As we looked at last week, Paul wants us to know the breadth, length, depth, and height of the sacred things. Our confusion with the choppy manner in which this reads is due to the specific nature of Greek words as compared to the less specific nature of Latin and in our case English. Because translators vary so widely as to whether the word should be a thing, a being, or a proper name, with a capital H or lower case h, we have to pay attention to the context. When reading the word “holy” or “Holy” we have to always ask ourselves if the context is telling us that we are speaking of a being, a thing, or a name. Paul believes that we should know the sacred, and that encompasses many ideas. Just as we see Paul’s second statement to us, “and to know the love of Christ”, we will find some very deep truths regarding Jesus and his love for us, and his atoning blood which makes us a holy, sacred people. As such, we have a mission before the throne and we have the armor that we need to fulfill it.
What are some of the sacred things that we can start to comprehend? For starters The Elohim. Our creator is sacred. We know that the temple was sacred, but it became defiled repeatedly. However the earthly temple was modeled after the heavenly one, and that one is still sacred. If Yahweh shows up, the ground is sacred. Days can be sacred. Anything Yahweh determines is sacred is sacred. But there is more to this mystery of the sacred.
Noting Paul’s statement, that we know the breadth, length, depth, and height, he seems to be alluding to a thing that has multiple dimensions. While we live in three dimensions, with the fourth as time, there is no time in Paul’s dimensional suggestion of the sacred. That tells us that the sacred or holy thing has an added dimensionality. Something not only encompasses the three that we understand, but a fourth that we do not readily see but can possibly know spiritually. In the heavenly realms time is not of consequence, whereas on earth time is ordered. Spiritually there is a portion of this sacred thing that we can enter into in knowledge. Could one of the sacred things be the tabernacle/temple? We have access to the throne of God. How do we get there? There is a pattern that we can learn and it has added benefits for us. Let’s explore.
Eph 3:11G2596according to G4286the intention G3588of the G165eons, G3739which G4160he made G1722in G5547Christ G*Jesus G3588 G2962our Lord; G1473
12G1722in G3739whom G2192we have G3588 G3954an open manner G2532and G3588 G4318access G1722in G4006reliance G1223through G3588the G4102belief G1473of his.
Ephesians 3:11-12 (AMP) This is in accordance with the terms of the eternal and timeless purpose which He has realized and carried into effect in [the person of] Christ Jesus our Lord,
12 In Whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear).
We have access to the throne, and we are clean enough without having to do any works of our own. The thing that separated us is no longer there. The veil separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies is no longer keeping us from Yahweh. Paul said that Jesus broke down the middle wall of partition.
Ephesians 2:14-15 (AMP) For He is [Himself] our peace (our bond of unity and harmony). He has made us both [Jew and Gentile] one [body], and has broken down (destroyed, abolished) the hostile dividing wall between us,
15 By abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the enmity [caused by] the Law with its decrees and ordinances [which He annulled]; that He from the two might create in Himself one new man [one new quality of humanity out of the two], so making peace.
The law, with it’s decrees and ordinances of holy service in the temple kept everyone except the High Priest from entering the presence of God. Now think that through. Moses set up the tent of meeting so that people could meet with God. It is hard to imagine because we have the Holy Spirit residing within us and we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, but the children of Israel were not. We know that they carried their idols with them in the wilderness. They did not have a heart connection with Yahweh. However, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did; so did Shem, Eber, and Enoch. Moses too had a personal relationship with Yahweh. These patriarchs did not need a tabernacle to get close to Yahweh. But once the Tabernacle was established, the rules for approaching Yahweh were fixed for the common person. Keeping a regular schedule for cleansing sins was important for the people. The Prophets were not of this order, they did not serve in the tabernacle or temple, they lived holy and chaste lives thereby having the Holy Spirit in and on them. This is what Paul is telling us in 2 Corinthians.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (AMP) But even if our Gospel (the glad tidings) also be hidden (obscured and covered up with a veil that hinders the knowledge of God), it is hidden [only] to those who are perishing and obscured [only] to those who are spiritually dying and veiled [only] to those who are lost.
