HEBREWS 9:1-10 

Keep in mind the differences we have spoke about in lessons past. One being that the instructive words of the Book of Hebrews defines for us the differences between  Jesus Christ’s Great Atonement as the “Gospel” or Good news for Christian believers, while also holding out the realities of His all-inclusive Redemption/reformation/correction as they apply to the annulling of the Old Covenant. BUT we also spoke about the future establishing of that  “New Covenant” with the house of Israel, with its promises to be fulfilled only “..after those days…” (of Jacob’s trouble/ the great tribulation. See Jeremiah 31 with Hebrews 8:7-12). That is to say after their repentance, (when Israel is restored) then restoration’s promises are extended in the Millennium and beyond. 

Paul has been shedding intense light on the mysteries of the Gospel’s higher calling unto the heavenlies (Hebrews 3:1), and that by revealing the Scriptural mysteries of Jesus Christ in Heaven’s Tabernacle as the High Priest in Ministry there at the right hand of God. Those truths being shadowed, specifically in Abraham’s ancient Covenant and His blessing by that royal priest Melchizedek.  

Now in the 9th Chapter VERSE 1, Paul continues to discover unto those Hebrew Christians the typical meanings of those two veiled tabernacles (compartments); the holy place and the holiest place, and their furnishings ordained in the service of God as it relates to this earth. To what Paul refers to as a Worldly sanctuary, as they were made of this earthly material, made by the hands of man, and located in this realm, being temporarily suitable to this worldly earthly system. But they are just copies of that which is needed in the spiritual realm, and are therefore worthless in the augmenting of the spiritual system and therefore are no longer acceptable to God and thus were shortly to vanish away. (Those earthly gifts and offerings before God had ceased with Christ’s Atonement, essentially having been annulled as they had no benefit in them any longer.) 

VERSE 2 Paul briefly reviews the Tabernacle of Moses and its furnishings (as these with their practical application would be well known to the Hebrew Christians, but to most modern day Christians, little is understood of them from either the earthly or the spiritual application) before revealing their deeper spiritual and prophetic meanings, in that it had two tabernacles (besides the enclosed surrounding court yard). That is to say, two veiled compartments, wherein “…the first (veiled compartment) was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the holy sanctuary (place).” First, there is the more basic understanding that these two pieces of furniture both typify Jesus Christ, in that He is the illuminating Light of the World Who is to bring us out from the darkness of the World (John 8:12) and in the case of the Table of shewbread, He also is the Bread of life (John 6) in that He is also the heavenly sustenance to strengthen the heart in service to God. 

But going beyond that understanding, we can see that this first tabernacle, the holy place, may also be seen as the typing of two bodies of people set before the Lord; Peoples with two different destinies. The Lampstand/Menorah with its 7 branches are representative of the 7 Churches of Gospel participants in the heavenly calling; Christ the High Priest having trimmed and kindled them by the Holy Spirit (Exodus 30:7) is seen as He is in the midst of the 7 Lampstands, the 7 Churches of Revelation 1:12,13,20 with Revelation 1:4 and 5:6 and “… the 7 spirits (Specific ministering Angels under the authority of Jesus Christ) which are before his throne…”  With “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth” (to minister to His Churches of the heavenly calling according to His will). Who, in Moses’ typing were yet nonexistent in that The Holy Ghost this signifying, the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was keeping its standing”  VERSE 8. 

Now that which is represented in the holy place is a future people, those who will come into and walk in the Light of the Son of God with the loss of the standing before God of the other people (Jews/ the 12 Tribes signified in the 12 loaves of showbread). “As concerning the Gospel, they are enemies for your sakes…” (Romans 11:28) But Scripture predicts that this other body of believers will be entirely leavened. (Those depicted by the Menorah; Christians. See Matthew 13:33 with Matthew 5:13) These are they which came into light and then go into darkness… “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” Now in its Babylonian state and nature, this prophecy of being trodden underfoot is fulfilled in the 17th chapter of Revelation, and once set aside, it is not revived again. (In the same way Israel lost its standing, the ‘Church’ does as well.) 

While the table of shewbread is not seen by John, it is surely there, but further in the background, being set aside for 2000 years (the Jewish contingent).The golden and crowned table reveals the eternal aspects of its 12 loaves of bread, typical of the 12 tribes who are representative of the God’s earthly calling, who are a scattered people who now have lost their standing because of unbelief, and are now in darkness. But though now set aside, they shall be restored in the Light of the Millennial New Covenant.  

These two peoples, represented in the Menorah and the Table of Shewbread have never worked together. Israel was set aside as the Gospel in Jesus Christ was instituted, but in the Millennium, that which is shadowed in Moses’ Tabernacle, the Holy Place, the outer place for redemption’s work upon the earth, is fulfilled in that they are united in the power of the Holy Spirit. And that which was shadowed in the Law is filled with meaning when these two peoples and priesthoods then work together in the heavenly and earthly callings; as light and food unto the Nations. “Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” That is before all passes away in the perfection of the new spiritual economies in the New Heavens and New Earth. When   

New Jerusalem reflects the perfection of the callings, in that its Gates welcome the 12 Tribes of Israel, as they shall all be priests of the New Earth, and as they bring the glory and honour of the nations into it (Revelation 21:12 & 26). And the 12 Foundations represent the Apostles of the heavenly calling; Jesus Christ’s Bride and the sons of God who forever abide with Him within the City’s walls. (Revelation 21:14, 14:4) 

VERSE 4  “And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; Which had (only on the Day of Atonement), the golden censer (altar of incense typing Christ.. “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.” Ephesians 5:2 with Revelation 8:3-5), and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.” 

