Hebrews 9:1-10
The earthly tabernacle regulated external worship but could not provide full access to God or inner cleansing, pointing forward to Christ.
1 Now indeed even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and an earthly sanctuary.
2 For a tabernacle was prepared. In the first part were the lamp stand, the table, and the show bread; which is called the Holy Place.
3 After the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,
4 having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which was a golden pot holding the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;
5 and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat, of which things we can’t speak now in detail.
6 Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services,
7 but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offers for himself, and for the errors of the people.
8 The Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the Holy Place wasn’t yet revealed while the first tabernacle was still standing.
9 This is a symbol of the present age, where gifts and sacrifices are offered that are incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshiper perfect,
10 being only (with meats and drinks and various washings) fleshly ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.
The earthly tabernacle regulated external worship but could not provide full access to God or inner cleansing, pointing forward to Christ.
To describe the earthly tabernacle and demonstrate its inability to provide full access to God or cleanse the conscience.
Christ Enters the Greater Sanctuary with His Own Blood
Christ entered the true heavenly sanctuary once for all with his own blood, securing eternal redemption, cleansing the conscience, mediating the new covenant, and guaranteeing final salvation for those who wait for him.