπετασματος
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20
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Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an
high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
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οπου προδρομος υπερ ημων εισηλθεν ιησους κατα την ταξιν
μελχισεδεκ αρχιερευς γενομενος εις τον αιωνα
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Hebrews 9:12
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12
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nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his
own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place [hagia], having
obtained eternal redemption. (ASV)
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He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but
he entered the Most Holy Place [hagia] once for all by his own blood, thus
obtaining eternal redemption. (NIV)
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ουδε δι αιματος τραγων και μοσχων δια δε του ιδιου αιματος εισηλθεν
εφαπαξ εις τα αγια αιωνιαν λυτρωσιν ευραμενος
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The phrase, “within the veil”, is often interpreted as referring to
the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. There is some justification for this since it
is used that way several times in the Old Testament. However, the author of Hebrews also refers to
a second veil. Here is a rough sketch of
the layout of the Sanctuary.
You will notice that there is one word used for the Sanctuary, Holy
Place and Most Holy Place. It is αγι[ος] (hagi[os]). The ending changes depending on its position
in the sentence. Hebrews uses hagios one
time when it refers to the the Sanctuary as a whole or the Holy Place in
particular. You can easily see this by
noting that in verse two it references the Candlestick and the Table of Showbread,
which are located in the Holy Place, which it calls “hagia”. In verse three it says that after the second
veil is the “hagia hagiown” (“hagios” twice), which it says has the Altar of
Incense and the Ark of the Covenant. You
will note that the Altar of Incense is located at the entrance of the Most Holy
Place and the Ark of the Covenant is locate inside the Most Holy Place. By examining the way the author of Hebrews
uses these phrases, we can determine that when we see “within the veil” or
“hagios” he is talking about the Holy Place or the Sanctuary as a whole. When he is specifically talking about the
Most Holy Place, he uses the phrase “second veil” or “hagios” twice (such as
“hagia hagiown” in verse three).
Hebrews 9:1-5
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1
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Now even a first covenant had ordinances of divine service, and
its sanctuary, a sanctuary [hagion] of this world.
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ειχεν μεν ουν [και] η πρωτη δικαιωματα λατρειας το τε αγιον
κοσμικον
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2
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For there was a tabernacle prepared, the first, wherein were the
candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the Holy place
[hagia].
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σκηνη γαρ κατεσκευασθη η πρωτη εν η η τε λυχνια και η τραπεζα και
η προθεσις των αρτων ητις λεγεται αγια
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3
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And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the
Holy of holies [hagia hagiown];
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μετα δε το δευτερον καταπετασμα σκηνη η λεγομενη αγια αγιων
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4
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having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant
overlaid round about with gold, wherein was a golden pot holding the manna,
and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
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χρυσουν εχουσα θυμιατηριον και την κιβωτον της διαθηκης
περικεκαλυμμενην παντοθεν χρυσιω εν η σταμνος χρυση εχουσα το μαννα και η
ραβδος ααρων η βλαστησασα και αι πλακες της διαθηκης
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5
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and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat; of
which things we cannot now speak severally.
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υπερανω δε αυτης χερουβιν δοξης κατασκιαζοντα το ιλαστηριον περι
ων ουκ εστιν νυν λεγειν κατα μερος
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From this we know that Hebrews 6:19-20 above is only describing
Jesus as entering the Sactuary as a whole, or possibly the Holy Place in
particular. It does not indicate that he
entered the Most Holy Place, because he did not say “second veil”. Also, Hebrews 9:12, although some
translations such as the NIV say “Most Holy Place”, is just referring to the
Sanctuary as a whole or the Holy Place because it contains the single “hagios”,
not the double.
Before the ministry in the Sanctuary could begin everything in the
Sanctuary had to be anointed, including the Most Holy Place, and Aaron and his
sons had to be consecrated as priests.
This required them to stay in the Sanctuary for seven days.
Leviticus 8:10, 33 ASV
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10
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And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and
all that was therein, and sanctified them.
