"Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;" (Hebrews 9:4 KJV)
"But tell me this - since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. And we apostles would all be lying about God - for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can't be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world." (1 Corinthians 15:12-25 NLT)
Understanding what it means to believe in Christ, is not just about our sins being forgive; although that is what has happened and what Jesus came to die for: but the really big deal in all of this, is that of having been given eternal life, something we look and hope for, because we believe that it will happen! Much like that illustration the Ray shows in his book; someone on the plane is given a parachute and is told that it will make them feel comfortable and secure. Yet, after putting it on, they figure out that it is not all that comfortable, and many of the other passengers are making fun of him because he is wearing it.
Well, things are a little different, once you know what that parachute is for; especially if the person that offered it to you, said that the plane was going to crash, and you would be saved if you used it! No matter how uncomfortable it might seem to be, you're not taking it off! And no matter how many people laugh at you, you're not going to feel ashamed to be wearing it!
What is it that I am trying to say? All of these things that are being shown in this second part of the sanctuary are all references to the eternal life we have in Christ! The curtain itself is also a symbol of the passage, from death to life, as there is a vast distinction between the two areas: one is the connection with this earthly life, the other is the connection to eternal life; as it all a connection to God, which is all about our transformation to Heaven!
By the way, there has been a lot of talk about what happened to that Ark of the Covenant, some think that God took it and placed it in the Temple that is in Heaven. We will just have to wait and see...
"But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back." (1 Corinthians 15:20-23 NLT)
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