Exactly 165 years Ago, Christ Entered the Most Holy Place

[tall73]

There is Bible evidence pointing to the Day of Atonement as a "Cleansing" of the sanctuary - and some might be tempted to get that from Heb 9 -- but the context for Heb 9 shows that the particular instance mentioned there - is in regard to the innauguration.

So while the language "things in heaven cleansed" is wonderful and would be applicable to the Day of Atonement in a text actually talking about that event --- in the case of Heb 9 the context points clearly to innauguration.

in Christ,

Bob

Well let's see what one Adventist scholar has to say about it:

William Johnsson addresses the idea that the cleansing of the sanctuary in Hebrews 9:23 is dealing only with the inauguration in the Daniel and Revelation Committee volume Issues in the Book of Hebrews in the article "Defilement/Purification and Hebrews 9:23"

He provides three reasons. I think his first is most telling, but he does not actually go far enough. But I will save his first reason for later.

Here are his second two reasons:

First he notes the significance of verse 22. Verse 22 shows a broader perspective than simply inauguration.

Heb 9:22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Second, verse 22 is to be seen as a contextual break. "Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." When we give this verse its due weight, the supposed parallel is weakened. Many exegetes of Hebrews have seen in this verse the so-called "blood rule" a critical plank in the author's argument. It clearly looks far wider than inauguration, since it is dealing with aphesis, ("release," "pardon"). Verse 22, in fact, is summing up the role of blood in the OT. It is reaching back beyond verse 18 to embrace verses 1-21. (Johnsson 96)

Verse 22 sums up the role of blood in the OT, and indeed before verse 22 a number of blood rites are described, not just the inauguration. They reference the sin offering, the red heifer, the covenant ratification and the inauguration. These are all related to blood. And in verse 22 the role of blood is noted in providing forgiveness which was not the key element in the inauguration, but is in the Day of Atonement.

Verse 22 is the immediate context of verse 23.

Johnsson continues with his third argument refuting the idea that verse 23 refers only to the inauguration:

But the strongest argument against this view, in my judgment, is the author's terminology. He uses katharizein ("to purify") not egkainizein ("to inaugurate"). These terms are not equivalent; they are not to be collapsed together.

The Day of Atonement was clearly about cleansing the heavenly things and bringing about forgiveness.

Ellen White appears to agree that it has reference to the Day of Atonement:

She says in GC chapter 23:

In Hebrews 9 the cleansing of both the earthly and the heavenly sanctuary is plainly taught. "Almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these [the blood of animals]; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these" (Hebrews 9:22, 23), even the precious blood of Christ.

She then goes on to describe not the inauguration service but the Day of Atonement service.

[BobRyan]

The key is the reference to the Tenth day being the "beginning of the year" (which obviously also marks the end of the prior year).

That is spelled out for us in Lev 25 where the Day of Atonement - the Tenth Day is when the Jubilee year is started.

I would point to where Hebrew scholarship affirms this point -- but you seem to prefer not to look at those sources -- so I am not referencing it.

in Christ,

Bob

[tall73]

Originally Posted By: tall73

And what about the firstfruits?

The firstfruits were to be presented on the day after the Sabbath after the Passover.

Lev 23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:

Lev 23:11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.

Paul says that Jesus was the firstfruits from among the dead. His resurrection occurred on the first day after the Sabbath after the Passover.

1Co 15:20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

This is often seen as a fulfillment of the firstfruits. In this scenario Jesus would be the firstfruits of the harvest of the resurrection which is celebrated more fully in the feast of tabernacles at the end of the harvest.

That is not correct. The end of harvest feast is "ingathering" the first fruits feast is distinctly a spring feast.

Christ was the "first fruits" from the dead -- and was raised up ON the very day predicted.

By contrast we have the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year -

[BobRyan]

There is Bible evidence pointing to the Day of Atonement as a "Cleansing" of the sanctuary - and some might be tempted to get that from Heb 9 -- but the context for Heb 9 shows that the particular instance mentioned there - is in regard to the innauguration.

