Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
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The law of Moses was given as a shadow of Jesus and his work. The ceremonies of the law were as much prophecy as were the words of the prophets; they were silent prophecies, acted out by those who performed them.
As part of the ceremony of consecration for the priesthood, Aaron and his sons were commanded to stay inside the tabernacle seven days. Afterward, their “Levitical priesthood” began. This week-long ceremony was a shadow of the days that Jesus spent in heaven after he ascended. In God’s heavenly tabernacle, Jesus waited in God’s presence until he offered himself to God for our sins and was anointed by God to begin his ministry as our High Priest.
During the ceremony of the Day of Atonement, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, Israel’s high priest entered alone into the Most Holy Place of the tabernacle, carrying blood to make atonement for the sins of the whole nation. No one else was allowed inside the tabernacle when the High Priest came before the Lord. He met with God alone to make atonement for the people. This was also a shadow of Christ. When Jesus met with God to offer himself for the sins of mankind, it is not likely that a single heavenly being was allowed in that holy place of God. They had to wait outside, for our High Priest met with our God alone.
What happened to Jesus in heaven after he ascended was foreshadowed by both the consecration of the Levites and the Day of Atonement ceremony, and it is interesting to try to picture the scene in heaven when it was going on. Satan and his angels, the number of which might have numbered in the millions, had not yet been cast out of heaven. So, they would have been standing with the faithful angels outside the place where Jesus met with the Father. What thoughts they must have had, waiting for days and wondering what was going on within the veil! No one in heaven understood what God was up to in the redemptive work of Christ. Peter said that the angels still don’t understand the gospel (1Pet 1:12), and if they don’t understand the gospel now, how much less at that time!
During the ceremony of dedication of the tabernacle in the Old Testament, the tabernacle and all its furnishings were sanctified by sprinkling animal blood on them. But the heavenly tabernacle was purified and sanctified by the blood of Christ (Heb. 9:21-23). The blood of Christ is the holy Ghost, and when Jesus’ sacrifice was accepted by God and the holy Ghost moved through heaven to sanctify it for his priesthood, it moved at the speed of light. Satan “fell like lightning”, and the angels who had sinned fell with him. This happened in an instant. One moment, Satan was where he had been standing with the heavenly beings, and the next moment, he was on earth, and, for him, access to God was forever barred against him.
Satan cannot resist the holy Ghost, and if you are having trouble with him, the only problem is that you are not full enough of it. He will still flee like lightning from the power of God. Let Jesus cleanse your earthly tabernacle today from all the influence of Satan!