A) INTRODUCTION.

B) COLORFUL MATERIALS USED.

C) THE SECOND VAIL AND WHAT VEIL MEANS.

D) BRING ON THE HORSES.

E) SILVER INSTEAD OF BRASS.

F) ENTERING THE MOST HOLY PLACE.

 

 

A) INTRODUCTION

 

 

According to Exodus 26:6 & 11 & 31-33 and Hebrews 9:3, this “second Veil,” is virtually the same as the first “vail,” with its interwoven colors of “blue, and purple, and scarlet,” Exodus 38:18, made of “fine twined linen of cunning work:  with cherubims,” interlaid Exodus 26:31-33.  However, the entrance Veil was supported by “five pillars,” whereas this “second,” or inner Veil, was suspended from only “four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold,” Exodus 26:32.  Also, its “sockets [were made] of silver,” Exodus 26:32, while the entrance veils “sockets [were made] of brass,” Exodus 26:37.

 

What is interesting to note is that my favorite Bible Commentator mentions a “border:”  “The curtain which separated these two apartments looked glorious.  It was of different colors and material, with a beautiful border, with figures of gold wrought upon it, representing angels.”  1SG:159.  Also:  “This curtain did not reach to the top of the building.”  4aSG:8.

 

 

B) COLORFUL MATERIALS USED

 

 

The colorful materials (Exo. 25:4; 26:31) used to make this “veil” are typical of Christ’s ministry.  In considering the “fine twined linen,” this linen was from the Egyptian white byssus yarn, woven tightly together (“of cunning work”).  The color “white” in the Bible is a symbolism of purity and righteousness, and the fineness denotes the faultlessness of the material.  It is another fitting symbol of our Lord Who was without blemish and spot (1Pe. 1:19) and the righteous saints of God who will be arrayed in fine white linen garments at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7-8); thus symbolizing the righteousness of Christ that was imputed to them.

 

The “blue,” most likely indigo, was produced from a species of shellfish.  The “scarlet” was a red dye produced from worms or grubs and provides a vivid picture of Christ’s ministry in the shedding of His blood to purchase our salvation (Rom. 3:25 & 5:9).

 

The color “purple” was produced from a secretion of the “purple” snail (murex).  Purple, in Bible times, was the color used for royalty, and Christ is well qualified to present us with His royalty that He deserved of the Deity that He both represented (His Father) and was (the Son).  Jesus was born from the kingly line of David (Luke 1:32), born a king (Mat. 2:2), mocked as a King (Mat. 27:29), declared to be a King at His crucifixion (Mat. 27:37), is Coming back as King of kings (Rev. 19:16), and will rule as a King forever and ever (Luke 1:33).

 

To make this costly and labor-intensive dye, “Tyrian purple,” better known as “royal purple,” was historically made by the ancient Phoenicians and Jews respectively, using mucus from the hypobranchial gland of two species of snail, commonly referred to as “Murex.”  This dye is a rare animal-produced organobromine compound, which the snails make using a specific bromide peroxidase enzyme that operates on dissolved bromide in sea water.  This dye was used in royal robes, other kinds of special ceremonial or ritual garments, or garments indicating high rank.  It was this dye that was featured prominently in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem.  The clothing of the High Priest of Israel officiating there wore it.  It is sometimes still used by Jews today in the ritual fringes (“tzitzit”) on four-cornered garments.  In an astonishing note, David Jacoby remarks that “twelve thousand snails of Murex brandaris yield no more than 1.4 g of pure dye, enough to colour only the trim of a single garment.”

 

“The curtains of the tabernacle were of a variety of colors, most beautifully arranged, and in these curtains were wrought, with threads of gold and silver, cherubims, which were to represent the angelic host, who are connected with the work of the Heavenly Sanctuary, and who are ministering angels to the saints upon the earth.”  1SP:273.2.

