Is, Was and Will Be – The Unknown Character of Christ and His Word

Menu
Contact Us

The Book of Hebrews – Heb 9:2 Part – “Christ Being Come an High Priest of Good Things to Come”

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Heb 9:2 Part 2 – “Christ being come an high priest of good things to come”

[Study Aired December 3, 2020]

Heb 9:2  For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. 

The tabernacle of God was made for worship and service toward Him, and the book of Hebrews was written to help us understand what that service looks like, as God uses the physical temple to help us understand our spiritual relationship with our great Creator and how we can worship Him “in spirit and in truth” through Christ as our high priest of the better covenant.

2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, [‘the physical temple of God‘] that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Joh 4:21  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Joh 4:22  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews [Rom 2:28].
Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Heb 8:6  But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises [Eph 1:6, Rom 15:7, 2Pe 1:4].

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Rom 15:7  Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Last week we looked at the “ordinances of divine serviceG2999” in the temple of old to understand how they are a type and shadow of the discipleship that is understood by those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. We saw that true divine service as “true worshippers” who worship God “in spirit and in truth” with the “divine nature”, which is expressed in obedience to God’s commandments, is only possible by having God’s love shed abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:5). So it is that we can do the service of having the “heavenly things themselves” cleansed with better sacrifices than these as we present our lives a living sacrifice (Rom 12:1-3), which we have become to the glory of God and for the express purpose of bearing each others’ burdens. We are to follow our Lord’s example of this service as one who washed our feet, meaning He laid down His life for us as we should for each other.

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

Joh 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Gal 6:2  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Joh 13:14  If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.

We are nourished at the altar, which is the cross and the place where our Lord strengthens us and provides all we need in order to fulfill His will “in earth, as it is in heaven” (Php 1:29, Mat 6:10). In this week’s study we will look more closely at how “accomplishing the service of God” of Hebrews 9:6 is done within the body of Christ and symbolized by those things which were ordained of God for our sakes so that we can learn the spiritual significance of those patterns which offer great meaning to those who are blessed to have eyes to see and ears to hear at this time.

Php 1:29  For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Mat 6:10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Heb 9:6  Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

Heb 9:2  For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuaryG39.

The candlestickG3087, the tableG5132 and the shewbreadG4286 G740 are within the area called the sanctuaryG39.  This is where the priests always went; into this first tabernacle to accomplish the service of God (Heb 9:6).

Heb 9:6  Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

These three words are very significant for God’s elect and are types and figures of what must be present within our lives, our sanctuary, in order for us to be able to enter into “a greater and more perfect tabernacle” through Christ our high priest (Heb 9:7, Col 1:27).

Heb 9:7  But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

If we look at these three words: the candlestickG3087, the tableG5132 and the shewbreadG4286 G740, along with the other accompanying verses which use these words in the bible, it will give us a greater appreciation for why these items needed to be in the sanctuary and how they represent the means by which the process of spiritual completion can be fulfilled within the lives of those whose candlestick is in Christ’s hand (Rev 1:13, Rev 1:20, Joh 10:28). If we are granted to eat at His altar, which is the cross (Heb 13:10, Gal 2:20), we will receive the true bread that comes from heaven and not just the shadow that cannot spiritually nourish us or cleanse our conscience as Christ the true bread of life can (Heb 9:14, Joh 6:51).

Rev 1:13  And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Rev 1:20  The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Heb 9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Joh 6:51  I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

With all this in mind, let’s begin by looking at the word sanctuaryG39 and notice that it is the same word used for both the first tabernacle and the second which is called the holiestG39. The difference between these two areas is the subject at hand, and God is showing us through these types and shadows of the old covenant temple what great hope and promise we have in Christ if He is in fact our hope of glory within today, giving us access to the second tabernacle which represents the throne of God where God’s elect are raised in heavenly places today and accepted “in the beloved”.

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Christ is the “minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.”  He is the one who brings to light what all these symbols mean to us within the “worldly sanctuary”, and most importantly He gives us the strength to lay down our life and go without the camp with Him as typified by this statement: “For the bodies of those beasts [Ecc 3:18], whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp”. (As he is so are we: Heb 13:13, Heb 9:7, 1Jn 4:17).

Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

Heb 9:7  But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect [by going outside the camp], that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

Heb 8:2  A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

Heb 9:1  Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
Heb 9:2  For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.

Heb 13:11  For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.

