THEN also the first tabernacle had indeed regulations for the divine
service, and a sanctuary furnished. (2)For the tabernacle was prepared;
the first part, in which was both the candlestick, and the table, and
the shew-bread, which is called the holy. (3)But behind the second vail
was the tabernacle, called the holy of holies: (4)having the golden
censer, and the coffer of the covenant, overlaid with gold within and
without, in which were the golden urn containing the manna, and Aaron's
rod which had budded, and the stone tables of the covenant; (5)and
above, over it the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the propitiatory.
(6)Now when these things were thus disposed, the priests entered
continually into the first tabernacle indeed, performing the divine
services: (7)but into the second once in every year entered the
high-priest alone, not without blood, which he offered for his own
inadvertencies, and for those of the people: (8)the Holy Ghost thus
signifying, that the way into the holies was not yet made manifest,
whilst the first tabernacle held its station; (9)which figurative
representation _continues_ unto the present time, according to which
both gifts and sacrifices are offered, which cannot, with respect to
conscience, make him perfect who performs the services, (10)as they
consist only of meats, and drinks, and different ablutions, and
corporal services, until the appointed time of perfect reformation.
(11)But Christ becoming the high-priest of future good things, through
a better and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is, not
of this creation; (12)nor by the blood of goats and of calves, but by
his own blood, he entered once for all into the holies, having obtained
eternal redemption.
(13)For if the blood of bulls, and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer
sprinkling the defiled sanctifieth to corporal purification, (14)how
much more shall the blood of Christ, who, by the eternal Spirit,
offered up himself in sacrifice without blemish to God, cleanse our
conscience from dead works, that we may perform divine service to the
living God?
(15)And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that,
death being suffered for the redemption of transgressions committed
against the first testament, they who are called might receive the
promise of an eternal inheritance. (16)For where a testament is, of
necessity the death of the testator is implied. (17)For a testament is
valid when men are dead; for else it is of no efficacy whilst the
testator is alive. (18)Wherefore also that first testament was not
consecrated without blood. (19)For when every command according to the
law had been spoken by Moses to all the people, taking the blood of
calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, he
sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, (20)saying, This is
the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. (21)And
the tabernacle also, and all the vessels employed in the divine
service, he in like manner sprinkled with blood. (22)And almost all
things are purified by blood according to the law, and without effusion
of blood there is no remission of sin. (23)There was a necessity
therefore that the representations of the things in heaven should be
purified by these; but the celestial things themselves with better
sacrifices than these. (24)For Christ is not entered into the holies
made with hands, the antitypes of the true; but into heaven itself, now
to appear before the presence of God for us: (25)and not that he should
often offer up himself in sacrifice, as the high-priest enters every
year into the holies with blood not his own, (26)(for in that case he
must have suffered often since the foundation of the world:) but now
once for all at the consummation of the ages hath he been manifested
for the abolishing sin by the sacrifice of himself. (27)And forasmuch
as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment,
(28)so Christ having been once offered in sacrifice to bear the sins of
men, will appear the second time without sin, to those who expect him,
for their salvation.