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there was perfect harmony in the application of all the events foretold in
the explanation of that period in Daniel 9：25…27。 Sixty…nine weeks； the
first 483 of the 2300 years； were to reach to the Messiah； the Anointed One；
and Christ's baptism and anointing by the Holy Spirit； A。D。 27； exactly
fulfilled the specification。 In the midst of the seventieth week； Messiah
was to be cut off。 Three and a half years after His baptism； Christ was
crucified； in the spring of A。D。 31。 The seventy weeks； or 490 years； were
to pertain especially to the Jews。 At the expiration of this period the
nation sealed its rejection of Christ by the persecution of His disciples；
and the apostles turned to the Gentiles； A。D。 34。 The first 490 years of the
2300 having then ended； 1810 years would remain。 From A。D。 34；
1810 years extend to 1844。 〃Then；〃 said the angel； 〃shall the
sanctuary be cleansed。〃 All the preceding specifications of the prophecy had
been unquestionably fulfilled at the time appointed。
With this reckoning； all was clear and harmonious； except that it was not
seen that any event answering to the cleansing of the sanctuary had taken
place in 1844。 To deny that the days ended at that time was to involve the
whole question in confusion； and to renounce positions which had been
established by unmistakable fulfillments of prophecy。
But God had led His people in the great advent movement； His power and glory
had attended the work； and He would not permit it to end in darkness and
disappointment； to be reproached as a false and fanatical excitement。 He
would not leave His word involved in doubt and uncertainty。
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Though many abandoned their former reckoning of the prophetic periods and
denied the correctness of the movement based thereon； others were unwilling
to renounce points of faith and experience that were sustained by the
Scriptures and by the witness of the Spirit of God。 They believed that they
had adopted sound principles of interpretation in their study of the
prophecies； and that it was their duty to hold fast the truths already
gained； and to continue the same course of Biblical research。 With earnest
prayer they reviewed their position and studied the Scriptures to discover
their mistake。 As they could see no error in their reckoning of the
prophetic periods； they were led to examine more closely the subject of the
sanctuary。
In their investigation they learned that there is no Scripture evidence
sustaining the popular view that the earth is the sanctuary； but they found
in the Bible a full explanation of the subject of the sanctuary； its nature；
location； and services； the testimony of the sacred writers being so clear
and ample as to place the matter beyond all question。 The apostle Paul； in
the Epistle to the Hebrews； says： 〃Then verily the first covenant had also
ordinances of divine service； and a worldly sanctuary。 For there was a
tabernacle made； the first； wherein was the candlestick； and the table； and
the shewbread； which is called the sanctuary。 And after the second veil； the
tabernacle which is called the holiest of all； which had the golden censer；
and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold； wherein was the
golden pot that had manna； and Aaron's rod that budded； and the tables of
the covenant； and over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat。〃
Hebrews 9：1…5。
The sanctuary to which Paul here refers was the tabernacle built by Moses at
the command of God as the earthly dwelling place of the Most High。 〃Let them
make Me a sanctuary； that I may dwell among them〃 （Exodus 25：8）； was the
direction given to Moses while in the mount with God。 The Israelites were
journeying through the wilderness；
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and the tabernacle was so constructed that it could be removed from place to
place； yet it was a structure of great magnificence。 Its walls consisted of
upright boards heavily plated with gold and set in sockets of silver； while
the roof was formed of a series of curtains； or coverings； the outer of
skins； the innermost of fine linen beautifully wrought with figures of
cherubim。 Besides the outer court； which contained the altar of burnt
offering； the tabernacle itself consisted of two apartments called the holy
and the most holy place； separated by a rich and beautiful curtain； or veil；
a similar veil closed the entrance to the first apartment。
In the holy place was the candlestick； on the south； with its seven lamps
giving light to the sanctuary both by day and by night； on the north stood
