The Sanctuary | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Aug 4, 1863

The Sanctuary.

(Continued.)

WHAT IS THE SANCTUARY?

This is exclusively a Bible question. With the testimony of the Bible only, then, have we to do. The object of our inquiry can only be, What does the Bible reveal to us respecting the sanctuary? And we shall find its testimony neither brief nor obscure on this important subject. The word occurs in the inspired Scriptures one hundred and forty-six times; and more times than this does it offer us instruction by prediction, definition, or historic record, concerning this wonderful object.

Perhaps no language can better introduce this subject than that of the apostle Paul in his letter to the Hebrews. In chap. viii, he contrasts the two covenants, the first and the second, the old and the new, under the latter of which we now live. In chap. ix, he then speaks as follows:

"Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shew-bread; which is called the sanctuary; and after the second vail, the tabernacle which is called the holiest of all; which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant, overlaid

round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant, and over it the cherubims of glory, shadowing the mercy-seat,' &c. Verses 1-5.

Let this language of the apostle be carefully considered. It both introduces and settles one great division of this question. It tells us definitely what, for a time, constituted the sanctuary of the Lord. During the period covered by the first covenant, while the tabernacle, ordained as then plainly described, was in existence, there can be, in the face of these words of Paul, no controversy as to what constituted the sanctuary. Turning to the records of these times, we find a more definite mention of this singular structure, which from its bearings and relations in the temple of divine truth, deserves to be examined with absorbing interest.

Go back to the time when Israel, crowned with deliverance, stood on the shore of the Red Sea, while the Egyptians were perishing at their feet in the returning and angry waters. Listen to that song of triumph which Moses sings, and mark this language, 'The Lord is my strength and song, and has become my salvation; he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation.' Ex. xv, 2. In this we receive the first intimation of that building that was afterward to be erected by the direction of the Lord, that he might dwell among his people. In verse 17 of the same chapter, is the first occurrence of the word, sanctuary, which we find in the Bible.

Pursuing the sacred record, we find in the twenty-fifth chapter of Exodus and onward, more definite information respecting the sanctuary. Here we read the commission which God gave to Moses for the erection of this building. In the third month after their departure from Egypt, the children of Israel came to the wilderness of Sinai. There Moses was summoned up into the mount, to an audience with his Maker. Forty days and nights were consumed in that memorable interview. During this time Moses was shown the pattern of the sanctuary, and all the sacred vessels, and received full instructions in relation thereto.

Into a particular description of the tabernacle, as erected by Moses, we need not here enter. It is minutely set forth in Exodus, chapt. xxv-xxxi. Suffice it to say that it was a structure of extraordinary magnificence, formed of upright boards overlaid with gold. It was thirty cubits in length, about ten in width, and ten in hight. At the east end, which was the entrance, there were five pillars of shittim wood, overlaid with gold, having hooks of gold and sockets of brass. Over the tabernacle, thus erected, were thrown four different coverings. The first and inner covering was composed of fine linen, embroidered with figures of cherubim in blue, purple, and scarlet. By this would be formed a ceiling of surpassing beauty and magnificence. The second covering was made of goat's hair; the third of ram's skins dyed red; and the fourth and last of badger's skins. A richly embroidered curtain suspended from the five pillars overlaid with gold, that stood at the entrance upon the east, formed the door of the tabernacle.

The sacred tent was divided into two apartments by means of a vail suspended from four pillars of shittim wood, overlaid with gold, set in sockets of silver. In what proportion the sanctuary was thus divided we are not informed; but it was undoubtedly the same that was afterward observed in the temple, 1 Kings vi, in which two-thirds of the space was allotted to the first apartment, and the remaining one-third to the second.

In the first apartment or holy place were three things worthy of notice: the golden candlestick, the table of show-bread, and the altar of incense. The candlestick was of solid gold, the table of show-bread and the altar of incense, of shittim wood, but overlaid throughout with pure gold. In the second apartment, or most holy place were also three things to claim attention: the ark, the mercy-seat, and the cherubim. The ark was a chest of shittim wood, two cubits and a half in length, a cubit and a half in breadth, and the same in hight. It was overlaid within and without with pure gold. The mercy-seat was the cover of the ark,

of solid gold, and the cherubim were likewise of pure gold, on either end of the mercy-seat. It was above the ark, over the mercy-seat, between the cherubim, that God manifested his presence, and from whence he communicated with his people. Ex. xxv, 22. And so David prays, 'Thou that dwellest between the cherubim, shine forth.' Ps. lxxx, 1.