4 For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers' minds [that they should not discern the truth], preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image and Likeness of God.
People needed the physical structure to understand the sacred things. People were making idols and temples for their idols, so Yahweh gave them a visual of the sacred. The devil continues to blind the minds of the unbelievers, but Jesus opened up the holiest of all for us who believe to see into.
Hebrews 6:19-20 (AMP) [Now] we have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out upon it—a hope] that reaches farther and enters into [the very certainty of the Presence] within the veil,
20 Where Jesus has entered in for us [in advance], a Forerunner having become a High Priest forever after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek.
Melchizedek was Shem, the Lord of the Zedek priesthood. Jesus was of the order of the Melchizedek priesthood. He followed the ways that Shem/Melchizedek taught because technically Yahweh taught Enoch, Noah and Shem. We are of that order, made a royal holy priesthood as Peter tells us. Jesus also says he made us kings and priests. We are of the same order as Jesus, Essene/Nazarene/Therapeutae/Prophet. So today, the believer in Jesus as Lord and Christ is a holy, sacred, person. Shem’s school in Salem was the school of the Spirit before there was a tabernacle. Once the tabernacle was in place, the way to connect to Yahweh became an orthodox ritual for becoming clean. People brought their sacrifices and followed the rules so that they could be cleansed from sin. Jesus made a new covenant when he split the veil. There is a new way to be cleansed from sin.
Hebrews 9:1-4 (AMP) NOW EVEN the first covenant had its own rules and regulations for divine worship, and it had a sanctuary [but one] of this world.
2 For a tabernacle (tent) was erected, in the outer division or compartment of which were the lampstand and the table with [its loaves of] the showbread set forth. [This portion] is called the Holy Place.
3 But [inside] beyond the second curtain or veil, [there stood another] tabernacle [division] known as the Holy of Holies.
4 It had the golden altar of incense and the ark (chest) of the covenant, covered over with wrought gold. This [ark] contained a golden jar which held the manna and the rod of Aaron that sprouted and the [two stone] slabs of the covenant [bearing the Ten Commandments].
We see that the pattern of the temple/tabernacle had an outer area, then an inner area and still another innermost area. Jesus the Essene/Nazarene/Therapeutae/Prophet never entered into the Holy Place or the Holy of Holies. He only entered the outer courts. We know by that time in history, the temple had been defiled many times over with male and female prostitution, idolatry, the worship of the stars, the worship of the cherubim, and the burning of incense to other gods.
By the time that Jesus came to earth the priesthood had been defiled for about two hundred years by Jonathan Maccabee, as he was made a high priest in a political move and not of Aaronic lineage. Hence the split of the Essenes/Nazarenes/Therapeutaes/Prophets from the temple and temple service, leaving behind those who would later be known as the Pharisees. The writer of Hebrews goes on.
Hebrews 9:5 Above [the ark] and overshadowing the mercy seat were the representations of the cherubim [winged creatures which were the symbols] of glory. We cannot now go into detail about these things.
As Stephen told us, they named and worshipped the cherubim. Isn’t it interesting that even at that point, in the wilderness, many people made up their own way in which to worship gods rather than following their forefathers, Enoch, Shem, Eber, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?
Here is the pattern of daily worship and once yearly worship.
Hebrews 9:6 These arrangements having thus been made, the priests enter [habitually] into the outer division of the tabernacle in performance of their ritual acts of worship.
7 But into the second [division of the tabernacle] none but the high priest goes, and he only once a year, and never without taking a sacrifice of blood with him, which he offers for himself and for the errors and sins of ignorance and thoughtlessness which the people have committed.
This was the way that people could be cleansed of their sins. Today there is no temple, there is no way to be cleansed from sin except by Jesus. Hebrews goes on to say that as long as the temple with it’s veil is still standing, the way into the Holy of Holies is not open. The tabernacle/temple was a parable, but an imperfect orthodox ritual that didn’t cleanse the inner man, the heart.