So while the language "things in heaven cleansed" is wonderful and would be applicable to the Day of Atonement in a text actually talking about that event --- in the case of Heb 9 the context points clearly to innauguration.

in Christ,

Bob

[tall73]

Now as to my analysis of the meaning of verse 23 I will just link to an article of my website. I would spell it out here but this forum does not appear to support unicode Greek fonts, unlike some other forums I visit, which is a real shame. So posting it here would cut out the Greek material for those who can benefit from it (it is not necessary for those who don't know Greek), and cuts out part of the commentary selections which show scholarly support for this view based on the Greek text.

http://www.sanctuarydoctrine.com/cleansing.html

[BobRyan]

I think you missed the point. Of course the first fruits are a spring feast and Jesus rose on that very day.

And the rest of the harvest from the dead...of which He is the first fruits...is celebrated at the harvest festival at the end of the year, the feast of tabernacles.

One is a spring feast, one is a fall feast, both deal with resurrection from the dead in connection with harvest.

[tall73]

Notice I am dealing specifically with the innaugural deteails of "things in heaven cleansed" -- cleansed in the same way Moses did at the innauguration.

Paul then applies a "more general principle" to that innauguration act by noting that "without the shedding of blood -- no forgiveness of sins" a general rule that applies to ALL activity related to OT services, that he uses to emphasize the way things are cleansed in heaven even in the innaugural service.

[tall73]

The resurrection associated with the first coming "first fruits" is the resurrection of Christ according to 1Cor 15.

The resurrection associated with the fall ingathering -- would be the saints according to that same chapter.

Still not sure how this is helping your case.

That WAS my case. I was simply describing the significance of the two festivals.

But then I noted the festival is fulfilled before the inauguration of the heavenly sanctuary which we would not expect from the type.

[BobRyan]

That WAS my case. I was simply describing the significance of the two festivals.

But then I noted the festival is fulfilled before the inauguration of the heavenly sanctuary which we would not expect from the type.

I don't mean to be a slow reader here - but I am having difficulty with your "innauguration out of Lev 23 sequence" when in fact there is no Innauguration event in the Lev 23 sequence at all.

However - I think it is a given that some minor details in every visual-aide illustration do not apply -- if that is what you are getting to -

in Christ,

Bob

[tall73]

We celebrate Passover with every Communion.

The feast of the saints in heaven will not be the same foot-washing ordinance of humility, confession, style service as we see in Communion and no sacrifice as in Passover.

I know of no text that says "Passover is fulfilled in heaven" -- the one you quote has Christ actually celebrating Passover with the disciples before His death.

[tall73]

I am saying that the "timing" you are looking for in the Lev 23 annual feasts does not apply to the event we see missing from that Lev 23 -- the Innauguration.

It happened as we see in Heb 9 -- but there is no requirement to try and force a Lev 23 sequence on the innauguration -- since Lev 23 is for cyclic - annual feasts.

Thus there is no "out of order" in Lev 23 for a ceremony not mentioned at all in Lev 23.

in Christ,

Bob

The fulfillment is of all the types Bob, or the author wouldn't bother referring to the red heifer, the inauguration, etc.

But let's look at it a bit more. Each of the Lev. 23 feasts had a sacrifice associated with it.

Were those sacrifices all fulfilled at their respective times?

Was the entry for the Day of Atonement fulfilled at its respective time?

Trying to pinpoint elements on the type is backwards.

The type is the shadow the heavenly is the real.

[tall73]

Paul then applies ...

Since you are limiting yourself only to exegesis can you explain where you derived that the author of Hebrews is Paul?

[BobRyan]

The Day of Atonement was clearly about cleansing the heavenly things and bringing about forgiveness.

[BobRyan]

Originally Posted By: BobRyan

Paul then applies ...

