xjwsforChrist

The curtain (or veil) represented Christ’s body. The death of Christ’s body was represented by the ripping of the curtain that covered the entrance to the Holy of Holies. The removal of that curtain represents… what?

In a discussion I was having with someone a few days ago, it was pointed out that the removal of that curtain opened the way to the Holy of Holies, making it accessible to all. It signified the end of our need for human priests and animal sacrifice and made forgiveness available based on grace.

Out of curiosity, I typed: “the curtain of the sanctuary was rent in two” into the WT CD library. Only two references displayed. This one gives a different explanation about the meaning of the ripped curtain.

w96 7/1 Jehovah’s Great Spiritual Temple pp.15-16 par. 9
The curtain that separated the Holy from the Most Holy pictured Jesus’ fleshly body. (Hebrews 10:19, 20) It was the barrier that kept Jesus from entering into his Father’s presence while he was a man on earth. (1 Corinthians 15:50) At the time of Jesus’ death, “the curtain of the sanctuary was rent in two, from top to bottom.” (Matthew 27:51) This dramatically indicated that the barrier preventing Jesus’ entry into heaven had now been removed.

Any thoughts?

It's just more WTBTS-we-don't-know-what-we're-talking-about melarkey, dear WS (peace to you, dear one!). My Lord explained to me that the curtain represented four (4) things:

* The pierced body of Christ
* The fleshly body, in general
* Christ himself
* The Law Covenant

Here is how:

1. His fleshly body... which was pierced so as to open the way for those wishing to go in before the MOST HOLY One of Israel, JAH of Armies, can do so (Matthew 23:13);

2. OUR fleshly bodies. For US, is it stands in the way of our entering into the spirit realm ("flesh and blood cannot enter into the kingdom") on their own. My Lord and others, however, did enter. Do you recall the transfiguration? HOW did he do it? The same as with the Prophets and John: by means of holy spirit which can permit a human to "put off" flesh so as to be "in spirit" (which is where the term "inspired" comes from);

3. Christ himself, as the "Door" into the MOST Holy. In the temple the curtain divided the HOLY from the MOST Holy (Holy of Holies). Which is they the Trinity doctrine is absurd. One only need look at the tabernacle/temple to see that there are only TWO chambers... and that one would have to go THROUGH the first one (the Holy) to get INTO the second one (the MOST Holy/Holy of Holies). In the temple arrangement, only the high priest could enter that second chamber. What, though of the Prophets that went in... some even before JAH? Isaiah, Exekiel, Jeremiah, John, etc.? How did they do so? They did so... by being transferred into spirit... and then going THROUGH the Door... or "curtain"... that was and is my Lord, the HOLY ONE of Israel, JAHESHUA, the Chosen One of JAH (MischaJah). As that One said: "No one comes to the Father, except THROUGH me!" (John 14:6);

4. The Law Covenent, the final thing that stands between us and JAH. It is the thing that fenced Israel OFF from the nations, the nations represented by the Holy, Israel by the HOLY of Holies... as to the kings and priests who co-rule with Christ (note: the temple construction also represents the entire beloved city of New Jerusalem, but in another way). Because of the Law Covenant, Israel could not see the glory of JAH:

"... since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away." 2 Corinthians 3:12-16

So that by means of CHRIST... what was formerly fenced off, veiled, by means of the LAW Covenant... access to the MOST Holy... is now accessible... pursuant to the NEW Covenant:

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to them,”
declares JaHVeH.
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,” declares JaHVeH.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know JaHVeH,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares JaHVeH.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31:31-34

HOW does He accomplish this? John tells us:

"As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit —just as it has taught you, remain in him." 1 John 2:27

That "him" is the SON of God, the HOLY One of Israel, JAHESHUA, the Chosen One of JAH (MischaJah). He is the HIGH PRIEST that does that anointing... that grants one the "oil of exultation"... or "water" (of life)... from the rock-mass that HE is. John 7:37-39; 20:22; Acts 2:1-4; 1 Corinthians 10:4

I hope this helps, dear one, truly.

Again, peace to you!

Your servant and a slave of Christ,

Shellama

Aguest, you basically covered what Bob and I were talking about the other day. You took the scenic route, but it was the same stuff.

I don't ever remember hearing about this as a J-dub. Never! As he was telling me of the symbolism of the veil/curtain, my knee-jerk reaction was to dismiss it. I like Bob, he's a great guy. We enjoy many, many wonderful, spiritual conversations. But he has a tendency toward melodrama and trying to find hidden meaning in every little thing. However, on this occasion, the more he spoke about it, the more the symbolism made sense. The curtain ripping and the rocks being broken was not just God acting out in anguish.

That is what I had always believed - that the earthquake was God's measured reaction to his pain over his slain son. I even remember an elder one time talking about how much worse it COULD have been because God was in so much pain. I have no doubt God was in terrible pain. But the rocks had nothing to do with it.

Mathew 27:51

...and the rock-masses were split. - NWT

...and the rocks rent. - KJV

...the rocks split. - NIV


Significance of the rocks.

The old law was written in stone. The law was given to Moses. Moses gave it to the high priest. Th high priest gave it ot the priest. The priest gave it to the head of each family. The head gave it to the family and the family passed it on from there. Aguest, you already quoted Jeremiah 31...

33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
34 No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.

The rock, containing the law, was rent.

_______________________________________________

Rocks were used to deliver judgement against law breakers.

Then Joshua said: “Why have you brought ostracism upon us?
Jehovah will bring ostracism upon you on this day.” With that
all Israel went pelting him with stones, after which they burned
them with fire. Thus they stoned them with stones. - Joshua 7:25

Under the new covenant our sins are covered by grace.

“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.” - Jeremiah 31:34

The rocks, containing judgement, were rent.

Again, out of curiosity, I typed "the rock-masses were split" into the WT cd-library and the only returns I got on it were quotes of the scripture itself. No commentary whatsoever.

This is also something I have never heard discussed in print or from the platform while I was a J-dub - and I was usually one of those who paid good attention.

Do you think the stone symbolism is valid?

By itself, I might question it. Were it to have been the only thing that happened when Jesus died then I could see it as having been a painful outburst by God. But when you consider the curtain and the final part of Mathew 27:51-53 ("the memorial tombs were opened and many bodies of the holy ones that had fallen asleep were raised up"), the symbolism becomes obvious.

New stuff.


Exciting!

In thinking of that verse, Wayward Son, about the rocks splitting... My Lord has reminded me that He is the Rock, and that in the desert, Moses strikes the Rock-mass (Paul later calls that rock, Christ) and the rock split and water poured forth. (water meaning life for the Israelites)

Even in the Matthew verse, after that passage, it goes on to describe how tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.


Just as the water that came from the rock Moses split meant life for the Israelites at that time... the "water" (spirit) that comes forth from Christ means life for those who drink of Him.

I could never understand what Paul meant in his commentary on that verse until now.

Peace,
tammy

Very interesting points. 1 Peter 2 adds to them by referring to Christ as follows:



Loz x

_________________
"This is my son. LISTEN to Him!"

And then there is this in Jeremiah 10



Loz x

_________________
"This is my son. LISTEN to Him!"

I gotta second all that dear tec and dear Loz shared, dear WS (peace to you all!): our dear Lord is the rock(mass).

Peace to you!

Your servant and a slave of Christ,

Shellama

Yes.


Peace to you, and all,

tammy