A
curtain used in the
tabernacle of the
children of Israel and later
the
Temple of Solomon to
separate the
Holy of Holies, resting place
of the
Ark of tthe Covenant and
God's
presence within the
temple,
from the rest of the
tabernacle.
Composed of the finest linen and very thick, the veil hung within the
holy place in the temple, and divided it from the Holies like so:
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| |
| ------------------ |
| | | |
| ------------------ |
| Ark of the Covenant |
| |
|/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\|
| The Veil |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
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The veil's purpose was to keep people out of the presence of God,
but not as an act of exclusion, but as an act of mercy. We are
told that sin can not abide in the presence of God and to go into
His presence unclean would cause the person to die. Hence, God
had the Ark of the Covenant separated from the rest of the temple
or tabernacle by the veil. It served as a constant reminder to
the priests as well as the nation of Israel of their sin and how
it separated them from fellowship with God. Only one person would pass beyond the veil and that only once a year.
The High Priest on the Day of Atonement would go beyond the veil
into the presence of God and present a sacrifice for the sins of the
nation.
In the Gospel of Mark (Mark 15:38), after the death of Jesus on
the cross, the veil within the temple was torn in two from top to
bottom. The tearing of the veil illustrates the redemptive work of
the crucifixion. Humanity was separated from God by their sin in
the time before Christ's sacrifice, but with the atonement made
by His death, humanity was given open access to the throne and
presence of God. The veil no longer served a purpose and was
therefore torn in two.