Reconciling Hebrews
with Leviticus, Exodus,
Daniel and Revelation
(part six of six)
What is meant by "with in the veil" and the "holy place" in Hebrews? Exposing the false theories of Hebrews chapters six and nine.
Here are some other Scriptures used by critics to denounce the SDA teachings of the Investigative Judgment: "Hebrews 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Heb 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. And Heb 9:12 “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
So we should go to the original Greek translations of the key words used in these bible text. We have “within the veil” and “into the holy place” So as we go to the Strong’s Concordance-Lexicon. We find the following.
First we will look at the word veil as used here in Hebrews 6:19.From the Lexicon it says, of veil, “2665 katapetasma {kat-ap-et'-as-mah} from a compound of 2596 and a congener of 4072; TDNT - 3:628,420; n n AV - veil 6; 6 1) a veil spread out, a curtain 1a) the name given to the two curtains in the temple at Jerusalem, one of them at the entrance to the temple separated the Holy Place from the outer court, the other veiled the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place”
So it is clear that there are two veils in the sanctuary “one of them at the entrance to the temple separated the Holy Place from the outer court, the other veiled the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place”
We will see that the phrase Paul used here within the veil, was referring to that curtain at the entrance of the temple that separated the Holy Place from the outer court, it was not referring to the other veil that was in front of the Most Holy Place or the Holy of Holies. “Hebrews 6:19,20, is supposed to prove that Christ entered the Holy of Holies at his ascension, because Paul said he had entered within the veil. But the veil which divides between the Holy and the Holy of Holies is "the second veil," Hebrews 9:3; hence there are two veils, and that in Hebrews 6, being the first of which he speaks, must be the first veil, which hung before the Holy, and in Exodus was called a curtain.
When he entered within the veil, he entered his tabernacle, of course the Holy, as that was the first apartment; and our hope, as an anchor of the soul, enters within the veil, i.e. the atonement of both apartments, including both the forgiveness and the blotting out of sins.” O.R.L. Crosier
This can get very technical and wordy. So I will take the liberty of sharing with you the thoughts of a renown popular and credible SDA Theologian/Vance Ferrell from his book a “ A Biblical Defense”
I encourage you to order this book from him, his website is www.sdadefend.com Out of all the explanations that I have read and studied I do believe that this is the best, clearest and most accurate explanation of these chapters in Hebrews related to the Greek words used by the Apostle Paul (veil, sanctuary, holy place and holiest of all or holy of holies)
THE VEIL
...We need to learn Paul's definition of the "veil." This is important because there were two veils in the sanctuary, one before the first apartment (the first or entering veil) and another dividing the first from the second apartment (the second or dividing veil). This definition is given in 9:3, where Paul speaks of "to deuteron Katapetasma," or "the second veil." Thus, we know that when Paul speaks of the second veil, he will say "second veil" in the Greek that is, "to deuteron Katapetasma
<span>Therefore, we can know that when he speaks of the first veil-the entering veil into the sanctuary,-he will only use the word " katapetasma" or "veil."
<span>With those four definitions we are able to explain the basic passages In Hebrews which the Evangelicals use to try to confuse people with.
…“As quoted in the KJV. In each instance, the word or phrase in italics is hagia, which should correctly be translated “holy place” (“first apartment”),not “most holy place” or “holiest” (“second apartment”) The following verse (Heb.9:3) defines the phrase Paul uses for “most holy place” (“second apartment”), which is hagia hagi0n. “ And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;” So the only time where the Apostle Paul uses the Greek word (hagia hagiOn ) is for the Most Holy Place or Holies of all. And you will notice it is not used by Paul in any of the other chapters we mentioned referring to the holy place or sanctuary.
"Hebrews 6:19 says that, by the time that Paul wrote Hebrews, Jesus had already passed within "the veil" on our behalf. But which one of the two veils? Is it possible that Paul did not know that there were two veils? This point is crucial. In 9:3, we learn that Paul did know about the two veils, and that he there gave us the name for the second of these: "To (the) deuteron (second) katapetasma (veil)," or "the second veil."
