Blood in the Spiritual World
Why is blood so important to God? And what does it mean in the spiritual world? Blood is the first element of atonement that God reveals to man. From the time of the fall of man to the revelation of the glorious future of the Church, we see God’s continual intervention, a scarlet thread woven throughout Scripture, and this thread is the blood. We will never reach fulfillment, spiritual peace or total victory, without understanding the powerful mystery of this element. The high priest of Israel must enter the Holy of Holies of the temple once a year to make atonement for the people in order to reconcile man with God. Concerning this event the Word says: “But into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.” Hebrews 9:7
From the time man fell into sin in the Garden of Eden, he has found himself separated from God. Sin puts an end to the plan of God, distancing Him from His beloved creation. That is why God hates sin so much, because it blocks our communion with Him. God had to provide something so powerful that it would redeem everything that sin had destroyed. It must also satisfy His wrath and cry of His own righteousness that demands payment for transgression. Only one thing held this power: the love of God flowing from the very fountain of redemption through the shedding of Jesus’ blood. This blood was typified through animal sacrifices offered to God in the Old Testament as a foreshadow of Christ, the perfect sacrifice. The victim took the place of the sinner. One life was taken instead of another.
Abel was the first priest and prophet to whom God revealed the power of the blood. Abel’s life was devoted to offering sacrifices to Jehovah. At that time, man did not eat meat yet; this began at the time of the flood. Therefore, the only reason Abel cared for a flock of sheep was in order to offer the sacrifice owed to God. From those days on the only way to approach God was through blood. It is still the same way today.
Without this precious element, man cannot receive from God. He cannot receive His blessings, His communion, His revelation, or His power. This is the first law for man to come to God.
Without this sacrifice, Enoch would never have been able to be caught up to heaven, and Noah would never have been able to hear God. Noah knew what he had to do. After the flood, he sanctified the earth, offering a sacrifice to God. Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. Genesis 8:20
The new earth was then consecrated, and the first commandment of God was given: Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. Surely I will require your lifeblood … Genesis 9:4-5a
Blood is something that belongs to God and therefore cannot be taken lightly. There is something profound in it that God looks at. There is something that God designed within blood that has His seal, and for that reason, must be respected. One life is taken to save another life! This is the principle behind every atoning sacrifice. It’s also the principle through which Christ redeemed us. This principle is seen in the first Passover. In Egypt, God told Moses that the angel of death would pass over, killing every first born. Jehovah then commanded them to sacrifice a lamb and to put its blood on the lintels of the doors. For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments – I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. Exodus 12:12-13 Here, God establishes an everlasting foundation: Those who are under the protection of the blood of the sacrifice cannot be touched by death. It was not enough to kill a Passover lamb and shed its blood. The blood must be applied to the lintels of the doors.
Likewise, it is not enough that Jesus shed His blood. The blood must be applied to the lintels of the door of a man’s heart, which is his spiritual house. This is done through drinking His blood. Jesus said: Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20
This door is our innermost being, and this meal is the new covenant in His blood. It is through blood that God executed judgment upon Egypt which is a symbol of the world and the life of sin therein; He literally pulled His people out from under the yoke of Pharaoh. This is what Communion does through the blood of Christ. It brings judgment upon sin, destroying it in our lives and leading us into a new walk with Him. It is in this walk that the tabernacle of His presence is going to be built within us, as it was in the desert.
Between leaving Egypt and entering the Promised Land, God must build His dwelling among men and establish His law in the hearts of His children. The blood then continues flowing on its way to the most inward parts of our being. The blood will not just be a sign of salvation on the lintels of our hearts, but it must be poured upon the altar, sanctifying all of our soul, mind and will. From there is must be taken to the Holy of Holies, which is our spirit. The blood must run through and sanctify our inner being, so we can become the dwelling place of the Most High. It was very clear in the old covenant that this holy place could not be entered except through the blood. The strongest and purest communion with the presence of God can only be accomplished through the union of His blood with our spirit. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. John 6:56