Two years ago as I was studying His Word, God pressed a truth deep within my spirit that is life changing! I had been studying to prepare a study I was doing on the Tabernacle of God in the Old Testament. As I approached the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle I became intrigued by the second veil. The veil was a magnificent piece of hand-woven the finest of fabrics and materials. (Exodus 26:31) The purpose of the veil was simple, yet profound: The veil separated the people from God and His holiness!The second veil into the Tabernacle was replicated and hung in the great Temple in Jerusalem. Now fast-forward to the day Jesus hung on the cross to become the sacrifice for all sin. Matthew 27:50-51 says: 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split.” (NKJV)
The significance of “how the veil was torn” amazes me. Remember the purpose of the veil was to separate man from the holy presence of God. Only the High Priest was allowed behind the second veil. He went behind the veil one time each year to sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice on the MERCY SEAT as an offering for the sin of the people. It was then that the presence of God would come and dwell in the Holy of Holies.
This man-made veil (at the instruction of God) was put in place because of a man made problem: SIN. (Genesis 3)
Simultaneously Jesus is breathing his last breath on the cross and God is tearing the second veil in half from top to bottom. The second veil is torn half from top to bottom!! The veil was TORN TOP TO BOTTOM!!!! (I repeated it because I didn’t want you to miss that part! Haha!)
It was as if GOD was saying, “MAN, you caused this problem called sin way back in the Garden of Eden. You caused the separation between us because SIN and HOLY GOD do not go together! You fell to the temptation placed before you, therefore I placed a curse on all of mankind from that day forward. Sin would eternally separate us unless the ultimate sacrifice for sin is given. That sacrifice is my Son, Jesus I have given Him freely. (John 3:16, John 14:6) Now, he has paid the price on the cross and has shed HIS precious blood. There is no longer the need for the second veil to separate us!! So I, from heaven, am reaching down to the second veil. By My own hands I am tearing it from the top down because there is nothing you can do to satisfy my judgment! (Ephesians 2:8-10) You now have full access to the Holy of Holies because of what Jesus has done for you!” (2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 8:1 and Hebrews 4:14-16)
As I imagined God saying these things the truth was pressed deep into my heart. Man created the separation from God but God loved us too much to let the sin/separation remain! He has invited us to enter into HIS presence and do it without shame! (Hebrews 4:16) Christ breathed His last breath and God took hold of that separation – split it from top to bottom! Praise God!!
I am teaching a series of studies on Wednesday evenings at First Baptist Church of Sylacauga called “Beyond the Second Veil.” Everything that was hidden now belongs to anyone who will believe! What was there? Come and hear!!! Come and BELIEVE!!
Hebrews 9:1-9 (NKJV) (bold, italics and underline are mine)
1 Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; 3 and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4 which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. 7 But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; 8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience—
