Hebrew 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:
By observing the marginal notes, we find that Hebrews 4:14 reads, Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God... Being made higher than the heavens, He is seated as a High Priest at the right hand of God. Remember that this is His relationship to His people, Israel. This is not said in reference to the church of the Dispensation of the Mystery. Yet the place is the same.
We are told that, as for the Jews, the way into the Holiest of all was not made manifest while the first tabernacle was standing. And as for the services and rituals, we learn that they were temporary, not perfecting them in spirit but ministering to the flesh. Rituals and ordinances could not make one perfect as pertaining to the conscience. Only the finished work of Christ could do that.
The tabernacle or sanctuary is much in evidence in Hebrews. The word used is Hagion. Here is a complete use of the word in Hebrews;
Hagion
Hebrews:
Heb. 8:2 A minister of the Sanctuary.
Heb. 9:1 . . . a worldly sanctuary.
Heb. 9:2 Which is called the sanctuary
Heb. 9:3 Which is the Holiest of all.
Heb. 9:8 The way into the Holiest of all.
Heb. 9:12 Entered in once into the holy place.
Heb. 9:24 Into the holy places made with hands.
Heb. 9:25 Into the holy place every year.
Heb. 10:19 To enter into the holiest by the blood.
Heb. 13:11 Brought into the sanctuary.
The whole Epistle to the Hebrews should be read with special attention to the above references.
Now we find this same root word, hagios, used in the Prison Epistles, too. It may shed some light on the riches of those who are members of The Church, which is The Body of Christ and of which He is The Head.
In Ephesians 1:18, Paul is praying that the saints might know what is The Glory of God's inheritance in the Holiest of all, Heaven itself. This is associated with the Hope of His calling and the exceeding greatness of His power to those who believe. It is also connected with the grand and glorious statement in Eph. 1:3 that God has blessed us with every blessing that is spiritual in The Heavenlies, The Heaven of heavens itself, in Christ. Since the tabernacle was a pattern of things in the heavens, the dwelling place of God is in The Holy of Holies.
In Ephesians 2:19, we discover that we Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens of the Holiest of all and of the household of God there, not here.
Colossians 1:12 tells us that we have been made meet to be partakers of The Inheritance of The Holiest of all, Heaven itself, and in The Shekinah Glory which was always associated with it. This is the True Tabernacle, cleansed by the one sacrifice of Christ, and now has no rituals or ordinances. Those who enter are the true circumcision. Now read Colossians 2:16-23.
Carnal Christians still observe rituals and ordinances, trying to improve the flesh. This is not a worthy walk. They may satisfy the flesh for the time being but are not walking in the spirit and doing the good works that God has before ordained that we walk in them (Eph. 2:10).