Since you are limiting yourself only to exegesis can you explain where you derived that the author of Hebrews is Paul?

I am going to let that Red herring swim right on by - for the sake of focus on our subject.

in Christ,

Bob

[BobRyan]

I am saying that the "timing" you are looking for in the Lev 23 annual feasts does not apply to the event we see missing from that Lev 23 -- the Innauguration.

It happened as we see in Heb 9 -- but there is no requirement to try and force a Lev 23 sequence on the innauguration -- since Lev 23 is for cyclic - annual feasts.

Thus there is no "out of order" in Lev 23 for a ceremony not mentioned at all in Lev 23.

in Christ,

Bob

[tall73]

Originally Posted By: tall73

Since you are limiting yourself only to exegesis can you explain where you derived that the author of Hebrews is Paul?

I am going to let that Red herring swim right on by - for the sake of focus on our subject.

in Christ' date='

Bob [/quote']

It is not a red herring Bob. It is a challenge to you to apply what you state is your method.

[tall73]

Actually -- I think you have yet to make the case that there is any Day of Atonement service in heaven mentioned at all in the entire chapter of Heb 9. (though we do see Chapter 9 reference the earthly Day of Atonement service and nothing would please me more than to find in Heb 9 a statement predicting what Christ would do on the antitypical Day of Atonement in Heaven).

in Christ,

Bob

I spelled it out in the link provided.

http://www.sanctuarydoctrine.com/cleansing.html

I wish the forum supported unicode or I would just post it here. But I had not posted it at the time of that statement. So in response to that statement that would be accurate.

[tall73]

My point above is not that the innauguration type does not get mentioned in Heb 9 -- just that your "sequence detail" argument made as if there was a "sequence detail in Lev 23" regarding innauguration that is being violated in Heb 9 or some place else -- does not follow.

I am not limiting the sequence to Lev. 23 at all, which is the point. Jesus fulfilled more than just the feasts. And indeed since the first fruits were not to be instituted until they reached the land, and the inauguration clearly happened before that, it is not hard to understand that one came before the other in the type.

[tall73]

And obviously you have to go through the Holy Place to get TO the Most Holy Place -- so a SINGLE entry into the sanctuary itself begins with the Holy Place -- and at a given point in time goes to the Most Holy -- which is STILL a "single entry" into the Heavenly Sanctuary since no need to go back out of the Sanctuary and get another sacrifice.

in Christ,

Bob

Bob, you need not wonder when the entry continued into the Most Holy Place. You already admitted Jesus inaugurated at ascension, which included all the sanctuary, so He entered the Most Holy Place in that once-for-all entry right away.

Jesus entered BY MEANS of blood. Blood was not necessary to enter the first compartment. But both services, the inauguration and the Day of Atonement, that involved entry into the second compartment involved blood.

And the blood mentioned in verse 12 in connection with that entry once for all is the blood of bulls and goats. Only two services include entry by means of goats blood and both deal with the most holy place.

[BobRyan]

Originally Posted By: BobRyan

And obviously you have to go through the Holy Place to get TO the Most Holy Place -- so a SINGLE entry into the sanctuary itself begins with the Holy Place -- and at a given point in time goes to the Most Holy -- which is STILL a "single entry" into the Heavenly Sanctuary since no need to go back out of the Sanctuary and get another sacrifice.

in Christ,

Bob

Bob, you need not wonder when the entry continued into the Most Holy Place.

[BobRyan]

As you may recall from our discussions over at CARM -

Paul makes the argument in Hebrews that Christ's work is the antitype for what we see "in type" in the earthly priesthood. But he also notices some "differences". One of them being that the earthly High Priest had to offer many sacrifices and so would enter the sanctuary many times.

Quote:

Heb 9

Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own.