Now we look back at Hebrews 6:19, and there we find "eis (into) to (the) esoteron (interior within) tou (the) katapetasmatos (veil)." It is just "veil;" it is not "second veil nor is it "veils" If the Greek of 6:19 was "second veil," we would know that Jesus entered the second apartment in A.D. 31 and was there when Paul wrote Hebrews in A.D. 65. If the Greek was "veils, " then we would know that Jesus passed through both the first and second veil in A.D. 31 and was in the second apartment in A.D. 65. But instead, the word is "veil,"-so we can know that Jesus went into the first apartment of the heavenly Sanctuary in A.D. 31. Thank the Lord! The prophets agree!" Vance Ferrell.
Vance Ferrell also points out about the word holy place or places as used by Paul here in Hebrews: “The King James translators rendered the word in English in several different ways: Hebrews 8:2 - “the sanctuary.” 9:2 - “the sanctuary.” 9:8 - “the holiest of all.” 9:12 - “the holy place.” 9:24 -“the holy places.” 9:25 - “the holy place.” 10:19 - “the holiest.” 13:11 - “the sanctuary.” But do not therefore think that most translation teams translated hagia incorrectly. In 1981, when the present author did his detailed research into Hebrews and hagia, he compiled a chart of how 38 Bible versions apply it in the eight places in which it occurs in Hebrews. Incorrect in nine translations—He discovered that only nine translations out of thirty-eight give “holy of holies,” “holiest,” or “most holy place” for hagia in one or more of the eight verses in which it occurs in Hebrews (8:2; 9:2, 8, 12, 24, 25; 10:19; 13:11). Here are these nine versions: King James Version (1611)”; Gerrit Verkuyl’s Modern Language Bible (also called the Berkeley Version, 1945, Verkuyl edited the entire Bible translation, but he himself translated the New Testament portion); Charles Williams’ New Testament in Plain English (1952); Amplified Version (1958); J.B. Phillip’s New Testament in Modern English (1958); Today’s English Version (1966); Kenneth Taylor’s The Living Bible 253 (1967); William Barclay’s Barclay’s New Testament (1969); New International Bible (1973).
It is an intriguing fact that the one modern version which liberals quote the most frequently, the New International Version, is one of the very few which always translates hagia in Hebrews as applying to the second apartment. Indeed, the fact that the NIV so translates the word is held up as a proof that Jesus must have gone into the second apartment when He ascended to heaven in A.D. 31.
Correct in 29 versions—Here are the 29 versions which correctly translate ta hagia in the book of Hebrews: Murdoch (1855); Noyes (1869); Sawyer (1891); Rotherham’s Emphasized Bible (1895); Young (1898);English Revised (1881) Coptic (1898-1905, translated from the Egyptian Coptic); Twentieth Century New Testament (1902); Weymouth (1903); American Standard Version (1901, originally called the American Revised Version); Fenton’s New Testament in Modern English (1919); Moffett (1922); Ballantine’s Riverside New Testament (1934); Lamsa (1940, translated from the Aramaic); Basic English (1941); Confraternity (1941); Goodspeed (1943); Knox (1944); Revised Standard Version (1946); Spencer (1946); Lattey’s Westminster Version (1947); New World Translation (1950); British Authorized, also known as Translator’s New Testament (1973); New American Standard Bible (1960); New English Bible (1961); Beck (1963); Jerusalem Bible (1966); Byington’s Bible in Living English (1972); and Estes (1973).
Thus we see that only nine translations out of a total of thirty-eight incorrectly translate hagia as “holy of holies,” “holiest,” or “most holy place” in one or more of these passages: 8:2; 9:2, 8, 12, 24, 25; 10:19; or 13:11.Hebrews 9: Hagia is the First Apartment page 254 Biblical Defense.
