Hebrews 8 study

Hebrews Chapter 8

1Now 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;2A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.3For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.4For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:5Who 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.6But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.7For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.8For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:9Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.13In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

Verse 1, again we see that Jehoshua as our High Priest was set on the right hand of the throne of God the Father and that it took place at His ascension. Where is God the Father's throne pictured in the old testament earthly sanctuary?

Exodus 25:17-22 (KJV)

17And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.18And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.19And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.20And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.21And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.22And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

Jehovah's shekinah glory would dwell above the mercy seat between the two cherubim which was placed above the ark. All Adventists know that the ark of the covenant was located in the most holy place in the earthly sanctuary. Remember, that the earthly sanctuary was patterned after the original in heaven.

Numbers 7:89 (KJV)

89And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him.

Jehovah spoke to Moses from off the mercy-seat that was upon the ark of the testimony. We will show conclusively from the following scripture where the ark of the covenant was located within the tabernacle.

Exodus 26:33-34 (KJV)

33And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.34And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.

Verse 34 of Exodus is absolute evidence that the mercy-seat which sat upon the ark of the testimony was in the most holy place.

Exodus 25:22 and Numbers 7:89 show that right above the mercy seat upon the ark would be where Jehovah's presence would dwell via His Shekinah glory. This is where He would speak to Moses from.

The mercy-seat was symbolic of God's divine presence. With the sprinkling of blood on the mercy-seat, the judgment of God is transformed into grace and mercy. The mercy seat was made of pure gold. The two winged cherubs facing each other with their wings outstretched towards each other were on it. The mercy-seat was beaten or hammered from one solid piece of gold. It was placed above the ark.

So in regards to verse 1 of Hebrews 8, if Jehovah's throne was symbolized as being in the most holy place in the earthly sanctuary and the earthly is patterned after the heavenly, then we know for an absolute fact Jehovah's throne in heaven is in the most holy place. When Jehoshua ascended into Heaven and sat down on the right hand of the Majesty Jehovah God, there can be no other conclusion than that He went right into the most holy place at His ascension. The bible crystal clear on this absolute fact. God's throne didn't make a change of location all of a sudden after Messiah's ascension.

Jehoshua is a King Priest and thereby is not subject to the Levitical preists functions, which allowed access to the most holy place only once a year after ministration in the holy place for the rest of the year. Messiah is a King Priest who has returned to the glory of God. Unlike what Adventistism teaches, Jehoshua went directly to the most holy place at His ascension.

Verse 2, Messiah's priesthood in heaven surpasses the typical tabernacle/temple  at which the Levitical preists served. The true tabernacle is in heaven and was not built by man but by the hand of God Himself. The book of Hebrews keeps showing us the superiority of the Messiah's preisthood over the Levitical preisthood. When we say that Jehoshua as High Priest has to perform the Levitical preistly functions in heaven, then we actually diminish His person (divinity), His Kingship and His priesthood. We lower Him down to a common priest rather than the Heavenly King Priest that He really is.

Verse 3, Every high priest was required to offer something to God. Jehoshua offered up Himself to God on behalf of the sins of His people.

Verse 4, the exaltation of the Messiah to heaven qualifies Him for a different priesthood. The Son of God's priesthood if it had remained on earth, would have been a priesthood that was not sufficiently greater than the Levitical preisthood.

Verse 5, the Levitical preists served a temporary and typological ministry. The old testament witnesses to the surpassing greatness of the Son of God, for He is the substance of the shadowy mystery of the priesthood. This is why it is a huge mistake to reduce Jehoshua's priestly ministry to the level of the Levitical preisthood, when we do so we inadvertently attack His person and Kingship. The functions of the Levitical preists were merely a shadow pointing to the substance of Messiah's preisthood. The substance is the real thing and the substance was Jehoshua's body that only needed to be offered once for all time. This is why Jehoshua could go right into the most holy place and sprinkle His blood on the mercy-seat. He as God’s Son and King was allowed by inheritance to skip the typical Levitical daily ministration in the holy place and therby enter through the veil into the most holy as He had made the atonement in full at the cross.

Verse 6, "more excellent ministry" The form in which it is ministered. This statement here by Paul continues to illustrate the superiority of the Melchisedec priesthood, of which Messiah is a priest, over the Levitical preisthood.  Adventists relegate the Son of God on an eqaul level with fallible men when they say that His priesthood in heaven has to be patterned after the Levitical preisthood in the old covenant. What makes Jehoshuas priestly ministry more excellent than the Levitical preisthood is the very thing Adventists deny, which is that Messiah went directly to the most holy place at His ascension and bypassed the holy place and it's daily ministration.

If Messiah paid the debt at the cross and if His sacrifice of Himself is a once and for all sacrifice then there is absolutely no need for Him to do daily ministration in the holy place. His blood ushered in the new covenant and is able to cleanse us of all unrighteousness.

