p. 5 | The Sanctuary by John Norton Loughborough

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 12, 1912

The Sanctuary

By John Norton Loughborough

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim. 2:15. While this admonition is important in the study of all Scripture truths, it is emphatically important in the study of the sanctuary, wherein is now our “anchor,” even our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. When entering upon this study, it is interesting to know that the Lord has directed us to the true source from which to gain a proper understanding of the matter. In the tenth chapter of Revelation is a message declaring, “that there should be time no longer: but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God [the gospel] should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.” Rev. 10:6, 7.

Those who went forth to the world, from 1840 to 1844, in the great second advent movement, proclaimed the end of the 2300 days of Dan. 8:14, the longest prophetic period in the Bible, and that in that movement they were in accord with this testimony of Rev. 10:6, 7. They also claimed that they were engaged in a work in fulfilment of Rev. 14:6-9: “The hour of his judgment is come.” When, in the seventh month of 1844, they reached the end of the 2300 days, they supposed their work for the world was done; but, as set forth in Rev. 10:11, they “must prophecy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.”

How could they be started “again” with a message to the world? They must have an explanation of their disappointment, the true event to take place at the end of the 2300 days. They must also know what is meant by the cleansing of the sanctuary. The first verse of the eleventh chapter gave the source whence they were to receive the light desired, and get properly started in their message. It is said to this disappointed people, “Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.” Here was the clue to the situation, not simply to learn the length and breadth of the heavenly temple, nor the stature of God’s people, but to learn the nature of that temple and its service, and the moral standing of the true worshipers.

This, as a matter of course, would lead to a study of the sanctuary; and it was this that led the advent people to the true light for that time; namely, what the “true” sanctuary was, and what was meant by its cleansing. They believed that the time they had proclaimed carried them to the sounding of the seventh trumpet; and they read that when that trumpet should begin to sound, “the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament.” Rev. 11:19. In the earthly sanctuary, a “shadow” and “figure” of the one in heaven, the apartment of the sanctuary containing the ark was opened only once in the yearly service, and then for the high priest to cleanse the sanctuary. So, they said, “Christ is now, in his priestly work, cleansing the sanctuary, the true work to take place at the end of the 2300 days.”

As the day of atonement was a decisive day with the Lord’s people, so now it was the period of investigative judgment. In harmony with this, when the temple was opened in heaven, it was said, “Thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged.” Our brethren said, “Now we can say we have truthfully proclaimed that the hour of his judgment is come, and that, as we taught, the time did come for Christ to cleanse the sanctuary, for Christ is now engaged in this very work.”

When, by faith, this people saw in the heavenly temple “the ark of his testament,” they also saw in that ark the “reed like unto a rod,” by which the worshipers in the temple were to be measured,—the holy law of God, the standard of Christian character, the rule of judgment. So the third angel’s message of Rev. 14:9-12 started from the very source predicted, as well as in the manner; that is, by a study of the sanctuary question in connection with the message the people had already proclaimed. Having followed the instruction, they received the light at the very time that the third message was to join the others. Thus it started, and is rapidly going on its way to the nations of the world.

We may now properly inquire how it is with those who have gone to other sources for an explanation of the 1840-44 movement. When, in 1879, I was entering upon my work in England, I had a desire to learn how some who had truthfully proclaimed the 2300 days as a period to end in 1844, explained the situation. I obtained some books issued by a people who claimed to explain the matter. One of their books was on the sanctuary question. In it they claimed that the earthly sanctuary was a “pattern,” a “figure,” a “shadow,” of the sanctuary in which Christ now ministers. After reading this, I said to myself, “All right, so far; but let us see now how they come out in the case.” Their next point was on the service which was an “example and shadow of heavenly things.” Instead of applying this to the work of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, they applied it to the work of the church on earth, who were now the Lord’s sanctuary worshipers, and must have a “new ritual of service.” This they had established. They did not, like the Catholics, claim that the wafer in the hands of the priest became the actual body of Christ, but that it was an emblem of his body. They had a communion service every Sunday forenoon. They had a consecration of the wafer one Sunday for the next Sunday; but on every week-day, at 6 A. M. and at 6 P. M., their minister, with others, came to their meeting-place, put the wafer on the altar, and had a prayer service, etc., representing the morning and evening sacrifice of the lamb in the Jewish service, but here taken as a representation of “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” I also noticed that in their service for the communion, they had seven lamps of fire burning all the time. I felt sad to think that this people had failed to see the true light on the sanctuary, which would have made all plain.

As to the importance of having the true light on the subject of the sanctuary, I will quote a few words from “Spirit of Prophecy,” Vol. IV, published in 1884: “The subject of the sanctuary and investigative judgment should be clearly understood by the people of God. All need a knowledge for themselves of the position and work of their great High Priest. Otherwise, it will be impossible for them to exercise the faith which is essential at this time, or to occupy the position God designed them to fill.” This is also in the last edition of “Great Controversy,” page 488.

In 1889 another testimony was given as follows: “All need to become more intelligent in regard to the work of the atonement, which is going on in the sanctuary above. When this grand truth is seen and understood, those who hold it will work in harmony with Christ to prepare a people to stand in the great day of God.”—Testimony for the Church, No. 33, page 103.

In looking over some past years’ pages of the REVIEW, I noticed an article in the issue for March 24, 1896, from the pen of Elder J. E. Evans, of New Orleans, La. It was written to meet the position then taken by some one that immediately after man sinned, Christ entered upon a priestly service in the heavenly sanctuary; and that after he was crucified and returned to heaven, he entered upon the work in the second apartment of the sanctuary. These various false theories show the importance of understanding clearly the sanctuary question, and of availing ourselves of the opportunity of getting all the light we can upon the subject.

I have lately completed the reading of a most interesting book written by Elder E. E. Andross, president of the Pacific Union Conference, entitled “A More Excellent Ministry.” It presents in a concise manner interesting points bearing on the subject of the sanctuary and its priesthood. It is a complete refutation of that theory mentioned by Elder Evans. It contains also many new and interesting points of truth relative to the great sanctuary question and the priesthood of Christ. It may be obtained through our tract societies, in cloth cover, at seventy-five cents; in substantial paper binding, at twenty-five cents. I trust the book will have an extensive circulation; it is certainly worthy of it.