Chapter 3 What Happens in Death? Preparing for Priestly Service In Heaven, Hebrews 10:19-23 by L.D. Swift (11/27/15) As the cloud fades and vanishes, so those who go down to Sheol do not come up; they return no more to their houses, nor do their places know them anymore. (Job 3:11-13) Hebrews 10:19-23 Hebrews 10:35-38 Revelation 6:9-11 A Arguments from Hebrews 10 fter the death of Christ the elect of God in Christ are afforded a measure of access to God not available since the fall of man. In his letter to the church in Ephesus the Apostle Paul wrote: 18 for through him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father (Ephesians 2:18) Now, as never before, Christian Jews and Gentiles pray to the Father in one Spirit. Again, in chapter 3 we find: 12 in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him (Ephesians 3:12). What is it about this new access to the Father that gives us boldness and confidence? Surely it is our faith in him and still more, we are in him, in Christ Jesus. In the very least, we have spiritual standing in Christ that is secure, for surely if we are in him before death, we shall remain in him after death, and that has to be good! It is our being in Christ Jesus that affords us the access to God we now enjoy, something that O.T. saints did not have in their day. In Hebrews we find the new
access exhibited as the source of our boldness: 16 Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). In chapter 10 the boldness we gain from our new access to God is focused as boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus. Moreover, it motivates us here and now to live a better life: 19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 and having a great priest over the house of God; 22 let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience: and having our body washed with pure water, 23 let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for he is faithful that promised. (Hebrews 10:19-23). The holy place is the Greek word hagiōn. According to Thayer, the word is plural meaning holy places, as in the NIV. 1 Also, hagiōn is used figuratively of heaven, Hebrews 8:2; Hebrews 9:8, 12; Hebrews 10:19. 2 The holy place in this instance is a reference to heaven, the place where God dwells, as Thayer notes. The vision that Hebrews 10:19-23 provides today was never a part of what O.T. saints thought about dying. Death was their worst enemy (see Isaiah 38:10; Jeremiah 31:16.) Unfortunately, the vision of Hebrews 10 is not the vision most Christians have of dying either, mainly because we do not study the subject and are not taught about it. The author of Hebrews, being a Jew, took his imagery from the O.T. tabernacle. The tabernacle consisted of two main parts, the Sanctuary (or Holy Place) and the Holy of Holies (or Most Holy Place). (See Figure 1.) There was a veil at the entrance to the Sanctuary and another veil separating the Sanctuary from the Holy of Holies. In the O.T. liturgy, when the priest killed the sacrifice he took some of the blood and sprinkled it seven times in front of the veil of the sanctuary, sanctifying the way into the holy place (Leviticus 4:6, 17). In the beautiful symbolism of the N.T., Christ s own life (i.e., his incarnate existence) is represented as the veil at the entrance to the Sanctuary. By means of his blood splattered on the veil, the way into the true holy place has now been dedicated for Christians to enter the sanctuary (in heaven) as priests of God. Hence, as such we are invited to draw 2
near with a true heart in fulness of faith, having our hearts cleansed from an evil conscience: and having our body washed with pure water. As priests in training we are exhorted to hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for he is faithful that promised. The promise is of course eternal life with him. Here then, is an exuberating lesson for us. In death the saints of God will serve in the true Sanctuary of the true Tabernacle in heaven. Figure 1 The Tabernacle The author of Hebrews (probably Paul) used the metaphor of the sanctuary to explain our future: 1 Now in the things which we are saying the chief point is this: We have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man (Hebrews 8:1, 2). Having read this passage, we are even more intrigued by the invitation we find in Hebrews 10. We understand that the author is encouraging us to prepare now for our sanctuary service to come immediately after this life. The Israelites performed their service in the sanctuary in the desert. Referencing this earthly service, the author of Hebrews wrote: who serve that which is a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses is warned of God when he is about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern that was showed thee in the mount (Hebrews 8:5). Of course, as we have learned, the true Sanctuary is heavenly, so Christians are in training to serve in the true Sanctuary in heaven. Let us read the entire section again in light of what we have learned. 3
