The Holy of Holies and the Veil

Within the Holy Place of the tabernacle, there was an inner room called the Holy of Holies, or the Most Holy Place. Judging from its name, we can see that it was a most sacred room, a place no ordinary person could enter. It was God’s special dwelling place in the midst of His people. During the Israelites’ wanderings in the wilderness, God appeared as a pillar of cloud or fire in and above the Holy of Holies. The Holy of Holies was a perfect cube — its length, width and height were all equal to 15 feet.

A thick curtain separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place. This curtain, known as the “veil,” was made of fine linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn. There were figures of cherubim (angels) embroidered onto it. Cherubim, spirits who serve God, were in the presence of God to demonstrate His almighty power and majesty. They also guarded the throne of God. These cherubim were also on the innermost layer of covering of the tent. If one looked upward, they would see the cherubim figures.

The word “veil” in Hebrew means a screen, divider or separator that hides. What was this curtain hiding? Essentially, it was shielding a holy God from sinful man. Whoever entered into the Holy of Holies was entering the very presence of God. In fact, anyone except the high priest who entered the Holy of Holies would die. Even the high priest, God’s chosen mediator with His people, could only pass through the veil and enter this sacred dwelling once a year, on a prescribed day called the Day of Atonement.

The picture of the veil was that of a barrier between man and God, showing man that the holiness of God could not be trifled with. God’s eyes are too pure to look on evil and He can tolerate no sin (Habakkuk 1:13). The veil was a barrier to make sure that man could not carelessly and irreverently enter into God’s awesome presence. Even as the high priest entered the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement, he had to make some meticulous preparations: He had to wash himself, put on special clothing, bring burning incense to let the smoke cover his eyes from a direct view of God, and bring blood with him to make atonement for sins.

“But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.” (Hebrews 9:7)

So the presence of God remained shielded from man behind a thick curtain during the history of Israel. However, Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross changed that. When He died, the curtain in the Jerusalem temple was torn in half, from the top to the bottom. Only God could have carried out such an incredible feat because the veil was too high for human hands to have reached it, and too thick to have torn it. (The Jerusalem temple, a replica of the wilderness tabernacle, had a curtain that was about 60 feet in height, 30 feet in width and four inches thick.) Furthermore, it was torn from top down, meaning this act must have come from above.

As the veil was torn, the Holy of Holies was exposed. God’s presence was now accessible to all. Shocking as this may have been to the priests ministering in the temple that day, it is indeed good news to us as believers, because we know that Jesus’ death has atoned for our sins and made us right before God. The torn veil illustrated Jesus’ body broken for us, opening the way for us to come to God. As Jesus cried out “It is finished!” on the cross, He was indeed proclaiming that God’s redemptive plan was now complete. The age of animal offerings was over. The ultimate offering had been sacrificed.

We can now boldly enter into God’s presence, “the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.” (Hebrews 6:19-20)

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body …let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.” (Hebrews 10:19-22)

The Holy of Holies is a representation of heaven itself, God’s dwelling place, which we have access now through Christ. In Revelations, John’s vision of heaven — the New Jerusalem — also was a perfect square, just as the Holy of Holies was (Revelation 21:16).

“For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. …But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Hebrews 9:24-26)

The components of the tabernacle:

The components of the tabernacle:

http://the-tabernacle-place.com

Wees heilig!

   Ik kom in uw heiligdom binnen,

Ik kom in uw heiligdom binnen,

't voorhangsel ga ik voorbij.

Ik breng U mijn offer, een zoete geur,

vrucht van wat U deed in mij.

Mijn mond brengt een offer van lof, Heer.

't Gaat nu alleen om uw eer.

't Reukwerk van mijn lofgezang

stijgt op in uw woning.

Ik kniel voor de troon van mijn Koning.

Samen met mijn stem

hef ik ook mijn handen op tot U,

het loflied komt diep uit mijn hart.

Lofprijs, aanbidding, glorie en kracht komen U toe,

God van 't heelal voor eeuwig.

Lofprijs, aanbidding, glorie en krach

t komen U toe, God van 't heelal.