Why did the 29 translate it correctly? They recognized the obvious set of definitions given in the first few verses of Hebrews 9. An extremely important word—The correct translation of ta hagia is key to an understanding of where Christ our High Priest was, after He ascended to heaven in A.D. 31. Was it the “holy place” or was it the “most holy place”?
In order to show you how pivotal these eight verses are, here they are—as quoted in the KJV. In each instance,the word or phrase in italics is hagia, which should correctly be translated “holy place” (“first apartment”),not “most holy place” or “holiest” (“second apartment”): 8:2 “A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true Tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.” 9:2 “For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the sanctuary.” [Hebrews 9:2 is the definition verse, defining ta hagia as meaning the “holy place” (“first apartment”).The following verse (9:3) defines the phrase Paul uses for “most holy place” (“second apartment”), which is hagia hagi0n.
(The present author’s use of “hagi0n” here, instead of “hagion,” will be explained shortly.)] 9:8 “The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest while as the first tabernacle was yet standing.” 9:12 “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” 9:24 “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” Page 255 Biblical Defense. 9:25 “Nor yet that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others.” 10:19 “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.” 13:11 “For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.”
For the past 2,000 years, it is only by mis-translating ta hagia that Jesus can be placed in the second apartment in the book of Hebrews.
More about the Greek of this word—At this point, it would be helpful to better understand this Greek word. Hagion is the neuter form of hagios and means “holy (place).” Its plural is hagia. Hagia occurs eight times in the book of Hebrews and is translated in the KJV as “sanctuary” in 8:2, 9:2, and 13:11; as “holy place” in 9:25; as “holy places” in 9:24; as “holiest” in 10:19; and as “holiest of all” in 9:8. Thus, this one Greek word is translated five different ways in the KJV of those eight texts—three times as “sanctuary; twice as “holy place”; and once each as “holy places,” holiest,” and “holiest of all.”
It should also be mentioned that the Greeks used a backward apostrophe to indicate the “h” sound. That is why, in Greek characters, hagion is written ‘agion. Ta is “the”; hagia is “holy” in the plural. “Places” is inferred by the Greek reader. So ta hagia literally means “the holy places.”
We will learn below that, by Paul’s carefully explained definition, it means the first apartment. A careful progression of truth—Only by Scripture can we understand Scripture. The book of Hebrews is a very carefully arranged book. As we read it we see that Paul gradually develops his points. In chapter 7, he establishes that Jesus is a priest. In chapter 8, for the Hebrews 9: Hagia is the First Apartment 256 Biblical Defense
9:2 “For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the hagia.” Then, in verse 3, he gives us the Greek word he uses in Hebrews for the “second apartment” (“Holiest of all”). He uses hagia hagi0n (literally, “Holiest of all”). This is also a strange usage, but it is consistent with his pattern in 9:2. He places both words in the plural: not “holy of holies,” but “holies of holies.” 9:3 “And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the hagia hagi0n.” 257 Biblical Defense.
[In Greek, there are two different “o’s.” I have placed a large “0,” in “hagi0n,” to represent the omega, which is different than the omicron. (The omicron is a shortsounding “o” while the omega is a long-sounding “o.”).Hagion, in 9:1, is in the nominative singular and means “holy.” But hagi0n in 9:2, with its omega, is in the genitive plural and means “of holies.” Transliterated into English, hagion and hagiOn may appear identical, but they have very different meanings.]
Now, let us review what we have discovered in Paul’s definition list of the structure and its apartments: This is the ordinary way that these words would be written in the Greek: “holies” (“holy places”) for the sanctuary as a whole; “holy” (“holy place”) for the first apartment, and “holy of holies” for the second apartment. But Paul does something different: He uses the singular (“holy,” “holy place”) for the sanctuary as a whole—and he uses the plural for each apartment! He uses the plural “holies” (“holies places”) for the first apartment,and he uses the plural “holies of holies” for the second apartment. Regardless of whether we can ascertain his reasons for doing so, we must obviously use the definitions that Paul provides us with. We cannot ignore what he tells us and invent our own.