 

 

C) THE SECOND VAIL AND WHAT VEIL MEANS

 

 

This Second Veil separated a Holy God from a sinful people.  In actuality, the Hebrew word for “Veil,” i.e., “paroketh,” literally means, “to separate,” which clearly describes its function and ministry.  In representation, Christ represents the Veil, protecting an unfinished, unholy people from a Holy God.  And with His death upon the cross, the Veil was rent from top to bottom (Mat. 27:51), opening the way to this Holy God through Christ’s shed blood (Heb. 10:19), such that we can “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy,” Hebrews 4:16.

 

“This curtain did not reach to the top of the building.  The glory of God, which was above the Mercy-Seat, could be seen from both apartments, but in a much less degree from the first apartment.”  1SP:273.

 

 

D) BRING ON THE HORSES

 

 

According to the “Ryrie Study Bible,” there is this note for Exodus 26:31-35:  “Josephus reported that the veil was 4 inches thick, was renewed every year, and that horses tied to each side could not pull it apart.”  Only then could it fulfill its function as being worthy to hang before the Thrown of God.  Thus, for the “inner veil” to have ripped from the “top to the bottom,” Matthew 27:51 & Mark 15:38, only the hand of God could do this, for man, even if he could, would rip it from the “bottom to the top.”

 

It must be mentioned again, that, like everything else in the Sanctuary, this “inner veil” represented Christ.  He It is Who preserves us when the brightness of God’s Holy Presence is near; protecting sinful man from a Holy God.  Not that our Father wants to be separate from us.  We just need Christ’s covering of His righteousness before even attempting to approach the glory of the Father.

 

Christ’s “Veiling” also worked in another manner, in that He “Veiled” His Divinity in Humanity (see Heb. 10:20) when Coming to this earth to redeem sinful man.  Had He not “vailed” Himself, humanity would have “no choice” but to bow before Him, whether willingly or unwillingly (Isa. 45:23; Rom. 14:11).

 

 

E) SILVER INSTEAD OF BRASS

 

 

Why the “silver” sockets instead of the “brass” sockets as was the case with the entrance Veil?  Since silver is more closely a representation of (Christ’s) humanity, could it be that once Christ has provided and purged (Heb. 10:2) the way into the Sanctuary Proper, that we are then, through the power of His blood, able to “come boldly unto the throne of grace?”  Hebrews 4:16.  Paul definitely states that this “veil” represents the flesh of Christ.  “(19) Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the Holiest [Most Holy Place] by the blood of Jesus, (20) By a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; (21) And having an High Priest over the house of God.”  Hebrews 10:19-21.

 

Also, when Jesus died on the cross, when this “veil” “was rent in twain from the top to the bottom,” Matthew 27:51, this represented the torn flesh of Christ, and that “the sacrifice and the oblation” had then ceased, Daniel 9:27; Matthew 27:50-51.  No longer do we need to bring our sacrifices to the earthly Sanctuary.  For Christ has taken those services over in the Heavenly Sanctuary.

 

 

F) ENTERING THE MOST HOLY PLACE

 

 

As far as entering into the Most Holy Place, this is where once a year, on the Day of Atonement (“Yom Kippur” as the Jewish people refer to this day), an atonement is made for the people in the Sanctuary (Lev. 16:14-16).  According toLeviticus 16:12-13 the Golden Censer’s purpose was to create smoke in order to conceal the form of God, for no man can look upon Him and live.  Thus, the Most Holy Place must not be entered into without the Golden Censer, which hung upon the Northwest horn on the Alter of Incense awaiting this duty for this particular day.  It also provided a sweet-smelling savor (Exo. 25:6; 31:11; etcetera).  It had other functions, but this was its main purpose.

 

According to Leviticus 4:6 & 17, the High Priest dipped his finger in the blood of the sin offering, and sprinkled it seven times upon the second “veil.”  This shows that the sacrifice bore the “fingerprint” of the High Priest, and as such, that Jesus “His Own Self bare our sins in His Own body on the tree.”  First Peter 2:24.  Looking at Hebrews 10:20again:  “By a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh.”  The Greek word here for “veil” is, “datapetasma,” and is in harmony with the symbolism of the “veil” being the instrument that hides the Divine presence.

