'Not made with hands' means the greater tabernacle was not built by human workmen and is not part of this earthly creation.
Les Feldick explains that this tabernacle was untouched by human hands and is not of this building — the word 'building' being better understood as 'creation.' Because it is neither on earth nor part of this creation, it must be in heaven, where Christ entered as high priest with His own blood.
Hebrews 9:11 — This is the verse in question; it directly describes the greater and more perfect tabernacle as one 'not made with hands' and 'not of this building.'
Hebrews 9:11 says that Christ, being come an high priest of good things to come, entered by a greater and more perfect tabernacle which is not made with hands — that is to say, not of this building. The verse sets this tabernacle in contrast to the earthly tabernacle and temple that were built by human craftsmen. Hebrews 9:12 continues the thought, showing that Christ did not enter with the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered once into the holy place and obtained eternal redemption. This points to a heavenly sanctuary rather than an earthly one. In Exodus 25:9, God instructed Israel to make the tabernacle after the pattern shown to Moses. That scriptural pattern is the basis for seeing the earthly tabernacle as a copy of something greater.
Les Feldick explains that the tabernacle built at Sinai was patterned after the very floor plan that is in glory. The tabernacle Christ entered was not made by Jewish craftsmen and was untouched by human hands. Les emphasizes that the phrase 'not of this building' should be better translated 'not of this creation,' so the greater tabernacle is not located on the earth; it is in heaven. Les compares this greater tabernacle to both the tabernacle Moses built and the temple Solomon built, saying it is more perfect than either, though on the same pattern. He also connects it to Christ's work as High Priest: Christ entered the heavenly holy place with His own blood, not with the blood of goats and calves, as Israel's high priest did.
Les Feldick says the phrase 'a greater and more perfect tabernacle' refers to something more perfect than the tabernacle Moses had and more perfect than the temple Solomon built. It was not constructed by men and is not of this building — that is, not of this creation. Since it is not on this earth, it has to be in heaven. This is the tabernacle that contains the holy place and the holy of holies, the very throne of God.
Les highlights that the marginal helps in many Bibles show the word 'building' should be better translated 'creation.' Because the tabernacle Christ entered is not of this building or creation, it cannot be a structure made by human hands on the earth. It belongs to the heavenly realm. That is why Les repeatedly says the greater tabernacle is in heaven.
Les recalls that when Moses received instructions to build the tabernacle at Sinai, God gave him a pattern. The tabernacle built at Sinai was patterned after the very floor plan that is up in glory. The earthly tabernacle was a blueprint patterned after the original in heaven. This aligns with Exodus 25:9, where God told Moses to make the tabernacle according to the pattern shown him.
Christ entered into the heavenly tabernacle, not into Israel's tabernacle or Solomon's temple. Hebrews 9:12 says He entered once into the holy place by His own blood, not by the blood of goats and calves. Les describes Jesus' tabernacle as His place of sprinkling, and he says that place is in heaven, not on earth.
Why Israel Failed to Enter the Promised Land (Exodus 23 & Deut 1)
Where did it come from? Egypt, see? You remember when they came out of Egypt, they spoiled Egypt, and the Egyptians just gave everything to these Israelites? God had all this in mind, see? It was a sovereign God who caused those Egyptians to just give of their wealth.
Pattern of the Floor Plan in Glory
Les explains that the tabernacle at Sinai was patterned after the floor plan in glory, and the tabernacle Christ entered was not made by Jewish craftsmen but was in heaven.
More Perfect Than Moses' or Solomon's Tabernacle
Les says the greater tabernacle is more perfect than Moses' tabernacle or Solomon's temple, not constructed by men, and not of this building or creation — so it must be in heaven.
His Place of Sprinkling in Heaven
Les emphasizes that Christ's place of sprinkling was not on earth but in heaven, and He entered with His own blood rather than the blood of goats and calves.
The Original Blueprint in Heaven
Les teaches that the blueprint God gave to Moses was patterned after the original tabernacle in heaven, and it is that heavenly tabernacle that Christ entered.
The One in Heaven Jesus Entered
Les confirms that the tabernacle not made with hands — not of this creation — is the one in heaven, and Jesus entered that heavenly holy place by His own blood.
What the Tabernacle Reveals About Christ Most People Miss
Another thing, there was no windows within this whole complex, because who alone can be the light? God Himself or Christ, again, as the light of the world. So as you came in then to this sanctuary, now I think we'll go again to how this little building or this little tent was constructed.
What Saves You? Head Knowledge vs. Heart Belief
They are not listed as one of the twelve tribes even as they go into the nation of Israel. So the linen fence, that's all around the outside. Now then let's just go to the next one, and we have the curtain of goat's hair. Now the curtains of goat's hair, now here again I've just made a rough sketch of this little tent. This is the outer frame of it.
Hebrews 9:11: 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:
This is the key verse in the question; it directly defines the greater tabernacle as one not made with hands and not of this building.
Hebrews 9:12: 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.
This verse completes the thought by showing Christ entered the heavenly holy place by His own blood, not by animal sacrifices.
Exodus 25:9: According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.
This verse records God's command for the earthly tabernacle to be made after a heavenly pattern, which Les says is the original in heaven.
No. Les Feldick explains that it is a greater and more perfect tabernacle than the one Moses built or the temple Solomon built. It was not constructed by men and is not of this creation, so it must be in heaven.
Les Feldick teaches that the word 'building' should be better understood as 'creation.' This means the tabernacle is not part of the earthly creation; it is located in heaven.
Because the earthly tabernacle was patterned after the original in heaven. God gave Moses instructions to make it according to that pattern, as a blueprint of the heavenly tabernacle.
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel Failed to Enter the Promised Land (Exodus 23 & Deut 1)