At the rending of the curtain/veil at Christ’s atonement, the old system was abolished. The veils in the Tabernacle were indicative of the inabilities of the Law to bring a people into the presence of God. The veils represented that the purposes of God were hidden. Those purposes going beyond the earthly promises of blessings of inheritance to be gained by obedience to the Mosaic Law, for those of the greater and heavenly and eternal purposes could only be apprehended outside the Law. That is to say, when the veil is removed and the eyes are enlightened. “By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh…” (Hebrews 10:20) “But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” 

The Ark being that furnishing that all others points toward, it being the Holiest and in the Holiest Place, within the 2nd Compartment behind the 2nd veil. It being constructed of two very different materials; acacia wood (incorruptible wood), and covered on all sides by gold (Exodus 25:11). It was the Ark of testimony that bore witness of that One to come. (Deuteronomy 18:15 with Acts 3:22,7:37) It being typical of Jesus, Who in His eternal nature as Son of God, took on the form of man, becoming the Son of Man and Son of God; these two natures now manifest forever in His Person. He only could be that Christ/Anointed One, Who could remove the “veils” hiding the unthinkable and unfathomable heavenly and eternal purposes of God. That of a sinless death and glory–filled Resurrection life. That is of a High Priest Who could be both the outward Offering of Blood and Soul (Leviticus 17:11) and the inwardly righteous One that offered it in the Holiest Place (Leviticus 16). (Where He still remains as He makes intercession for us by the Throne in the Heavenly Holy of Holies as High Priest.) 

That which was within the Ark (the manna, Aaron’s rod, and the tablets of the Law) being typical of that Anointed One. The tablets of the Law being written upon the heart of Christ: “ Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” [Psalm 40:7–8] The Pot full of manna is reflective of the eternal Son of God, coming down and offering His body as the manna from Heaven, the true food, the eternal sustenance for His peoples. “Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.” (Mark 14:22). (And just as the manna was hidden in the Ark, Christ was hidden also from those who did not have eyes to see.) Inside the Ark was also the once dead rod of Aaron that sprang forth in resurrected life (and unto total fruitfulness).  “And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.” [Numbers 17:8] The rod represents the Resurrected life of Christ before the Throne of God. “And declared to be the Son of God (that which Aaron and his rod typified) with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead…” (Romans 1:4 and John 16:10) The power and authority wherein He stands, (Being the First begotten of the dead) Who now brings into birth an higher order of priests than Aaron’s as seen in Paul’s convincing discourse with Agrippa: “That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.” (Acts 26:23 and Revelation 1:5) 

VERSE 5 And over the Ark were “the Cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat…(Cherubims closely associated with redemption) possibly that …of which we cannot now speak particularly” in that it was a Cherub of covering/ overshadowing and protecting  “the world that then was” /the Pre-Adamite world, who the cause and blame for the fall and can be laid at his feet. (Lucifer’s) See Ezekiel 28:14. These Beings being described for us both in the Book of Ezekiel and Revelation 4:6-9. They are said to be highly intelligent Beings; representatives for and of God’s four lead earthly creatures divisions: the Lion, the Eagle, the Ox and Man. These all in continued suffering in the fall of man, for which God promises a certain greater redemption than that of Noah’s ark (Romans 8:19-23…all Creation groans until the redemption of man). The Mercy-Seat, where the propitiation blood was sprinkled under the Mosaic Law, once a year by the High Priest, again is typical of Christ: “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1st John 2:2 and Romans 3:25) (Christ’s Blood was offered not only as propitiation for man, but it was also offered and sprinkled upon the Heavenly Mercy Seat, as a means of removing all defilement from Lucifer’s having polluted the Holy of Holies by his rebellion. Lucifer originally having been one of the Cherubim around the Mercy Seat.) 

VERSE 8 All these things, typical of Christ, being legitimately observed and performed under the Law of Moses, stood only as long as the way into the Holiest Place was not made manifest. But once Christ manifest, and the way into the Holiest Place was made by the Forerunner, then the Mosaic Law and all these typical things lost their standing. The types were now just shadows of the reality. 

VERSE 9  “Which was a figure (parable) for the time then (up to the) present, in which were (all these things) offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service (or those for the benefit he offered them) perfect, (that is to say, those things much more meaningful) as (those things) pertaining to the conscience…” (The tabernacle rituals rise no higher than the Mosaic Covenant. It could not perfectly cleanse man even in its most perfect observance. It can not make God’s purposes nor Himself known in close intimacy. It was limited to a cleansing of the flesh, or outward body only and in bringing it nearer to God. A clear enough picture of difference between Old Testament rebirth and New Testament rebirth, is that it is not different as it relates to the gift of eternal life; but it is different in approach and closeness unto God. The rebirth accompanying the Old Testament was limited as a result of its inferior blood efficacy, but in Christ, there is perfect intimacy of oneness in the efficacy of His offering. For in it, the Justice and Mercy of God are fully extended unto the cleansing and purging of the sinful nature through the believer’s conscience, to be realized to one degree or another in accordance to the effective work of the Spirit/spirit upon the carnal soul.) 

VERSE 10 “Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation…” (correction or rectification in Christ. He has come as the corrector of the Old Covenant that had to do with the flesh; the dead deeds of the Law. Deuteronomy 17). They could make ceremonially clean the outside of man, but could not affect the inward enmity of the flesh (Romans 7&8). With the rending of the veil of the Holiest, came the setting aside of the Law of the flesh system (that which begun with Abraham’s circumcision after his failure to perpetuate God’s promises through his seed from a slave woman. Galatians 4:21-31). The believer’s heart is now the spiritual battleground and is to be established by Gospel Grace (the Divine influence upon the carnally influenced soul, through the spirit’s conscience) and not by keeping the generally dead works of the Law of Moses.