Paul the son of a Pharisee studied the scriptures; he not only quoted the ancient scriptures, he explained the scriptures. Paul the son of a Pharisee letters are considered as scriptures. How did the priesthood change; if the earthly holy place is only a copy of the true one in heaven (Hebrews 9:24) ? We know that when a Xerox copy (from a copier machine) is made of an official document; the information printed on both documents are the same. Christ did not enter the most holy place located in the earth, thus he was not an earthly priest. We know Melchizedek blessed Abraham. The lesser is blessed by the greater. Abraham built and served at the altar.
"Christ did not enter the most holy place located in the earth, thus he was not an earthly priest."
Correct, did not mean to suggest that He did.
"We know that when a Xerox copy (from a copier machine) is made of an official document; the information printed on both documents are the same."
The xerox copy analogy ... ok .... however, one can enlarge a document (make it bigger) on a copier and also select settings to improve the quality of the print (making it better).
no ... not a exact copy ... (earthly)
a pattern a miniature , smaller, lesser
model of the heavenly ... much like the original but not exact, the heavenly sanctuary is much bigger and better ... better because Christ is in it.
"How did the priesthood change"
Christ entered the most holy place in the sanctuary that is in heaven (the real one) ... He became and is our high priest from there, He also was the final sacrifice for all, so there was/is no more need of a earthly sanctuary/sacrificial system.
Hebrews 9:24
For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands (the earthly one), a mere copy of the true one (sanctuary in heaven), but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;
The Veil of the Sanctuary
Exo. 26:31-33, 36:35, 2 Chron 3:14
This veil or curtain between the two apartments of the Sanctuary, the Holy and the Most Holy, has great significance. This is because it was this veil that tore at the very moment Jesus died on the Cross, symbolic of the end of the need for the human Levitical priesthood as mediator between man and God ... Jesus is our mediator.
1st Timothy 2:5
For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus
Mat 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;
Mark 15:38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.
Luke 23:45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
The veil represents the body of Jesus:
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
It is only by this veil (door) that access is possible to the Most Holy place of judgment. The tearing of the veil is symbolic of the death of the Lamb of God, which now permits the believer in His atonement immediate access to the Most Holy place of God, the place of judgment, through the new High Priest Jesus Christ, the one and
only mediator between man and God.
1 Tim 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
The faithful have full and complete access to God, without the need of an earthly mortal priest to represent them.
The sanctuary in heaven is greater and more perfect
Hebrews 9:11
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through
the greater and more perfect tabernacle (in heaven), not made with hands (a earthly one), that is to say, not of this creation;
Psalm 11:4
The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD'S throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.
Revelation 11:19
And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm.
Scripture identifies the existence of a heavenly sanctuary or temple (e.g., Ps. 11:4; 102:19; Micah 1:2, 3). In vision, John the revelator saw the heavenly sanctuary. He described it as "the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven" (Rev. 15:5) and "the temple of God. . . in heaven" (Rev. 11:19). There he saw the items that the furnishings of the holy place of the earthly sanctuary were modeled after, such as seven lamp stands (Rev. 1:12) and an altar of incense (Rev. 8:3). And he saw there also the ark of the covenant which was like the one in the earthly Holy of Holies (Rev. 11:19).
The heavenly altar of incense (prayers going up to God) is located before God's throne (Rev. 8:3; 9:13), which is in the heavenly temple of God (Rev. 4:2; 7:15; 16:17). Thus the heavenly throne room scene (Dan. 7:9, 10) is in the heavenly temple or sanctuary. This is why the final judgments issue from God's temple (Rev. 15:5-8).
It is clear, therefore, that the Scriptures present the heavenly sanctuary as a real place (Heb. 8:2), not a metaphor or abstraction. The heavenly sanctuary is the primary dwelling place of God.
Apologize for the long post. ;o)
