Beneath the First Vail

In our last post we examined a few of the requirements which are necessary before passing beneath the First Vail, now we wish to examine those which transpire while we are passing beneath the First Vail, all of which prove necessary if we are to enter the first chamber of the Tabernacle, the “Holy“.

(1) It is at the first vail we become a true Christian, a follower or “disciple” of Christ. (Refer back to Part 12 of our study for more on this.)

(2) Most importantly it is here that we received the imputation of the righteousness of Christ, here we received our “wedding robe”.

(3) Thus our justification which was for a time only tentative in nature became vitalized, actual justification, that is we were reckoned as fully justified human beings, which in turn resulted in,

(4) Our consecration or sacrifice being made “holy and acceptable” (Rom 12:1) upon the Lord’s altar.

(5) Here it was that we presented or sacrificed our restitutional or earthly life rights secured to all through the ransom sacrifice of Christ.

(6) Not only did the human will die at this point, but likewise as human beings we were hence forth considered dead. “For ye are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Col 3:3)

(7) We were baptized (made participators) in Christ death, that is “being made conformable to his death” (Rom 6:3; Phil 3:10) i.e. following in his example we willingly laid down all our earthly rights and privileges as human beings, including our restitution rights reckoned ours at the moment when we were fully justified.

(8) At this point we were joined to the “body of Christ”, and became prospective members of the Royal Priesthood.

(9) Following which we were begotten by the Father through the Holy Spirit, to a “new nature” a spirit nature, one possessing “the mind (or disposition) of Christ”, howbeit presently this new creature is only in its embryonic condition inhabiting the old earthen vessel which has been “quickened” (made alive, made holy, Rom 8:11; Eph 2:1) to be used up in the service of the Lord and the brethren, consumed upon the Lord’s altar. Thus the LORD accomplishes his share in our sanctification.

(10) As such we received the “spirit of adoption”, as members of the house of sons; sons of God brethren of Christ (Rom 8:15)

(11) Here at the first vail having been begotten of the Father and made priests with our Lord we receive the holy anointing, the Holy Spirit as an evidence of our acceptableness to the Father.

THE THIRD ENTRANCE

The third entrance or “vail” generally referred to as the Second Vail likewise has requirements before entry is permitted. Once again, the elaborately woven second vail or curtain and its chosen colors depict faith in Christ as the only means of access.

In order to pass beneath this vail it is required that one has made their calling and election sure, that they have been proven faithful “even unto death”, literal death.  (2 Pet 1:10; Rev 2:10) The first vail represents the death of the will and in essence the death of the flesh, the second vail the actual death of the flesh.

When we presented ourselves to the Lord as “living sacrifices*” we actually died there, died to the flesh and were begotten to a new nature, a spirit nature, however the Lord would first prove us, to see if we would prove faithful to our calling and election, therefore we were permitted to continue to occupy these earthen vessels “quickened” (made holy through the righteous covering of Christ) that our imperfect works while using up the life of this vessel would be considered as perfect in the eyes of the LORD.

As living (human) sacrifices we are being consumed (dissolved) upon the Lord’s altar. This as you know is quite necessary as the Lord has made clear that, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven”, that is the spiritual phase of the kingdom, this flesh must give way to our new spiritual bodies should we prove faithful.

*What is a living sacrifice?

“Our initial idea of sacrifice is the killing of victims; and in fact the Jewish temple was a great slaughterhouse of sheep and oxen; the smoke of the offerings for sin went up to heaven continually from the altar of burnt offering. The temple was more like a butcher’s shop than a church. But if those sacrifices for sin were the most conspicuous of the offerings, there were also others where no blood was shed. These were not offerings for sin, and could not be, for without shedding of blood is no remission. They were offerings of thanksgiving. A living sacrifice is a sacrifice of thanksgiving.” (The Herald of Christ’s Kingdom Nov/Dec 1987, Page 1)

From the foregoing and from our previous posts it should now be evident to all just how very important the “First Vail” is in the over-all Tabernacle picture, one might even suggest that next to the Ark of the Covenant it is the “hub” or central focal point of the whole picture.

As was stated in the first segment of this study, “The Tabernacle is the key to the divine plan, which alone explains the “mystery” of this Gospel age, which is the church and her special call to the privileges of sacrifice now and the privileges of glory by and by.” (R4434)

It is in the “courtyard” that (“Many are called”) made aware of this special “grace”, or privilege i.e., given the opportunity to enter the race for the high calling which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The entry fee however is expensive, it will cost you everything, in fact (a full and complete consecration of one’s self to the Lord, following in His footsteps). This entry fee is made at the “door” to the Tabernacle; it is here at the “First Vail” that the race begins. As for those who will receive the “prize” this goes only to the (“few who are chosen”) who have proven themselves to be “faithful unto death”, who have thus passed the finish line, the “Second Vail”.

“Do you not know that those (the many who are called) who run in a race all run, but only one (the few) receive the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” (1 Cor 9:24)

Continued with next post.