End Times Are Here

The Sanctuary

The sanctuary is God's way of dealing with sin.

The sanctuary has two main purposes:

Justification/Sanctification
Judgment

In the Bible, we can see that the sanctuary is located in two different places:

Location	Described in
Earth	Exodus
Heaven	Revelation

The earthly sanctuary however, is merely an example (or pattern) of how the heavenly sanctuary works. That's what God told Moses.

And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.
- Exodus 25:8-9 (KJV)

The sanctuary is sometimes also referred to as the tabernacle (portable version), and later also as the temple.

To download this article, please click here.

How it Works

There are three distinct areas in the sanctuary.

The levites were allowed to help in the Outer Court, the priests were allowed to go into the Holy Place, but only the high priest was allowed to go into the Most Holy Place.

Each area contains different types of furniture.

The furniture in the sanctuary has both a practical application, and a spiritual application. For example, the laver is to wash the hands of a priest, but it can also mean baptism. Or, the lamp is meant to bring light into the Holy Place, but it can also mean that Jesus is the light of the world. More on the spiritual applications later.

Located inside of the ark of the covenant, are the Ten Commandments (God's law).

For the full version of the Ten Commandments, please see here.

Note: the Sabbath is from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.

Journey Through the Sanctuary

A person would normally bring a sacrificial animal (say a lamb) to the Outer Court, put their hands on the animal, and transfer his/her sins to the animal. The animal would then be killed, and the blood would be sprinkled before the veil in the Holy Place by a priest. The blood was sometimes also put on the horns of the altar of incense, or the animal could be eaten by a priest. (Depending on the type of sin)

Either way, now there is a record of that person's confessed sin, and the blood to cover it, within the sanctuary.

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
- Hebrews 9:22 (KJV)

This is actually very similar to how it is today, e.g. we confess our sins to Jesus (transfer our sins to Him), and His blood then covers our sins.

That's worth repeating:

Jesus' blood covers our sins.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
- Romans 5:8-11 (KJV)

That's why Jesus is called the Lamb of God.

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
- John 1:29 (KJV)

Note that the blood of animals will not cover our sins.

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
- Hebrews 10:4 (KJV)

It is only the blood of Christ that can do that.

But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
- Hebrews 10:12 (KJV)

Jesus' sacrifice (on the cross) was "once for all".

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
- Hebrews 10:10 (KJV)

It is also worth noting that the sacrificial animals had to be "without spot".

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
- 1 Peter 1:19 (KJV)

That means that if Jesus had even just one sin in Him, He would not have been accepted as our substitute.

Atonement

The following part is very important to understand:

Although sins can be forgiven this way, there still is an overall judgment that needs to take place in the Most Holy Place, better known as the Day of Atonement.

In the earthly sanctuary this happened once a year, but in the heavenly sanctuary this happens only once.

On the Day of Atonement, the high priest would take two goats. The Lord's goat was slain as a sin offering (its blood sprinkled on the mercy seat in the Most Holy Place, and also on the altar in the Holy Place where the record of your sin is). This has a cleansing effect on the sanctuary (blotting out of sins).

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
- Acts 3:19 (KJV)

The confessed sins themselves were transferred to the scapegoat, which was then sent into the wilderness to die. The Lord's goat is symbolic for Jesus (He died for us), whereas the scapegoat is symbolic for satan (the originator of sin).

With judgment, and by sprinkling the blood on various parts of the sanctuary, the sanctuary was cleansed of sin.

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
- Hebrews 9:22 (KJV)

The Most Holy Place, and also the Holy Place, are now cleansed of sin.

The records of your sin are removed.

To summarize:

The sins of the righteous are transferred to satan
The sins of the wicked remain on them

Now that sin has been transferred to where it should be, God will remove root (satan) and branches (satan's followers).

For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
- Malachi 4:1-2 (KJV)

Satan and the wicked will pay the price for their sins.

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
- Revelation 20:12 (KJV)

Who will render to every man according to his deeds.
- Romans 2:6 (KJV)

Jesus is our High Priest, and the judgment is His to make.

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
- Matthew 25:31-46 (KJV)

Sadly, most Christians never fully repent, and will still be judged according to the above.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
- Matthew 7:21 (KJV)

The Sanctuary in the Bible

This chapter focuses on the history of the sanctuary in the Bible.

The Earthly Sanctuary

Under the Old Covenant the sanctuary was on Earth.