Hebrews 9:8 By this the Holy Spirit points out that the way into the [true Holy of] Holies is not yet thrown open as long as the former [the outer portion of the] tabernacle remains a recognized institution and is still standing,
9 Seeing that that first [outer portion of the] tabernacle was a parable (a visible symbol or type or picture of the present age). In it gifts and sacrifices are offered, and yet are incapable of perfecting the conscience or of cleansing and renewing the inner man of the worshiper.
Just a side note here. At the end of the age, after the harpazo, the temple will be rebuilt and daily sacrifices made again. Isn’t it interesting that the harpazo takes away all those that are sealed with the Holy Spirit, and then the veil of the temple goes up again separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies? Where Jesus’ blood cleansed the believers from sins, the reverse happens and the imperfect blood of bulls and goats will be used once again. This is one of those sacred things that we can learn the width, length, depth, and height of. This is why it is such a shame when people refuse Jesus now, because he is the only way for us to come close to the Father. With this in mind, let’s continue.
Hebrews 9:10 For [the ceremonies] deal only with clean and unclean meats and drinks and different washings, [mere] external rules and regulations for the body imposed to tide the worshipers over until the time of setting things straight [of reformation, of the complete new order when Christ, the Messiah, shall establish the reality of what these things foreshadow—a better covenant].
11 But [that appointed time came] when Christ (the Messiah) appeared as a High Priest of the better things that have come and are to come. [Then] through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with [human] hands, that is, not a part of this material creation,
12 He went once for all into the [Holy of] Holies [of heaven], not by virtue of the blood of goats and calves [by which to make reconciliation between God and man], but His own blood, having found and secured a complete redemption (an everlasting release for us).
This is why we don’t have to make blood sacrifices and do the works of the law, because Jesus went once for all humans into the Holy of Holies, pouring out his own blood so that those who believe can be sealed with the Holy Spirit. We are redeemed, sanctified, and justified by Jesus. No more veil, we have access to the throne room.
Hebrews 9:13 For if [the mere] sprinkling of unholy and defiled persons with blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a burnt heifer is sufficient for the purification of the body,
14 How much more surely shall the blood of Christ, Who by virtue of [His] eternal Spirit [His own preexistent divine personality] has offered Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to God, purify our consciences from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the [ever] living God?
The deal is sealed, the people who make Jesus Lord and Savior are now Holy People. This whole thing is so much more complex than we recognize; the multifaceted wisdom of God that set the dead free when Jesus took back the keys to hell and death. Jesus is now the one in charge of both hell and death, or in other words no one dies without going through Jesus to either hell or death. He merged all tribes, tongues, and nations into a holy family, the body of Christ; and he opened the way to the Holy of Holies. Imagine how mad the devil must be knowing that he was the one who inspired the Jews to hate Jesus and had them force the Romans to kill him. If there was ever a day of embarrassment in the devil’s life, this was it.
Hebrews 9:15 [Christ, the Messiah] is therefore the Negotiator and Mediator of an [entirely] new agreement (testament, covenant), so that those who are called and offered it may receive the fulfillment of the promised everlasting inheritance—since a death has taken place which rescues and delivers and redeems them from the transgressions committed under the [old] first agreement.
We are rescued because of the sacred and holy blood of Jesus. Jesus is high priest now, not a defiled political pawn, or an idolatrous sexual deviant posing as a priest. Jesus the High Priest allows us entrance into the holiest of all.
Hebrews 10:19-22 (AMP) Therefore, brethren, since we have full freedom and confidence to enter into the [Holy of] Holies [by the power and virtue] in the blood of Jesus,
20 By this fresh (new) and living way which He initiated and dedicated and opened for us through the separating curtain (veil of the Holy of Holies), that is, through His flesh,
21 And since we have [such] a great and wonderful and noble Priest [Who rules] over the house of God,
22 Let us all come forward and draw near with true (honest and sincere) hearts in unqualified assurance and absolute conviction engendered by faith (by that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness), having our hearts sprinkled and purified from a guilty (evil) conscience and our bodies cleansed with pure water.
