9:4Hebrews 9:4

The verse describes the inner room of the wilderness tabernacle behind the second veil, where the gold-covered ark stood beneath the cherubim and the cloud of God's presence.GC88 411.1–412.3+2 Inside that ark were the golden pot of manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the stone tables of the covenant written by the finger of God.GC88 411.1–412.3+2 The same furniture is seen in the holy of holies of the heavenly temple, where the ark overlaid with purest gold stands beneath exceeding bright glory, with a cherub at each end and a golden censer between them.CET 91.2–3+2 That law is the exact transcript kept in heaven as the foundation of God's government, and the fourth commandment shines above the rest with undiminished glory, still reading the seventh day and never changed to the first.WLF 18.3–4+4 The golden censer is the prayers of the saints offered through Jesus before the mercy seat, where since His passing within the second veil in 1844 He mediates for pardon and the shining commandments test His people on the Sabbath truth.CET 91.2–3+4

Hebrews 9:4 describes the most holy place of the wilderness tabernacle, the movable earthly sanctuary built at God's command and carried by Israel in its wilderness journey, with two rooms, the holy place and the most holy place, separated by a veil.GC88 411.1–412.3+2 It lists there the gold-covered ark of the covenant, which held the golden pot of manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments.GC88 411.1–412.3+2 Above the ark was the mercy seat with two cherubim of glory shadowing it, between whom God's presence appeared in the cloud of glory.GC88 411.1–412.3+2

The most holy place lay behind the second veil and second curtain after the part called the holiest of all, where the symbolic service of atonement and intercession centered.RH Nov 8, 1915+2 The golden altar of incense stood before the ark but separated from it by the curtain, and the glory of God resting above the mercy seat could be seen from both sanctuary apartments, though less clearly from the first.SG4 8.3+1 Above the gold-covered ark was the golden mercy seat with two cherubim of glory shadowing it, and between the cherubim God's presence appeared in a cloud of glory from which He made His will known.GC88 411.1–412.3+3 The ark was a gold-covered chest made to hold the stone tablets bearing the Ten Commandments, called the ark of the covenant because those commandments were the basis of God's covenant with Israel.RH Nov 8, 1915+1

The arrangement and furnishings of the tabernacle continued in Solomon's temple, which followed its proportions and furnishings.GC88 411.1–412.3+1 The sacred worship with censers for incense mingled with worshipers' prayers, animal blood pointing forward to Christ's blood, and God's glory manifested above the mercy seat continued for ages.4RED 125.2–127.1 Those rites and ceremonies ended with Jerusalem's destruction, the temple's destruction by the Romans in A.D. 70 because of Israel's disobedience.GC88 411.1–412.3+1

The earthly most holy place was the sacred dwelling-place of God's presence, guarded by a veil inwrought with cherubim to be lifted by only one hand.8T 284.3–285.1+1 To lift it and intrude unbidden into the sacred mystery was death, because above the mercy seat and the bowed, worshiping angels dwelt the glory of the Holiest upon which no man might look and live.8T 284.3–285.1 The ark stood beneath the cherubim as a symbol of God's presence among Israel and a pledge of victory in battle, demanding reverence so that idols could not stand before it and irreverent touch or curious looking brought death.ST Feb 21, 1911 Its holiness guarded it from intrusion.ST Feb 21, 1911+1

On the one day of the year appointed for ministry there the high priest with trembling entered God's presence while clouds of incense veiled the glory from his sight.8T 284.3–285.1 Every sound throughout the courts of the temple was hushed, no priests ministered at the altars, and the hosts of worshipers bowed in silent awe sent up their petitions for God's mercy.8T 284.3–285.1 These things happened by way of example and were written for admonition upon whom the ends of the ages are come.8T 284.3–285.1 Before the temple was destroyed because of Israel's disobedience, the tablets and ark were hidden in a cave, where they have remained undisturbed and have not been returned to Israel.SG4 114.3–4

The verse reveals the furniture of the holy of holies in the temple in heaven in the Holy City.CET 91.2–3+1 Beyond the door and the first veil lies the holy place with the altar of incense, the candlestick with seven lamps, and the table of showbread, and beyond the second veil lies the holy of holies.CET 91.2–3+1

There stands the ark overlaid round about on top and sides with purest gold.CET 91.2–3+4 A lovely cherub stands on each end spreading its wings over it, with their faces turned toward each other and looking downward.CET 91.2–3+3 A golden censer stands between the angels.CET 91.2–3+4