Heb 7:27 (Christ) does not need DAILY LIKE the High Priest to OFFER UP sacrifices)

Heb 10

10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins;

12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD,

Heb 9

26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,

28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

Paul’s emphasis is on being crucified as a sacrifice for sin ONCE (“by the Sacrifice of Himself”) vs OFTEN (“offer up sacrifices”)

The contrast language is between the ONE sacrifice of the True antitype High Priest – vs the Often – in fact DAILY – sacrifices “offered up” by the High Priests – year after year.

Heb 10:10 “offering the BODY” – done on the altar of sacrifice – not in the sanctuary.

Heb 7:27 “Offer UP sacrifices” (offered up in smoke according to the text of scripture ) done DAILY by the High Priest

The contrast language points to the fact that Christ does not need to go out and get “another sacrifice” daily or even year after year.

9:24 is a focus on Christ's ministry STARTING as of that ENTERING... (not ENDING as Victor seems to argue)

9:25-28 has a focus on the completion of the once for all sacrifice – not completion of the High Priest’s role in ministry in the sanctuary.

Hence in 1John 2:2 (NIV) we have the "completed Atoning Sacrifice" language "He is the Atoning Sacrifice for OUR sins and not for our sins only but for the sins of the WHOLE World".

[BobRyan]

Paul's explicit statement is that suffering preceded entering the sanctuary it does not follow it. Christ appeared ONCE to bears the sins of the world -- "he BECAME sin for us" as an act PRIOR to entering the sanctuary.

1. Sacrifice OFFERED on the altar of sacrifice. (done ONCE in the case of Christ)

2. Priest ENTERS WITH the blood obtained from sacrifice already offered. (done ONCE)

3. Ministry then proceeds with that blood (as Vs 24 points out ENTERING marks the START of DAILY)

4. Worshippers cleansed. Heb 9:11-14 "how much more WILL the blood of Christ...CLEANSE"

Paul follows each of these points in that ministry.

Entrance with blood bringing eternal redemption and purification. That is the type fulfilled.

1. Sacrificed ONCE (does not mean entering is over)

2. Entered ONCE (does not mean subsequent ministry is over... I think we might agree on that point)

3. MINISTERS in the DAILY work of cleansing individuals from sins as they come for forgiveness.

And as we already saw in both Heb 8:1-2 Christ upon entering has "taken his SEAT at the right hand of the Father ... a MINISTER IN the sanctuary". The work of Christ ministering in our behalf as our High Priest in that DAILY service - is done while seated.

Heb 8:1-2 and Heb 10 Christ upon entering has "taken his SEAT at the right hand of the Father ... a MINISTER IN the sanctuary". The work of Christ ministering in our behalf as our High Priest in that DAILY service - is done while seated.

[BobRyan]

Quote:

Hebrews 9

1 Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary.

2 For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place.

3 Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,

4 having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron's rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant;

5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

6 Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle performing the divine worship,

7 but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.

8 The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing,

9 which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience,

10 since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation.

Here we see the OT types that Christ as High Priest and as sin offering would fulfill in antitype.

Vs 1-5 The “Tabernacle” the House of God -- is a two-compartment system of ministry -

Holy Place:

Vs 6 Priests are engaged in multiple sacrifices all year

Vs 6 That blood is brought into the presence of God in outer-tabernacle all year

This is the DAILY service where individuals find forgiveness for specific sins. Individuals saved in the daily service.

Most Holy Place

Vs 7 Once a year –more sacrifices are made and brought into the presence of God in the Most Holy Place.

In this service no new sins are introduced. This deals with all the sins of the year – for which the blood is already claimed.

Vs 8 “The Holy Spirit” (author of the OT text) is pointing out that the way into the holy place is not available while outer tabernacle is standing

Vs 8-10 He is making the argument that the work in the Heavenly Sanctuary could not begin until the earthly service was ended by the antitype Sacrifice of the true Lamb of God.

Holy Place (and possible MHP)

Vs 9-10 BOTH gifts AND sacrifices (sin offerings) are brought in through the daily related to incidents and events regarding each worshiper.