It will be observed that neither the holy nor most holy place, had any window; hence in the first apartment there was need of the candlestick with its seven lamps; and in regard to the second, where God dwelt, Solomon said, The Lord said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. 1 Kings viii, 12.

How impressive must have been the scene presented by the interior of this building. There were its walls, having all the appearance of massive and solid gold, and reflecting in a thousand directions the light of the seven lamps of the golden candlestick; there were the table of show-bread, and altar of incense, glittering in its light like burnished gold; and there was the curtain that formed the gorgeous ceiling, with its mystic figures of cherubim in blue, and purple, and scarlet, adding its beauty to the brilliant scene. While in, beyond the second vail, was the glorious Shekinah, or visible manifestation of God's glory, into the awful presence of which, except the high priest's entrance once every year, no man could venture and live.

Before the door of the tabernacle were placed the brazen laver, and the altar of burnt offering, and around the whole was erected the court with its curtains of fine twined linen.

In the second year after Israel had departed from Egypt, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was reared up. And Moses spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and he put the testimony (the tables of the ten commandments) into the ark, and the mercy-seat upon it, and brought it into the tabernacle, and set up the vail; he placed the table of show-bread and golden candlestick in the first apartment, and lighted the lamps before the Lord; he put the golden altar of incense before the vail, and burnt sweet incense thereon; and on the altar, before the door of the tabernacle, he offered the burnt offering and the meat offering as the Lord commanded. Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Ex. xl. He had now taken possession of his dwelling place, in the midst of his people.

We have now before us the sanctuary as Moses erected it in the wilderness of Sinai, 1490 years before Christ. With its ark of the covenant, its mercy-seat, and its glorious Shekinah, it constituted the heart and center of Israel's religious worship, under that typical system.

The children of Israel being at this time in the period of their wanderings, the sanctuary as first given to them was adapted to their condition. It was so constructed that it could be easily taken down and borne with them in their journeys, and immediately erected wherever the divine presence, which accompanied them in a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night, should direct them to pitch their camp. Num. ix, 15-23.

The Levites were consecrated to the service of the sanctuary: and were commanded to bear it and all its sacred vessels, when the camp set forward. Thus it was with them during the forty years in which they journeyed in the wilderness. During this time, this building which God claimed as his dwelling place, and where his service was performed, is fifty-six times called the sanctuary, in the following instances: Ex. xxv, 8; xxx, 13, 24; xxxvi, 1, 3, 4, 6; xxxviii, 24-27; Lev. iv, 6; v, 15; x, 4; xii, 4; xvi, 33; xix, 29; xx, 3; xxi, 13, (twice), 23 (plural); xxvi, 2; xxvii, 3, 25; Num. iii, 28, 31, 32, 38, 47, 50; iv, 12, 15 (twice), 16; vii, 9, 13, 19, 25, 31, 37, 43, 49, 55, 61, 67, 78, 79, 85, 86; viii, 19; x, 21; xviii, 1, 3, 5, 10; xix, 20.

From its entrance into Canaan, it is easy to trace the history of this building, till it was embodied in the larger and more glorious structure of the temple of Solomon, when the children of Israel had become settled in their own land, and the sanctuary had a permanent location. We trace it down to the period when it was overthrown by Nebuchadnezzar, and suffered to remain in ruins during the 70 years of the Babylonish captivity. From the time it was rebuilt by Zerubbabel, at the close of that captivity, we follow it to the days of Herod, by whom it was taken down and rebuilt, greatly enlarged and beautified, B. C. 19. We come to the days of the Saviour, who solemnly affirmed to the Jews, that their house was left unto them desolate. We behold its beautiful vail which divided between the holy and most holy place, rent in twain from top to bottom, amid the solemn scenes of the crucifixion, when the great sacrifice for the world was offered up, which rendered null and void all the typical services of the earthly temple. We trace it, after this event, through its brief and nominal existence, to the year A. D. 70, when the ungovernable violence of the Roman soldiers involved it in a ruin from which it has never since arisen.

This was the sanctuary of the first covenant. There can be no doubt on this point with any who yet have confidence in the Bible, either as a divine revelation, or even as a secular history. It is directly declared to be the sanctuary, by the apostle Paul; and of the one hundred and forty-two times of the occurrence of the word in the Old Testament, it refers in almost every instance to this building. Here, then, we occupy common ground with all parties. We have here a common basis on which to build further arguments on this subject. It is in the question, What is the sanctuary of the new covenant? or, in other words, What is now the sanctuary? that the great controversy is involved. This is our next inquiry. And we think we shall find the sanctuary of this covenant no less definitely defined and located than the sanctuary of the first.

(To be Continued.)