Entering into God’s Presence through Coverings, Curtains, Veils and Gates – Part Two

Entering into God’s Presence through Coverings, Curtains, Veils and Gates – Part Two

God had to place Cherubim at the entrance to the garden to keep Adam and Eve from reentering in their fallen, sinful state. God had to seal off His Throne Room from the eyes of mankind, after the fall of Satan. Sin and rebellion separate all created beings from their Creator. The wages of sin is death, both physical and spiritual. Adam and Eve did die spiritually as they ate of the forbidden fruit, and they aged physically as they left the garden and God’s Presence.

Coverings, Curtains, Veils and Gates keep mankind separated from God’s Glory throughout the Bible, until Jesus Christ rents the veil of the temple in twain, from top to bottom, as He cried, ‘It is finished!’

God made coverings from the hide of animals for Adam and Eve, once they knew that they were naked. Sacrifices of animals were required by all who worshiped God, to cover their sins. Noah had to be covered inside an Ark, to survive the flood. The Ark of the Covenant had a covering of Cherubim and a golden Mercy Seat. The Tabernacle was separated by curtains. Coverings of clouds and of fire kept Israel safe from the Egyptians. Gates set in walls surrounding cities kept those inside safe from the enemies on the outside. Our own fleshly bodies hide the real us from others, and many times from ourselves. Jesus said that hell has gates!

Near Death Experiences let us know that the real person continues to live once the body draws its last breath. Dr. Eben Alexander, in ‘Proof of Heaven’, and others assure us that this is more than wishful thinking and the playing out of chemicals inside the brain at the time of death.

Dr. Reggie Anderson had his faith restored by a vision of Christ, and by experiencing the departing of the souls of those he prayed for and comforted at the time of their deaths. He could feel the tangible presence of God and angels, as souls of believers were escorted from their death bed to heaven. He also could feel the evil presence of demons, when an unbeliever passed by him on the way down to the abode of darkness. These experiences remind us of Christ and His teachings about the rich man and Lazarus, the beggar, in Luke chapter sixteen. There is an eternal place of torment and an eternal place of rest.

This fleshly body is a curtain, or a veil, that keeps us from seeing what is on the other side, until the time of death. Then, as the soul and spirit-man leave the body, it is surrounded by love and peace, or by fear and agony.

I was privileged to pray with a saint from Frederick, Maryland, right before she passed away into the arms of Jesus. As I prayed with her, she prayed in her prayer language with me, and all of a sudden the pain on her face turned to a beautiful, excited smile, as she opened her eyes and as she raised her arms toward heaven and prayed more excitedly; then she lowered her arms and closed her eyes as she quit praying and breathing. The smile was still there after her soul left her body of flesh. I could feel the Presence of God and His angels in the room, and knew that she had suffered her last pain, and that she was now with the Lord, without any physical limitations resting from her labors.

I was asked to pray this afternoon with a friend of my wife. He was 75 and had been doing good until just recently and had to go to the hospital. Things went downhill quickly and he was put on life support and given until three o’clock this afternoon to  have the support removed. As I prayed with his wife, loved ones and friends holding hands around his bed, the Presence of God filled the room, letting us know that He was in control of Jim’s soul and all would be well. Everyone felt the Peace of God in their own spirits and in their own hearts, assuring each one that God works all things together for His purpose in each of our lives; and that just as He promised peace in the midst of tribulation, He was there to allow us to experience that peace as it filled the room and our hearts with His Love and compassion, even in the shadow of death.

The flesh is a curtain, or veil, separating us from seeing and knowing the ‘why’ of things that happen to us in this life. There is so much suffering and pain and heartache, and many times we blame God for allowing it all. In reality, it is all caused by our own free will and wrong choices and the real enemy of our souls, Satan. Jesus said the devil kills, steals, and destroys, but He gives life more abundantly to all who will believe in Him and follow His teachings.

Paul said, I know in part, but then I shall know as I am known. I understand in part, but then I shall understand as I am understood. (I Corinthians 13:12)

The veil of flesh is taken away at death, for everyone. Those who believe in Christ as their Lord and Savior will be given a glorified body like His. Those who don’t accept Christ will be given a body of darkness that will never be able to dwell in the Light of God’s Holy Presence.

We will look closer at the Tabernacle, in the next post, to try to understand how we can pass the veil of our flesh and enter directly into the Presence of God, while we are still living. We don’t have to wait until our hour of death to experience what is on the other side of the curtain. Jesus showed us how to enter our Father’s Holy Presence through Prayer and Obedience, and by following the structure of the Tabernacle Plan.

To be continued….

Click here to read part one of Entering into God’s Presence through Coverings, Curtains, Veils and Gates.