Solomons Temple Spiritualized, Chapter 68
LXVIII. Of the High-Priests going in thither but once a year.
AS the High-Priest went into the Holiest, when he thither went, alone: So to do that work, he went in thither but once a year. Thou shalt not come at all times, said God to him, … the Holy Place, within the Vail, before the Mercy-Seat, which is upon the Ark, that thou die not, Levit. 16 2.
And as he was to go in thither but once a year, so not then neither, unless clothed and adorned with his Aaronical Holy Robes. Then he was to be clothed, as I hinted before, with the Holy Robes, the Frontlet of Gold upon his Forehead, the names of the twelve Tribes upon his Breast, and the Jingling Bells upon the Skirts of his Garment; nor would all this do, unless he went in thither with Blood, Exod. 28. Levit. 16
Now this once a year, the Apostle taketh special notice of, and makes great use of it, Once a year, saith he, this High-Priest went in thither: once a year, that is, to shew that Christ should once in the end of the world, go into Heaven it self to make intercession there for us. For by this word, year, He shews the term and time of the world is meant, and by once in that year, the means once in the end of the world.
Not, saith he, that he should offer himself often: as the High-Priest entered into the Holy Place every year with the Blood of others: for them must the often have suffered, since the foundation of the World. But now once in the end of the World, hath he appeared to put away sin, by the Sacrifice of himself, Heb. 9.
And having thus once offered his Sacrifice without the Vail, he is now gone into the Holiest to perfect his Work of Mediation for us: Not into the Holy Places made with Hands, which are the Figures of the True, but into Heaven it self; Now to appear in the presence of God for us.
Now if our Lord Jesus is gone indeed, Now to appear in the presence of God for us: and if this now be the once a year, that the Type speaks of: The once in the end of the World, as our Apostle saies; then it follows, that the People of God should all stand waiting for his Benediction, that to them he shall bring with him, when he shall return from thence. Wherefore he adds, Christ was once offered to bury the sins of many, and to them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto Salvation.
This therefore shews us the greatness of the work that Christ has to do at the Right Hand of God, for that he stays there so long. He accomplished all the first part of his Priesthood in less then forty Years, if you take in the making of his holy Gaaments and all; but about this second part thereof, he has been above in Heaven above sixteen hundred years, and yet has not done.
This therefore calls for Faith and Patience in Saints, and by this he also tries the World; so that they in mocking manner begin to say already, Where is the Promise of his coming? (2 Pet. 3.4.) But I say again, We must look and wait.
If the People waited for Zacharias, and wondered that he stayed so long, because he stayed in the holy place somewhat longer than they expected: No marvel, if the Faith of the World about Christ's coming, is fled and gone long ago; yea, and that the Children also are put to it to wait, since a Scripture little while doth prove so long: For that which the Apostle saith, Yet a little while, doth prove to some to be a very long little; John 16. Heb. 10.37.
True, Zacharias had then to do with Angels, and that made him stay so long. O but Jesus is with God, before him, in his presence, talking with him, swallowed up in him, and with his Glory, and that's one Cause he stays so long. He is there also pleading his Blood for his tempted Ones; and interceeding for all his Elect, and waits there till all his be fitted for, and ready to enter into Glory: I say, he is there, and there must be till then: And this is another reason why he doth stay the time we count so long.
And indeed 'tis a wonder to me, that Jesus Christ our Lord should once think, now he is there, of returning hither again, considering the ill treatment he met with here before. But what will not Love do! Surely he would never touch the ground again, had he not a People here that cannot be made perfect, but by his coming to them. He also is made Judge of quick and dead, and will get him Glory in the ruine of them that hate him.
His People are as himself to him. Can a loving Husband abide to be always from a beloved Spouse? Besides, as I said, He is to pay the Wicked off, for all their Wickedness, and that in that very plat, where they have committed it. Wherefore the day appointed for this is set, and he will, and shall come quickly to do it.
For however, the time may seem long to us, yet according to the reckoning of God, it is but a little while since he went into the holiest to interceed. A thousand years with the Lord is but as one day, and after this manner of counting he has not been gone yet full two days into the holiest. The Lord is not slack concerning his Promise, as some men count slackness; he will come quickly, and will not tarry, 2 Pet. 3. Heb. 10.37.