The veil signified both the barrier separating man from God's holy presence and, as a picture of Christ's body, the means by which that barrier was torn open.
The veil was the heavy woven curtain that divided the tabernacle's sanctuary from the Holy of Holies, where God's presence dwelt above the mercy seat. Les Feldick teaches that the veil pictured the very body of Christ, and that only the high priest could pass behind it once a year on the Day of Atonement. At Christ's crucifixion, the veil was rent from top to bottom — an act of God alone — signifying that the way into God's throne room had been opened.
Exodus 36:35 — The verse Les specifically quotes describing the veil's construction, establishing what the veil was made of.
Matthew 27:51 — The record of the veil being rent in twain at the crucifixion, which is central to understanding the veil's significance.
The Bible describes the veil as a screen of blue, purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim of cunning work (Exodus 36:35). It was hung under the taches so that it divided between the holy place and the most holy, and the ark of the testimony was brought in within the veil (Exodus 26:33). Behind the veil, God appeared in the cloud upon the mercy seat, and the high priest was warned not to come at all times within the veil lest he die (Leviticus 16:2). When the tabernacle was erected, a cloud covered the tent and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34). At Christ's crucifixion, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom (Matthew 27:51), and the writer of Hebrews calls the veil — that is to say, His flesh — the new and living way into the holiest (Hebrews 10:20).
Les teaches that the veil — made of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen with cherubim woven into the material — is that which pictures the very body of Christ (Clips 0, 1). It was the curtain that separated the Holy of Holies from the main sanctuary, keeping the presence of God from the view of the priests as they performed their daily ministrations (Clips 1, 2). Only Aaron the high priest could go behind the veil, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Clips 2, 7). Behind that veil was the Ark of the Covenant with the mercy seat, where God appeared in the cloud — the Shekinah glory that filled the little back room of the tabernacle (Clips 2, 5, 7). When Christ was crucified, the veil was rent from the top to the bottom, signifying that no man had anything to do with it — it was an act of God (Clip 1). It was the suffering of Christ's body of flesh, which the veil pictured, that made it possible for mankind to come boldly into the very throne room of heaven (Clips 1, 3). Les adds the historical note that the Jews simply sewed the veil back up and continued temple worship, never realizing what had caused it to rend; as temple worship continued into the Acts period, the veil was again intact (Clip 3).
Behind the veil was the Holy of Holies — a room measuring 15 feet by 15 feet — containing the Ark of the Covenant, with the mercy seat where God's presence appeared in the cloud, which Les identifies as the Shekinah glory (Clips 2, 4, 5, 7). This was the same cloud that had protected Israel from the Egyptians at the Red Sea and became the pillar of fire by night (Clip 5). It literally filled the little back room of the tabernacle (Clip 5).
The veil kept the presence of God from the view of the priests as they practiced their daily ministrations; they could only come up to the veil (Clip 1). No one could go behind it except the high priest, and he entered only once a year on the Day of Atonement, after the whole ritual of cleansing (Clips 2, 7).
The rending from top to bottom — not from the bottom to the top — signified that no man had anything to do with it; it was an act of God (Clip 1). It was the suffering of Christ's body of flesh that made it possible for mankind to come into the very throne room of heaven (Clip 3). Les stresses that the Jews sewed the veil back up and continued temple worship, and that through the Acts period the veil was again intact (Clip 3).
The veil was made of the same beautiful hand-woven linen as the sanctuary, with blue, purple, scarlet, and white, and cherubim woven throughout the fabric so they could be seen from either side (Clips 0, 1). The four colors used throughout the tabernacle all depict Christ: blue speaks of His heavenly origin, purple of His royalty, red of His sacrifice, and pure white of His righteousness and holiness (Clip 6).
The Veil's Woven Beauty
Les describes the tabernacle's inner linen — the same material as the veil — with cherubim woven into the fabric, visible from both sides, part of the sanctuary's splendor when lit by the candlestick.
The Veil Pictures Christ's Body
Les teaches that the veil — quoted from Exodus 36:35 — pictures the very body of Christ, and that its rending from top to bottom shows God alone opened the way.
The Veil Divided Sanctuary From Holy of Holies
Les explains the veil separated the daily priestly ministry from the Holy of Holies where the Ark and Shekinah glory were — a place only the high priest entered once a year.
Rending Opened the Throne Room
Les teaches that Christ's suffering in the body of flesh — pictured by the veil — opened the way for believers to come boldly into God's throne room, and that the Jews sewed the veil back up.
Dimensions and the Rent Veil
Les gives the tabernacle's measurements — a 15-by-15 Holy of Holies — and connects the veil to the temple veil rent at Jesus' crucifixion.
Shekinah Glory Behind the Veil
Les shows the cloud of God's presence — the Shekinah glory — filled the Holy of Holies, the room behind the veil where the Ark rested.
The Four Colors Depict Christ
Les explains the tabernacle's four colors — blue, purple, red, and white — each depicting an aspect of Christ; the veil was woven with the same colors.
Once a Year Behind the Veil
Les notes God appeared in the cloud upon the mercy seat, and that only on the Day of Atonement could the high priest go behind the veil.
Exodus 36:35: And he made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubims made he it of cunning work.
The verse Les quotes to describe the veil's construction and material.
Exodus 26:33: And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.
The original command showing the veil was the divider between the holy place and the most holy.
Leviticus 16:2: And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.
Shows God's presence appeared in the cloud upon the mercy seat behind the veil, and entry was restricted.
Exodus 40:34: Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
The cloud of God's glory filled the tabernacle, the Shekinah presence behind the veil.
Matthew 27:51: And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
The record of the veil being torn at Christ's crucifixion.
Hebrews 10:20: By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Identifies the veil with Christ's flesh, matching Les's teaching that the veil pictured His body.
The veil was made of blue, purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubims made of cunning work (Exodus 36:35). Les describes it as beautiful hand-woven linen with the colors and cherubim woven throughout the fabric. It hung on four pillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold.
It was rent from the top to the bottom, not from the bottom to the top, signifying that no man had anything to do with it — it was an act of God. Les uses this to show that God Himself opened the way into His presence through the suffering of Christ's body.
Only Aaron the high priest could go behind the veil, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement. The priests in their daily ministrations could only come up to the veil, as it kept the presence of God from their view.
Les teaches that the veil pictures the very body of Christ. Its rending at the crucifixion signified that Christ's suffering opened the way for believers to come boldly into God's throne room.
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