Updated: The Veil Was Rent
In our Feature article, The Tale Of Two Covenants, we explain in detail how the Old and New Testaments are linked. The old one transitions into the new in our Christian age, but they mark a great change between old and new. We, the Christian House of Israel, segue from one age into another. And as we’ve mentioned in numerous articles and in the books, the Biblical record is one story written to the same people. That is why Christ said he came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, and that he was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel in this age. [Mat. 15:24]. Christianity as given us by Christ and the apostles in the first century is a completely different entity when compared to our morphed 21st century Churchianity version. One path leads us to life, the other one to death. This is why the renting of the temple veil is so vital to our true Christian understanding. In fact, it is more relevant for the Christian nations of the House of Israel than it is for the House of Judah Jews in this age.
The Old Testament is as much a Christian book as is the New when we know our Biblical ancestry. Ignorance of this fact has lead us to our current situation. [See the Sneakers article, A Life And Death Pickle Of A Predicament]. As the Apostle Paul tells us, " ...and the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the nations [of Israel] on the principle of faith, announced beforehand the glad tidings [Greek, proeuaggelizomai, good news, gospel told beforehand] to Abraham: In you each of the nations [of Israel's sons] shall be blessed." [Gal. 3:8, DBY]. Remember, Christ is the Seed of Abraham. "But to Abraham were the promises addressed, and to his seed: he does not say, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to your seed; which is Christ." [Gal. 3:16, DBY].
As Christ plainly said, he was sent only to the House of Israel in the Christian age. But as mentioned in our Feature article, The War Dispatches, we’ve been ethnically cleansed of this knowledge much to our detriment. However, when we step back to look objectively, we can see that which is hidden in plain view, right in front of our noses. Our misunderstanding of John 3:16 has had disastrous effects on Christianity. It’s caused us to erroneously redefine key doctrine that has led us far away from the first century gospel delivered to us by Christ and the apostles. [See the Feature articles, Moving Forward and Mirror, Mirror On The Wall].
At the moment our Redeemer died, the very Christ who told us he was “sent only to the House of Israel,” we read in Matthew 27:51, “Then, behold, the veil of the temple [of Israel] was rent in two from top to bottom ….” Most Christians would read right over this significant event’s powerful and far-reaching impact, meant for us as descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, without giving it a thought because we've lost knowledge of our ancestral history in the Old Testament. Instead, we make the erroneous assumption that this meant the door was open to the gentiles of the world. But we would be wrong. Dead wrong. As Paul said, " ...we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles ...." [1 Cor. 1:23]. [For details and the implications of this for us today, see the Feature articles, Three Temple Ages Make A Plan, and The Relevance Of The Holy Days In The Plan Of God In The Last Days].
The renting of the veil was hugely symbolic of the theological changes that impacted the House of Judah, the Jews, and the House of Israel, the Christian nations that make up the remainder of Israel today, who being redeemed [read Isa. 47:4; 48:17; 54:5], were brought back into our covenant relationship with God from that moment. The House of Israel, who was divorced under the terms of the old law covenant, the veil of Moses, was reinstated under the terms of the new covenant promise given to Abraham and his Seed, Christ. [See the Feature article, The Good News Colour Revolution].
To help explain the relevance of the veil splitting from top to bottom, I have included a quote from the Bible Commentary of Jamieson, Fausset and Brown1 for verse 51. Keep in mind a vital point of clarification; the veil was located in the temple in Jerusalem, the temple, not for the gentiles of the world, but only for Israel. Therefore, we need to be careful not to redefine this event in gentile terms, but to maintain its proper covenant context for all 12 sons of Israel. [As noted above, see the Feature article The Tale Of Two Covenants].
“And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom-- This was the thick and gorgeously wrought veil which was hung between the "holy place" and the "holiest of all," shutting out all access to the presence of God [by Israel] as manifested "from above the mercy seat and from between the cherubim"-- "the Holy Spirit thus signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest" [“ … while the first tabernacle was yet standing.” This a reference to the Old Testament ordinances and priesthood. See Heb. 9:8-12]. Into this holiest of all none might enter, not even the high priest, save once a year, on the great Day of Atonement [a day of great importance prophetically in the future for all Israel],2 and then only with the blood of atonement in his hands, which he sprinkled "upon and before the mercy seat seven times" [Lev. 16:14]-- to signify that access for sinners to a holy God is only through atoning blood. But as they [all Israel] had only the blood of bulls and of goats, which could not take away sins [see Heb. 10:4], during all the long ages [centuries] that preceded the death of Christ, the thick veil remained; the blood of bulls and of goats continued to be shed and sprinkled; and once a year access to God through an atoning sacrifice was vouchsafed-- in a picture, or rather, was dramatically represented, in those symbolical actions-- nothing more.
