WHY DID HEAVEN NEED CLEANSING FROM SIN?

Ariel Ministries Australia

“In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; He entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.” – Hebrews 9:21-24

It should be remembered that the fall of Satan occurred in Heaven (Isa. 14:12-14). As a result of his fall, sin was brought into Heaven itself, and the heavenly sanctuary, of which Satan was once a priest, was defiled (Eze. 28:11-19). For this reason, the heavens were not clean (Job 4:18; 15:15; 25:5). Therefore, the heavenly sanctuary needed the cleansing of blood just as the earthly sanctuary did. Whereas animal blood was sufficient to cleanse the earthly sanctuary, it was not sufficient to cleanse the heavenly sanctuary. That required better cleansing with better blood: the Messiah’s blood.

“But when Christ came as High Priest of the good things that are now already here, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.” – Hebrews 9:11-12