Why did Paul do this?—Why did Paul uses this strange system? We may never know until heaven why
he chose that pattern, but here are several possibilities: (1) Paul was thoroughly acquainted with the Old Testament writings. Everyone agrees with this. In fact, it is because of the comprehensiveness of his presentation in the book of Hebrews, that so many Biblical scholars believe Paul was the author of the book of Hebrews. (We,of course, have confirmation because he is identified as the author eight times in Great Controversy, 413-421.) Hebrews 9: Hagia is the First Apartment. A Biblical Defense..
Because of his knowledge, Paul knew that, in the Greek Septuagint of the Old Testament (widely used in Paul’s time), “holy place” almost always refers to the first apartment; yet there was that one remarkable exception: when Moses wrote Leviticus 16, he consistently called the second apartment the “holy place.”
Here is an example: “the holy place, the one which is within the veil before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark” (Lev 16:2). Throughout that chapter, the second apartment was called the “holy place.” To our knowledge, Moses never did this anywhere else—and none of the other Old Testament writers ever did either. Paul, realizing that oddity, might have thought that, if in the book of Hebrews he had used the term, “holy place,” some of his readers might think that, in view of Leviticus 16, Paul was referring to the second apartment. So he gave each apartment a unique name in 9:2- 3, that there might be no doubt as to his message.” Biblical Defense/Vance Ferrell.Biblical Evidence of a Sanctuary in Heaven.
The New Testament confirms two apartments in the Sanctuary in Heaven?
Hebrews 8:1-2 (1) Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; (2) A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.Heb 8:5 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.
In the book of Revelation while in vision John saw Christ in the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary among the candle sticks this is the same description of the furniture found only in the Holy Place of the earthly sanctuary. Rev. 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; Rev 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle" John also described the “seven lamps of fire burning before the throne” in Revelation 4:5. Then a few verses further he beheld a “Lamb as it had been slain,” “in the midst of the throne.” Revelation 5:6. Here again Jesus is located in the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary where a throne is also identified.This is undisputable evidence of a sanctuary in heaven and the Lord Jesus had on the garment’s of a Priest. Also this is John the Apostle of Christ still alive but exiled to the island of Patmos and in this vision he saw Christ many years after His ascension to heaven about 80 years, here in the Holy Place not the Most Holy Place.
Later in a future vision in chapter 8 John had another vision of the Holy Place. “And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.” Revelation 8: 3,4
If you look at description of the earthly sanctuary in Leviticus 16, you will see this is the same language used to describe the activities and furniture that was in the Holy Place of the Heavenly Sanctuary. This to me is also confirming again that in Revelation 1: After His ascension to heaven the Lord Jesus in a vision was speaking to John revealing the message of the seven churches to him, and the Lord was clearly in the Holy Place about 50 or more years after His ascension to heaven. And He was not in the Most Holy Place of the Heavenly Sanctuary. The work of Christ in Most Holy Place was going to be a future event.
In fact, later in Rev.11, John was given another future vision of Christ and His Work in the Most Holy Place this is showing clear evidence that this is a future event because this was the 7th or last angel sounding, indicating the end of Christ Priestly work in the Most Holy and the Investigative Judgment finished completed.
Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever. Rev 11:16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Rev 11:17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. Rev 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And then the second apartment with in the inner veil of the sanctuary the Most Holy Place was opened. “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.”Revelation 11:19.
And he looked into the inner veil, into the most holy place or the holies of holies; were he saw the “ Ark of His testament,” which contained the Ten Commandments. Here it is clearly referring to the Temple or Sanctuary in Heaven the Most Holy Place, Christ work there completed and time for the Investigative Judgment to end and for the Lord to come. Rev 22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. Rev: 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Rev 22:13. It is clear from these bible text that all the judging will be done when Christ returns and He will give to everyone according to their faith or lack of it evident by their works or deeds.
(the end-please share your thoughts positive or otherwise)
