THE SANCTUARY by James White

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 13, 1859

THE SANCTUARY.

By James White

WHILE holding meetings in connection with Bro. Loughborough in Portland, Me., in November, it was proposed by some of the Advent friends in that city, who do not see as we do on all points, that we have a Bible class, if agreeable to us. Most cheerfully we accepted the proposition. When our lectures closed in the city hall, the Advent friends let us have the use of their hall free for two evenings, and on the third we met for Bible class.

Bro. Stiles calls for a report of the Bible class. We have been waiting for Bro. L. to report; but as he is from home we will notice a few points only from memory, having no notes. Bro. L. was chosen class-leader. And, we confess that it appeared to us a singular Bible class. Bro. L., consenting to stand in the desk two hours and answer all the questions which that part of the congregation that differed with him on the subject might ask.

One sister thought the church was the Sanctuary; and on being asked for her Bible proof, said it was somewhere in the Bible, but she could not cite the passage. She has probably searched since, and learned her mistake. The Bible mentions the Sanctuary and host in Dan. viii, 13; but the host being the church, the Sanctuary must be something else.

During the evening the following texts were presented as proof that Christ entered the Most Holy place and commenced his ministry there at the time of his ascension to heaven:

Heb. ix, 8. "The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing."

Chap. x, 19. "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus."

It was then suggested that the word rendered "holiest," is hagion, "holies," and is correctly translated by Macknight, "holy places." Here are the passages as given by him.

Heb. ix, 8. "The Holy Ghost signifying this, that the way of the holy places was not yet laid open, while the first tabernacle still standeth."

Chap. x, 19. "Well then, brethren, having boldness in the entrance of the holy places, by the blood of Jesus."

Chap. ix, 23, 24, was also read. "There was a necessity, therefore, that the representations indeed of the holy places in the heavens, should be cleansed by these sacrifices; but the heavenly holy places themselves, by sacrifices better than these. Therefore Christ hath not entered into the holy places made with hands, the images of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God, on our account."

But this translation was rejected, with the singular and uncalled-for assertion, "I shall not give up my Bible."

Heb. vi, 19, 20, was also presented as proof that Christ entered the holiest at his ascension. "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the vail; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an High Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec." It was claimed that as Christ entered within the vail at his ascension, he then entered the Most Holy Place.

Bro. L. called attention to Heb. ix, 3. "And after the second vail, the tabernacle which is called the holiest of all." As a second implies a first, Paul understood that there were two vails. Christ entered within the first of these vails when he ascended.

Proof was called for that there were two vails, when Heb. ix, 3 was presented again. And judge of our surprise when the very persons who a few moments before had rejected Macknight's translation, saying "I shall not give up my Bible," now suggested that Paul's statement concerning the second vail, must be a misprint, or wrong translation!!! The wrong side of a question is generally the hard side; and those who are on that side, and are determined to maintain their position, are sometime driven to say things which contradict themselves.

Old Testament testimony was then called for that there were two vails. It was past nine, and too late to search the Old Testament on the point. And as the meeting was about to close, we stated that Bro. L. had set before them his views of what constituted the two holies of the new covenant Sanctuary, both in his lecture, and in answering questions that evening, and it would be a pleasure to us to know their views of what these two holies were. They refused, stating that a Bible class was not a place to avow sentiments, but to investigate. Much truth in the remark! But such remarks come with best grace where the principle is carried out.

We were left to conclude that their position, if indeed they had a position, was that the earth is the holy place, heaven the most holy, and the ethereal blue was the vail between!! This we know is the vague view which many take of the subject. Beside this, we will put the plain and definite expressions of Paul to the Hebrews.

Heb. ix, 1-5. "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. For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. For if he were on earth he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, see, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount."

Chap. ix, 22-24. "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us."

Mark well the words used in these passages to prove that there is a Sanctuary in heaven, in the form, at least, of that sanctuary which was on earth. First, "examples;" second, "shadow;" third, "PATTERNS;" fourth, "FIGURES." Apply these definite terms to the view that this earth is the holy place, and heaven the most holy, and the words at once become vague and senseless. More on the two vails next week.

J. W.