Hebrews 9:16-28 - Heaven Reflected in Christ

Hebrews 9:16-28

The Mediator’s Death Necessary

16 For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. 19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” 21 Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. 22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

Greatness of Christ’s Sacrifice

23 Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— 26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

We see heaven reflected in Christ and His work of sacrifice here below in the New Covenant sealed with the blood of His life offered for ours and administered by Him as High Priest offering Himself.  This holy place that the old high priests used to enter where they met with God once a year was but a copy of the full and true holy of holiest places in heaven where God dwells in a place separate from our material universe which the men of old called the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2-3), above the sky and stars of the universe.  He died for us to bring in a New Testament as an eternal will for our inheritance in heaven as explained here; a will only goes into effect after the testator dies, which Jesus did to then pass on the inheritance of eternal life in His kingdom to us.  The death was sealed in His blood as His life for each of our lives to have the power to give His will to us where ours fell always short (John 1:13, Romans 3:23) to earn the right of inheritance in this kingdom of God.  His blood therefore purifies us as the shadow of the Old Testament sacrifices intended for the remission of our sins once and forever to all who approach the altar with their lives in repentance through faith in the and His work to pay the price on the true copy of altar of the temple in the heavenly place.  Though the copies here were cleansed and purified so that the offering made here was effectual to cover our sins, they reveal the work behind the scenes as it were of the perfect and true original Most Holy Place in God’s presence where this transaction for our souls gained new and eternal life for us through our Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7) Lamb of God (John 1:29) offered here on the tree of our curse (Galatians 3:13) for our lives.  Jesus entered into the presence of God His Father there in heaven and forever lives to intercede for us as no earthly priest ever could because His perfect suffering and sacrifice cover all our sins and never need to be repeated because the work is completely effectual.  He suffered once for our sins that we might also die once and face life with Him by escaping our due penalty of judgment on our sin if not for His perfect sacrifice and priestly ministry of it for us.  Knowing these truths, we eagerly wait for His return and the judgment to come where the presence of sin will be eradicated forever as we are united with Him in presence with new incorruptible bodies united with our present new souls (2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 2:20, 6:15, Romans 8:11) as we have permanently entered through the veil in body and soul at last!  Heaven is reflected in Christ as is the original Most Holy Place behind the veil (Hebrews 10:19-21) which is Himself as the perfect Priest and sacrifice.  Heaven is Reflected in Christ and His work from Heaven here below.