the table of shewbread； and before the veil separating the holy from the
most holy was the golden altar of incense； from which the cloud of
fragrance； with the prayers of Israel； was daily ascending before God。
In the most holy place stood the ark； a chest of precious wood overlaid with
gold； the depository of the two tables of stone upon which God had inscribed
the law of Ten Commandments。 Above the ark； and forming the cover to the
sacred chest； was the mercy seat； a magnificent piece of workmanship；
surmounted by two cherubim； one at each end； and all wrought of solid gold。
In this apartment the divine presence was manifested in the cloud of glory
between the cherubim。
After the settlement of the Hebrews in Canaan； the tabernacle was replaced
by the temple of Solomon； which； though a permanent structure and upon a
larger scale； observed the same proportions； and was similarly furnished。 In
this form the sanctuary existedexcept while it lay in ruins in Daniel's
timeuntil its destruction by the Romans； in A。D。 70。
This is the only sanctuary that ever existed on the earth； of which the
Bible gives any information。 This was declared
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by Paul to be the sanctuary of the first covenant。 But has the new covenant
no sanctuary？
Turning again to the book of Hebrews； the seekers for truth found that the
existence of a second； or new…covenant sanctuary； was implied in the words
of Paul already quoted： 〃Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances
of divine service； and a worldly sanctuary。〃 And the use of the word 〃also〃
intimates that Paul has before made mention of this sanctuary。 Turning back
to the beginning of the previous chapter； they read： 〃Now of the things
which we have spoken this is the sum： We have such an High Priest； who is
set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens； a
Minister of the sanctuary； and of the true tabernacle； which the Lord
pitched； and not man。〃 Hebrews 8：1； 2。
Here is revealed the sanctuary of the new covenant。 The sanctuary of the
first covenant was pitched by man； built by Moses； this is pitched by the
Lord； not by man。 In that sanctuary the earthly priests performed their
service； in this； Christ； our great High Priest； ministers at God's right
hand。 One sanctuary was on earth； the other is in heaven。
Further； the tabernacle built by Moses was made after a pattern。 The Lord
directed him： 〃According to all that I show thee； after the pattern of the
tabernacle； and the pattern of all the instruments thereof； even so shall ye
make it。〃 And again the charge was given； 〃Look that thou make them after
their pattern； which was showed thee in the mount。〃 Exodus 25：9； 40。 And
Paul says that the first tabernacle 〃was a figure for the time then present；
in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices；〃 that its holy places were
〃patterns of things in the heavens；〃 that the priests who offered gifts
according to the law served 〃unto the example and shadow of heavenly
things；〃 and that 〃Christ is not entered into the holy places made with
hands； which are the figures of the true； but into heaven itself； now to
appear in the presence of God for us。〃 Hebrews 9：9； 23； 8：5； 9：24。
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The sanctuary in heaven； in which Jesus ministers in our behalf； is the
great original； of which the sanctuary built by Moses was a copy。 God placed
His Spirit upon the builders of the earthly sanctuary。 The artistic skill
displayed in its construction was a manifestation of divine wisdom。 The
walls had the appearance of massive gold； reflecting in every direction the
light of the seven lamps of the golden candlestick。 The table of shewbread
and the altar of incense glittered like burnished gold。 The gorgeous curtain
which formed the ceiling； inwrought with figures of angels in blue and
purple and scarlet； added to the beauty of the scene。 And beyond the second
veil was the holy Shekinah； the visible manifestation of God's glory； before
which none but the high priest could enter and live。
The matchless splendor of the earthly tabernacle reflected to human vision
the glories of that heavenly temple where Christ our forerunner ministers
for us before the throne of God。 The abiding place of the King of kings；
where thousand thousands minister unto Him； and ten thousand times ten
thousand stand before Him （Daniel 7：10）； that temple； filled with the glory
of the eternal throne； where seraphim； its shining guardians； veil their
faces in adoration； could find； in the most magnificent structure ever
rear