This is some of the knowledge of the sacred things, the understanding of the depths of salvation for humankind. The mystery that was revealed through Paul is broader than we are typically taught. Salvation is not simple, it is deep and wide and encompasses many aspects of creation and humanity. We have this seal of the Holy Spirit, making us a holy people who now have access to our Holy God. And this we know, when one has been in His presence today, they are like Moses, they shine with His splendor and it makes some people uncomfortable. We are being transfigured into His image.
2 Corinthians 3:12-18 (AMP) Since we have such [glorious] hope (such joyful and confident expectation), we speak very freely and openly and fearlessly.
13 Nor [do we act] like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze upon the finish of the vanishing [splendor which had been upon it].
14 In fact, their minds were grown hard and calloused [they had become dull and had lost the power of understanding]; for until this present day, when the Old Testament (the old covenant) is being read, that same veil still lies [on their hearts], not being lifted [to reveal] that in Christ it is made void and done away.
15 Yes, down to this [very] day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their minds and hearts.
16 But whenever a person turns [in repentance] to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away.
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom).
18 And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.
Not only is the veil torn open in the temple, the veil over our hearts is torn open when we believe on Jesus as Lord and Christ. Living in His presence we grow in ever increasing glory. We shine. But there is more to the pattern of the tabernacle/temple. If we study the pattern and stations in the temple, we will see all the elements of the armor of God, the very armor we are told to put on by Paul. Our direction is now to enter into the Holy of Holies, and stand before the Mercy Seat.
Ephesians 6:10-18 (AMP) In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].
11 Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
We have all seen people attempting to demonstrate putting on the armor, even telling others to “go through the motions” of dressing in each piece. That is not correct. The “motions” are the stations of the temple. The very stations that the Prophets, Essenes, Nazarenes, and Therapeutaes lived daily. The same stations that the patriarchs Enoch, Shem, Eber, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived. Jacob was a dweller of tents, not a homebody, but a servant in the tents of the Lord. The common people needed this pattern to get cleansed from sin, and the pattern is how we dress for battle and enter in to make intercessions for the holy people.
Ephesians 6:12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
13 Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
The armor is for our benefit, so that we can stand firmly as opposed to being tossed around with every wind of doctrine. It is our protection when we pray and intercede. As we walk through the stations of the temple/tabernacle we are putting on each piece of armor. Now we are not doing this physically, but spiritually. We can spiritually put on our armor by walking through the spiritual temple. Let’s look.
Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,
The belt of truth is picked up when we enter His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise because Jesus is the truth. This is why we are entering the temple, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light, and no one comes to the Father except through Him. As we enter we come to the alter of sacrifice, the place where the blood of animals was used to atone for sin. Jesus atoned for our sin, he is our righteousness. By the blood of Jesus Christ the righteous, we are then made clean; we wear his blood covering as a family crest over our breastplate. Anyone who sees this breastplate knows who we belong to. His blood touches our hearts, our inner man; as opposed to the blood of bulls and goats.
Ephesians 6:15 And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.
We put on our shoes at the laver, Jesus is the word and the Prince of Peace. We are cleansed by the washing of the water of the word (Eph 5:26). Once we are cleansed then we are ready to carry the gospel, the good news of peace. We carry the news of the Prince of Peace, Jesus our Messiah.
Ephesians 6:16 Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].
Because the way into the Holy of Holies is opened, we can now proceed into the Holy Place. This was as far as the common person could go. Even Jesus was not allowed to proceed any further when he was on earth. The priests were allowed entrance into the Holy Place and we are now part of a holy priesthood. As we enter we come to the table of the bread of the presence. Jesus is the bread of life. This bread is an offering of human sustenance, and Jesus is our sustenance. Twelve loaves, twelve tribes, twelve Apostles, twelve gifts of the Holy Spirit. We receive Him as our nourishment by faith. This is our shield, our faith in Him, and how He supports us. We have faith in His accomplishments on the cross and that we will have eternal life.
Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.