"But now, the one atoning Sacrifice being provided in the precious blood of Christ, access to this holy God could no longer be denied; and so the moment the Victim expired on the altar [figuratively speaking], that thick veil which for so many ages [centuries] had been the dread symbol of separation between God and guilty men [of Israel] was, without a hand touching it, mysteriously "rent in twain from top to bottom"-- "the Holy Spirit thus signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was NOW made manifest!"
"How emphatic the statement, from top to bottom; as if to say, Come boldly now to the Throne of Grace; the veil is clean gone [see 2 Cor. 3:13, 14]; the mercy seat stands open to the gaze of sinners [trangressors of the first covenant, Heb 9:15], and the way to it is sprinkled with the blood of Him-- "who through the eternal Spirit has offered Himself without spot to God!" Before, it was death to go in, now it is death to stay out. See more on this glorious subject in Heb. 10:19-22.” [For the theological significance of this event for Christians, the nations of the House of Israel, read the updated Feature article, Can A Christian Sin?].
As the apostle Paul explained it to those gathered in the synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia, "Of this man's [David] seed has God, according to his promise, raised up for Israel, a Savior, Jesus ..." [Acts 13:23]. Christ was not raised up for the gentiles of the world. The age of the Law Covenant had ended. There is a new covenant in place for us. The physical priesthood is no longer required. Jesus Christ is our high priest. [Heb. 3:1]. A physical temple is no longer required. We are the temple of God when the Spirit of God dwells in us. [1 Cor. 3:16]. The sacrifice of bulls and goats are no longer required. Christ was sacrificed to cover our sins that are now washed away by his blood. [Eph. 5:2]. “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He didn’t say ‘seeds,’ as of many, but as one. And to your Seed, which is Christ.” [Gal. 3:16]. The Abrahamic Covenant is now in force for the House of Israel through Jesus Christ, the Seed of Abraham, the son of David. [Again, see the Feature article, The Good News Colour Revolution].
See the Feature articles, We're Abraham's Seed And Heirs, Not Gentiles and Is The Kingdom Of Heaven Here Yet?
1 Minor edits were made for clarity and style. Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown Commentary, 1871.
2 The significance of the prophetic Day of Atonement for Christians is discussed in chapter six, The Hijacked Elephant. It is the marriage of the Lamb discussed in Revelation and in the Prophets of the Old Testament. It was the most solemn high holy day, or annual Sabbath day, of the year, marked by a day of fasting. It is the yet to be fulfilled national day of reconciliation for the House of Judah and the House of Israel. [See Eze. 37:15-28; Heb. 8:8, 9].
Again, see The Relevance Of The Holy Days In The Plan Of God In The Last Days.
Italics, underline and [ ] are the author’s.
The Old Testament is as much a Christian book as is the New when we know our Biblical ancestry. Ignorance of this fact has lead us to our current situation. [See the Sneakers article, A Life And Death Pickle Of A Predicament]. As the Apostle Paul tells us, " ...and the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the nations [of Israel] on the principle of faith, announced beforehand the glad tidings [Greek, proeuaggelizomai, good news, gospel told beforehand] to Abraham: In you each of the nations [of Israel's sons] shall be blessed." [Gal. 3:8, DBY]. Remember, Christ is the Seed of Abraham. "But to Abraham were the promises addressed, and to his seed: he does not say, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to your seed; which is Christ." [Gal. 3:16, DBY].
As Christ plainly said, he was sent only to the House of Israel in the Christian age. But as mentioned in our Feature article, The War Dispatches, we’ve been ethnically cleansed of this knowledge much to our detriment. However, when we step back to look objectively, we can see that which is hidden in plain view, right in front of our noses. Our misunderstanding of John 3:16 has had disastrous effects on Christianity. It’s caused us to erroneously redefine key doctrine that has led us far away from the first century gospel delivered to us by Christ and the apostles. [See the Feature articles, Moving Forward and Mirror, Mirror On The Wall].
At the moment our Redeemer died, the very Christ who told us he was “sent only to the House of Israel,” we read in Matthew 27:51, “Then, behold, the veil of the temple [of Israel] was rent in two from top to bottom ….” Most Christians would read right over this significant event’s powerful and far-reaching impact, meant for us as descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, without giving it a thought because we've lost knowledge of our ancestral history in the Old Testament. Instead, we make the erroneous assumption that this meant the door was open to the gentiles of the world. But we would be wrong. Dead wrong. As Paul said, " ...we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles ...." [1 Cor. 1:23]. [For details and the implications of this for us today, see the Feature articles, Three Temple Ages Make A Plan, and The Relevance Of The Holy Days In The Plan Of God In The Last Days].