Without Christ in us, we could not have the boldness, the faith, or the perfect love that casts out fear (1Jn 4:18) to enter into “the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all.” This is what we do every time we “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). As long as our hope is yet in things that are temporal (2Co 4:18), we could say, “The first tabernacle was yet standing.” However, the way has been made manifest through Christ for us to tear down the old temple which represents our worshiping God in a manner that is temporal or carnal and not in spirit and truth, which is something that we grow into as the old temple is torn down and the new spiritual temple is built. This is accomplished by the only one who can build it to the glory of God, our Lord Jesus Christ (Joh 2:19-21, Psa 127:1).

2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Joh 2:19  Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Joh 2:20  Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
Joh 2:21  But he spake of the temple of his body.

Psa 127:1  A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Heb 9:3  And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

Heb 9:8  The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

Heb 10:19  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

Christ has “obtained eternal redemption for us.” and we must experience and appreciate the fiery trials He is giving us today (1Pe 4:12) as His goodness leads us to repentance and we fill up what is behind of the afflictions of Christ for His body’s sake, which is the church (Col 1:24). If we despise “the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance”, it is akin to trodding under foot the Son of God that will result in a “much sorer punishment”. It is akin to beating the manservant who must be judged because judgment is upon us as the body of Christ, and we must be patient with that longsuffering process of which we are all part (Rom 2:4, Heb 10:29, Mat 24:48-51, 1Pe 4:17).

Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Heb 10:29  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Mat 24:48  But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
Mat 24:49  And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
Mat 24:50  The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
Mat 24:51  And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Our hope lies in the fact that God reconciled us to himself through the death of Christ so that “we shall be saved by his life“, and that is the confidence God wants us to always have (Php 1:6) even as we endure through the hardship that being a good soldier for Christ brings in this life (Rom 5:10, Isa 53:4, 2Ti 2:3-4). “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” means watch and be ready because Christ has promised us that “for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” If we watch and pray and don’t despise the process of judgment through which we all have to go, then we will in fact be watching and will be by our Lord’s estimation “a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season”.

(Flesh wants to be that “faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household” but without going through the process. We must take the lower seat today and go through the process of judgment if we are ever going to be called to “go up higher” or “come up hither” Mat 23:12, Luk 14:10, Rev 11:10-12)

Mat 23:12  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Luk 14:10  But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

Rev 11:10  And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
Rev 11:11  And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
Rev 11:12  And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

The incentive to fight a good fight of faith is given to us right after Christ tells us to watch, in saying “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.” (Mat 24:46-47). It is a blessing to be sanctified in this age and to be made ready to rule under Christ. It is the greatest blessing ever bestowed upon any human, and only possible because God has promised to give us the strength through Christ to endure this sanctification process we are experiencing.

God’s elect will one day, in the fullness of our inheritance, repeat these awe-inspiring words of worship that have the message built right into them as to how we are able to worship our Father (Rev 4:8). That blessing will be ours if we are granted to endure until the end, being then able to bring life to all of the world, starting with physical healing at first as Christ did (1Co 15:46), and then in the lake of fire, bringing life through spiritual healing to all mankind (Act 20:35). No wonder we praise God for that sanctification process of which He has blessed Christ’s bride to be a part as those “who first trusted in Christ” (Eph 1:12).

Rev 4:8  And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Heb 9:12  Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Now we’ve laid the ground work to explain what the candlestickG3087, the tableG5132 and the shewbreadG4286 G740 are going to do within the body of Christ which was represented by the area called the sanctuaryG39.

All three of these items have been used as symbols of God’s power that is made manifest through the church, and is one of the first things we can consider when we look at these words.

Starting with candlestickG3087, we understand that the two witnesses of Revelation eleven are likened unto a candlestick to remind us that their prophecy was only possible by being given the power (Rev 11:3) to fulfill God’s purpose through them: “These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth” (Rev 11:4). That prophetic time of witness represents the second half of Christ’s ministry where our testimony was made possible through Christ and is revealed through our hope of glory within (Col 1:27, Luk 24:48). We bear witness to the truth that we are a peculiar people zealous of good works, as Christ’s light shines in this earth, not by our might or power but by God’s holy spirit that makes this all possible (Zec 4:6, 11-14). That prophetic period of time in the life of God’s elect represents the filling up what is behind of the afflictions of Christ for His body’s sake, which is the church (Col 1:24), and that three and a half years combined with Christ’s three and a half year ministry complete (7) that testimony for the world to learn of how God can make His strength perfect through the weak flesh which we are (2Co 12:9, Joh 5:30, Joh 15:5, 1Co 1:27-28).

Luk 24:48  And ye are witnesses of these things.

