The Work in the First Apartment of the Sanctuary by S. N. Haskell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Sep 26, 1912

The Work in the First Apartment of the Sanctuary

By S. N. Haskell

THE work in the first apartment consisted principally of the morning and evening daily services, the individual sin-offerings, and services on feast-days and special occasions. God’s visible presence was manifested in the first apartment, or tabernacle of the congregation. God met and communed with the children of Israel at the first veil, or door, of the tabernacle of the congregation (Ex. 29: 42, 43; 30: 36; Num. 17: 4), where the people presented their sin-offerings before the Lord. At times the cloud of glory, representing the visible presence of the Lord, filled the first apartment so that no one was able to enter. Ex. 40: 34, 35; 1 Kings 8: 10, 11; 2 Chron. 5: 13, 14; 7: 2. God’s presence manifested in the first apartment of the earthly sanctuary was a shadow of the glorious presence and throne of the Father in the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, where, after enduring “the cross, despising the shame,” the Saviour sat down “at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb. 12: 2.

The service each morning and evening was very important. Within the first apartment the high priest offered incense upon the golden altar, and trimmed and lighted the lamps. None but the high priest could perform this sacred work, which typified the adding of the fragrant incense of Christ’s righteousness to the prayers of God’s people to make them acceptable before him. Rev. 8: 3, 4. The high priest also trimmed and lighted the lamps, which were a type of the Holy Spirit emanating from God and shining at some time into the heart of every one, inviting him to accept the Lord and his service. This Spirit shines continually in the life of the individual who is faithful to God.

While the high priest within the sanctuary was performing the daily service morning and evening at the golden altar, the priests in the court were burning the whole burnt offering, the meat-offering, and the drink-offering upon the brazen altar, and the people were gathered without, praying. Luke 1: 10.

When the children of Israel were carried into captivity, the faithful ones prayed, as did Daniel, with their windows open toward Jerusalem. Dan. 6: 10. They turned toward the temple where from the altar of continual intercession the incense had ascended. This was a beautiful type; for, no matter where from the altar of continual intercession we may be, or what the bands that may hold us, if we resolutely turn our faces from our surroundings toward the heavenly sanctuary where Christ pleads his blood and presents his righteousness in our behalf, our prayer of faith will bring peace and joy to the soul, and will break asunder the bands with which Satan has bound us. Christ sets before us “an open door, and no man can shut it.” Rev. 3: 8. It makes no difference what the surroundings may

be, the soul may be free in God; no human being nor the evil one himself can hold in bondage the soul of him who trusts in God. "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." 1 John 5: 4.

Day by day sinners presented their sin-offerings at the door of the first apartment, and either by the blood sprinkled before the Lord or by a portion of flesh eaten in the first apartment, the confessed sins of the people were transferred in type and shadow to the first apartment of the sanctuary. The priest met the sinner at the first veil of the sanctuary, and carried within the veil either the blood or the flesh. The sinner could not look within the sanctuary. By faith he knew that the priest was faithful to present his sin-offering before the Lord, and he left the sanctuary rejoicing in sins forgiven. In the antitype of that service we confess our sins; and although we can not see the work in the heavenly sanctuary, we know that Christ pleads his blood and marred flesh—the prints of the nails—before the Father in our behalf, and we rejoice in forgiveness of sins. The sins are covered, hid from view. "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." Ps. 32: 1. As day by day the sins of the people are transferred to the sanctuary, it becomes defiled, and must be purified, or cleansed. Sins are forgiven and covered when confessed, and will never be uncovered if the one who confessed them remains faithful; but if he forsakes the Lord and turns back into the world, the part of his past life that was covered with Christ's righteousness while he was faithful, appears uncovered on the books of heaven, for having withdrawn from Christ, he must meet the record of his entire life in the judgment. This is very forcefully taught in the parable of the unmerciful servant, who after he had been forgiven his entire debt, dealt harshly with his debtor, and was then required by his lord to pay all that had been once forgiven him. Matt. 18: 23-35; Eze. 18: 24.

The time will come when the sins of the righteous will not only be forgiven, and covered by the blood of Christ, but all trace of them will be removed from the books of heaven forever, and will never come into remembrance again. This blotting out of sin was symbolized by the work in the second apartment of the sanctuary on the day of atonement.

Type	Antitype
Ex. 29: 42, 43. Visible presence of God manifested in the first apartment of the earthly sanctuary.	Rev. 4: 2-5. The seven lamps were seen in heaven before the throne; therefore the throne and lamps were in the same apartment.
Ex. 30: 7, 8. High priest trimmed and lighted the lamps.	Rev. 1: 13. Christ was seen among the golden candlesticks in the heavenly sanctuary.
Ex. 40: 24, 25. The lamps in the earthly sanctuary were burning before the Lord.	Rev. 4: 2, 5. The seven lamps of fire were seen burning before the throne of God in heaven.
Heb. 9: 6. The priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.	Heb. 7: 25. Christ ever liveth to make intercession for us.
Lev. 4: 7; 10: 16-18. By the blood and the flesh the sins were transferred into the earthly sanctuary.	1 Peter 2: 24; 1 John 1: 7. By the merits of the sacrifice of the body and blood of Christ, our sins are forgiven, and he bears them into the heavenly sanctuary.
Lev. 4: 7. The marks of sin touched the horns of the altar.	Jer. 2: 22. The actual sin is marked before the Lord in heaven.
Num. 18: 7. None but the priests could look within the veil where the sins were transferred. All that remained of the sin-offering without the veil was burned. All trace of the sin-offering was covered from sight.	Ps. 32: 1. When we confess our sins, they are transferred to the heavenly sanctuary, and are covered, nevermore to appear if we are faithful.

Portland, Maine.