Holy Place

In our previous essay we considered the most holy place. In this essay we will consider the holy place. According to Ex. 26:33 there was a veil separating the holy place and the most holy place "...and the veil shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy place."  Within the holy place there was a table and a candlestick. The table contained the shew bread and dishes, spoons, bowls, and covers. The candlestick contained a shaft and six branches. Each of the branches contained three bowls made like almonds with a knop and a flower. The shaft contained four bowls with a knop and a flower. Also the candlestick had seven lamps along with tongues and snuff dishes for each lamp.

While only the high priest could go into the most holy place, both the high priest and the priests could go into the holy place to accomplish the service there. Before they could go into the holy place they had to be washed and they and their garments sprinkled with blood of the sacrifice. Also they had to have on the holy garments. Once they were washed and sprinkled and appropriately attired they entered into the
holy place thru the tent door.

There are several parallels between the old testament holy place and the new testament church. The table of shew bread contained twelve loaves of bread with two rows, six in a row. Thus they were 6 by 6. Today the canon of scripture contains 66 books of the old and new testament by which we obtain our spiritual food. Likewise the candlestick contained 22 bowls and 22 is the bible number representing the word of God.

The candlestick is used in the scriptures to represent the church. Rev. 1:20 reads, "The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches." The Lord told the disciples in Matt. 5:14 16, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Furthermore, only those who have been washed in the new birth can enter into the Kingdom of God (church). Please consider the following verses:

1. Tit. 3:5, 6, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior."

2. John 3:3, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

3. John 3:5, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." Additionally, in the new birth we have our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water (Heb. 10:22).

According to 1 Pet. 1:2, we are "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ."

In Rev. 1:5, 6 we who have been washed by the blood of Christ have been made kings and priests to God: "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.   Amen." As the priests of God we can enter into his kingdom to accomplish the service of God if we are appropriately clothed with the holy garments. In Rev. 19:8 we read, "And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." Also II Cor. 5:21 declares, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." Thus we see that we are clothed with the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Next, we enter into the church as the priests entered into the holy place, through the legal and lawful way. We enter into the church thru repentance and water baptism: Acts 2:38, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

When the priests entered into the holy place they accomplished the service of God. Similarly, we, as members of the Lord's church, "are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 2:5).

Furthermore, we "are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that we should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

As the priests burned incense, with fire from off the altar, in their censors in the holy place, so we, based on the sacrificial atonement of Jesus Christ (fire from off the altar), come to the house of prayer (church) to offer up our prayers unto God.

Thus we conclude that the Lord's church is the new testament holy place of today.