Inside the Veil and Outside the Camp

“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” (Heb. 10:19-22).
“Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach” (Heb. 13:12, 13).
THE Old Testament is a very wonderful picture book of New Testament truths. No uninspired writer has ever produced a volume of gospel illustrations that compares with the Old Testament in type, shadow, or symbol. All through the sacred pages of the earlier books we have set forth the wonderful truths that have been made known to us by our Lord Jesus Christ.
Those of you who are familiar with the Tabernacle will recall the place which the veil had in connection with its furnishings and ordinances. By it the sanctuary was divided into two parts; the first was called the Holy Place, and into that particular room the priests went ministering from day to day. In it there were three pieces of furniture — the golden candlestick, speaking of Christ as the light of the world; the golden table of show bread, speaking of Christ as the One who maintains and sustains His people through their wilderness journey; and the altar of incense, which speaks of Christ ever living to make intercession for us.
Then there was the inner sanctuary on the other side of the veil, called the Holiest of All, and in this room there was just one piece of furniture, the ark of the covenant, surmounted by the mercy seat. This was the dwelling place of God, and the mercy seat on top of the ark was the meeting place of God and man. An uncreated light, the Shekinah glory, shone above the mercy seat between the golden cherubim, whose wings were spread out over it. Into this sacred enclosure, where the presence of God was manifested, the ordinary priests were not permitted to enter; only the High Priest, and that just once a year. He went in carrying a golden basin filled with atoning blood, which he sprinkled upon the mercy seat and before it, where he himself took his stand.
This was God’s figure for the time then present, we are told in the Epistle to the Hebrews, when no man could have immediate access to God. There was a priesthood provided through which people drew nigh unto God in a ritualistic way, but God commanded that the people should stand afar off to worship Him, and the man who drew near was put to death. The only exception was the High Priest once every year.