The Alter of Incense - Does Hebrews 9 conflict with Exodus 30

[adamjedgar]

Exodus 30:6

6And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony 7And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.

However, clearly in Exodus 40, the Veil is between the Ark of the Covenant and the Alter of Incense...

3And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail. 4And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof. 5And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle.

The Alter of Incense is mentioned again by the writer of the book of Hebrews, however, in this instance it appears to indicate the writer of Hebrews is stating they are both in the Most Holy Place. Clearly based on Exodous account written by Moses, that is not the case.

Hebrews 9:3

"3Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,c 4containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant."

Hebrews is a book dedicated almost entirely to this topic. How could the writer of the book of Hebrews appear to be making a mistake? Is he wrong? 

 

[Marilyn C]

Hi Adam,

I don`t see any problem there. 

Ex. 30: 6 is referring to the altar of incense to be put before the veil which divided the two areas - Holy and most Holy, (with the ark)

Ex. 40: 26 reveals the same,

Heb. 9: 3. Here we are seeing the two areas & also what is in each. 

The two areas - `The first part ....the second veil....

The two ordinances - `the golden altar....the ark of the covenant... 

[adamjedgar]

Except that in Hebrews it states that the Most Holy Place has BOTH

 1.the Alter of Incense AND

2. the Ark of The Covenant!

3Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,c 4containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant.

 

this is not what Exodus is saying

 

The significance of these differences are also highlighted in the book of Revelation where it appears the veil is not in fact even there...and this i think is because Jesus is also the veil in the heavenly antitype. 

 

In Rev 8 we read

3Then another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. 4And the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, rose up before God from the hand of the angel.

In Rev 11 we see the 24 elders who are before the throne fall on their faces...the ark is revealed in the heavenly sanctuary

 

16And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 19Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple.

 

All of the above indicate to me that the heavenly sanctuary remains comprised of two compartments. There is still a ministry going on in the holy place (according to Leviticus 16-intercession for sins committed in the current age) and the Most Holy place. Jesus death on the cross was a necessary process for the forgiveness of sins, however, the interceding on our behalf continues on a daily basis throughout time until the second coming. Also i note in Revelation that there will be a sanctuary/temple on the new earth,however, it is not a physical building as was the case on our sinful earth. It is interesting, Revelation still uses two entities when describing it...

Rev 21

22But I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

 

I also have another thought (or curve ball), it is my belief that:

1. Jesus death on the cross and ongoing intercession are also necessary for the forgiveness of the sins of the heavenly beings who initially followed Lucifer (originally half the angels rebelled).

2. The heavenly sanctuary was defiled by those angels who followed Lucifer in heaven and thus it needs cleansing as well!

Edited December 5, 2021 by adamjedgar