Symbolism of the Temple
A Copy and Shadow of the Heavenly Things – Hebrews Chapter 7-10
Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. (Exodus 25:8)*
In Revelation Chapter 11, John is given a rod to measure God’s temple, the altar and those who worship in it. At the time this was written, the temple in Jerusalem no longer existed. The Roman army destroyed it approximately 20 years earlier. The temple was created as a place for God to dwell among His people. However, God no longer dwells in a temple made with hands. The temple and the sacrificial system of ritual cleansing are no longer necessary because they have been superseded by a better covenant. While the book of Leviticus1 was helpful to describe the rituals for cleansing the temple, the writer of the book of Hebrews provides a detailed explanation of what the rituals in the temple represent and how they are fulfilled by Jesus Christ.
Entering God’s Rest
In Hebrews chapter 3 and 4, the writer speaks of the “rest” of God that is available to the people of God. This rest is available to everyone who hears the message, but only those who believe will enter that rest.
[1] Let us fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest. [2] For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard did not profit them, because they were not united by faith with those who heard. [3] For we who have believed do enter into that rest, even as he has said, "As I swore in my wrath, they will not enter into my rest;" although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. [4] For he has said this somewhere about the seventh day, "God rested on the seventh day from all his works;"
(Hebrews 4:1-4)*2
God created the world in six days and each day was bounded by a morning and an evening. However, the seventh day had no such boundaries. God ceased from the work of creation on the seventh day and he blessed it and called it holy because on that day He rested from all the works of creation3. The holiest place in the Temple is also the place where God comes to rest. That is why there is a mercy seat on the ark of the covenant. God’s presence would dwell (i.e. rest) in the cloud above the mercy seat. The sacrifices and rituals of the Law were to provide cleansing so that God could dwell among his people and make them holy. Most of the children of Israel who came out of Egypt never entered His rest. Instead, they died in the wilderness because of their unbelief. However, the Sabbath rest of God is still available for those who will believe.
[9] There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. [10] For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his. [11] Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience. [12] For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:9-12)*
A Shadow of Heavenly Things
Chapters 7 and 8 of Hebrews explain that the earthly temple was only a shadow or a copy of the heavenly temple made by God. The ceremony and rituals were to symbolize and foreshadow the work that Christ would do in the heavenly temple as he became mediator of a new and better covenant.
[1] Now in the things which we are saying, the main point is this. We have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, [2] a servant of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the LORD set up, and not man. (Hebrews 8:1-2)*
[5] who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses was warned by God when he was about to make the tabernacle, for he said, "See, you shall make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain." [6] But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, by so much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which on better promises has been given as Law. (Hebrews 8:5-6)*
Next, the writer of Hebrews explains in chapters 9-10 how Christ fulfilled in the heavenly temple what the priests were demonstrating symbolically in the earthly tabernacle. The blood of bulls and goats could never take away sins, but they pointed to the Messiah who would enter, once for all, into the holy place with his own blood providing eternal redemption.
[11] But Christ having come as a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, [12] nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption. (Hebrews 9:11-12)*
[21] Moreover he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry in like manner with the blood. [22] According to the Law, nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission. [23] It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. [24] For Christ hasn't entered into holy places made with hands, which are representations of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; (Hebrews 9:21-24)*
Cleansing the Conscience
The priests would routinely perform their ritual duties in the first part of the tabernacle, but only the high priest could enter the second section where the ark of God was. He would only enter once per year, on the Day of Atonement, when he offered blood for himself and then for the sins of the people. This restriction was in place because the way to the most holy place had not yet been opened, because the blood of bulls and goats could not cleanse the conscience of the worshiper.
[8] The Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the Holy Place was not yet revealed while the first tabernacle was still standing; [9] which is a symbol of the present age, where gifts and sacrifices are offered that are incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshipper perfect; (Hebrews 9:8-9)*
[1] For the Law, having a shadow of the good to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near. [2] Or else would not they have ceased to be offered, because the worshippers, having been once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins? [3] But in those sacrifices there is yearly reminder of sins. [4] For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. (Hebrews 10:1-4)*
Christ came and offered his own blood, not for a ceremonial cleansing of the physical body, but to purify the conscience so that all who believe may enter the most holy place and commune with God. This was accomplished by securing forgiveness of all our sins. There is no need for sacrificial offerings for sins after they have been forgiven.
[19] Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, [20] by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; [21] and having a great priest over the house of God, [22] let us draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water, (Hebrews 10:19-22)*
The Bride of Christ and the Temple of God
The temple John measured in Revelation chapter 11 was not a physical temple in Jerusalem, but it was the assembly of God’s people who are the temple of the Holy Spirit. God now dwells with His people in a temple made without hands. These are things which were presented as types and shadows by the ancient prophets, but are now shown as fulfilled in Christ. There is no need for a temple or ritual sacrifice any longer. We may enter boldly before the throne of grace and enter the rest that God provides for those who put their trust in Him.
I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, God's dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them. (Revelation 21:2-3)*
[22] I saw no temple in it, for the LORD God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple. [23] The city has no need for the sun, neither of the moon, to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb. [24] The nations will walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring their splendor into it. (Revelation 21:22-24)*
Up Next…
The Day of Atonement (see also Leviticus Chapter 16)
Biblical Reverences
*All Scripture quotations are from the New Heart English Bible unless specifically designated otherwise. The New Heart English Bible [NHEB] is in the public domain. https://nheb.net/
The Seventh Day of Creation - See Genesis 2:1-3