Robert Lannes: Hebrews 9:3

     In the book of Hebrews, speaks of a room in the Holy Tabernacle.  Hebrews 9:3, "And behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place."  This room was in the very center of the temple, and was of perfect proportions.  There was a four inch thick curtain that separated it from view of anybody.  This is the room that the presence of God would enter.  There was only one person allowed to enter the room, the High Preist.  Any other man that entered this room would die instantly.  The high priest was to enter this room only once a year on the day of atonement, with blood to atone for sins.  When he entered this room they tied a rope around his waist so the he could be retrieved incase he was struck dead in the presence of the lord.  The veil is there so the Lord wouldn't have to see the sins of man, and this room also contained holy items such as the Ark of the covenant.  I think that this is one of the best examples of the Ontological approach to understanding sacred places.  The idea that the Lord is so powerful that looking at him would cause death is mind boggling.  Once Jesus had died on the cross, as the ultimate sacrifice for mankind, the curtain, which was 60 feet in height, 30 feet in width, and four inches thick, was torn in two all the way down the middle.  This represented what had been done, because of Jesus, now everybody had access to God as the high priest had.