LESSONS FOR BIBLE CLASSES.
By G. H. Bell
LESSON XIII.—THE SANCTUARY.
- What did we learn in the last lesson in regard to the use of the terms “daily sacrifice” and “transgression of desolation,” as used in Dan. 8:11–13?
- What important question is asked in verse 13?
- In what other words might the same meaning be expressed?
- What answer was given to this question?
- In considering this subject, what is it important to notice?
- What is the meaning of the word sanctuary?
- Repeat Heb. 8:1, 2.
- What do we learn from this passage?
- What do we learn from Heb. 4:14?
- What is this sanctuary called in Heb. 8:2?
- What do we infer from this?
- Where do we find positive proof of this fact?
- Repeat the verse.
- What do we learn from the verses that follow?
- What do we learn from the last part of verse 8 and the first part of verse 9?
- What do we learn from verse 23?
- What from verse 24?
- What charge was given to Moses in regard to building the tabernacle? Ex. 25:40.
- What reference is made to that charge in the eighth chapter of Hebrews?
- What is said of the service of the priests of the worldly sanctuary? Heb. 8:3–5.
- What does this show in regard to the heavenly sanctuary?
- In what other passage is the same thing clearly indicated?
- Repeat the verse, giving emphasis to the word also.
- State briefly the principal points of this lesson.
We have seen that in Dan. 8:11–13, the term “daily sacrifice” is used to denote the pagan religion; and “transgression of desolation,” to denote the papal religion. Verse 13 contains an important question: “How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?” This is the same as to say: “How long shall these false religions be exalted above the true religion of the Bible, and how long shall pagans and papists be allowed to persecute the people of God?” The answer is as remarkable as the question: “And he said unto me, ‘Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.’” In considering this subject, it is important to notice,—1st. The sanctuary; 2d. The time; 3d. The cleansing. Sanctuary means a holy or sanctified place, a dwelling place of the Most High. Heb. 8:1, 2 reads as follows: “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.’” From this we learn that God’s throne is in the heavens; that he has a sanctuary there; and that there is a high priest who ministers in that sanctuary. From Heb. 4:14 we learn that the high priest of this sanctuary in the heavens is Jesus the Son of God. This sanctuary is called the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man. From this we infer that there has been a tabernacle which was typical of the true, and was pitched by man. Heb. 9:1 tells us plainly that the first covenant had a worldly sanctuary, and from the verses that follow we learn that the worldly sanctuary here referred to was the tabernacle pitched by Moses in the wilderness of Sinai. From the last part of verse 8 and the first part of verse 9, we learn that this tabernacle was a figure for the time then present; from verse 23, that it and the things contained in it were patterns of things in the heavens; and from verse 24, that the holy places of this tabernacle were figures of the true holy places which are in heaven itself. In Ex. 25:40 we see that Moses was charged to make these things after their pattern which was showed him in the mount. In Heb. 8:3–5 we learn that the priests of this worldly sanctuary served unto the example and shadow of heavenly things. There must therefore be a service, a ministration, in the heavenly sanctuary. This is clearly indicated in Heb. 9:1. We see, then, that God has a sanctuary in heaven; that his throne is there; that Jesus the Son of God is the high priest of that sanctuary; that it has holy places, and ordinances of divine service; that the tabernacle pitched by Moses was a figure for the time then present; and that the holy places in it were patterned after those in the heavenly sanctuary, the services there being examples used to illustrate the work in the heavenly sanctuary. G. H. BELL.