The Tabernacle, as described in the Old Testament, served as the portable earthly dwelling place of God among the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness. Central to its structure was the Vail, a significant element that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, or the Holy of Holies. This Vail, rich in symbolism and theological significance, represents the obscurity and mystery of the Mosaic Age, a period characterized by the partial revelation of God's divine plan.

Biblical Description and Function

The Vail of the Tabernacle is described in Exodus 26:31-33: "You are to make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it. Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold, standing on four silver bases. Hang the veil from the clasps and place the ark of the testimony behind the veil. The veil will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place."

This Vail served as a physical and symbolic barrier, restricting access to the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant resided, and where God's presence was believed to dwell. Only the high priest could enter this sacred space, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), as outlined in Leviticus 16:2-34.

Symbolism and Theological Significance

The Vail's presence underscores the separation between a holy God and sinful humanity, a theme prevalent throughout the Mosaic Age. The intricate design and the cherubim woven into the fabric reflect the heavenly realities and the divine order, emphasizing the holiness and inaccessibility of God's presence under the Old Covenant.

The obscurity of the Mosaic Age is further highlighted by the Vail's role in concealing the fullness of God's glory and the ultimate plan of redemption. The Apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 3:14-16, speaks of a metaphorical veil that remains over the hearts of those who adhere strictly to the old covenant without recognizing its fulfillment in Christ: "But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed. And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away."

Fulfillment in the New Covenant

The tearing of the Vail at the moment of Christ's death, as recorded in Matthew 27:51, signifies the end of the Mosaic Age's obscurity and the inauguration of the New Covenant. This event symbolizes the removal of the barrier between God and humanity, granting believers direct access to God's presence through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 10:19-20 affirms this new reality: "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way opened for us through the veil of His body."

In conclusion, the Vail of the Tabernacle serves as a profound symbol of the limitations and mysteries of the Mosaic Age, pointing forward to the greater revelation and access to God made possible through Jesus Christ. The transition from the old to the new covenant marks a pivotal moment in redemptive history, where the obscurity of the past gives way to the clarity and fullness of God's redemptive plan.Hebrews 9:8,10
The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Romans 16:25,26
Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Revelation 11:19
And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightning, and voices, and thunder, and an earthquake, and great hail.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Scriptural Types.
... But whatever obscurity there is in the scriptural notices of Melchizedek, they ... The
inner or proper covering of the tabernacle, as also the vail that hung ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxvii scriptural types.htm

Interpretation of Prophecy.
... plan of God to throw such a vail over even ... holds in relation to other prophecies,
is left in obscurity. ... the glory which rested upon the tabernacle." Henderson. ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxviii interpretation of prophecy.htm

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