It was a pattern of the one in heaven, so that people could understand the process.

The first version of the sanctuary (the tabernacle) had to be portable, because Israel was travelling through the wilderness for 40 years.

- Model of the tabernacle, as seen in Israel, Timna Park by Ruk7 / See credits in back

The second version of the sanctuary (the temple) was built by Solomon in Jerusalem.

- Model temple as seen from the east by FOTLbill / See credits in back

It was later destroyed, and then rebuilt again.

The earthly temple was done away with during the crucifixion.

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; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
- Matthew 27:50-53 (KJV)

We now have direct access to God (through Jesus mediating in the heavenly sanctuary), and no longer need the sanctuary on Earth.

After that, the temple was destroyed in AD 70 by the Romans, just as Jesus said it would.

And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
- Matthew 24:1-2 (KJV)

That was literally fulfilled, and every stone was indeed removed.

People that are talking today about rebuilding the temple again in Jerusalem fail to see that we no longer need the sanctuary on Earth.

The Heavenly Sanctuary

Under the New Covenant the true sanctuary is in heaven.

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 (KJV)

The book of Revelation confirms this even further.

And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
- Revelation 15:5 (KJV)

And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
- Revelation 11:19 (KJV)

(The ark of the covenant is the same as the ark of his testament)

Jesus is currently our high priest, and He fulfills all roles in the temple. He qualified for this role, after the crucifixion.

And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
- Hebrews 5:9-10 (KJV)

(Melchisedec was a person from the Old Testament who was both a king and a priest, which was very rare)

All the furniture in the temple points to Jesus in one way or another.

Furniture	Reference to Jesus
Altar of burnt offering	Jesus' sacrifice as the Lamb of God on the cross
Laver	Cleansing, baptism
Golden lampstand	Jesus is the light of the world
Table of showbread	Jesus is the Bread of Life
Altar of incense	Prayer ascending to God
Ark of the covenant	If you love me, keep my commandments

Things look a bit different in heaven of course. Just a bit shinier with all the gold, etc.

The earthly sanctuary has a yearly cycle, but the heavenly sanctuary only has one cycle.

In the heavenly sanctuary, the throne of God is in the Most Holy Place.

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.
- Revelation 8:3 (KJV)

Other than that, the principles are the same...

It's important to understand that at some point (the close of probation) the temple will literally be closed.

And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
- Revelation 15:8 (KJV)

At that point, there will be no mediator (or mercy) anymore.

The Cleansing of the Sanctuary

When the sanctuary itself is cleansed, it means that all the records of sin are removed (and dealt with).

This Day of Atonement in heaven is not just a day, it's actually a short period, or season.

We know that the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary started in 1844 based on Daniel's prophecies.

Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
- Daniel 9:25-27 (KJV)

And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
- Daniel 8:14 (KJV)

So, there are actually two main prophecies here:

The seventy week prophecy (7 + 62 + 1) which points to the ministry of Jesus
The 2300 day prophecy which points to the cleansing of the sanctuary

These prophecies are so significant that God used the same starting point for both of them.

From historical records, we know that the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem was given in 457 BC (when king Artaxerxes started his reign).

Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel. ... And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellers have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem: ... Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
- Ezra 7:11,15-16,23 (KJV)

But in order to understand how prophecies work, we first need to understand that in prophecy, 1 day equals 1 year.

After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.
- Numbers 14:34 (KJV)

So, when we apply this to these two prophecies, we get:

70 weeks = 70 * 7 days = 490 days = 490 years
2300 days = 2300 years

We can then see that Daniel's 70-week prophecy predicts the coming of Jesus and His ministry, e.g. the 70th week was from AD 27 to AD 34, and the crucifixion was in the midst of that at AD 31. The 70-week prophecy ended with the stoning of Stephen in AD 34, which was essentially the end of the old covenant (made with the ancient nation of Israel). After this, the new covenant was then made with the Gentiles.

We can also see that the 2300 prophecy ends in AD 1844.

Now we know that Jesus, our High Priest, moved from the Holy Place (daily sanctification) to the Most Holy Place (cleansing, judgment) in 1844.