In the DAILY – the worshipers seek cleansing of conscience – confess specific sins. Individual salvation, individual sins, individual forgiveness and cleansing

Quote:

Heb 9

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation;

12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

Here we see that Christ

Appeared as High Priest (past tense) vs 11

Entered the sanctuary (past tense) vs 11

Entered the Holy Place (past tense) vs 12 – once for all

Vs 12 as antitype to those who enter with blood of “goats and calves” (Lev 4 - daily service, Also consecration of priests Lev 9:3).

Lev 22: 17 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

18 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘Whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, who offers his sacrifice for any of his vows or for any of his freewill offerings, which they offer to the LORD as a burnt offering—

19 you shall offer of your own free will a male without blemish from the cattle, from the sheep, or from the goats

Quote:

Heb 9

13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh,

14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

1John 2:1 -- If anyone sins we have an advocate with the Father

1John 1:9 - If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to Forgive US our sins AND to Cleanse US...

The Daily service is where individual - incidental sin is dealt with such that the sinner walks away forigven and cleansed.

Notice that Christ

A - “offered Himself without blemish” (a past tense completed action) that will

B - much more WILL the blood of Christ “cleanse your conscience” as a result of ongoing High Priestly ministry of that blood in antitype – of the same sprinkling and cleansing work that we see in vs 13 in OT types.

Here we see that Christ as High Priest

Vs 13 “Blood of bulls, goats, ashes of heifer” (daily – incidental service)

– Numbers 19 Ashes of red heifer used for water – to sprinkle the unclean person (incidental use)

- Blood of bulls and goats – Lev 4 (Lev 4: 3-4 bulls, vs Lev 4:23-24 Goats) incidental sin

Vs 14-16 OFFERED Himself without blemish to God (past tense) vs 14

Vs 14 WILL CLEANSE your conscience from dead works (present and future) as High Priest vs 14.

Vs 15 IS the Mediator of a new Covenant ( present and continuing work) vs 15

Vs 15 His death covers all sins committed under the first covenant (obey and live)

[John317]

Here's a fairly recent book that presents the Bible evidence for the Investigative Judgment. You can order it at the ABC. It's the best book I know of on this topic: The Silencing of Satan the Gospel of the Investigative Judgment, by Bradley Williams. He's now pastoring at the SDA church in Chula Vista, CA.

http://www.investigativejudgmentgospel.org/default.htm

[BobRyan]

Originally Posted By: BobRyan

My point above is not that the innauguration type does not get mentioned in Heb 9 -- just that your "sequence detail" argument made as if there was a "sequence detail in Lev 23" regarding innauguration that is being violated in Heb 9 or some place else -- does not follow.

I am not limiting the sequence to Lev. 23 at all, which is the point. Jesus fulfilled more than just the feasts. And indeed since the first fruits were not to be instituted until they reached the land, and the inauguration clearly happened before that, it is not hard to understand that one came before the other in the type.

The innauguration of the temple occured "in sequence" after the temple was built.

the blood of all sacrifices (even the Passover sacrifice) could not enter the sanctuary before it was built or innaugurated.

The same holds true in the Heavenly Sanctuary -- it is not entered before it is made. And the blood sacrifical ritual is not engaged in -- before it is innaugurated.

And there is no such thing as the altar of burnt offering being located inside the Sanctuary -- it was in the outer court.

Since these facts do not change -- I am not clear on why you keep going after the point.

If you were trying to argue that the Holy Place heavenly sanctuary service was 'functioning' in the OT or prior to the cross -- I could see why you are having difficulty -- but since you don't argue that I do not see where you are getting so focused on Passover Sanctuary service elements taking place prior to Christ actually entering the Sanctuary for the innauguration and start of the Sanctuary service.

in the case of the sanctuary -- all sacrifices take place first -- outside the sanctuary in the outer court -- before the sanctuary is entered.

in Christ,

Bob