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faces in adoration; could find; in the most magnificent structure ever
reared by human hands; but a faint reflection of its vastness and glory。 Yet
important truths concerning the heavenly sanctuary and the great work there
carried forward for man's redemption were taught by the earthly sanctuary
and its services。
The holy places of the sanctuary in heaven are represented by the two
apartments in the sanctuary on earth。 As in vision the apostle John was
granted a view of the temple of God in heaven; he beheld there 〃seven lamps
of fire burning before the throne。〃 Revelation 4:5。 He saw an angel 〃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。〃 Revelation 8:3。 Here the prophet was permitted to behold
the first apartment
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of the sanctuary in heaven; and he saw there the 〃seven lamps of fire〃 and
〃the golden altar;〃 represented by the golden candlestick and the altar of
incense in the sanctuary on earth。 Again; 〃the temple of God was opened〃
(Revelation 11:19); and he looked within the inner veil; upon the holy of
holies。 Here he beheld 〃the ark of His testament;〃 represented by the sacred
chest constructed by Moses to contain the law of God。
Thus those who were studying the subject found indisputable proof of the
existence of a sanctuary in heaven。 Moses made the earthly sanctuary after a
pattern which was shown him。 Paul teaches that that pattern was the true
sanctuary which is in heaven。 And John testifies that he saw it in heaven。
In the temple in heaven; the dwelling place of God; His throne is
established in righteousness and judgment。 In the most holy place is His
law; the great rule of right by which all mankind are tested。 The ark that
enshrines the tables of the law is covered with the mercy seat; before which
Christ pleads His blood in the sinner's behalf。 Thus is represented the
union of justice and mercy in the plan of human redemption。 This union
infinite wisdom alone could devise and infinite power accomplish; it is a
union that fills all heaven with wonder and adoration。 The cherubim of the
earthly sanctuary; looking reverently down upon the mercy seat; represent
the interest with which the heavenly host contemplate the work of
redemption。 This is the mystery of mercy into which angels desire to
lookthat God can be just while He justifies the repenting sinner and
renews His intercourse with the fallen race; that Christ could stoop to
raise unnumbered multitudes from the abyss of ruin and clothe them with the
spotless garments of His own righteousness to unite with angels who have
never fallen and to dwell forever in the presence of God。
The work of Christ as man's intercessor is presented in that beautiful
prophecy of Zechariah concerning Him 〃whose name is the Branch。〃 Says the
prophet: 〃He shall
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build the temple of the Lord; and He shall bear the glory; and shall sit and
rule upon His 'the Father's' throne; and He shall be a priest upon His
throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between Them both。〃 Zechariah
6:12; 13。
〃He shall build the temple of the Lord。〃 By His sacrifice and mediation
Christ is both the foundation and the builder of the church of God。 The
apostle Paul points to Him as 〃the chief Cornerstone; in whom all the
building fitly framed together groweth into an holy temple in the Lord: in
whom ye also;〃 he says; 〃are builded together for an habitation of God
through the Spirit。〃 Ephesians 2:20…22。
〃He shall bear the glory。〃 To Christ belongs the glory of redemption for the
fallen race。 Through the eternal ages; the song of the ransomed ones will
be: 〃Unto Him that loved us; and washed us from our sins in His own blood; 。
。 。 to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever。〃 Revelation 1:5; 6。
He 〃shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon His
throne。〃 Not now 〃upon the throne of His glory;〃 the kingdom of glory has
not yet been ushered in。 Not until His work as a mediator shall be ended
will God 〃give unto Him the throne of His father David;〃 a kingdom of which
〃there shall be no end。〃 Luke 1:32; 33。 As a priest; Christ is now set down
with the Father in His throne。 Revelation 3:21。 Upon the throne with the
eternal; self…existent One is He who 〃hath borne our griefs; and carried our
sorrows;〃 who 〃was in all points tempted like as we are; yet without sin;〃
that He might be 〃able to succor them that are tempted。〃 〃If any man sin; we
