A Cool Metaphor

          Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.
          When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 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. The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning.  This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper.  They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order. (Hebrews 9:1-10)
 

          While the main interest of the Law for others might be the on laws pertaining to ceremonial cleanliness, or on moral behavior, the author of Hebrews turns our attention to what he seems to see as the central focus of the Law: the Temple and the sacrificial system. He describes the earthly sanctuary as having two rooms, separated by a curtain. In the first room, called the Holy Place, is where the lampstand and table were found, and where the priests generally did their thing. In my mind, it represents the physical realm.
          In the second, the Most Holy Place, one found the ark, with its mercy seat. Only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, only for a short time, and only after he’d cleaned himself from head to food and sacrificed to cleanse his soul of sin. High priests wore bells on their robes, and had a rope tied to their ankles in case they died while in the Most Holy Place and had to be dragged out – because no one could go get his body. In my mind, it represents Heaven. 
          And the curtain between them? What separates man from God? What prevents access to heaven? It’s sin. And when Jesus died, sin’s power to separate us from Him was destroyed, it was rent in two.
          How’s that for a cool metaphor?