We come to the Seven Branched Lamp Stand. This is where we put on our helmet of salvation. Jesus our Lord is our light and our salvation. David said it best, who shall we fear? Our helmet covers our thoughts, it keeps our thoughts protected. Jesus lights our way to the Altar of Incense where we pick up our sword of the spirit. Jesus is the word, and he has a double edged sword coming out of his mouth. We offer incense, the sacrifice of our praise at the altar of incense. As we offer praise, we pick up that double edged sword and proceed.
Up to this point only the priests were allowed to offer incense at the altar of incense. The only one who could proceed further was the High Priest, and only once per year. He had to bring a blood offering when he entered, but Jesus is our High Priest, and the veil is torn. He brought a blood offering on our behalf. We can now proceed into the Holy of Holies. Look at what we are to do now that we are all suited up.
Ephesians 6:18 Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).
We come before the Mercy Seat, and Jesus is our atonement seat and our intercessor. We are praying, warring with our double edged sword of the spirit, praying in the Spirit, interceding on behalf of all the holy people. Put this picture in your mind, praying for all the holy people before the Mercy Seat, making an offering before the Lord for mercy. Now notice in your mind where the devil is, before the throne accusing the saints day and night. Yet we step into the Holy of Holies, our praises leading us in, and we intercede for the holy people with a double edged sword. Imagine if all of us did this daily, we would drown out the accuser with our intercessions, or maybe we already do. We go on offense with the sword of the Spirit instead of playing defense.
This is more of the sacred knowledge that we can comprehend with everyone. Notice how many aspects of holy and sacred there are just in this section of the armor of God. Everything about it is holy and sacred, the entering in beyond the veil, the warring on behalf of others. We have access to the heavenly spiritual sanctuary; what a miracle, accomplished by Jesus through his crucifixion. If the devil knew what would happen when Jesus died, he never would have crucified him.
The heavenly temple is the pattern of what was our earthly temple. In the future those left on the earth will see the Father seated on the throne and it will be terrifying.
Revelation 6:12-17 (AMP) When He [the Lamb] broke open the sixth seal, I looked, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun grew black as sackcloth of hair, [the full disc of] the moon became like blood.
13 And the stars of the sky dropped to the earth like a fig tree shedding its unripe fruit out of season when shaken by a strong wind.
14 And the sky rolled up like a scroll and vanished, and every mountain and island was dislodged from its place.
15 Then the kings of the earth and their noblemen and their magnates and their military chiefs and the wealthy and the strong and [everyone, whether] slave or free hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains,
16 And they called to the mountains and the rocks, Fall on (before) us and hide us from the face of Him Who sits on the throne and from the deep-seated indignation and wrath of the Lamb.
17 For the great day of His wrath (vengeance, retribution, indignation) has come, and who is able to stand before it?
As soon as the witnesses rise from the dead and the whole world watches, the Lord Jesus will be crowned and the kingdoms of the earth will now become His. Then the heavenly temple is opened.
Revelation 11:19 (KJV) And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
If we understand the timing here, Jesus is crowned, then gives out rewards to his holy people, and then the temple is opened. The earthly people will not see or experience seeing in the temple the ark of His testament. But today, right now we are a holy priesthood, and we have access by the blood of Jesus, into the Holy of Holies. We can enter before the mercy seat and intercede for the saints. Peter explains that we are being built into a spiritual house, stone by stone.
1 Peter 2:4-10 (AMP) Come to Him [then, to that] Living Stone which men tried and threw away, but which is chosen [and] precious in God's sight.
5 [Come] and, like living stones, be yourselves built [into] a spiritual house, for a holy (dedicated, consecrated) priesthood, to offer up [those] spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.
6 For thus it stands in Scripture: Behold, I am laying in Zion a chosen (honored), precious chief Cornerstone, and he who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] shall never be disappointed or put to shame.
7 To you then who believe (who adhere to, trust in, and rely on Him) is the preciousness; but for those who disbelieve [it is true], The [very] Stone which the builders rejected has become the main Cornerstone,
8 And, A Stone that will cause stumbling and a Rock that will give [men] offense; they stumble because they disobey and disbelieve [God's] Word, as those [who reject Him] were destined (appointed) to do.