have an advocate with the Father。〃 Isaiah 53:4; Hebrews 4:15; 2:18; 1 John
2:1。 His intercession is that of a pierced and broken body; of a spotless
life。 The wounded hands; the pierced side; the marred feet; plead for fallen
man; whose redemption was purchased at such infinite cost。
〃And the counsel of peace shall be between Them both。〃 The love of the
Father; no less than of the Son; is the fountain of salvation for the lost
race。 Said Jesus to His disciples before
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He went away: 〃I say not unto you; that I will pray the Father for you: for
the Father Himself loveth you。〃 John 16:26; 27。 God was 〃in Christ;
reconciling the world unto Himself。〃 2 Corinthians 5:19。 And in the
ministration in the sanctuary above; 〃the counsel of peace shall be between
Them both。〃 〃God so loved the world; that He gave His only…begotten Son;
that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish; but have everlasting
life。〃 John 3:16。
The question; What is the sanctuary? is clearly answered in the Scriptures。
The term 〃sanctuary;〃 as used in the Bible; refers; first; to the tabernacle
built by Moses; as a pattern of heavenly things; and; secondly; to the 〃true
tabernacle〃 in heaven; to which the earthly sanctuary pointed。 At the death
of Christ the typical service ended。 The 〃true tabernacle〃 in heaven is the
sanctuary of the new covenant。 And as the prophecy of Daniel 8:14 is
fulfilled in this dispensation; the sanctuary to which it refers must be the
sanctuary of the new covenant。 At the termination of the 2300 days; in 1844;
there had been no sanctuary on earth for many centuries。 Thus the prophecy;
〃Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be
cleansed;〃 unquestionably points to the sanctuary in heaven。
But the most important question remains to be answered: What is the
cleansing of the sanctuary? That there was such a service in connection with
the earthly sanctuary is stated in the Old Testament Scriptures。 But can
there be anything in heaven to be cleansed? In Hebrews 9 the cleansing of
both the earthly and the heavenly sanctuary is plainly taught。 〃Almost all
things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no
remission。 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the
heavens should be purified with these 'the blood of animals'; but the
heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these〃 (Hebrews 9:22;
23); even the precious blood of Christ。
The cleansing; both in the typical and in the real service; must be
accomplished with blood: in the former; with the
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blood of animals; in the latter; with the blood of Christ。 Paul states; as
the reason why this cleansing must be performed with blood; that without
shedding of blood is no remission。 Remission; or putting away of sin; is the
work to be accomplished。 But how could there be sin connected with the
sanctuary; either in heaven or upon the earth? This may be learned by
reference to the symbolic service; for the priests who officiated on earth;
served 〃unto the example and shadow of heavenly things。〃 Hebrews 8:5。
The ministration of the earthly sanctuary consisted of two divisions; the
priests ministered daily in the holy place; while once a year the high
priest performed a special work of atonement in the most holy; for the
cleansing of the sanctuary。 Day by day the repentant sinner brought his
offering to the door of the tabernacle and; placing his hand upon the
victim's head; confessed his sins; thus in figure transferring them from
himself to the innocent sacrifice。 The animal was then slain。 〃Without
shedding of blood;〃 says the apostle; there is no remission of sin。 〃The
life of the flesh is in the blood。〃 Leviticus 17:11。 The broken law of God
demanded the life of the transgressor。 The blood; representing the forfeited
life of the sinner; whose guilt the victim bore; was carried by the priest
into the holy place and sprinkled before the veil; behind which was the ark
containing the law that the sinner had transgressed。 By this ceremony the
sin was; through the blood; transferred in figure to the sanctuary。 In some
cases the blood was not taken into the holy place; but the flesh was then to
be eaten by the priest; as Moses directed the sons of Aaron; saying: 〃God
hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation。〃 Leviticus
10:17。 Both ceremonies alike symbolized the transfer of the sin from the
penitent to the sanctuary。
Such was the work that went on; day by day; throughout the year。 The sins of