Expert: Dean Gade - 9/10/2008

Question
This question stems from a previous answer you gave on the blood of Jesus.  It has been explained to me that shortly after Jesus’ resurrection (possibly John 20:17), He ascended into heaven and applied His literal blood to the mercy seat (Heb 9:12).  Would that mean that atonement was not complete when he died a bloody, sacrificial death on the cross?  In other words, was atonement completed in a two step process: death on the cross outside the gate (step one), and after the resurrection Jesus applying his blood in heaven (step two). This two step process would seem to follow the High Priest Aaron's type (Lev 16:15-16), except Christ did not bring burning coals of fire, or incense (Lev 16:12-13).  If so, what then is the significance of the veil of the temple being "rent in twain from the top to the bottom" immediately following Christ's death on the cross (Mat 27:51)?  Didn’t that tearing signify that the way into God’s presence was opened by the death of His Son?  Doesn’t that tearing also signify that atonement was completed at the cross?

Thank you for any insight you can offer.

Answer
The temple, courts, altar, etc. where only shadows of the reality of Jesus the Christ's atonement.  As the letter to the Hebrews points out, the "shadows" where simply illustrations of the "reality". So Jesus Christ, the reality,  was not confined or controlled by the shadow.

Heb 9:6-12
7 But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood , which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings — external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

11 When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation.
NIV

That is to say, the Holy Place is a spiritual place and not a physical building or physical place where Jesus had to go in order to be the atonement for sin.  The cross is the place where He shed His blood.  Therefore the  cross is written of as the place of shedding His blood and the place of atonement at the very time of His death outside the city:

Heb 9:27-28
27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
NIV

Col 1:18-20
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood , shed on the cross .
NIV