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 and having a great priest over the house of God; 22 let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience: and having our body washed with pure water, 23 let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for he is faithful that promised: 24 and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh. 35 Cast not away therefore your boldness, which hath great recompense of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, having done the will of God, ye may receive the promise. 37 For yet a very little while, He that cometh shall come, and shall not tarry. 38 But my righteous one shall live by faith: And if he shrink back, my soul hath no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them that shrink back unto perdition; but of them that have faith unto the saving of the soul (Hebrews 10:19-25, 35-38). Verse 37 is considered to be a quotation from Habakkuk 2:3: 3 For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hasteth toward the end, and shall not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not delay, while 38 comes from Habakkuk 2:4: 4 Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright in him; but the righteous shall live by his faith. It is difficult to see the correspondence between verse 37 and Habakkuk 2:3, although verse 38 is similar to Habakkuk 2:4. Even though these verses are probably interpretations from the O.T., verse 37 bears some resemblance to statements made by the Lord Jesus in the book of John. In John 7 Jesus was addressing those whom the Pharisees had sent, when he said, 32 The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him; and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to take him. 33 Jesus therefore said, Yet a little while am I with you, and I go unto him that sent me. 34 Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, ye cannot come. (John 7:33). In John 12:35 he said, Yet a little while is the light among you. Walk while ye have the light, that darkness overtake you not: and he that walketh in the darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. And in John 13:33 he said, 33 Little children, yet 4
a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say unto you. Finally, in John 14:19 the Lord addressed his disciples saying, 19 Yet a little while, and the world beholdeth me no more; but ye behold me: because I live, ye shall live also. All of these passages have at least one thing in common, they contain the same Greek word micron, translated a little while. According to Thayer the word is used a. of size b. of space c. of age d. of time, short, brief: neuter nom., a little while and etc. i.e. shortly (this shall come to pass), Jn. xiv.19 Heb. x.37 (Is. xxvi.20). 3 (Emphasis added.) Curiously, the same word micron appears in Hebrews 10:37: 37 For yet a very little while, He that cometh shall come, and shall not tarry. How do we reconcile this statement with the prevailing idea that Jesus will not return until the end of time, now almost 2000 years beyond the writing of Hebrews? There is only one way Hebrews 10:37 and John 14:19 can be reconciled with truth; Jesus is coming for individuals in the interim between his ascension and his final coming in glory at the end of time. So, the message of Hebrews 10 is plain. Since Jesus is coming soon for those who in Christ Jesus live by faith, the author of Hebrews encourages them to enter into the holy place (i.e., the heavenly sanctuary) with boldness, courage, confidence, through the blood of Jesus, v. 19. Verse 23, let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for he is faithful that promised. Here then is the promise. In John 14:19 he said, 19 Yet a little while, and the world beholdeth me no more; but ye behold me: because I live, ye shall live also. How could the Lord keep this promise if we die and live not? Conclusion from Previous Arguments as Grounds for Exhortations to Follow, vs. 22-25 The conclusions drawn in verses 19 21 are the grounds for the exhortation to follow. Recall these verses: 19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living 5
way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 and having a great priest over the house of God Exhortations to Faithfulness First 22 let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience: and having our body washed with pure water, Second - 23 let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for he is faithful that promised: Third - 24 and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh. The day drawing nigh is the day of one s death. This is the day that is to come in a very little while, vs. 37. Note the latter part of the passage again where this phrase is found: 35 Cast not away therefore your boldness, which hath great recompense of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, having done the will of God, ye may receive the promise. 37 For yet a very little while, He that cometh shall come, and shall not tarry. 38 But my righteous one shall live by faith: And if he shrink back, my soul hath no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them that shrink back unto perdition; but of them that have faith unto the saving of the soul (Hebrews 10:35-38). If you read this passage as I do, it would very much seem that the author of Hebrews is urging us to prepare now for priestly service in heaven immediately following this life. If this is not the message, then why the urgency conveyed by verse 37 if we re just going to sleep when he comes? Why the exhortation to boldness in entering the holy place if we re just going to sleep? Contrary to what some believe and teach, it would seem that after death, the saints of God are NOT going to be lying in a cold, dark grave for an abysmal period, knowing nothing, doing nothing, and alone. God s people simply do not want to 6