Above the ark where the angels stand is an exceeding bright glory like a throne where God dwells.CET 91.2–3+3 Jesus stands by the ark.CET 91.2–3+3

The heavenly sanctuary has the corresponding ark of the testimony, with God's law beneath the mercy seat.RH Jun 29, 1911+3 The earthly ark was made as the pattern of the true ark in heaven, so the law kept in the earthly ark was an exact transcript of the law kept in the heavenly ark.ST Mar 4, 1903+1 Living angels stand beside it in reverence and humility, looking reverently toward the golden mercy seat.ST Mar 4, 1903 The cover of the ark is the mercy seat with angels at either end, connected with the great day of atonement as part of the mysteries of heaven.Lt 253, 1903, par. 17

Inside the gold-covered ark are the golden pot that had manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant, which are the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments written with the finger of God.GC88 411.1–412.3+4 The tables bear the Ten Commandments including the seventh-day Sabbath commandment, and their presence in the ark in the heavenly Most Holy Place shows the Sabbath remains part of God's law unchanged and kept in honor of His holy name.WLF 18.3–4+2 The tablets hold the Ten Commandments written by God, with the Sabbath commandment shining above the others and the fourth commandment remaining unchanged in the heavenly ark.EW 26.1–2 The ark stands after the second veil in the holiest of all with the golden censer and with the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy seat above it.RH Nov 8, 1915

In the heavenly ark the golden pot of manna and Aaron's rod are present, with the rod shown budding and blossoming and bearing fruit.WLF 14.3–16.1 Jesus identifies the rod as Aaron's and takes manna from the pot.WLF 14.3–16.1 Two angels look down upon the commandments and the golden pot of manna, and the commandments were Israel's covenant law.Ms 5, 1849, par. 13–15

The tables of stone fold together like a book, with the Ten Commandments written on them, four on one table and six on the other.RH Jul 21, 1851+4 Jesus opens the tables to show the Ten Commandments written with the finger of God, four on the first table and six on the second.RH Jul 21, 1851+3 One view of the heavenly scene shows the law of God within the ark in the second apartment, with cherubim above it and a golden censer between them, but does not mention the manna or Aaron's rod.EW 213.2–214.1

The earthly ark was only the receptacle for the two stone tablets inscribed with God's law, and the divine precepts within it gave it its value and sacredness.GC88 433.2 The heavenly ark likewise enshrines that law spoken by God at Sinai amid thunder and written with His own finger on stone.GC88 433.2

The tables in the ark are God's covenant and the basis of His covenant with Israel, the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments written with His own finger and kept in the gold-covered chest in the most holy place where atonement and intercession centered.RH Nov 9, 1905+1 The law kept in the earthly ark was an exact transcript of the law kept in the heavenly ark, made as its pattern, and those commandments are placed close to God and protected by His holiness.SG1 164.1+2 God's presence appeared above the gold cover, the mercy seat surmounted by cherubim, and from between the cherubim He made His will known.RH Nov 9, 1905 Living angels stand beside the true ark in heaven in reverence and humility.ST Mar 4, 1903

God's law in the ark is the rule by which all people are tested and remains the foundation of His government, which human efforts cannot abolish.4SP 261.3+1 Its light is now shining into the world's moral darkness, with special light directed to God's commandments.RH Jun 29, 1911 The cherubim looking reverently toward the mercy seat represent heavenly angels' reverence for God's law and the heavenly host's deep interest in redemption.ST Mar 4, 1903+1

The fourth commandment on those tablets is singled out as identifying the living God as the Maker of heaven and earth, with a halo of glory surrounding it.SG2 82.1 The ten are shown four on one table and six on the other, the four on the first shining brighter than the six, and the fourth, the Sabbath commandment, shining above them all with a halo of glory around it because it was set apart to be kept in honor of God's holy name.ExVEGW 15.3–17.1+3 The Sabbath commandment in the heavenly ark still reads as written at Sinai, But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God, and nothing in the tables says it was abolished or changed to the first day.WLF 18.3–4+4 This proves God has not changed the Sabbath and it was not nailed to the cross, for if it were the other nine were also nailed and men would be at liberty to break them all.ExVEGW 15.3–17.1+2

