Where is the tabernacle not made with hands that Paul refers to?
The tabernacle not made with hands is in heaven itself, into the very throne room. It is not on this earth or within this creation. Christ, as our high priest, entered that heavenly holy place by His own blood, obtaining eternal redemption for us.
Les explains that what Paul refers to as not made with men's hands is not on this earth and not on this creation, so it must be in heaven—in heaven itself, into the very throne room. God set this up in heaven, even though ancient Israel practiced a copy back here on earth. When Israel's high priest went in and sprinkled the blood on the mercy seat, Christ did the same, but not in Israel's tabernacle or Solomon's temple. He entered the tabernacle in heaven. Verse 12 says He entered once into the holy place, not the back little room behind the veil called the holy of holies, but the heavenly one, as our high priest, by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
What is the tabernacle not made with hands in Hebrews 9:11?
The tabernacle not made with hands is the greater and more perfect tabernacle in heaven, not of this building or creation. Christ, as high priest, entered this heavenly holy place once by His own blood, obtaining eternal redemption for us.
What does it mean that Jesus entered a tabernacle "not of this building"?
This means the tabernacle He entered was not the earthly structure built at Sinai by Jewish craftsmen, but a greater, more perfect, heavenly tabernacle. The term building is better translated creation, so it is not of this creation; it is in heaven, untouched by human hands.
More Questions
What does it mean that the greater tabernacle is 'not made with hands'?
The phrase 'not made with hands' means this tabernacle was not made by men like the tabernacle at Sinai or Solomon's temple, but is a tabernacle God Himself constructed.
What does 'a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands' in Hebrews 9:11 refer to?
In Hebrews 9:11 the 'greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands' is not part of this building or this creation; it is the tabernacle in heaven.