Revelation 21:16 tells us that New Jerusalem is a cube: “the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.” In the Bible, the holy of holies is a cube, and New Jerusalem is the eternal holy of holies. What happened to the holy place and the outer court?
In the Old Testament the outer court, the holy place, and the holy of holies were all parts of one tabernacle. The temple was the same. However, in Hebrews 9 the holy place and the holy of holies are considered two separate tabernacles. Hebrews 9:7-8 reminds us that only the high priest entered the holy of holies and only once a year, “the Holy Spirit thus making this clear, that the way of the Holy of Holies has not yet been manifested while the first tabernacle still has its standing.” Here the “first tabernacle,” the holy place, is a picture of the age of law.
Matthew 27:50-51 says “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was split in two from top to bottom.” The veil separated the holy place and the holy of holies. Through His death the veil was split open. Now “the way of the Holy of Holies” is open! The goal of the spiritual experiences portrayed in the outer court and the holy place is to bring us into God’s presence in the holy of holies. To live in God’s presence is the reality of the New Testament. May we cooperate with the Lord to be brought through the spiritual steps through the outer court and holy place so that we may reach the goal, a goal which matches the eternal holy of holies—New Jerusalem. Lord, grant us mercy that we may cooperate with You in our daily living.
Stefan
/ June 16, 2012Amen! Lord, grant us the experiences we need that we may advance with You from the outer court all the way into the Holy of Holies! Make our experience of Christ be a cube – not one dimensional but three-dimensional!