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The Holy of Holies was the innermost place of the ancient
Jewish Tabernacle and Temple, and was its most sacred chamber. It contained the Ark
of the Covenant and was separated from the rest of the sanctuary by a thick
veil. This area was considered the dwelling place of God, and only
the high priest could enter it, and only once a year on the Day of
Atonement (Yom Kippur).
The thick veil separating the Holy of Holies from the outer chamber symbolized the huge gulf between a holy God and sinful humanity. Selected priests could go into the Holy Place to perform daily rituals, but only the high priest could into the Holy of Holies (the Most Holy Place).
The veil and elaborate rituals undertaken by the high priest were a reminder that man could not carelessly or irreverently enter God’s holy presence.
At the moment Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the Forerunner’s spirit entered the Presence behind the veil, having become our High Priest.
The torn veil symbolized that the barrier between God and humanity had been taken away by the death of Christ, and direct access to God is now possible for all humanity through Christ Jesus… not just the high priest once a year. The believer is no longer separated from God.
Under the Levitical priesthood, all the high priests descended from Moses' brother, Aaron. Under the New Covenant, we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people and are no longer separated, but seated together with Christ in the presence of God.
That’s why Jesus told Thomas, “I am the way, the truth, and
the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
The ancient rituals of the Holy of Holies was a foreshadowing of the New Covenant that should rise in Christ Jesus, our High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek (as opposed to the order of Aaron). The New Covenant has made the first obsolete, and what has become obsolete is growing old and is ready to vanish away (Heb. 8:13). When we partake of the Lord's Supper (Communion), we are actually celebrating the New Covenant. Jesus said, "This is My blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
The Holy of Holies, the very presence of God, is now open to all who will come to Christ in faith. Where as, before, there was an imposing barrier guarded by cherubim angels, God has opened a way by the shed blood of His Son, Christ Jesus.
One time I told a brother at church, that in his spirit he could go into the presence of the Lord Jesus, and be seated together with Him, and have a conversation about what was troubling him. He adamantly responded, "Oh no!" He couldn't see that we have that privilege. Man… what a pity.
Romans 5:1-2 (NKJV) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
James 4:8 (NKJV) Draw near to God and He will draw near
to you.
Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove †