The Rent Veil: Christ's Opening of the Holy of Holies

The Jewish temple contained two veils: one at the entrance to the holy place, and another between the sanctuary and the holy of holies. St. Paul, writing to the Hebrews, calls this inner barrier "the second veil," describing it as the threshold beyond which lay the most sacred articles of Jewish worship. This second veil was rent in twain at the death of our Lord, throwing open what had been invisible and inaccessible to all but the High Priest—and he only once yearly on the Day of Atonement.

The High Priest's annual entry prefigured Christ's redemptive work. Having slain sacrificial victims, the priest carried blood within the veil to sprinkle the mercy seat (hilasterion). This office of intercession Christ Himself fulfills perfectly. After suffering without the camp and offering Himself as the ultimate sin-offering to the Almighty, He passed within the veil—entering the immediate presence of Elohim in heaven, carrying His own blood as eternal pleading on behalf of His Church.

Christ's office as Mediator continues perpetually. Though His one offering sufficed to expiate the sins of the whole world, He ever liveth to present the merits of His oblation (thusia), acting in heaven as advocate for those who submitted to the death of the cross. The rending of the veil demonstrated that He had opened the way into the holy of holies and obtained the right to enter as our eternal intercessor.