God never changes and has not changed the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day, for if He had He would have changed the writing on the heavenly tables to read the first day.RH Jul 21, 1851+1 The change from seventh to first was made by the Pope in fulfillment of the power to change times and laws.RH Jul 21, 1851+1 The holy Sabbath is and will be the separating wall between the true Israel of God and unbelievers and the great uniting question for God's waiting saints.RH Jul 21, 1851+1 It is within the Decalogue as the sign of loyalty, and its sanctity reaches into eternity when God's people will worship before Him on every Sabbath in the earth made new.Ms 63, 1897, par. 35 Had Israel kept the commandments of its covenant law, the nation would have been strong and Jerusalem would have continued to stand.Ms 5, 1849, par. 13–15

The golden censer standing between the cherubim represents the prayers of the saints offered in faith.CET 91.2–3+3 As their prayers come up to Jesus standing by the ark, the incense in the censer smokes.CET 91.2–3+3 He offers up their prayers with the smoke of the incense to His Father.CET 91.2–3+4 Presented by Jesus with incense, the faithful prayers rise like sweet fragrance.SG1 158.1+1

The priest offering incense while directing his prayer by faith toward the unseen mercy seat represents God's people directing their prayers to Christ, their unseen Mediator before the mercy seat in the heavenly sanctuary.SG4 8.3+1 Though they cannot see Him, they may trust that He is there before the mercy seat.SG4 8.3+1 They may claim by faith the benefits of His mediation.SG4 8.3+1 As Jesus presents those prayers, glory from the Father's throne comes through Jesus and falls upon the mercy seat and upon those whose prayers have risen, so divine glory shines from the throne to Jesus and then upon the praying people.SG1 158.1+1

While Christ remains as High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary He accepts prayers, confessions, and sacrifices and grants pardon, so that sins may be blotted out before He leaves the most holy place.EW 39.2 Once He leaves there is no priestly ministry there to present further prayers or confessions, and people remain as they are, holy and righteous, or unjust and filthy, so the work of rescuing souls must be done before that ministry ends.EW 39.2 The ark containing the law with the mercy seat above it shows the union of justice and mercy in redemption, with God's law as the rule by which all are tested and the mercy seat representing Christ pleading His blood for sinners.4SP 261.3+1 God remains just while justifying the repentant sinner, restoring fellowship with fallen humanity and clothing the redeemed in Christ's righteousness so they may live in God's presence with the angels.4SP 261.3 Censers were used for incense mingled with the worshipers' prayers, animal blood pointed forward to Christ's blood, and God's glory was manifested above the mercy seat.4RED 125.2–127.1

In 1844 Jesus finished His mediation in the Holy Place and passed within the second veil into the Most Holy Place, where the ark holds the two tables of stone with the ten commandments written by the finger of Jehovah, together with the manna and Aaron's budding rod.ExVEGW 25.3+2 In that move He shut the door of the Holy Place so that no man can open it, and opened the door of the Most Holy Place so that no man can shut it, and He now stands by the ark where the faith of Israel reaches.ExVEGW 25.3+2 Enemies of present truth try to open the Holy Place door He shut and to close the Most Holy Place door He opened.ExVEGW 25.3 Since that door was opened the commandments in the ark have been shining out with all their importance, and God's people are being tested on the Sabbath truth.ExVEGW 24.2–25.1+2

The Sabbath test began only after Jesus finished His ministry in the Holy Place and passed within the second veil, and the light of the Sabbath reveals that God's law remains binding.EW 216.1+2 The ark in the most holy place which Jesus entered in 1844 makes its commandments central to sanctuary truth, and the holy Sabbath is the test by which God tests them.EW 35.2+2 Christians who died before the seventh month of 1844 without keeping the true Sabbath rest in hope, because they were not condemned before the Sabbath light came that made it a test.Lt 5, 1849, par. 7–9+1 By faith God's people find Jesus in the heavenly most holy place with renewed hope and joy, connected with the explanation of the 1844 disappointment.EW 216.1

The work of Jesus in the most holy place is nearly finished and the remaining time for this work is very short.EW 48.3–49.1 The ministration in the heavenly sanctuary is present truth that the Holy Spirit has endorsed over and over as a great pillar of faith, coming in answer to earnest seeking for light on the sanctuary question.4MR 249.1–2 A true understanding of what is described means much, yet for more than half a century new theories that are not truth have questioned and opposed it.4MR 249.1–2 Anyone presenting theories leading away from that light and denying those approved truths should not be accepted as a teacher.4MR 249.1–2