1 John 1;6-7 (KJV)

6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Repentant sinners are counted clean and have fellowship with the Church, no longer shut out of Jehovah's holy presence. Where does Jehovah's presence dwell? In the most holy place! If we have had access to Jehovah God all the way back Messiah's ascension and His throne is in the most holy place, then that means the Son of God had to go right into the most holy place at His ascension. If the Son of God didn't go right into the most holy place at His ascension then we wouldn't have access to God the Father and we would still be in our sins and lost. Certainly we aren't above Jehoshua so if He didn't go to the most holy place at His ascension, the none of the saints could have access to the most holy place thereby meaning no access to the Father.

Hebrews 10:10-12 (KJV)

10By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.11And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

It was Jehovah's will that we are sanctified through the offering of the Messiah's body. The emphasis here is the consecration Jehoshua's works effects for His people. The Son of God's incarnation was for the purpose of His atonement. "Once for all" the Messiah's sacrifice was final! This refutes the huge error that the atonement was only begun at the cross and that it continues in the heavenly sanctuary. Romans 5:11 also refutes the heresy that the atonement was not completed at the cross.

Romans 5:9-11 (KJV)

9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Paul moves from the present reality to a ceratin future. Being justified in the present by His blood, summing up the benefit of the Messiah's atoning sufferings. Believers can be sure of safety from the wrath to come. When we were enemies we were reconciled  (restored from wrath to a relationship of friendship); now the future is sure because of our living Savior's endless intercession on our behalf (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:24-25).

Not only is the future secure, but we exult and rejoice in Jehovah now because we already have atonement made in full in the Messiah. Remember, the Son of God said it was finished at the cross. Those who deny that Jehoshua finished the atonement at the cross tread dangerous ground as they count the blood of the Son of God as a common thing and thereby trample it under foot.

John 19:28-30 (KJV)

28After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.29Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.30When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Verse 28, Jehoshua knew this was the time when "ALL THINGS WERE NOW ACCOMPLISHED". This verse leaves no doubt that what was about to transpire with the Messiah would finish His earthly  ministry (John 17:4). Remember, one of the main purposes of His ministry was to reconcile the elect back to His Father. He could only do this by atoning in full for the elect. (Romans 5:9-11).

Verse 30, "It is finished". The Son of God had completed the work of fulfilling Jehovah's purposes (John 17:4) that He announced in Scripture (the same verb as  "finished" is translated "accomplished" in verse 28. The full price is paid for the elect (John 10:14-15; Mark 10:45) and the wrath of God appeased toward believers (John 3;17, 36; 18:11).

It is serious error to deny that Jehoshua finished the atonement at the cross. Jehoshua confirms this in the passage above and Paul also leaves no doubt that the atonement has been made in full in Romans 5:9-11.

The investigative judgment is predicated on only partial atonement made at the cross or they say a down payment atonement. This teaching is also predicated on Jehoshua not going to the most holy place at His ascension as they know this would destroy their doctrine. To support their doctrine they need Messiah to emulate the old covenant Levitical preistly functions.

They say Messiah at His ascension, began His daily ministration in the holy place standing up. They teach that He didn't go into the most holy place until 1844 when He started cleansing the sanctuary beginning the antitypical day of atonement. This is when the investigative judgment starts for professed Christians of all time, the dead first then the living. They teach that the professed believer has his or her life record come into judgment in order to determine if they are worthy of Jehoshua's blood and eternal life.

This doctrine teaches that any unconfessed sin, even if it is something that was forgotten by the believer, will damn a professed believer to the lake of fire. As you can see from the scriptures we went over, this doctrine is contradicted by the bible and is outright blasphemous and demonic. It's an attack on the cross, Messiah's priesthood, His Kingship and ultimately on His divinity.

Luke 22:69-70 (KJV)

69Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.70Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.

God's appointed King over all things for ever to sit at the right hand of the Father,  the position of supreme Lordship, reigning with God's power (Psalm 110:1).

Daniel 7:13-14 (KJV)

13I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.14And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

This took place after Jehoshua's ascension as He received His Kingdom which was inaugurated on earth on the day of Pentecost. Jehoshua received an everlasting Kingdom. He was anointed to have dominion over all tribes, tongues and nations. The gospel went out to all the world after the day of Pentecost and many people from various tribes, tongues and nations received it and were translated into the Son of God's Kingdom  (Colossians 1:12-14).

We see from Luke 22 and Daniel 7, that the Son of God at His ascension would be brought to the Ancient of Days which is the Father. Jehoshua would be given His Kingdom by the Father and sit on the right hand of the Father's power
These two passages fit together like a glove. Clearly, the Father's throne is in the most holy place so we can safely conclude that the Son of man (Jehoshua) was brought to the most holy place. Luke 22 confirms that this would happen shortly after the Messiah's resurrection and ascension. This passage in Luke also confirms that the Son of God would dit down on the right hand of God after being brought to the Ancient of Days Jehovah.