(c) Thankyou Music Ned. tekst: JmeO

I worship You, Almighty God

I worship You, Almighty God

There is none like You

I worship You, O  Prince of Peace

That is what I want to do

I give You prais

e For You  are my righteousness

I worship You, Almighty God

There is none like  You

There is none like You

There is none like You

Don Moen

Model van het tabernakel met aan de achterzijde het Heilige der Heiligen.

Het Heilige der Heiligen

Het Heilige der Heiligen is in de Hebreeuwse Bijbel de plaats waar de Ark van het Verbond was geplaatst in de Tabernakel. Later, in de Joodse Tempel, was ook een Heilige der Heiligen waar eveneens de Ark werd geplaatst. De woonplaats van God in de hemel wordt ook het Heilige der Heiligen genoemd. Volgens de geschiedenis zei God tegen Mozes, toen hij de bouwplannen voor de tabernakel bekend maakte, dat dit een soort 'schaduwbeeld of afspiegeling' beschreef van zijn eigenlijke woonplaats in de hemel.

Het Heilige der Heiligen, kubusvormig en afgescheiden door een gordijn of voorhang van de rest van de tabernakel/tempel mocht slechts een keer per jaar bezocht worden door de hogepriester die dan het zoenoffer voor de zonden van het volk van Israël bracht.

In de Ethiopische kerken is in het centrum een kubusvormig allerheiligste, dat alleen door de priester mag worden betreden. Dit is een voortzetting van het Heilige der heiligen in de Joodse tempel.

De benaming Heilige der Heiligen is ontstaan door letterlijke vertaling uit het Hebreeuws. Een betere vertaling is: Allerheiligste.In het christendom heeft Christus symbolisch de voorhang verwijderd door zijn zoenoffer aan het kruis zodat iedereen volgens deze visie toegang krijgt tot het Heilige der Heiligen en tot God kan naderen. De evangeliën van Mattheüs, Marcus en Lucas melden dat, op het moment van het sterven van Jezus aan het kruis, het voorhangsel van de tempel scheurde. Dit is bijzonder, omdat het voorhangsel iets heiligs was en zeker niet door mensen doorgescheurd zou worden. Mattheus en Marcus schrijven zelfs dat het voorhangsel van boven tot onder scheurde, wat zou kunnen wijzen op Goddelijk ingrijpen. Door het sterven van Jezus werd het Heilige der Heiligen voor de mens toegankelijk.

Bron:  Wikipedia

Plattegrond van het tabernakel met links het Heilige der Heiligen

Revelation Song

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain

Holy,  holy is He

Sing a new song to Him who sits on

Heaven's mercy seat

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain

Holy,  holy is He

Sing a new song

to Him who sits on

Heaven's mercy  seat

Holy, holy, holy is the  Lord God Almighty

Who was and is  and is to come

With all creation I  sing

praise to the King of kings

You are my everything

and I will adore You

Clothed in rainbows of living color

Flashes of lighting rolls of thunder

Blessing and honor strength

and glory and power be

To You the only wise  King

Holy, holy, holy is the  Lord God Almighty

Who was and is  and is to come

With all  creation I sing

praise to the King of kings

You are my everything

and I will adore You

Filled with wonder

awestruck wonder

At the mention of Your name

Jesus  Your name is power,

breath and living water

Such  a marvelous mystery

Oh, You're  worthy, mystery

You are  worthy

Holy, holy, holy is the  Lord God Almighty

Who was and is  and is to come

With all creation I  sing

praise to the King of kings

You are my everything

and I will adore You,

I will adore You

Kari Jobe

Holy is our King

Angels gather round your throne

And around your throne they bring

Praises to the Living Word

To the awesome One they sing [

Crying Holy... Holy... Holy... Is our King.

Elders bowing at your feet

And at your feet, they bend their knees.

All creatures on the earth below

Bow before you now.

Crying Holy... Holy...

Holy... Is our King.    

Rick Pino

Worthy

Worthy Worthy Worthy

To receive our praise

Holy Holy Holy

You’re the Son of God

You are awesome

God of power

Lord of glory

Come and fill this place

Awesome

Power

Glory

Fill this place

You are awesome

Power

Glory

Fill this place

Holy Holy Holy

You are awesome

Come and fill this place

You are awesome

God of mercy

God of righteousness

God of salvation

Paul Wilbur