Shadow of Heavenly Things

2021-10-23

For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. (Hebrews 8:4-5)

The Old Testament shadowed greater things that were to come. Examples of such things were the tabernacle and the temple. These both pictured a heavenly Temple. In Revelation 11:19, we see this immediately before the return of our Lord:

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.

That means there is a complete Temple in heaven, built by God, which includes an ark of the covenant. Therefore, all the discussion about Jesus entering the holiest by His blood applies to a literal locale and is not just a nice sentiment:

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

Is that all there is on earth that is patterned after the heavenlies? Our experience on earth should also be patterned after our heavenly position: He “hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6). By faith we apprehend what is ours in heaven.

There will come a day when everything earthly will be gone, and everything will be made new. Set your sights on the heavenly.