Which holy place did Christ enter, the earthly one or the heavenly one?
Christ entered the heavenly holy place, not the earthly tabernacle or temple made with hands. As our high priest, He entered once into the holy place in heaven itself, the very throne room, by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Les explains that what Paul refers to is not made with men's hands and is not on this earth or on this creation, so it has to be in heaven—in heaven itself, into the very throne room. God set this up in heaven, and though ancient Israel practiced the pattern, it becomes appropriate in the age of grace. When Israel's high priest went in and sprinkled the blood on the mercy seat, Christ did the same thing, but not by going into the tabernacle of Israel or Solomon's temple. He went into the tabernacle in heaven. Verse 12 of this same chapter says He entered in once into the holy place by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption for us. The back room behind the veil was called the holy of holies, the holy place. Christ did not go into that earthly one; He went into the one in heaven as our high priest.
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
More Questions
What did Christ obtain for us by entering the heavenly holy place with His own blood?
As our high priest, Christ entered the heavenly holy place having brought the divine shed blood from His own crucifixion, having obtained eternal redemption for us.