Salvation in the Sanctuary

They were God’s chosen people. After living as slaves in Egypt for years, they were finally on their way to freedom. On the way, God spoke to their leader, Moses, and gave them specific instructions concerning the building of a tabernacle (Ex. 25:9). This tabernacle was to be carried with them wherever they went. This word, tabernacle, is mishkan. It means dwelling place. It is often referred to as a sanctuary, or Miqdash. The definition of Sanctuary is sacred or holy place.
In the mid 1800’s, there was a huge revival in which William Miller, among others, preached Daniel 8:14; “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” They told the world that Jesus in 1844 would cleanse the sanctuary. This they interpreted as Christ’s second coming. That was their only error. They assumed that the world was the sanctuary. It wasn’t until later that they understood what it really meant.
The earthly tabernacle had 3 main sections, the outer courtyard, the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place. In the courtyard there were two articles, the laver and the altar of burnt offerings. This was where the sacrificial lamb was slain. In the Most Holy Place, there was the table of Shewbread, the altar of incense, and the candlestick, or menorah. Finally, there is the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant sat.
When we look at the tabernacle, we see that it is full of symbols. Most plainly, the earthly Sanctuary is a symbol of that in Heaven. Hebrews talks a lot about the Sanctuary, both the one in Heaven and the one on Earth. Hebrews 9:1 says “Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.” That is the earthly, or worldly sanctuary. Hebrews 8:1-2 says about the heavenly sanctuary “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.” This portrays Christ as our Heavenly High Priest. The High priest on earth was the one who took the sins from the lamb to the sanctuary. He was like a mediator between God and man. That is not to say that he was in place of God, but that he was the one who went between; He took the peoples sins upon himself, and then transferred them to the sanctuary. Christ does the same thing for us. He was the sacrificial offering, the Lamb of God that Abraham talked about in Genesis 22:8. He is also the High Priest who does the work of mediation for us.
Every day, the high priest made sacrifices. The people brought to him their lambs for their sins. The lamb would be killed, and sacrificed on the altar of burnt offerings. Then the priest would take some of the blood from the animal, and sprinkle it before the veil that separated the Holy and Most Holy Places. For 364 days, the blood piled up. With well over a million people, the tabernacle got very dirty. There was great need for a deep cleaning. This was done on one day of each year. It was called the Day of Atonement. The High priest sacrificed a goat for the people, and sprinkled that blood on the mercyseat, and on the various altars. The sins of the people were confessed on a second goat, which was led far from the camp. This was when the sanctuary was cleansed.
Likewise, in the heavenly sanctuary, there are two processes. There is a daily division, and a yearly division. The Daily division consists of the following 3 basic steps: Repentance, faith, and baptism. These steps are crucial to each person’s personal walk with God, and their salvation. We have to take these steps faithfully every day. Without doing this, we will feel the weight of guilt most heavily on ourselves. Why should we keep that with us when we can give it all to the sacrificial offering, Jesus Christ?
The Yearly division has two basic steps: The investigative judgment and the blotting out of sin. The investigative judgment is “an examination of the books of record to determine who, through repentance of sin and faith in Christ, are entitled to the benefits of His atonement.”(GC 421.3) “The whole ceremony was designed to impress the Israelites with the holiness of God and His abhorrence of sin; and, further, to show them that they could not come in contact with sin without becoming polluted.”(GC 419.3) The blood of the lamb is given for the “penitent believers” who fully accept the gift that is laid before them. The blotting out of sins is in essence self explanatory. The sins of those who pass the investigative judgment will be blotted out, or completely obliterated. “But while they have a deep sense of their unworthiness, they have no concealed wrongs to reveal. Their sins have gone beforehand to judgment and have been blotted out, and they cannot bring them to remembrance.” (GC 620.1) “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; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you.” (Acts 3:19-20) “As the features of the countenance are reproduced with unerring accuracy on the polished plate of the artist, so the character is faithfully delineated in the books above.” (GC 487.1) These are the sins that are to be blotted out. And if the character recorded in Heaven are to be wiped out, then something needs to be done to our characters that are in our hearts.
We in ourselves are not at all worthy to be given the gift of the atonement. But then how are we to achieve eternal life? We must use the resources that God gives us. These are symbolized by the three articles in the holy place, the candles stick, the table of showbread, and the altar of incense. The candles stick is the Holy Spirit. One important thing to note about the Holy Spirit is that he is represented in all three parts of the sanctuary. In the outer court, he is symbolized by the Laver, in the holy place by the candlestick, and in the most holy place by the fiery stream (Daniel 7:9-10). The Holy Spirit is so vitally important to each part of our live- we can’t leave him out!
The Table of showbread is the word of God. “The showbread pointed to Christ, the living Bread, who is ever in the presence of God for us. He Himself said, “I am the living Bread which came down from heaven.” John 6:48-51.” (PP 354.1) Change happens by putting the word in our hearts and through the regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. This bread is “received only through the mediation of Christ…” which is our next resource. (PP354.1)
One of the main parts of the three angel’s messages is the Mediation of Christ. Because of the work that Christ does for us, we can talk to God, and we will soon be able to live with Him forever. Christ’s work of mediation is one of the most important, and most misunderstood. “I turned to look at the company who were still bowed before the throne; they did not know that Jesus had left it. Satan appeared to be by the throne, trying to carry on the work of God. I saw them look up to the throne, and pray, “Father, give us Thy Spirit.” Satan would then breathe upon them an unholy influence; in it there was light and much power, but no sweet love, joy, and peace. Satan’s object was to keep them deceived and to draw back and deceive God’s children” (EW 66.1). It is so simple in its truth, but is often twisted by the devil. “It is thus that doubters, unbelievers, and skeptics turn the truth into a lie” {GC 539.1}. “The Father accepts the Son, and through the atoning sacrifice of His Son accepts the sinner” (3SM 194.2)
Salvation is not a one-step, easy to grasp process. It is a forever continuing development that expands character ever toward Christ’s. There are three basic stages that people find themselves in on the journey of Salvation. They are Conversion, Progressive conversion, and perfection. The first step, represented by the outer courtyard, is a realization that we are sinful and need a savior. We offer a sacrifice to take away our sins. We then receive a heart of flesh, which desires unselfishness. We want our characters to be like that of Christ.
The progressive conversion, symbolized by the Holy place is a stage of continual drawing closer to God, using the three resources that He has given us to draw closer to him. “As newborn babies, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2).
Perfection of character is symbolized by the Most Holy Place, where we have perfect relationship with God. We are still drawing closer to him, forever. I see this like the math concept of asymptotes. They always get closer to the axis, always making the distance shorter, but it never quite touches it. We will never be God, ever, but our characters can become more and more like His when we find Salvation in the Sanctuary.