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THE VAIL.—HEB. 10: 20

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Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 18, 1881

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 7, No. 31.

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THE VAIL.—HEB. 10: 20.

A GREAT error somewhat largely prevails in regard to the application of the term vail in this text. We are reminded of it by reading a piece of poetry in an eastern paper, in which occur these lines:—
“We enter through the vail, That is to say, His flesh.”
Taken out of their textual connection, these words misrepresent the Scripture truth; yet in this form they exactly represent the idea of many expositors. Verses 19, 20 read: “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the vail, that is to say, his flesh.”
The error consists in supposing that his flesh is the vail, whereas his flesh is the way by which we gain access to the holy place within the vail. The whole argument of the apostle, in this chapter and other parts of this book, proves this.
In chap. 6: 19, 20 it is said that Jesus has for us entered within the vail. This is strictly true. He is a minister of the sanctuary, chap. 8: 1-5; he has entered into the heavenly holy places, chap. 9: 23, 24; these holy places were each entered through a vail; compare chap. 9: 1-7 with Lev. 16 and other scriptures. It is neither Scriptural nor reasonable to say that Jesus entered within his own flesh for us. We enter into the holy place, how? by the body and blood of Jesus. This is the way through the vail, which he hath consecrated for us, and whither he has entered for us, as a priest of the sanctuary, to minister in our behalf.
What idea can any one have of the priesthood of Christ, who thinks that his flesh is the vail?