The renting of the veil was hugely symbolic of the theological changes that impacted the House of Judah, the Jews, and the House of Israel, the Christian nations that make up the remainder of Israel today, who being redeemed [read Isa. 47:4; 48:17; 54:5], were brought back into our covenant relationship with God from that moment. The House of Israel, who was divorced under the terms of the old law covenant, the veil of Moses, was reinstated under the terms of the new covenant promise given to Abraham and his Seed, Christ. [See the Feature article, The Good News Colour Revolution].
To help explain the relevance of the veil splitting from top to bottom, I have included a quote from the Bible Commentary of Jamieson, Fausset and Brown1 for verse 51. Keep in mind a vital point of clarification; the veil was located in the temple in Jerusalem, the temple, not for the gentiles of the world, but only for Israel. Therefore, we need to be careful not to redefine this event in gentile terms, but to maintain its proper covenant context for all 12 sons of Israel. [As noted above, see the Feature article The Tale Of Two Covenants].
“And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom-- This was the thick and gorgeously wrought veil which was hung between the "holy place" and the "holiest of all," shutting out all access to the presence of God [by Israel] as manifested "from above the mercy seat and from between the cherubim"-- "the Holy Spirit thus signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest" [“ … while the first tabernacle was yet standing.” This a reference to the Old Testament ordinances and priesthood. See Heb. 9:8-12]. Into this holiest of all none might enter, not even the high priest, save once a year, on the great Day of Atonement [a day of great importance prophetically in the future for all Israel],2 and then only with the blood of atonement in his hands, which he sprinkled "upon and before the mercy seat seven times" [Lev. 16:14]-- to signify that access for sinners to a holy God is only through atoning blood. But as they [all Israel] had only the blood of bulls and of goats, which could not take away sins [see Heb. 10:4], during all the long ages [centuries] that preceded the death of Christ, the thick veil remained; the blood of bulls and of goats continued to be shed and sprinkled; and once a year access to God through an atoning sacrifice was vouchsafed-- in a picture, or rather, was dramatically represented, in those symbolical actions-- nothing more.
"But now, the one atoning Sacrifice being provided in the precious blood of Christ, access to this holy God could no longer be denied; and so the moment the Victim expired on the altar [figuratively speaking], that thick veil which for so many ages [centuries] had been the dread symbol of separation between God and guilty men [of Israel] was, without a hand touching it, mysteriously "rent in twain from top to bottom"-- "the Holy Spirit thus signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was NOW made manifest!"
"How emphatic the statement, from top to bottom; as if to say, Come boldly now to the Throne of Grace; the veil is clean gone [see 2 Cor. 3:13, 14]; the mercy seat stands open to the gaze of sinners [trangressors of the first covenant, Heb 9:15], and the way to it is sprinkled with the blood of Him-- "who through the eternal Spirit has offered Himself without spot to God!" Before, it was death to go in, now it is death to stay out. See more on this glorious subject in Heb. 10:19-22.” [For the theological significance of this event for Christians, the nations of the House of Israel, read the updated Feature article, Can A Christian Sin?].
As the apostle Paul explained it to those gathered in the synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia, "Of this man's [David] seed has God, according to his promise, raised up for Israel, a Savior, Jesus ..." [Acts 13:23]. Christ was not raised up for the gentiles of the world. The age of the Law Covenant had ended. There is a new covenant in place for us. The physical priesthood is no longer required. Jesus Christ is our high priest. [Heb. 3:1]. A physical temple is no longer required. We are the temple of God when the Spirit of God dwells in us. [1 Cor. 3:16]. The sacrifice of bulls and goats are no longer required. Christ was sacrificed to cover our sins that are now washed away by his blood. [Eph. 5:2]. “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He didn’t say ‘seeds,’ as of many, but as one. And to your Seed, which is Christ.” [Gal. 3:16]. The Abrahamic Covenant is now in force for the House of Israel through Jesus Christ, the Seed of Abraham, the son of David. [Again, see the Feature article, The Good News Colour Revolution].
See the Feature articles, We're Abraham's Seed And Heirs, Not Gentiles and Is The Kingdom Of Heaven Here Yet?
1 Minor edits were made for clarity and style. Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown Commentary, 1871.
2 The significance of the prophetic Day of Atonement for Christians is discussed in chapter six, The Hijacked Elephant. It is the marriage of the Lamb discussed in Revelation and in the Prophets of the Old Testament. It was the most solemn high holy day, or annual Sabbath day, of the year, marked by a day of fasting. It is the yet to be fulfilled national day of reconciliation for the House of Judah and the House of Israel. [See Eze. 37:15-28; Heb. 8:8, 9].
Again, see The Relevance Of The Holy Days In The Plan Of God In The Last Days.
Italics, underline and [ ] are the author’s.
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