Why does the altar of incense not appear to be located in the Holy Place in Hebrews 9?

Question

Exodus 30:1

You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for the burning of incense. Place the altar in front of the veil that is before the ark of the Testimony.

Hebrews 9:2

A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place.

Why does the altar of incense for the Heavenly Sanctuary not appear to be located in the Holy Place by the writer of Hebrews? Is this of any significance considering the Lamb of God, who was without sin, had now become High Priest?

We find a significant difference in explanation between the KJV and other versions here too. Other versions have interpreted the Golden Censer as being the Altar. This is not the case with the KJV (I think the KJV is the correct translation here).

In any case, here is my theory: After Jesus' crucifixion, the incense (which normally flowed into the Most Holy Place from the Altar of Incense) was no longer needed to protect our High Priest from death of the glory of God on the mercy seat.

Jesus had already redeemed us, he paid the price for sin, he can't die twice! Second, I follow the Trinitarian view that Jesus is God, he can't be killed by his own Glory! Therefore, the incense from the altar is no longer needed for the same purpose as in the Old testament sanctuary.

Rev 8:3-4 makes an interesting observation:

And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

At this point in time, even though he approaches the altar, the Angel in Revelation does not get his incense from the Altar. It is given to him (placed in His censer) and he then offers the prayers of the saints on the Altar!

I feel that the key to all of this is Matthew 27:50-51

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom;

The heavenly sanctuary is an antitype of the earthly. The earthly temple veil was torn in two at Jesus death and I think this is significant in explaining Hebrews 9:2&3

Answer 1

This is an interesting observation. In Exodus the incense altar is positioned in the first compartment of the tabernacle, called the holy room. While in Hebrews it seems to be positioned in the second compartment, called holiest of holy. Why?

The best solution seems to be that Hebrews portrays the situation after Jesus’ death on the cross when the curtain that divided the holy place and the holiest of holy was torn asunder.

Thus the altar of incense that stood away from the candle stick and showbread table, close up towards the curtain that divided the two rooms, was after the curtain rip seen as instead belonging to the next inner room.

Answer 2

Perhaps we are misinterpreting Ex 30:6 Put the altar in front of the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law – before the atonement cover that is over the tablets of the covenant law – where I will meet with you. Perhaps "in front of the curtain" was from God's perspective, and the altar of incense was always in the most holy place, despite what we have been taught down the years. The verse does go on to say, "before the atonement cover that is over the tablets of the covenant law – where I will meet with you".

Answer 3

Hebrews 9:1 first covenant/earthly tabernacle. Altar of incense was in Holy place. Incense offered daily couldn’t have been in Holy of Holies. Not sure why not listed but again this is the description of prior to Jesus death or first covenant