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God's] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
10 Once you were not a people [at all], but now you are God's people; once you were unpitied, but now you are pitied and have received mercy.
Jesus was the stone the builders rejected, he was the one who was not of the Pharisees, but of the Essenes/Nazarenes/Therapeutaes. His blood tore the veil that separated us from the Holy of Holies from top to bottom. The Father set Jesus as the mercy seat for those who believe. This word atonement used here and in the TR is always translated “atonement-seat” but for some reason the translators left out the word seat. It is closely related to G2433 and G2434, and the NA27 supplies the word “seat” correctly as we will read.
Romans 3:25G3739whom G4388God set forth G3588 G2316 G2435as an atonement G1223through G3588the G4102belief, G1722in G3588the one G1473of his G129blood, G1519for G1732a demonstration G3588 G1343of his righteousness G1473 G1223through G3588the G3929letting pass G3588of the G4266preceding G265sins,
2435 Dodson: ἱλαστήριον a sin offering, covering (a) a sin offering, by which the wrath of the deity shall be appeased; a means of propitiation, (b) the covering of the ark, which was sprinkled with the atoning blood on the Day of Atonement.
Thayer:
1) relating to an appeasing or expiating, having placating or expiating force, expiatory; a means of appeasing or expiating, a propitiation
1a) used of the cover of the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies, which was sprinkled with the blood of the expiatory victim on the annual day of atonement (this rite signifying that the life of the people, the loss of which they had merited by their sins, was offered to God in the blood as the life of the victim, and that God by this ceremony was appeased and their sins expiated); hence the lid of expiation, the propitiatory
1b) an expiatory sacrifice
1c) a expiatory victim
ἱλαστήριον hilastērion hil-as-tay'-ree-on Neuter of a derivative of G2433; an expiatory(place or thing), that is, (concretely) an atoning victim, or (specifically) the lid of the Ark (in the Temple) KJV Usage: mercyseat, propitiation.
1a) used of the cover of the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies, which was sprinkled with the blood of the expiatory victim on the annual day of atonement (this rite signifying that the life of the people, the loss of which they had merited by their sins, was offered to God in the blood as the life of the victim, and that God by this ceremony was appeased and their sins expiated); hence the lid of expiation, the propitiatory
1b) an expiatory sacrifice
1c) a expiatory victim
ἱλαστήριον hilastērion hil-as-tay'-ree-on Neuter of a derivative of G2433; an expiatory(place or thing), that is, (concretely) an atoning victim, or (specifically) the lid of the Ark (in the Temple) KJV Usage: mercyseat, propitiation.
If we read the definition of hilasterion, we see that Jesus is the perfect offering, he is the atonement-seat, the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies. Paul gives us an understanding of this idea in the context by explaining our imperfection. Let’s read this in the Amplified.
Romans 3:23-26 (AMP) Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives.
24 [All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,
25 Whom God put forward [before the eyes of all] as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment.
26 It was to demonstrate and prove at the present time (in the now season) that He Himself is righteous and that He justifies and accepts as righteous him who has [true] faith in Jesus.
We all have sinned, we all have need for atonement, and we all can enter in because of our faith in Jesus Christ the Messiah. There is no longer an earthly temple, therefore unless we accept Jesus’ payment for us, we will die in our sins. The price of dying in sin is not worth our earthly pride. We have 24-7 access to the throne and a double edged sword. That is our mission before the throne. Jesus is the fulfillment of the stations of the temple, but after the harpazo another temple will be built, with the veil covering over the Holy of Holies. This is a shame, as today the veil is wide open for all who believe. During the tribulation someone will claim to be “god” and sit on the mercy seat, and that is when people will recognize that this is an anti-Christ, a son of perdition. The sacred has many aspects of breadth, length, depth, and height. The spiritual dimension can lead us even further. As we learn and grow in our knowledge, it is helpful to revisit the sacred to see what else we can learn. Let’s think on what David said.
Psalm 28:2 (AMP) Hear the voice of my supplication as I cry to You for help, as I lift up my hands toward Your innermost sanctuary (the Holy of Holies).
