CHRIST THE VEIL

By Todd Pekel

Christ was pictured throughout the Old Testament in shadow or type. Seeing Christ as he is represented in the Old Testament will greatly enhance our enjoyment and understanding of the entire Bible.

God commanded Moses to build a tabernacle in the Wilderness “according to all that I shew thee.”

Exodus 25:8-9:
And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

Why “according to all that I shew thee”? Because the Tabernacle pictured Christ in every detail and was a figure “for the time then present.”

Hebrews 9:8-9a:
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:
9 Which was a figure for the time then present....

“For the time then present” is definitely referring to the time when the first Tabernacle, the Tabernacle in the Wilderness, was yet standing. As stated above, “the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest.” “The Holy Ghost this signifying,” the shadow of Christ the veil.

Hebrews 10:1a:
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things...

Even in the days of Moses however, what was plain was that the access or entrance into the holiest of all was only through the veil. The veil represented Christ.

Hebrews 10:20:
By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

As the priest made his way into the Tabernacle, he passed through the gate entering into the outer court. Then passing by the Brazen Alter where the sacrifices were made and the Brazen Laver where he washed himself, he entered the door into the first part of the Tabernacle. This area contained the Table of Shewbread and the Candlestick, all pictures of Christ. However, while standing in the Tabernacle and “the holy place,” one thing still separated him from “the most holy place,” which was the presence of God. That one thing, the last thing that he came to, was the veil. The veil, in reality, separated man from God.

Exodus 26:33:
And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.

In “the time then present” the high priest was allowed to enter the most holy or the holiest of all, once a year. This being done after a yearly sacrifice for sin, this too was a figure of Christ.

Hebrews 9:24-25:
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

Ironically, the very veil that was their salvation was the thing that blinded the minds of the Israelites. They did not accept that Jesus was the Messiah. Their minds were blinded.

2 Corinthians 3:14-16:
But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

The time then present was YESTERDAY. Notice above that it’s the same veil. Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, and today and forever.

John 1:17:
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

So the law was given by Moses. When Moses returned from the mount with the words of the covenant, the children of Israel could not look at him for the glory of his raiment. In the veil we have our picture of Christ.

Exodus 34:28-35:
And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
29 And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.
30 And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.
31 And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them.
32 And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him in mount Sinai.
33 And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.
34 But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded.
35 And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

It’s interesting to note that when Moses spoke with the Lord he took off the veil from before his face. In other words he could see clearly. There was nothing that separated him from the presence of God. Moses didn’t put his trust in the picture, but rather accepted and believed the reality. He entered the presence of God, the most holy place, through the only means possible. He entered in through Christ the Veil.

John 10:9:
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Acts 4:12:
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

On the day of Christ’s crucifixion, there is another truth regarding the veil and the fulfillment of it being “done away in Christ.” Remember the high priest could enter the holiest of all but once a year and even symbolically the veil had to be rent in two as curtains being drawn apart.

The very moment when Christ’s life left him, the veil in the Temple was torn from top to bottom. This was accomplished at the exact time of the evening sacrifice, instantly and permanently opening and showing the way into the holiest of all.

Matthew 27:51:
And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

Mark 15:38:
And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

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

We see the fulfillment of this truth in the reality of Christ the Veil. His broken body and shed blood provided the means for our entrance to the presence of God.

Ephesians 2:17-18:
And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
17 For through him we both [Jew and Gentile] have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Thus we see Christ TODAY. Through him we have access by one Spirit unto the Father. We can only, let me say that again, only have access by one Spirit unto the Father through him.

John 14:6b:
... no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 10:9b:
... by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Jesus Christ said that no man can come unto the Father but by (or through) him. Through him we have entrance into the holiest of all, the presence of God.

Hebrews 9:12b:
... but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Hebrews 10:12, 14, 19:
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

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

Christ was offered once and for all. That is, FOREVER! His body has been broken. His blood has been shed. The way into the holiest of all, the presence of God is through Him. The Veil has been permanently rent.

Hebrews 10:24-25:
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Yes, the day is approaching when all who have entered the holiest of all through the veil of Jesus Christ will be gathered.

Hebrews 6:18-20a:
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus....

The veil is the same Yesterday, Today & Forever. It was pictured with Moses. It was made and hung in the Tabernacle separating man from the presence of God. It traveled with Israel wherever they went as a constant reminder to the people. It was a part of the temple. It was torn from top to bottom at the exact moment of Christ’s death showing the world that the way to the Father is only through HIM, Christ the Veil.

Hebrews 13:8:
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

 

 

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From the May 2000 issue of The Vine & Branches