"The temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament." Revelation 11:19. The ark of God's testament is in the holy of holies, the second apartment of the sanctuary. In the ministration of the earthly tabernacle, which served "unto the example and shadow of heavenly things," this apartment was opened only upon the great Day of Atonement for the cleansing of the sanctuary. Therefore the announcement that the temple of God was opened in heaven and the ark of His testament was seen points to the opening of the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844 as Christ entered there to perform the closing work of the atonement.
- Ellen White, Christ in His Sanctuary, p. 163

Please note that Jesus still performs all the duties from the Holy Place, but at the same time, judgment has begun in the Most Holy Place.

During the cleansing, all the records are being looked at. At first, all the cases of the righteous dead are reviewed, but soon this judgment will move to the living.

The Judgment is now passing in the sanctuary above. Forty years has this work been in progress. Soon-none know how soon-it will pass to the cases of the living. In the awful presence of God our lives are to come up in review.
- Ellen White, The Great Controversy, p. 315

(Ellen White wrote this some 40 years after 1844)

God has been very patient with us, as we've been living in judgment for more than 180 years.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
- 2 Peter 3:8-9 (KJV)

In comparison, Noah was given 120 years.

When judgment is complete, sin will be dealt with, once and for all.

The Three Angels' Messages

1844 is also the starting point of the three angels' messages.

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
- Revelation 14:6-12 (KJV)

Soon you will have to choose between keeping the Sabbath (the Lord's day), or Sunday (a mere tradition, and not a commandment).

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
- Exodus 20:8-11 (KJV)

In short, if you keep the commandments of God (Sabbath), you will receive the Seal of God, but if you keep the commandments of men (Sunday), you will receive the Mark of the Beast.

The Midnight Cry

1844 is also connected to the midnight cry.

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
- Matthew 25:1-13 (KJV)

What Does All of This Mean?

I know there is a lot to take in here, and it's not easy, but please understand that we are in the last days.

Soon the investigative judgment will shift from the dead to the living.

Are you right with God? Do you have sins to confess? Does God know who you are?

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
- Matthew 7:21-23 (KJV)

Judgment will soon come to us.

The lives of all who have believed on Jesus pass in solemn review before God. Beginning with those who first lived upon the earth, our Advocate examines the cases of each successive generation, and closes with the living. Every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated. Names are accepted, names rejected. From age to age, all who have truly repented of sin, and by faith claimed the blood of Christ as their atoning sacrifice, have had pardon written against their names in the books of Heaven, and in the closing work of Judgment their sins are blotted out, and they themselves are accounted worthy of eternal life.
- Ellen White, The Great Controversy, p. 309

Now's the time to draw nigh to God.

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
- James 4:8 (KJV)

To truly search for God.

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
- Isaiah 55:6 (KJV)

And to repent.

And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
- Matthew 3:2 (KJV)

Conclusion

If all you got from this book is that the Ten Commandments are in the Most Holy Place in God's temple, then you're doing well.

- Moses tabernacle by Sweet Publishing / FreeBibleimages.org / See credits in back

The Ten Commandments are important. They were written by God's own finger.

And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
- Exodus 31:18 (KJV)

For the full version of the Ten Commandments, please see here.

I also hope that you got a better idea of the severity of sin, and how offensive it is to God. Just look at the seven last plagues in Revelation 16, etc.

With that said, does Jesus' blood cover your sins? Are your sins recorded in the sanctuary? Is your name in the book of life?

I hope so.

But if not, it's not too late.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
- 1 John 1:9 (KJV)

Come; for all things are now ready.
- Luke 14:17 (KJV)

Credits

Cover / Timna: Stiftshütte, Vorhof
Author = Mboesch
Source = Wikimedia Commons / https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Timna-park-tabernacle-c-vorhof.jpg
License = CC BY-SA 4.0 / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

Tabernacle items
Free Christian Illustrations

Model of the tabernacle, as seen in Israel, Timna Park
Author = Ruk7
Source = Wikimedia Commons / https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stiftshuette_Modell_Timnapark.jpg
License = CC BY-SA 3.0 / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

Model temple as seen from the east
Author = FOTLbill
Source = Wikimedia Commons / https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:19_Shrine_of_the_Book_005_(cropped).jpg
License = Public domain

Moses tabernacle
Author = Biblia Prints / FreeBibleimages.org
Source = Free Bible Images / https://www.freebibleimages.org/illustrations/moses-tabernacle/
License = CC BY-SA 3.0 / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

The Seventh-day Sabbath
Sun 1	Mon 2	Tue 3	Wed 4	Thuy 5	Fri 6	Sat 7
work						rest