 

On the other hand, it is because of the “flesh” sacrificed by Christ, that the “veil” can be lifted at all, and that we might approach God the Father upon the merits of Christ.  Because, “No one but the high priest ever lifted the veil separating this apartment [the Most Holy Place] from the rest of the Temple.”  DA:757.  It was the rending of this “veil” that not only signified that the sacrificial system was at an end, but also that:  “Type has met antitype in the death of God’s Son.  The great sacrifice has been made.  The way into the Holiest [the Most Holy Place] is laid open.  A new and living way is prepared for all.  No longer need sinful, sorrowing humanity await the coming of the high priest.  Henceforth the Saviour was to officiate as Priest and Advocate in the Heaven of heavens.”  DA:757.  For “by His Own blood He entered in. . . having obtained eternal redemption for us.”  Hebrews 9:12.

 

Did you notice that according to DA:757, that the High Priest “lifted the veil” in order to enter into the Most Holy Place?  This shows that he must bow down underneath it upon entering the next compartment, not pull it aside, either from the left side, or the right side, which was fastened to the wall, as we might do today when entering another room or compartment.  This verifies the submission of Christ and His subjection to the obedience of His Own [His Father’s] Ten Commandment Laws.  Can you imagine our Lord having to “bow down” to anything or anyone?  This also highlights how low our Lord had to go in order to redeem His people.

 

This second “inner veil,” being a symbol of the flesh of our Lord, or better, the humanity of Christ (Heb. 10:20 & Exo. 26:33), clearly teaches us that He is the only way we can hope to inter into God’s presence.  “(19) Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the Holiest [Most Holy Place] by the blood of Jesus, (20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh.”  Hebrews 10:19-20.  I mention this verse again to show that the Greek word for “new” in verse 20, is “prosphatos,” which literally means, “newly slain,” which fittingly describes our Lord’s sacrifice.  Christ has changed the “veil” from a barrier to approach God, to an open gateway; a directional passage if you will.  “Strait is the gate,” Matthew 7:14; “This is the way, walk ye in it.”  Isaiah 30:21.

 

As we think of entering into the Most Holy place compartment, let’s read PP:348-349:

 

“[348] Beyond the inner veil was the Holy of Holies, where centered the symbolic service of atonement and intercession, and which formed the connecting link between Heaven and earth.  In this apartment was the Ark, a chest of acacia wood, overlaid within and without with gold, and having a crown of gold about the top.  It was made as a depository for the Tables of Stone, upon which God Himself had inscribed the Ten Commandments.  Hence it was called the Ark of God’s Testament, or the Ark of the Covenant, since the Ten Commandments were the basis of the covenant made between God and Israel.  The cover of the sacred chest was called the Mercy Seat.  This was wrought of one solid piece of gold, and was surmounted by golden cherubim, one standing on each end.  One wing of each angel was stretched forth on high, while the other was folded over the body [see Ezekiel 1:11] in token of reverence and humility.  The position of the cherubim, with their faces turned [349]

 

“toward each other, and looking reverently downward toward the Ark, represented the reverence with which the Heavenly host regard the Law of God and their interest in the plan of redemption.  Above the Mercy Seat was the Shekinah {glory}, the manifestation of the Divine Presence; and from between the cherubim, God made known His Will.  Divine messages were sometimes communicated to the high priest by a voice from the cloud.  Sometimes a light fell upon the angel at the right, to signify approval or acceptance, or a shadow or cloud rested upon the one at the left to reveal disapproval or rejection.  The Law of God, enshrined within the Ark, was the great rule of righteousness and judgment.  That Law pronounced death upon the transgressor; but above the Law was the Mercy Seat, upon which the presence of God was revealed, and from which, by virtue of the atonement, pardon was granted to the repentant sinner.  Thus in the work of Christ for our redemption, symbolized by the Sanctuary service, ‘mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.’  Psalm 85:10.”

 

Something to remember:  What illuminated the Holy Place, or first compartment?  The Seven Branched Lampstand.  By contrast, nothing known to man illuminated the Most Holy Place.  For It was lighted by the Shekinah Glory.