Luke 20:41-44 (KJV)

41And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David’s son?42And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit tou on my right hand,43Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.44David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?

This is another passage confirming from Jehoshua's own mouth that He was to sit on the right hand of God the Father. Jehoshua quotes Psalm 110;1-2. The Son of God is to sit at the right hand of God until His enemies be made his footstool which will be right before the second advent dispelling the myth of Him having to be a standing priest in the holy place.

Jehoshua conducts His Priesthood from His throne (sits on the right hand of God until enemies are His footstol) in the most holy place (right hand of God, upon mercy-seat-ark-throne). This happens at His ascension not 1800 years later (Hebrews 1).

This was the Messiah ultimately answering the scribes questioning of His authority. Jehoshua affirms His superiority over David implying His divinity and also affirms His coming Kingship.

Now back to verse 7 of Hebrews 8, many today are seeking to go back to a faulty covenant. Jehoshua came to earth and ratified the new covenant with His blood. God did not make a mistake with the old covenant but intentionally made it unable to take away people's sin. Those saved under the old covenant were saved by looking to Messiah, who was to bring in the new covenant.

Verse 8, the people were at fault for not being able to keep the old covenant and the Levitical preisthood was not sufficient to deal with their sin. The new covenant is a renewed covenant, not brand new however in it's substance. "House of Israel and House of Judah", not national houses of Israel and Judah but a spiritual house of those who by faith are the seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:28-29).

Verse 9, National Israel continually broke the old covenant. This verse proves that the new covenant is different than the old and that while the substance is the same, the form of administration is different and far better. In the new covenant, the emphasis is living according to the Spirit of the Law. In the new covenant we offer spiritual sacrifices and have a King for our High Priest who already offered up Himself as the once and for all sacrifice. We now have access to the most holy place through the Son of God. We have received the full atonement and our consciences are clean due to the final sacrifice of Jehoshua's body and blood.

Our sins are forgiven and cast into the deep part of the sea as far as the east is from the west. The investigative judgment undermines all this and is a confusing mix of old covenant priestly functions, only a partial atonement made and supposedly still acknowledging justification by faith. The book of Hebrews by itself destroys the investigative judgment doctrine.

Verse 10, this refers to an internalization of the law. "I will be to them a God", this is standard covenantal formula from the old testament applied to the Church of the new testament  (Genesis 17:7; Exodus 6:7; Leviticus 26:12; Psalm 50:7; Jeremiah 7:23). There is continuity of substance between the old and new covenants.

Verse 11, though Jehovah has ordained preachers and teachers under the new covenant (Ephesians 4:11), all the new covenant people of God have an experiential knowledge of Jehovah by the Holy Spirit's work through the Word (John 17:3; 1 John 2:3-4, 13, 27).

Verse 12, "their sins and iniquities will I remember no more", there will no longer be any need to offer anything for sins because the Son of God has finally and fully offered Himself and atoned for sins. Do you see this? Jehovah God doesn't remember our sins anymore once we have become born again into His Son's Kingdom. The Investigative judgment teaches that our sins are kept on record for further review in the future (investigative judgment). This is heresy and contradicts the word of God. Jehovah Himself says that He will remember our sins no more as a result of the new covenant which was ratified by His Son's blood. Those who teach that we don't have full atonement at the cross and that our sins are not fully forgotten by the Father are calling Jehovah a liar.

As the scripture says, "Let God be true and every man a liar"!!

Verse 13, the old covenant was decaying and waxing old at the time of this writing. It had already been made old and invalid by the Son of God's ransom sacrifice but many of the Jews were still holding on to it. Paul said that it was ready to vanish away. Many place the book of Hebrews to be written in the AD 60's which would be shortly before AD 70 when the temple was destroyed by the Roman armies thereby for ever sealing the fate of the old covenant sacrificial ceremonial system.

The new covenant supercedes the old covenant by establishing better promises. The old covenant gave us an imperfect human priesthood with animal blood sacrifices that cannot clean the conscience. The new covenant gives us a Divine Priest that is perfect and gives us access to the most holy place (since His ascension) as He operates His Priesthood from the most holy place upon His throne. His sacrifice of Himself was once for all and His blood cleans our consciences clean as snow.

The investigative judgment doctrine seeks to take us back to the old covenant with a priest that has to stand up and do daily ministration in the holy place therby limiting our access to the first apartment of the sanctuary. The new covenant gives us a Priest that goes directly to the most holy place, performing His ministration upon His throne as King, thereby giving us direct access to the second apartment of the sanctuary.