1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Co 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

God’s elect are represented by these two candlesticksG3087 of Revelation 11:4 that are empowered by the two olive trees, so we can be the light of the world that God sets “on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light”. Christ is in the midst of the seven candlesticks which represent the seven churches, or the complete church of God, being formed within the body of Christ. This ‘complete’ church of God will not be separated from God because: “The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches” is the very church of which Christ said to Peter “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter [one of God’s angels (Rev 22:8-9)], and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” With this in mind let’s look at these entries for candlestick and candlesticks that reveal that Christ represents the candlestick within us. The candle is our life that is in His hands burning away as we die daily so we can glorify God with all we say and do (1Co 10:31, Mat 25:7-13).

1Co 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
1Co 10:32  Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

Mat 25:7  Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Mat 25:8  And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
Mat 25:9  But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Mat 25:10  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Mat 25:11  Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12  But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Mat 25:13  Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

The next word is tableG5132. A table (“our hearts and minds“) is where we either lay out the truth or lies, as an overview of these words will show. Christ comes into our lives and overturns those lies upon that table (Mat 21:12) if He is cleansing our temple in this age (“the heavenly things themselves” – Heb 9:23), and begins the process of sanctifying us so we can worship him in spirit and truth at an altar or table at which the world has no right to eat (Heb 13:10).

Mat 21:12  And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tablesG5132  of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
Mat 21:13  And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

Notice the entry for the word bankG5132 in Luke 19:23, which is also translated table in Matthew 21:12 above:

Luk 19:23 “Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bankG5132, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?”

God’s words are what we bank on. They are eternal words (Joh 6:68) that we are storing up and that God is purifying through the trials of this life. All we have been given is carefully measured out by our loving Father (1Co 10:13) who knows how to cause us to bring forth much fruit and provoke us unto love and good works so we have something to bring to the table. When we lay up treasure in heaven, it is God’s word that is being stored in the storehouse of our spiritual heavens where neither moth nor rust corrupt (Joh 15:2, Mat 6:20).

Joh 6:68  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Joh 15:2  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Mat 6:20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

The last word will look at in our study is shewbreadG4286 G740. Being about our Father’s business will nourish us, and this is why it is so important that we lay up treasure in heaven against the days of evil that we are in now (Tit 3:8, 1Pe 2:12, 1Ti 6:19).

Tit 3:8  This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

1Pe 2:12  Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

1Ti 6:19  Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Christ being about his Father’s business was how he laid up in store for himself “a good foundation against the time to come”. He told his disciples as much, that if we would be about our Father’s business that bread would strengthen our hearts and keep us focused on what is important as good soldiers of Christ.

Joh 4:32  But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
Joh 4:33  Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
Joh 4:34  Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work [Mat 12:50].
Joh 4:35  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

Psa 104:15  And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.[“My meat is to do the will of him that sent me”]

Mar 8:14  Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.
Mar 8:15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.
Mar 8:16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.
Mar 8:17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?
Mar 8:18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
Mar 8:19 When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.
Mar 8:20 And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.

Mar 8:21 And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

[God did not give them to remember to bring bread “Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread” and Christ’s rhetorical question “How is it that ye do not understand?” was answered in this parable that reveals it was not time for the disciples to know because the true bread from heaven had not yet been given to them on Pentecost.]

They did not understand at this point, but once their understanding was open on Pentecost (Luk 24:45) and going forward, then they understood and remembered the things that Christ spoke as the comforter led them into all truth (Joh 12:16, Joh 16:13).

Luk 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

Only then would those numbers “five thousand” and “four thousand“, as they are connected to feeding the whole of humanity “four thousand” and saving them by grace through faith “five thousand“, would those numbers become significant to Christ’s disciples. Those numbers are also illustrated for us with the nine pillars in the temple of God, telling us we will be sent and used of God to feed this world and have all men saved through the church, the temple, the body of Christ (Rom 11:26, Rev 3:12, Col 1:24, Exo 26:37, Exo 26:32, Exo 36:35-38).

Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Exo 26:37 And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.

Exo 26:32 And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.

Exo 36:35 And he made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubims made he it of cunning work.
Exo 36:36 And he made thereunto four pillars of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold: their hooks were of gold; and he cast for them four sockets of silver.
Exo 36:37 And he made an hanging for the tabernacle door of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, of needlework;
Exo 36:38 And the five pillars of it with their hooks: and he overlaid their chapiters and their fillets with gold: but their five sockets were of brass.

Saving the world is the major part of the good things to come (Oba 1:21) that Christ’s ministry is going to produce, and in the end God will be all in all.

Heb 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

1Co 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Other related posts