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33
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And ye shall not go out from the door of the tent of meeting
seven days, until the days of your consecration be fulfilled: for he shall
consecrate you seven days.
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When Jesus was resurrected, he briefly appeared that day then went
up to Heaven and did not appear again until eight days later.
John 20:16-26
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16
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Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turneth herself, and saith unto
him in Hebrew, Rabboni; which is to say, Teacher.
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17
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Jesus saith to her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended unto
the Father: but go unto my brethren, and say to them, I ascend unto my Father
and your Father, and my God and your God.
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18
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Mary Magdalene cometh and telleth the disciples, I have seen the
Lord; and that he had said these things unto her.
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19
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When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the
week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the
Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto
you.
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20
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And when he had said this, he showed unto them his hands and his
side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord.
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21
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Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace be unto you: as the
Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
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22
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And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto
them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit:
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23
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whose soever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; whose
soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
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24
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But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them
when Jesus came.
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25
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The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the
Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the
nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.
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26
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And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas
with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and
said, Peace be unto you.
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Hebrews indicates that Jesus consecrated the Heavenly Sanctuary,
which would explain why he spent seven days in Heaven right after the
resurrection.
Hebrews 10:19-20
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19
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Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place
[hagiown] by the blood of Jesus,
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εχοντες ουν αδελφοι παρρησιαν εις την εισοδον των αγιων εν
τω αιματι ιησου
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20
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by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way,
through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
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ην ενεκαινισεν ημιν οδον προσφατον και ζωσαν δια του
καταπετασματος τουτ εστιν της σαρκος αυτου
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So, if Jesus was consecrating the Heavenly Sanctuary and himself as
priest, then he would have briefly entered all parts of the Heavenly Sanctuary,
including the Most Holy Place. He did
enter the Most Holy Place during this time.
In fact, God instructed Moses and the high priest from the Mercy
Seat.
Exodus 25:22
22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from
above the mercy-seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of
the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the
children of Israel.
Numbers 7:89
89 And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with him,
then he heard the Voice speaking unto him from above the mercy-seat that was
upon the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim: and he spake unto
him.
So, Jesus would have approached God’s throne to speak with Him at
the resurrection.
But, the question is whether or not his ministry in the Most Holy
Place began after his resurrection or at a later time. The Day of Atonement was the only regular
ceremony that involved the Most Holy Place.
So, we need to establish if his ministry there took place at the
resurrection, or at a later date.
Although many people interpret Hebrews as saying that he began his
ministry in the Most Holy Place at the resurrection, when we let the Bible
interpret itself we can see that it only indicates that he entered the Holy
Place. Hebrews clearly tells us that it
refers to the Most Holy Place with the double “hagios” (i.e. hagia
hagiown) or withing the “second veil”.
When we look at the Greek behind the texts people use to say Jesus began
ministering in the Most Holy Place, we see that it does not indicate that. I would encourage you to look at an
interlinear Bible and read Hebrews 9 and 10 so you can see for yourself. This means, we can only conclude that he was
ministering in the Holy Place and Sacntuary as a whole at the time Hebrews was
written. This would seem to indicate
that his ministry in the Most Holy Place began at a later date.
Hebrews 9 does make allusions to the
high priests yearly ministry in the Most Holy Place and links Jesus’s death to
this. So, he would at some time begin
ministering in the Most Holy Place in the Sanctuary in Heaven. On the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) the high
priest would begin work in the courtyard, then move to the Holy Place, and
finally move to the Most Holy Place. Hebrews
clearly states that Jesus had entered the Sanctuary as a whole or the Holy
Place in particular, but none of the statements definitively put him in the
Most Holy Place when you look at the Greek and use the miniature lexicon the
author of Hebrews gives in Hebrews 9:1-5.
This is why I believe there is no
contradiction between the Book of Hebrews and the interpretation of Daniel 8
which says that Jesus’s ministry in the Most Holy Place did not begin until the
1840s.
