Dr. Scott Reece: The Veil Has Been Torn - Step Into the Light
Jun 13, 2026
A Divine Interruption There is a moment at the cross that many of us have read, preached, and celebrated, yet I'm convinced we have not fully stepped into its depth. When Jesus gave up His spirit, Scripture tells us that the veil of the Temple was torn from top to bottom. We've rightly understood this as access being granted, but there is far more happening beneath the surface. This was not simply a symbolic gesture. It was a divine interruption of everything Israel had known about approaching God. In Hebrew thought, that veil, the "parokhet," was not decorative. It was a boundary. It marked the line between the manifest presence of God and everything outside of it. Only one man, once a year, could pass through it, and even then with blood, fear, and careful preparation. The veil didn't just separate space. It reinforced a mindset: God is holy; you are not. Stay back. The Angels of Eden Hidden Within the Veil Yet when you trace its design, you begin to see something remarkable. Woven into that veil were cherubim. That detail is not accidental. The last time cherubim appeared in Scripture before the tabernacle, they were stationed at the east of Eden, guarding the way to the tree of life. In other words, the veil was not just a curtain in a building. It was a living reminder that humanity had been shut out of direct access to God since the fall. Every time a priest stood before it, he was standing at the edge of a guarded garden.
His Flesh Was the Veil Hebrews brings this into even sharper focus when it tells us that the veil represents His flesh. That means the tearing of the veil in the Temple was directly connected to the tearing of Christ's body on the cross. As His body was broken, the barrier was broken. As His blood was poured out, access was opened. What had been guarded for generations was now made available through a finished work, not human effort. Weird Things Happening in the Temple There is also a fascinating layer preserved within Jewish tradition. The Talmud records that in the decades leading up to the destruction of the Second Temple, several unusual things began to occur. The scarlet thread, associated with atonement on Yom Kippur, no longer turned white, which symbolized the forgiveness of sins; the western lamp would not remain lit; and the heavy Temple doors reportedly opened on their own. While we approach these accounts with discernment, they point to a growing awareness that something within the sacrificial system had shifted. From our perspective, we understand why. The true atonement had already been made. What Does This Mean for Us Today? This means that the work of Christ did more than forgive sin. It removed distance. It dismantled the internal and external barriers that kept people living on the outside of God's presence. The tragedy is that many Believers still live as though the veil is intact. They stand at a distance, aware of God but not fully engaging Him, forgiven but not free, invited yet hesitant. This is where the Spirit begins to press into our lives in a very personal way. The same God who tore the veil in the Temple is still committed to removing barriers today. He is not tearing physical curtains, but He is confronting the internal ones we have allowed to remain. The Curtain of Fears and Shame Torn
What God did at the cross was not partial. He did not open a door halfway. He removed the barrier completely. The invitation is not to stand near the veil. The invitation is to walk through it with confidence, not because of who we are but because of what Christ has accomplished. The deeper revelation is this: God did not lower His holiness to make access possible. He satisfied His holiness through Christ and then removed the separation that holiness required. That fact changes everything about how we approach Him. We are not trying to get in. Through Christ, we have already been brought near. Called Into the Holy of Holies And I believe the Spirit is stirring something in this hour. He is calling the Church out of outer-court living and into true nearness, not as a concept but as a daily reality. The veil has been torn. The way is open. The question is not whether access has been granted. The question is whether we will live like it has.
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Dr. Scott Reece Dr. Scott Reece is a husband, father, lead pastor, church planter, and apostolic leader of the Azusa Network of Churches and Ministries. His passions include pastoral leadership, global missions, studying, preaching, and teaching the Word of God. Being called as a pastor to pastors, serving leaders, congregations, and ministries, he is committed to Biblical and leadership authenticity. With an apostolic mantle on his life, he is passionate about equipping and releasing the next generation of leaders in the fullness of the Kingdom. He and his wife, Michelle, make their home in Bettendorf, Iowa, and are lead pastors of River City Church, located in the Quad Cities. They are the proud parents of six children and three grandchildren.
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Now consider what happened when Jesus died. That veil, massive in size and thickness, was torn from top to bottom. It wasn't torn from the bottom up, as if man had reached for God, but from Heaven downward, as if God Himself had taken hold of the barrier and ripped it open. This was not an invitation extended cautiously. This was a declaration made decisively. The way back into the presence of God was no longer restricted. (Photo via Pexels)
Some of those curtains are shaped by shame. Even after receiving forgiveness, people carry a quiet sense that they are not worthy to come close. Others are shaped by performance, where access to God feels tied to consistency, discipline, or spiritual achievement. Some are rooted in fear, where intimacy with God feels unfamiliar or even uncomfortable. And in other cases, there are hidden areas of compromise that keep a person lingering at a distance rather than stepping fully into the light. (Photo via Pexels)