BE GONE away from Christ. Bring me to your light, Oh Lord. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life (Psalms 143:8). There is a passage in the Revelation that appears to teach the same theme. In Revelation 6, the war for middle earth has begun, the war for the hearts and minds of humanity. Christianity is beginning to spread over the face of the whole earth and the hordes of Sauron (i.e., the Old Dragon) will not be easily defeated. With war comes bloodshed, famine, pestilence and death. Under the fifth seal, John 9 saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood? 11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been (Revelation 6:9-11, NIV). This war had just begun and many more saints would fall in battles to come. Those under the altar of burnt offering outside the Sanctuary, were given white robes and told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants were killed just as they had been. As the war rages, in chapter 7 we are given a glimpse of things transpiring in heaven, hidden from the scenes on earth. John sees an angel of God sealing 144,000 of God s mighty ones, fallen in battle. They are sealed as God s assurance of protection and victory, Revelation 7:1-8. After this the apostle saw a 9 great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands (Revelation 7:9). These are the same people that were formerly under the altar in chapter 6. They are wearing the white robes God supplied, but now they are before the throne and before the Lamb. Notice that there is no indication that the final judgment has taken place. These people are before the throne and before the Lamb, even before the final judgment, which is contrary to the proper order of things as commonly understood. The saints of God are supposed to be in heaven after the judgment, not before. But there is more. One of the elders asked John, 13 These in white robes who are they, and where did they come from? John answered, 14 Sir, you know. And he 7
said, 14 These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes (Revelation 7:14-17) Three things are relevant to our study in John s vision: (1) They are people of every nation, tribe, people and language, (2) they came out of the great tribulation of AD 66-70 (Daniel 12:1f; Matthew 24:21), and (3) they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple (Gr. naō, temple). In the visions of the Revelation nao is used of the temple of the 'New Jerusalem': Revelation 3:12; Revelation 7:15; Revelation 11:19; Revelation 14:15,17; Revelation 15:5f, 8; Revelation16:1, 17; of any temple whatever prepared for the true God, Acts 7:48. 4 Here then, is one passage that answers the general call of Hebrews 10:19f. The Christian martyrs of Revelation 7, in heaven serving God day and night in his temple, were once among those of Hebrews 10 on earth preparing for such service. On earth the saints of God prepare for service in heaven with God, and behind the scenes, in heaven, God is filling his temple with priests who serve him day and night. Here is a question (or two) to ponder. If Jesus coming in a little while is his coming for individual saints at the end of life, and such are merely going to sleep (viz., soul sleep, as it is called) 5 until the Lord s final coming in glory, when will the events depicted in Revelation 6:9-11 and 7:9-17 occur? Of course, John s vision in Revelation 7 of the great multitude from the great tribulation could be a vision of the distant future when they receive their final reward at the end of time, but this would remove the vision from its context. We are only in the sixth seal; the seventh seal is yet to be opened, seven trumpets are yet to be sounded and the seven bowls of wrath are yet to be poured out. There is another significant fact relating to the passages considered. In all the passages discussed, there is not a single hint of an intermediate state of soul sleep. If soul sleep awaits us in death, the Scriptures discussed make no 8
mention of it. They all indicate an immediate state existing in heaven with the Lord Jesus, comforted and protected. John s vision of heaven is far removed from the picture we often get of heaven, with a guy sitting alone on a cloud strumming on a harp with fat baby cherubs floating around him. Apparently, the saints of God are going to know and experience something immediately after this life, in heaven and their experience will be worthwhile and glorious. REFERENCES & NOTES 1. Thayer s Greek Lexicon. 2. For the translation of hagiōn as saints, see Matthew 27:52; Acts 26:10; Romans 8:27; 12:13; 15:26; 16:2; 1 Corinthians 6:1; 14:33; 2 Corinthians 9:12; Ephesians 2:19: 3:8; 4:12; 6:18; Colossians 1:12; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 1 Timothy 5:10; Philemon 1:7; Revelation 5:8; 8:3, 4; 13:7, 10; 14:12; 16:6; 17:6; 18:24; 20:9; 22:21. 3. Thayer s Greek Lexicon. 4. Strong s Word Helps. 5. See What is soul sleep? by Matt Slick, CARM, and Are the Dead Asleep?, Christian Courier. 9