There Is a Spiritual Body – The Blood and the Body (Part 2)

November 11, 2017

1 Corinthians 15 contains a wealth of information and is probably the most frank discussion in all of Scripture regarding the nature of resurrection. We are told that as we have a natural body, we shall also have a spiritual body. A day is coming when we will have much more in common with angels than we presently share. Be that as it may, we are still spirits that live in physical bodies. This does not make our spirits unsubstantial. Our spirits have shape and form and can impact the physical realm.

Continue reading →

The Blood and the Body – Part 1

November 4, 2017

Having covered a wide scope of how to apply the blood and what the blood has done for us, we are now ready to delve into a deeper discussion of what the blood is. To do so, we have to venture into that part of the river of life that man cannot pass over but must swim in.[1] I freely concede that this can be a daunting task.

Continue reading →

The Holy Oracle – Entrance by the Blood (Part 9)

October 28, 2017

The holy of holies was also called the “holy oracle.”[1] It was of this place that God said “There I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat.”[2] The communications of God proceed from the holy oracle, from the holy of holies. Communion without communication is impossible. We need to enter into the holy oracle to hear our Father’s words, for it is the place from which He speaks. The basis for receiving any revelation from God is the blood of Jesus Christ because it is only by His blood that we are able to enter in.

Continue reading →

The Blood and the Veil – Entrance by the Blood (Part 7)

October 14, 2017

On the Day of Atonement, blood went on the veil and beyond. The blood of the sin sacrifice was sprinkled on it with a motion that imitated whipping a man.[1] When Jesus gave up the ghost, the veil of the temple was rent from top to bottom.[2] Can you imagine the reaction of the priests? There they are in the holy place going about their daily functions when suddenly—“RIIIIP!!”—this very tall, double-thick veil tears down the middle from top to bottom. And as if that weren’t bad enough, then comes an earthquake to knock them off their feet! There’s not much in life that teaches humility quite like getting knocked down. The veil tore from the top. Grace comes from God to man; only the humble receive it.

Continue reading →

A Sabbath of Sabbaths – Entrance by the Blood (Part 6)

October 7, 2017

Another important facet of the Day of Atonement was that it was called a Sabbath of Sabbaths.

Leviticus 16:31
It shall be a sabbath of rest [Hebrew—a Sabbath of sabbatism, a rest of rests] unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.

This emphatic description for a day of rest is only used of the weekly Sabbath, the Sabbath year, and the Day of Atonement. Other holy days were Sabbaths, days of rest; but these were special. They were the Sabbath of Sabbaths.

Continue reading →

The Goat for Azazel – Entrance by the Blood (Part 5)

September 30, 2017

One wonders how many have used the term “scapegoat” without knowing its true significance. Most have a sense of what it means—a person blamed for the wrongs of another or one chosen for punishment to satisfy a need for public justice even though they haven’t done the wrong. We equate the scapegoat with the “fall guy” or the “whipping boy.” Though these connections resonate with some of the purpose of the scapegoat, they miss much of the richness of what the goat truly represented. Before we look closely at what the term “scapegoat” actually means, let us examine what was placed upon it.

Continue reading →

The Cleansing of the People and the Place – Entrance by the Blood (Part 4)

September 23, 2017

The Cleansing of the People Relieved, Aaron leaves the inner sanctuary, walks through the holy place and hands the vessel …

Continue reading →

The Day of Atonement – Entrance by the Blood (Part 3)

September 16, 2017

Abraham Heschel refers to the Day of Atonement as Judaism’s holy of holies in time.[1] This day is the most sacred day of the holy calendar. It occurs on the 10th of Tishri, the first month of the civil year and the seventh month of the ceremonial year. A day of fasting, it stood between the two great feasts of Pentecost and Tabernacles. It was on this day that all the sins, transgressions, and iniquities of the people for the entire year were covered over. It was on this day that the high priest entered the holy of holies with blood on his hands.

Continue reading →

A Divinely Dangerous Deity – Entrance by the Blood (Part 2)

September 9, 2017

Nadab and Abihu offered up incense to the Lord by way of a “strange fire.” The Lord does not allow anything “strange” to approach Him.[1] He had only one authorized ignition source in the entire tabernacle system: the fire on the altar of burnt offering. This fire had been lit by the Lord Himself on the inaugural day of the tabernacle. “Fire from heaven” is the biblical term.[2] We call it a lightning.

Continue reading →

Entrance by the Blood – Part 1

September 2, 2017

Aaron had four sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. Nadab and Abihu were the older two and, like all good sons, they were training to go into the family business. They must have shown promise, because the Lord invited them to come along with the elders of Israel for the feast on Mount Sinai.[1] One can imagine how getting an invitation to have supper with God Almighty might cause one to become a little prideful.

Continue reading →